The period between 2001 and 2005 represents a special chapter in the journey of British cavers in Vietnam. By 2001, the team - based primarily in the village of Son Trach - had already identified the existence of two primary cave systems within Ke Bang Massif: the Phong Nha system and the Hang Vom system. The expeditions during this five-year window were characterized by deep-jungle cave exploration with basecamps set inside Hang En cave and jungle.
A team of four British cavers and one geologist had a five-day camp in Hang En on this expedition to resolve the cave undiscovered. This led to the discovery of Hang Lanh, a resurgence cave and one of the feeders to the Phong Nha System. Also Hang Doi and Hang Ca were explored in this area.
By the end of 2001, the Phong Nha system reached a total length of 44.5km, solidifying its status as the longest cave system in Vietnam.
The expedition of this year successfully surveyed and mapped a total of 4.690m.
Key Achievements
The 2003 expedition focused on pushing deeper into the dense wilderness of the Ruc Ca Roong area. The mission's primary objective was to extend the upstream exploration of the Hang Vom system while systematically surveying the rugged terrain situated between the known sinks and resurgences of both major networks.
The expedition of this year successfully surveyed and mapped a total of 6.257 m.
Key Achievements
The cave has a total length of up to 2.2 kilometers and is estimated to be around 2 million years old
In this year the team explored caves in the Vom System, Hang Klung, Kling and A Cu. In Minh Hoa District two significant river caves were explored Ma Nghi for 610m and Thuy Van for 691m. The team also visited Quang Ninh District, and found some significant caves. Hang Rao May 136m and Birthday Cave 388m are part of what is now quite an extensive river cave system. Hang Cha Rao, a resurgence cave, was explored for 2 kilometres, without a conclusion, stopping at a waterfall which was too wet to climb.
The team also started to explore areas to the West of the Chay river. Exploring Hang Nuoc Lan 965m and Hang Da Trang 270m. Near Phong Nha Village Hang Duc 1335m was explored. Also explored was Hang Me Bon Con 732m. This cave was significant, because the guide also took the team to another entrance, which turned out to be the dry entrance to Hang Vom. This entrance had been explored from the original Hang Vom entrance in 1992, and not seen since. This entrance was developed in 2010 and is now Paradise Cave, open to the general public, and is a very spectacular show cave.
The expedition of this year successfully surveyed and mapped a total of 11.5km.
Key Achievements
Hang Klung
With a length of over 1,085m, Hang Klung is an impressive cave that connects to the Rục Cà Roòng river system. The cave features a steep entrance slope that leads into a massive chamber filled with ancient stalactites and dry rimstone pools. A strong draft of air guides explorers through its giant passages, some of which measure up to 50m wide.
Hang Kling
Hang Kling is a smaller cave, measuring approximately 120m in length. It is located near a local cave settlement and serves as a short, transit-style passage through the limestone cliffs.
Hang Ma Nghi/Thuy Van
Located in the Minh Hoa District, these two river caves measure 610m and 691m respectively. They are characterized by active water passages that require swimming and wading through high-level fossil sections. The caves are quite accessible, featuring sandy floors and unique fissures that lead back out to the jungle surface.
Ma Nghi Cave and its massive stalactite formations.
Hang Cha Rao
Measuring over 2,008m, Hang Cha Rao was the longest cave explored during the 2005 expedition. This spectacular river cave is famous for its extremely long swimming sections and emerald-blue water. The journey inside involves navigating through magnificent calcite dams and challenging waterfalls, eventually ending at a vertical waterfall.
Stalactites inside Cha Rao Cave
Hang Nuoc Lan
Hang Nuoc Lan reaches a length of 965m and is famous for its monumental entrance, which is as large as a highway tunnel. The interior is truly grand, with some sections reaching 60m in width and 50m in height. It features a rugged terrain of house-sized boulders and ends at a deep, noisy pit.
Hang Me Bon Con
This 732m cave is a hidden gem located near the famous Hang Vom. It has incredibly fragile and rare formations, including "cave pearls" and unique cone-shaped mud structures that look like a miniature forest.
MAJOR CAVES EXPLORED | ||
|---|---|---|
2001 | 2003 | 2005 |
Hang Lanh | Hang Nuoc Nut | Hang Klung |
Hang Doi | Hang So Doi | Hang Kling |
Hang Ca | Hang So Dua | Hang Ma Nghi/Thuy Van |
Hang About | Hang Cha Rao | |
Hang Nuoc Lan | ||
Hang Me Bon Con | ||
CAVE PASSAGE SURVEYED | ||
|---|---|---|
2001 | 2003 | 2005 |
4690m | 6257m | 11.5km |
After some years gap due to the pandemic, the British caving team returned in 2023 & 2024 to continue the exploration in Quang Binh.
The period between 2016 and 2020 marks 30 years of British caving expeditions to Vietnam, moving beyond the established master systems into the rugged, less-accessible karst of Quang Ninh and Minh Hoa Districts.
Following the resounding success of the initial stage (1990-1995), the British Cavers returned to Quang Binh in 1997 and 1999.
From 2006 to 2010, a series of expeditions transformed the Ke Bang Massif into a global caving landmark.
The Phong Nha-Ke Bang Massif, located in Quang Binh Province, Central Vietnam, is one of the largest limestone massifs in the world and the oldest in Southeast Asia, with rocks dating back 450 million years.
The period between 2011 and 2015 represents a phase of intensive exploration for the British Cavers in Quang Binh.