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| Possibly related discussions | Replies | Views | Latest reply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hue to Vinh Moc Tunnels and Phong Nha Cave ... By roynolan on 1 Sep 2009 | 3 | 3545 | 12 Jan 2011 |
rachel123
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Hi, we are currently in Hue and would like to go to see the caves in Phong Nha, but on our own not on a day tour from Hue as we would like to go straight onto Ninh Binh after. Can anyone help with the below questions as im very confused after reading/hearing different things -
1. Is it possible to visit the newly chartered caves of Son Doong now? If so how?
2. If not i think 'paradise' cave would be best for us as the main one sounds packed and very touristed, how can we go about getting there from Hue in a cheap way - has anyone gone by local bus/knows what times you can go/found somewhere good to stay/knows entrance fee and boat cost?
3. Can we get the train from Dong Hoi to Ninh Binh in the daytime and do we have to pre book?
Thanks for your help, i find it hard to get any information in Vietnam unless you book on the tours!
#1 Posted: 7/9/2011 - 14:47
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arah
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Try this:
http://www.travelfish.org/blogs/hanoi/2011/08/23/vietnams-phong-nha-ke-bang-national-park/
And this:
http://www.travelfish.org/blogs/hanoi/2011/08/12/phong-nha-farmstay/
And then this:
http://www.seat61.com (for train times)
They don't directly answer all your questions but once you've read them let me know what else you need to know.
#2 Posted: 7/9/2011 - 21:19
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karuthless
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The people to do it with are Oxalis:
http://www.oxalis.com.vn
We did a 1 day Phong Nha -Ke bang tour with them, which included Paradise cave, and it was great fun.
The place to stay (also associated with Oxalis), is the Phong Nha Farmstay.
http://phong-nha-cave.com/
Check em out on tripadvisor.
#3 Posted: 14/9/2011 - 22:14
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arah
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And check them out in the Travelfish blogs I referenced above -
#4 Posted: 14/9/2011 - 22:31
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Details about Phong Nha Farmstay.
We are a Vietnames/Australian Couple.
We have Private Rooms upstairs @ 35USD and downstairs are 25USD.
Dorm Beds in the Homestay next door are 8USD each per night.
Getting Here and Away from the North
There are early morning flights daily to and from Ha Noi to Dong Hoi with Vietnam Airlines Quiet cheap of booked in advance and takes less than an hour.
From Saigon there are Lunch time flights somedays of the week. It seems to change often.
To and from Ha Noi you can also get an overnight sleeper train which takes approx 10 hours if the wind is blowing in the correct direction and the stars are aligned. I do like the train however.
The over night Buses are best avoided if you value your life.
Transfer to or from Dong Hoi by private is 400,000VND at the train station, airport or on the Highway if you come by Bus. Heading north by bus can be arranged out of Hoan Lao by us as it's 19km east of us on Hwy 1.
Getting here and away from here to the south.
There are local buses that leave daily from our front door to Hue (150,000VND 4hrs) and Da Nang (220VND 6hrs) at 5:30am
The same Buses leave Da Nang and Hue at 1pm on the return trip. Not Comfortable but a fast and cheap and cultural experience
Private car "DMZ Highlights Transit Tour" to and from Hue is 2,300,000VND stopping at Vinh Moc Tunnels, Ben Hai River Museumand Tam's Cafe for Lunch.
Please see the following Links for info on the destinations included in the"DMZ Highlights Transit Tour" to and from Hue.
http://www.tamscafe.co.nr/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Hai_River
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinh_Moc_tunnels
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/hue/D48592.html
If others are going to or from Hue that day they can share the 2,300,000VNDcost of the car and driver.
You can decide when and how you move south or north from here once your here if you like. We can help with some great suggestions as can other travellersstaying here.
We will have some great tours and "do it youself options" here toentertain you too and full Bar facilities, Restuarant and a Pool (All menuprices are on the web sight). Also see http://www.oxalis.com.vn/GL/en/home/ andhttp://phong-nha-cave.com/
for more info on tours. We arrange some of our tours through Oxalis Adventure tours as they are a local company we support.
Ben
Ben and Bich
www.phong-nha-cave.com
phongnhafarmstay@gmail.com
Ben 0944759864
Bich 0976425332
#5 Posted: 28/9/2011 - 22:08
KevandJho
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Thanks Sarah,Ben and everyone who has contributed to this thread.
I've been researching the area and the "Phong Nha Farmstay for a few days now with great intrest. The whole area and the Farmstay look like a fantastic holiday choice.
Those caves and the surrounding area look phenominal!
I've decided to completley cancel 3 days in Nha Trang and also borrowed one day from my planned Phu Quoc stay, so I can possibly visit there for four days commencing Dec 23rd. If anything is available then, "What a Christmas present!"
Ben, I sent you a reservation request and I'm really hoping you have something available.
Thanks,
Kand J
#6 Posted: 29/9/2011 - 10:45
PNFS
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Kand J,
Got it and replied,
X-Mass is filling quick though. As is New Years. There is also a fair bit of feedback on the area if you simply Google "Phong Nha Farm Stay".
#7 Posted: 29/9/2011 - 13:25
MotHaiBa
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Rachel123,
Plenty of good info from Ben and Sarah. After you've done your stint at Phong Nha - Ke Bang, you can get a train from Dong Hoi to Ninh Binh. For comfort, suggest that the best one would be a soft sleeper on the SE20 that leaves DH just before midnight and arrives in NB at about 9am. The other SE trains look OK as well but bear in mind not all have sleepers. The TN2 is for the hardy - 10 hours on a wooden seat arriving at midnight. You should be able to get your tickets easily enough at the railway station when you first come through Dong Hoi on your way to Phong Nha. Ben should be able to help you out there.
Cheers.
#8 Posted: 29/9/2011 - 20:10
MotHaiBa
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Rachel123,
Plenty of good info from Ben and Sarah. After you've done your stint at Phong Nha - Ke Bang, you can get a train from Dong Hoi to Ninh Binh. For comfort, suggest that the best one would be a soft sleeper on the SE20 that leaves DH just before midnight and arrives in NB at about 9am. The other SE trains look OK as well but bear in mind not all have sleepers. The TN2 is for the hardy - 10 hours on a wooden seat arriving at midnight. You should be able to get your tickets easily enough at the railway station when you first come through Dong Hoi on your way to Phong Nha. Ben should be able to help you out there.
Cheers.
#9 Posted: 29/9/2011 - 20:12
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There are Night Buses to to Ninh Binh from Hoan Lao that we can organize tickets for, for less money than the train but we at Phong Nha Farmstay recommend the train as a much safer and reliable and enjoyable experience. Buses are scary! Good detailed info on the trains MotHaiBa.
Yo!
#10 Posted: 29/9/2011 - 20:50
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KevandJho
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Thanks everyone for the transportation info.....it's good to know and valuable information.
#11 Posted: 1/10/2011 - 09:49