Hanoi (VNA) – A total of 33 Vietnamese tourists visited Son Doong cave in the 𒉰central province of Quang🎐 Binh in the first few months of 2016.
According to Director of Oxalis Adventure Tours Nguyen Chau A, the cave welcomed 95 visitors from the US, 33 from Vietnam and 23 from Australia in the period.
In all of 2015, Son Doong welcomed more than 500 visitors, including 67 Vietnamese. Vietnam ranked third in the number of visitors, after the US and Australia, he noted.
Son Doong Cave , in the UNESCO-recognised World Heritage Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, is more than 200m wide, 150m high, and approximately 9km long.
It was believed to be formed 2-5 million years ago and discovered by a local resident in 1991.
In 2009, scientists from the British Cave Research Association prepared the cave for limited public access after surveying the area.
Within its caverns lie a jungle and a river, and the cave is large enough to fit a 40-storey skyscraper inside. The cave was named the largest cave in the world by the British Cave Research Association.
The American news website Huffingtonpost.com declared the cave as an absolute must-see. Son Doong cave was also listed among the "52 Places to Go in 2014" by The New York Times Travel.
The tour, arranged by the sole operator Oxalis Adventure Tours since early August, offers a five-day and four-night service at the cost of 66 million VND (roughly 3,000 USD) per person from January to August. A maximum of 500 visitors will be allowed in 2016.
Ea💖ch tour requires more than 25 porters and cooks, a tour guide, two cave🉐 experts and two park rangers.-VNA
The central province of Quang Binh achieved a turnover of 179 billion VND (8.1 million USD) in tourism, an increase of nearly 90 percent compared with 2014.
The Literature Publishing House introduced a photo book featuring Son Doong Cave in the central province of Quang Binh on March 19 at the General Sciences Library of Ho Chi Minh City.
VietKings said it has worked with the authorities of Quang Binh province to prepare necessary documents on the world’s largest cave, Son Doong, to send to the World Records Union (WorldKings).
A group of foreign ambassadors to Vietnam, an UNESCO representative and US Assistant Secretary of State landed in Quang Binh on May 11 to embark on their adventure inside Son Doong Cave.
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Data from Booking.com reveals that during the peak summer vacation in June and July, beach trips continue to be a top priority for Vietnamese travellers.
The northern midland province of Phu Tho has carried out all-round measures to improve tourism infrastructure, services, and offerings, elevating visitor experience and reinforcing the province’s unique cultural identity.
Hanoi has directed lodging providers and tourist destinations to bolster preparations in staffing, service quality, security, and sanitation. Community-based lodging platforms such as Airbnb are also being promoted strongly to expand housing supply during the holiday period.
Inside the Son Doong Cave (Photo: Ryan Deboodt)
