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Quang Binh, a coastal province situated in the Central region of Vietnam, holds the title of being the narrowest province among the 63 provinces and municipalities in the country. Known for its famous coastal destinations like Nhat Le Beach and the adventurous exploration of caves in Phong Nha - Ke Bang, Quang Binh has always been associated with seaside tourism. However, today I will take you on a unique travel experience with a title as intriguing as the one mentioned - Camping in the Ma Da Valley, part of the increasingly popular adventure tourism segment in recent years.
Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park
Phong Nha - Ke Bang in Quang Binh has long been renowned for its beautiful, diverse, and abundant cave system. Surely, no one is unfamiliar with names like Paradise Cave, Dark Cave, or Phong Nha Cave. However, Phong Nha - Ke Bang is also known as the Kingdom of Caves, or the Adventure Capital of Southeast Asia. With this national park owning hundreds of caves, famous for the world's largest Son Doong Cave and Kong Sinkhole, considered the largest and deepest sinkhole in Vietnam at the moment. According to experts, Phong Nha - Ke Bang is currently home to more than 500 caves of all sizes, but notably, this number accounts for less than half of the total area of 200,000 hectares, meaning there are many unexplored caves yet to be discovered. Among them, the cave exploration tours combined with adventurous activities, such as the camping experience in Ma Da Valley that I am about to share, fall into the category of lesser-known experiential activities.
Phong Nha - Ke Bang still holds many hidden gems like these, known to only a few.
Embarking on a 2-day, 1-night camping experience in Ma Da Valley
Stumbling upon an advertisement for this camping tour, we immediately contacted and booked a journey that is almost unique and not widely known. The price for this adventure is just over 4 million VND per person for a 2-day, 1-night exploration of caves and camping. That's when we discovered that Phong Nha - Ke Bang has more to offer than the high-priced cave tours as rumored by the media.
From Hanoi, you can fly to Dong Hoi airport, then take a taxi to Phong Nha. The taxi fare is quoted at 500,000 VND, but with a bit of negotiation skills, you can get it down to around 350,000 VND. Alternatively, you can choose to take a sleeper bus directly from Hanoi. Buses like Hung Thanh, Hung Long, Queen, and Camel depart straight to Phong Nha, with fares ranging from 250,000 VND to 500,000 VND depending on the bus class.
Upon reaching Phong Nha, our group headed straight to the Jungle Boss company headquarters, the organizer of this journey, located about 2 kilometers from the center of Phong Nha town, boasting a picturesque view of lush green fields.
The serene ambiance of Jungle Boss
Exploring the Elephant Cave
After receiving a brief overview of the itinerary and all the necessary equipment, the entire group boarded the vehicle and moved to the core area of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park. The journey kicked off with the exploration of the Elephant Cave - the first destination of this adventure.
The path leading to the Elephant Cave entrance
To reach the Elephant Cave, we had to ascend a fairly steep slope as the cave entrance is nestled on the flank of a tall limestone mountain. The ascent wasn't too challenging, but the steepness of the path made everyone catch their breath.
After more than 15 minutes of mountain climbing, we finally entered the Elephant Cave. A spacious area gradually unfolded before us, with a cool breeze emanating from the cave, soothing the summer heat and fatigue from the initial uphill stretch.
The scenery within the Elephant Cave
Situated closely along the western Ho Chi Minh Trail, as narrated by our tour guide, this cave spans approximately 600m in length, 250m in height, and once served as a hiding place for the Vietnamese army during their southward march in the resistance against the U.S. in the war era.
You can still spot remnants from the wartime within this cave. Adjacent to the cave entrance stands a raised platform, reportedly the 'stage' where soldiers once performed artistic acts during the resistance period.
Some preserved relics within the Elephant Cave
The cave's name, Elephant Cave, doesn't derive from any actual elephants residing here. Instead, it stems from a stalactite formation within the cave that, developed over millions of years, resembles an elephant. We were genuinely surprised when introduced to it, and upon seeing it, the resemblance to an elephant in the rock face was indeed striking.
