Before 1990, Phong Nha was a remote village along the banks of the Son River, almost isolated from the outside world. Most local people made a living from the forest, working as loggers or gathering forest products. Back then, the caves were simply part of daily life, used as shelters from the rain, sources of fresh water, or landmarks to help people find their way through the jungle. During the war, caves such as Hang Tam Co, Hang Y Ta, and Commander Cave (NH General Depot) were important sites on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, bearing the scars of heavy bombardment.
In the early 1990s, the British cave explorers began their journey to survey and document the cave systems here, capturing a series of rare photographs of the area. Recognizing the economic potential of tourism, local authorities officially opened Phong Nha Cave, creating the most significant turning point for the region. This development brought electricity and a highway connection to the village, gradually transforming the local economy. Following its UNESCO recognition in 2003, Phong Nha Cave recorded a surge in tourist arrivals.
By 2011, the opening of Paradise Cave created another major change for the area. At the same period, National Geographic’s features on Son Doong Cave - the world’s largest cave passage - made a global impact, drawing a surge of international tourists to Phong Nha. Following this global attention, the official launch of Son Doong Cave expedition tours in 2013 firmly established Phong Nha as a world-class adventure destination.
Today, Phong Nha’s tourism industry employs over 5,000 local people. Along with adventure tours, the establishment of more than 150 hotels and homestays has significantly improved living standards and opened up future opportunities for the younger generation. The discovery and sustainable development of these caves have become key drivers of the province’s socio-economic growth.
In 1990, a team of British cavers led by Mr. Howard Limbert set off for the first cave exploration journey into the Ke Bang Massif. Although it is one of the largest limestone massifs in the world, the region had remained largely unknown to international caving communities for many decades.
From 1990, the team successfully completed a series of cave expeditions, self-funded by their own financial resources. One of the most significant achievements was the 2009 discovery of Son Doong Cave, recognized as the largest natural cave passage on Earth. To date, over 400 caves have been measured and described by the team. These tireless efforts have provided invaluable scientific knowledge and contributed to the growth of local tourism, creating numerous employment opportunities and a higher quality of life for the people in the region.
Today, Phong Nha caves and Tu Lan Cave System stand as unique destinations for adventure travelers worldwide. Formed over millions of years, these natural wonders continue to be the subject of ongoing cave exploration, adding new and remarkable chapters to the history of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This space is a tribute to the extraordinary legacy of those who have spent decades uncovering the secrets of Phong Nha caves.
Our exhibition follows a timeline that starts from the first expedition in 1990 and leads all the way to the amazing explorations of the following decades. As you walk through the gallery, you will see unique photos, surveys & maps, and the most important moments from each year of exploration. If you want to learn more about a specific stage, simply Scan the QR codes placed throughout the displays for extra details.
As your journey nears its end, we invite you to take a moment to watch world-class footage from National Geographic, BBC Planet Earth, and CBS 60 Minutes about the caves. These films are paired with exclusive interviews of the explorers and local guides who helped bring these stories to the world.
For the final part of your adventure, don't miss our VR360 Virtual Reality Tour. This experience uses the latest technology to take you directly into the heart of Son Doong Cave, the world’s largest cave passage. Please visit our ticket counter to book your spot and begin this extraordinary journey.
Howard Limbert is a British cave explorer with over 50 years of experience surveying cave systems worldwide. He began exploring caves in Vietnam in 1990 and has served as the Leader of the British-Vietnamese Cave Expedition team for several decades.
Accompanied with his team, he has participated in the discovery, measurement, and mapping of over 400 caves in Phong Nha and surrounding areas, including Son Doong Cave - the world’s largest cave passage. These studies provided the essential foundation for establishing Phong Nha-Ke Bang as an international destination for adventure and caving tourism.
In 2015, the Vietnamese government awarded him the Labor Order, Third Class, in recognition of his contributions to the region's development. Currently, he serves as the Technical Director at Oxalis Adventure, where he is responsible for safety management and training safety specialists, adventure tour-guides, and safety assistants.
Debora Limbert is a cave explorer with 50 years of global caving experience and over 35 years dedicated to the cave exploration in Vietnam. She has played a vital role within the British caving team in organizing logistics and coordinating operations, ensuring the expeditions have run smoothly and safely for decades.
With a professional background in healthcare, she brings meticulous care and a scientific mindset to risk management and expedition planning. Her deep connection to Phong Nha goes beyond exploration; it is seen in her lifelong efforts to support and empower the local community. For many years, she has built a strong foundation for professional cave operations by establishing clear safety guidelines and providing expert training. Her quiet but vital contributions have helped Oxalis Adventure become a world-class operator, bringing the beauty of Phong Nha’s caves to travelers from around the world.
Born in 1969 in Phong Nha, Ho Khanh is known as the first person to find the entrance to Son Doong Cave. In 1990, while working in the jungle, he accidentally discovered the cave's entrance. However, it was not until 2007, after working with the British cave exploration team, that he began his search to relocate the entrance. In 2009, based on information provided by Ho Khanh, the expedition team returned to Phong Nha, successfully found the entrance, and documented the world’s largest cave passage. In 2010, he continued to accompany the National Geographic film crew during their filming of the cave, a project that brought global attention to the cave.
Since the official launch of Son Doong expedition tours in 2013, Ho Khanh has served as the Porter Team Leader. With his profound jungle experience and decisive character, Ho Khanh ensures his local team provides dedicated & reliable logistics support. The growth of sustainable tourism has provided a stable livelihood for his family and hundreds of others in Phong Nha, moving them away from forest exploitation to protecting and introducing their homeland’s beauty to the world.
General Vo Nguyen Giap, revered as the 'Eldest Brother' of the Vietnam People's Army was a legendary national hero who led Vietnam to historic victories that gained worldwide recognition. Beyond his military genius, he was a master strategist with a profound, long-term vision for the country. Born in Quang Binh Province, he was deeply devoted to the economic development of his homeland. In 1992, during a visit to Phong Nha, he happened to meet the British cave expedition team that had stopped their exploration to take care of an ill member. This brief and simple meeting left a lasting impression on the cave explorers as the General demonstrated an extraordinary knowledge of the Truong Son mountains. He shared his insights on the importance of Karst geological research for science and tourism, while also emphasizing the need to balance economic development with environmental conservation. This philosophy was a pioneering example of what we now call "sustainable development." This is a picture of the handwritten note that General Giap left for the team, which Howard Limbert and his colleagues have treasured until today.
"The research of Karst caves for tourism, economy and science is a very important task. It must be carried out very well. It is always necessary to pay attention to the protection of the environment."
General Vo Nguyen Giap.
Spring 1992
After some years gap due to the pandemic, the British caving team returned in 2023 & 2024 to continue the exploration in Quang Binh. In these years, the team surveyed more than 15km of new passages.
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 2001 and 2005 represents a special chapter in the journey of British cavers in Vietnam.
The period between 2011 and 2015 represents a phase of intensive exploration for the British Cavers in Quang Binh.