--- title: In Deep: Go Underground to See the Best of Vietnam description: Vietnam hasn't made it easy for visitors to see the country's most fascinating superlative. At least 4 km long and more than 140 m high... canonical: https://time.com/archive/6938739/in-deep-go-underground-to-see-the-best-of-vietnam/ author: Geoffrey Cain article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2011-12-01T05:00:00.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-03-23T06:11:10.387Z og:title: In Deep: Go Underground to See the Best of Vietnam og:description: Vietnam hasn't made it easy for visitors to see the country's most fascinating superlative. At least 4 km long and more than 140 m high... og:url: https://time.com/archive/6938739/in-deep-go-underground-to-see-the-best-of-vietnam/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb2a61910d2b7a3b5/698a4f7e09208f543141c6e0/360_vietnam_1212.jpg?branch=production&width=360&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 360 og:image:height: 203 og:image:alt: 360_vietnam_1212.jpg og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: In Deep: Go Underground to See the Best of Vietnam twitter:description: Vietnam hasn't made it easy for visitors to see the country's most fascinating superlative. At least 4 km long and more than 140 m high... twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb2a61910d2b7a3b5/698a4f7e09208f543141c6e0/360_vietnam_1212.jpg?branch=production&width=360&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # In Deep: Go Underground to See the Best of Vietnam > Sponsored content. 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Subscriptions are at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### What is included in a TIME print and digital subscription? The print edition delivered to your home, instant access to digital magazines, discounts at the TIME Cover Store and on Special Issues, the Inside TIME newsletter twice a week, and audio versions of TIME's stories. It is from $29 for one year or $49 for two years at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### What is the difference between TIME's digital and print plans? Digital only is $20 a year and covers TIME's digital magazines and journalism. Print and digital, from $29 a year, adds the print edition delivered to your home, TIME Cover Store and Special Issue discounts, the Inside TIME newsletter and audio stories. #### Is TIME a reliable news source? TIME is a general-interest news organization founded in 1923. Its journalism is reported and edited by a professional newsroom led by Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs, with named correspondents on politics, climate, health, technology and culture. It reaches 1 million US print subscribers and 1.15 million globally, plus more than 1.1 million newsletter readers. #### How do I subscribe to TIME magazine? Subscriptions are at time.com/subscribe-agent. Choose digital only at $20 a year, or print and digital from $29 a year or $49 for two years. TIME also publishes seven free email newsletters at time.com/newsletters, which do not require a subscription. #### Can I cancel a TIME subscription? Yes. TIME states that subscriptions can be cancelled at any time. #### Does TIME have free newsletters? Yes. TIME publishes seven free email newsletters reaching more than 1.1 million readers, covering daily news, Washington politics, health, AI, climate and energy, culture, and the newsroom itself. They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-sub-2026q3/newsletters?i=a6f9d8b2-de9f-4c63-90d1-934454322724&cr=time-sub-2026q3-v1) * TIME Subscriptions: [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-sub-2026q3/subscribe?i=a6f9d8b2-de9f-4c63-90d1-934454322724&cr=time-sub-2026q3-v1) by [Geoffrey Cain](https://time.com/author/geoffrey-cain/) Dec 1, 2011 5:00 AM UTC  Carsten Peter / National Geographic / Getty Images by [Geoffrey Cain](https://time.com/author/geoffrey-cain/) Dec 1, 2011 5:00 AM UTC Vietnam hasn’t made it easy for visitors to see the country’s most fascinating superlative. At least 4 km long and more than 140 m high and wide in parts, Hang Son Doong is the world’s largest known cave passage. But it lies in the heart of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park on the Laotian border, reachable only after an arduous nine-hour trek and set in jungle so thick that many groups have had trouble finding the entrance or missed it completely. Hang Son Doong was discovered by a local in 1991, but people from the area were deterred from venturing in because of the unnerving sound of fast-flowing water that can be heard at the cave entrance. (The noise originates from the 2.5-km-long underground river that gives Hang Son Doong, or Mountain River Cave, its name.) A British team made the first proper exploration in 2009, discovering stalagmites more than 70 m high. [(See pictures of the China-Vietnam border war, 30 years later.)](https://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1879849,00.html) If you’re game, Phong Nha Discovery Tours, phongnhadiscovery.com, runs trips to Hang Son Doong, from $450 to $900 per person and lasting two to three days. But the area offers around 150 limestone caves and grottoes, some of which are much more accessible. Phong Nha Cave, for example, is just a 15-minute boat ride from the national park’s main entrance. Its dreamlike geological formations are enhanced by ancient Hindu altars carved into the rock. Boats can go about 1.5 km into this sanctuary, but if you’re an expert caver, take along scuba gear: it’s possible to venture another 3 km, but only after swimming through a black, underwater abyss. [See 25 authentic Asian experiences.](https://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1934455%5F1934447,00.html) [See Time.com/Travel for city guides, stories and advice.](https://www.time.com/time/travel) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/archive/6938739/in-deep-go-underground-to-see-the-best-of-vietnam/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/archive/6938739/in-deep-go-underground-to-see-the-best-of-vietnam/"},"headline":"In Deep: Go Underground to See the Best of Vietnam","datePublished":"2011-12-01T05:00:00.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-23T06:11:10.387Z","description":"Vietnam hasn't made it easy for visitors to see the country's most fascinating superlative. 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