Many tourists wish to explore the biggest cave in the world, Son Doong, between 2-5 million-years old is a massive cave system in the central province of Quang Binh. Following are photos from an expedition of a group of tourists to Son Doong cave in the early days of the New Year.


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   Son Doong cave is located in Tan Trach commune, Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province. It has a width of 150m and a height of 200 m, with a total length of nearly 9km. Its full extent was discovered in 2009 and it is part of the underground system connecting more than 150 other caves in Vietnam near the border with Laos. Pictured is the entrance of En Cave in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park.

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 A group of visitors enter the murky darkness of the cave.

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   Massive Sky hole No 1 offers the perfect setting for dramatic photographs.

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 The dome of the cave from sky hole No 2.

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 The Great Wall of Vietnam, first traversed in 2010.

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  A tour guide for the expedition checks the visitors’ safety harnesses before climbing the Great Wall of Vietnam.

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    Visitors need to prepare their physical strength and caving skills before exploring the vast Son Doong cave.

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    Huynh Thao, a visitor says she has to spend US$3,000 on the expedition. She also undertook a physical training course four months ago to prepare for the journey.

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   At the sky hole No 1.

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   The dome of the cave.

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     Camping site at sky hole No 2.

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   Pearls of Son Doong cave are the largest to have ever been discovered anywhere in the world, say experts.

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  Expert Adam Spillane, a member from the British Cave Research Association explains the formation process of cave pearls in the sky hole No 2 in Son Dong Cave.

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    A fossilised skeleton at the back of the cave.

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Cave pearls

VOV