A little girl in the group playfully 'riding' a stone elephant
Ma Da Lake - A precious gem nestled amidst the Phong Nha mountains and forests
Following the exploration of the Elephant Cave, our group continued a 3km trek along the streamside forest to reach the overnight camping site at Ma Da Lake. The trekking trail was enchanting, with a crystal-clear, cool stream. This stream originates from the emerald Ma Da Lake.
The path leading to Ma Da Lake
Featuring the distinctive limestone terrain, sculpted by the natural flow, we encountered uniquely shaped rocks along our path that were both peculiar and visually appealing.
A picturesque photo spot along the way
After more than an hour, we reached Ma Da Lake, truly a hidden gem in the ancient Phong Nha forest, where the water is strangely clear, allowing visibility all the way to the bottom.
The magically clear Ma Da Lake
Encountering another group of day-trip participants along the way
After the hot and exhausting trek, our entire group was quite soaked, and we were directed to refresh ourselves with a swim here. It was an incredible sensation, as if completely revitalized after plunging into this cool and refreshing water.
A perfect meal amidst the mountainous setting
Our meal was served by the porters with a variety of Vietnamese dishes. It must be acknowledged that these guys cook exceptionally well, and perhaps the feeling of a forest meal always makes the food tastier than regular everyday meals. After the meal, we relaxed, chatted, and played cards by Ma Da Lake.
Campsite ambiance under the night sky
The odor-neutralized composite sanitation area, using rice husks for absorption after 'operations' are complete
The entire night view of the campsite when illuminated
Each sleeping tent is fully equipped with insulation panels, air mattresses, and comfy pillows. Despite camping overnight, the amenities are no less than those in a hotel.
Morning coffee in the incredibly chill ambiance of Ma Da Lake in the early morning
We welcomed the sunrise here with morning coffee, chatting and connecting, completely detached from the outside world without any Facebook or TikTok, no work emails to disturb. Surrounded by lush greenery, gentle breeze, and the harmonious symphony of forest birds, an experience not everyone gets the chance to hear.
Exploring the 600m Trạ Ang Cave
After breakfast, relaxation, and preparation, we continued our journey through the forest to reach the final exploration point of this trip. It was Trạ Ang Cave, a water cave stretching 600m, standing majestically amidst the greenery.
The pathway to the entrance of Trạ Ang Cave crosses a vast rocky area
Provided with life vests, gloves, helmets, and headlamps by the tour guide, the group prepared to swim and explore Trạ Ang Cave. Participants had the option to swim or not, with safety assistants accompanying the group to ensure customer support in case of any issues or 'overwhelming laziness' preventing swimming, hehe.
Inside Trạ Ang Cave
Swimming within Trạ Ang Cave is a must-try experience. You immerse yourself in the darkness of the vast cave, submerge in the cool emerald water, surrounded only by a few dim lights emanating from the headlamps of fellow participants.
At the journey's end, the vehicle took our group back to the tour company to return equipment. Afterward, each guest was transferred back to their respective homestays or hotels in the area. Our group, however, opted to have dinner in town and waited for the sleeper bus departing for Hanoi at 9 PM, ensuring we were back for the next day's work. The total cost for our two-person journey was over 12,000,000 VND, covering a 2,000,000 VND round-trip sleeper bus fare, 9,000,000 VND for two tour tickets, and an additional 1,000,000 VND for meals.
The exploration and camping adventure in the Ma Da Valley truly left a profound impression on each member of the group. It's essential to emphasize that Phong Nha - Ke Bang is not just famous for Paradise Cave or Phong Nha Cave; there are still fantastic adventurous tours like these 'hidden gems' that not everyone knows about. If you want to book this tour, you can explore Jungle Boss Tours, an adventure travel company in Phong Nha. If you have time, research and embark on your exploration journey.
Mytour Golocal is a blog program introducing beautiful destinations across Vietnam as part of the Mytour Go & Share program. This is a fantastic opportunity to promote local tourism to everyone. For each qualifying article, you'll receive 800,000 VND and the chance to become a Mytour Contributor. Details about the program can be found at: https://trv.lk/golocal
