The cave system with diverse landscapes is a worthy option for adventurous and exploratory travelers.
When mentioning Quang Binh, most tourists immediately think of the famous caves known for their grandeur and pristine nature. The most notable among them is Son Doong Cave, along with other natural destinations like Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park.
However, recently, travel enthusiasts have shown considerable interest in another name, the Tu Lan cave system. Notably, this area was once used as the filming location for the famous Hollywood movie shot in Vietnam: “Kong: Skull Island.”
Image by Viet Travel
Location of the Tu Lan Cave System
The Tu Lan cave system is located in Tan Hoa Commune, Minh Hoa District, Quang Binh Province, nestled within a primary forest connected by eight valleys and different mountain ranges through the Rào Nan underground river and the local limestone cave system. If traveling from Dong Hoi city, tourists will cover about 70 km northwest.
This area was first discovered in 1992 by the British-Vietnamese Cave Exploration Team and has been extensively surveyed since 2010 after a local resident discovered more caves such as Tu Lan Cave, the Large Tomb Cave, and the Small Tomb Cave within this cave system. To this day, the Tu Lan cave system is often referred to by many tourists as a hidden gem of Quang Binh tourism due to its pristine beauty and mysterious charm.
The cave system with rivers inside at Tu Lan (Image by PeakD).
According to local residents, the name “Tu Lan” comes from the ancient Nguon ethnic language. “Lan” means flow or stream, symbolizing the river branch originating from Rào Nan flowing into the valley and then into the entrance of the cave. This is also the only river branch connecting the caves together. “Tu” signifies beauty and essence, which can represent the beauty of majestic limestone mountain ranges or the delicate grandeur of the caves, with their sparkling stalactites, clear water lakes, and stunning underground rivers.
There are many notable caves within the Tu Lan cave system such as: Hung Ton Cave, Ken Cave, Mouse Cave, Tu Lan Cave, and Tomb Cave, among others. These caves stand out not only for their size but also for their unique natural features and formation processes.
Among them, the most famous is perhaps Mouse Cave, which has appeared in several well-known films like “The Immortal,” “The Legend of Quan Tien,” and served as Kong’s residence in the Hollywood blockbuster “Kong: Skull Island.”
The beauty inside the caves of the Tu Lan system (Image by QB Travel)
Mouse Cave – a location featured in the Hollywood film “Kong: Skull Island” (Image by Oxalis Adventure)
Highlights of the Tu Lan Cave System
Similar to most caves around the world, the caves in the Tu Lan system are formed from limestone – a type of sedimentary rock created on the ocean floor millions of years ago. There are two types of caves: water caves and dry caves. The water caves are approximately 3 million years old, while the dry caves are situated at higher elevations and can be up to 5 million years old.
Water caves typically have branches of dry caves – areas that host many unique stalactites alongside underground streams and waterfalls. Due to their earlier formation, which was later elevated during the Earth’s crust movement, dry caves have many beautiful, grand, and unique stalactite formations compared to water caves.
Inside the caves at Tu Lan are unique stalactite formations (Image by Oxalis Adventure)
However, most caves in the Tu Lan system feature very unique stalactite formations, notably the massive conical stalagmites inside Ken Dry Cave, Oxalis Cave, or caves with sinkholes and rays of sunlight shining through, such as Kim Cave and Mouse Cave entrance. Many tourists and explorers have expressed their awe at the beauty that nature has bestowed upon the caves of Tu Lan.
Additionally, the Tu Lan cave system is also attractive due to its waterfalls of varying sizes, discovered within the caves. Specifically, all entrances of the water caves have waterfalls flowing into a large lake surrounded by primary forests and limestone mountain ranges.
Tourists can experience paddling on the underground river flowing through the cave system. During this time, guides will encourage visitors to turn off their flashlights to fully appreciate the tranquil and serene atmosphere enveloped in complete darkness.
A waterfall with clear water flowing from Ken Cave, part of the Tu Lan cave system (Image by Oxalis Adventure)
Tourists kayaking or wading through the waterfalls inside the caves (Image by Quang Binh Tourism)
Notes for Exploring Tu Lan
Similar to tours exploring Son Doong Cave, tourists wishing to visit the Tu Lan cave system in Quang Binh must register in advance with the service provider and guide. Throughout the year, tours only operate during a fixed period, from November to September of the following year. The main activities tourists will participate in include trekking through primary forests and then exploring the caves.
The duration of journeys can vary from 1 to 6 days, depending on the conditions and preferences of the tourists. Based on this timeframe, providers will offer suitable destinations such as one or several notable sites or the entire Tu Lan cave system.
Image by J Travel.
During the tour, tourists will have close supervision from local guides and skilled managers. At the end of the trip, tourists can choose to experience dining at a local’s home or opt for accommodation at local homestays.
Tourists can stay overnight after the journey at the homes of local residents or nearby accommodations (Image by Oxalis Adventure)
The Tan Hoa region is considered the “storm center” of Quang Binh Province, thus the robust development of cave exploration tours has significantly transformed the local economy. Residents are involved in tour guiding, navigation, operation staff, safety assistants, and even providing dining and accommodation services for tourists exploring the area. In the future, Tan Hoa may become a key destination in Quang Binh tourism as the Tu Lan cave system continues to attract more visitors. According to information from the Quang Binh Provincial People’s Committee, from 2012 to 2022, the tourist route exploring the Tu Lan cave system – Tien Cave welcomed 52,393 visitors, with 38,666 visitors to the Tu Lan route and 13,727 visitors to Tien Cave route; generating revenue of over 153.289 million VND.
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