Son Doong Day 2 - Deep Jungle, Deeper Caves | Vietnam
Day 2 of the Son Doong expedition is when the real adventure begins. This isn’t just a hike — it’s a rite of passage into one of the most remote and surreal corners of the planet. From dense jungle trails to local village encounters, and finally sleeping in a cave the size of a cathedral — today was a day I’ll never forget.
The Morning Pack
We woke up early at our homestay in Phong Nha, but this wasn’t casual backpacking. Every gram mattered. Oxalis gave us a 7-kilogram dry bag — and that’s all we could bring for the next few days. Extra shoes? Forget it. Even a towel barely made the cut. Since I was filming the entire experience, I sacrificed all luxuries for batteries, cables, and camera gear.
Everything else — including our main suitcases and valuables — got securely stored back at the Oxalis office. Logistics like that were handled so smoothly, it already felt like a real expedition.
Meeting a Legend
Before we even hit the trail, we made a quick stop that blew my mind. We pulled over near what looked like a regular countryside house… and met the man who discovered Son Doong Cave. Yes, the cave. He was soft-spoken, wore a ballcap, and didn’t make a big deal about it. But his discovery changed Vietnam’s tourism forever. No crowds. No speeches. Just a quiet legend by the road.
Into the Jungle
Our group of 10 hikers was supported by over 30 staff — from porters to safety experts. We took a one-hour bus ride to the edge of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Then we began a steep 350-meter descent into the jungle. The trail was fast, rocky, and slick with red clay. The moment we stepped off the road, the air changed. More humid. More alive.
Soon, we were crossing rivers — some ankle-deep, some up to our calves. I wore regular hiking boots, which meant wet feet all day. (Pro tip: water trekking shoes are worth it.)
Ban Doong Village
After about an hour and a half, we arrived at Ban Doong — a small jungle village of the Bru-Van Kieu ethnic minority. There are no roads here. Supplies are carried in by foot. Life moves slow.
We had lunch inside the village elder’s house, sitting on bamboo mats with warm rice, meat, and local veggies. It felt like being welcomed into someone’s world, not just stopping by.
Deep Jungle Hiking
Post-lunch, the hike got serious. For the next 3 hours, we trekked through narrow paths lined with cliffs and dense vegetation. Our safety team cleared rocks and helped us across steep descents. The jungle sounds grew louder: birds, insects, the occasional monkey.
Sweaty, sore, and slipping constantly — but the views were unreal.
Hang En Arrival
Eventually, we came to what looked like a small crack in a cliffside. We stepped through it… and emerged into Hang En Cave. Massive. Beautiful. Silent. You don’t walk into it — you enter. Inside, an underground river curved through soft sandbanks. Sunlight filtered faintly through the distant cave mouth.
Tents were already set up inside — each one labeled by name. I kicked off my boots and went straight to the underground lake for a swim. Cold. Quiet. Unreal.
Dinner Underground
Dinner was served cave-side: hot food, warm lights, and laughter bouncing off walls formed millions of years ago. We shared stories, reviewed the day, and soaked in where we were. There’s nothing like it — sleeping in a cave this enormous, with nothing between you and the elements but a thin layer of nylon.
Tomorrow, we go deeper into the world’s largest cave. But today was the test: if you can’t handle this, you don’t continue. No refunds. No second chances. But I made it.
Soaked. Sore. And totally ready.
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📺 Watch the Full Journey
This was Day 2 of my Son Doong expedition — part of the most exclusive and epic trek in Vietnam. You can’t imagine how remote, intense, and mind-blowing this journey is unless you see it for yourself.
Watch the full vlog: "Son Doong Cave Day 2 – Jungle Trails, Hidden Villages & Hang En Arrival | Vietnam Vlog" on my YouTube channel.
Don’t miss the full Vietnam adventure series — from Ha Long Bay to mountain treks, street food chaos, and hidden caves.
👉 Watch now at Alex Travels Far on YouTube
🌏 Travel Far
Thanks for reading and hiking along with me. If you’re dreaming of Son Doong — or just curious what it really takes to get there — I hope this gave you a clear, honest look.
Until next time… travel far.