Son Doong cave named on Lonely Planet’s bucket-list trips
Son Doong, the world’s largest known cave located in Vietnam’s central province of Quang Binh, has been ranked third among the worldwide bucket-list trips for 2019 by Lonely Planet, a prestigious travel guide magazine.
Quang Binh (VNA) – Son Doong, the world’s largest known cave located inVietnam’s central province of Quang Binh, has been ranked third among the worldwidebucket-list trips for 2019 by Lonely Planet, a prestigious travel guidemagazine.
“The incredible depths of the world’s largest cave luresin travellers who want a true adventure. But the arduous journey into thissubterranean site makes booking a trek essential,” according to the magazine.
“The major tour operator that takes travellers inside, Oxalis Adventure Tours,says on its website that less than 300 spaces remain for 2019 tours. If youwant to make it happen book soon – or get on the waiting list for 2020,” itsaid.
Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Tourism Dang Dong Ha said onJanuary 4 that the ranking has significantly contributed to promoting the cave,as well as general tourism in Quang Binh and Vietnam around the world.
Quang Binh will partner with relevant agencies to ensure safety and quality fortourists to Son Doong, while implementing many large tourism promotionprogrammes in the cave.
The Inca Trail in Peru tops Lonely Planet’s list, followed by Burning Man inNevada of the US. Other destinations included on the list are Under Restaurantin Norway and the 2019 Solar Eclipse in South America.
Son Doong Cave has been recognised as the largest of its kind in the world bythree international record-keeping organisations – Guinness, the AssociationWorld, and WorldKings.
The cave islocated in the heart of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh province.Son Doong was discovered by a local resident in 1991. It was first explored in2009 by the British Cave Research Association and has been open to the publicsince 2013. The 1,645m-longcave system, which extends through a mountain, was named one of the mostcaptivating caves on earth by National Geographic.–VNA
Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park in the central province of Quang Binh is frequently dubbed as the “Kingdom of Caves” for the magnificent specimens it boasts.
Authorities of the central province of Quang Binh have decided to pilot tours of some new caves at the World Natural Heritage site Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, dubbed the “Kingdom of Caves”.
Additional 44 caves have been discovered in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park in the central province of Quang Binh, raising the total caves found so far in this area to 405, according to the park’s management board.
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.
Son Doong cave (Photo:Ryan Deboodt) 
