World’s largest cave Son Doong listed among ‘otherworldly’ destinations

Sinkhole 1 aka “Watch Out for Dinosaurs” inside Son Doong Cave. Photo courtesy of Oxalis

The British publication included Son Doong in its late-March roundup of nine “otherworldly” destinations, which feel like they belong on another planet.

“The world’s largest cave at nearly 9 km long, you could fit an entire New York city block inside with room to spare,” Wanderlust wrote about the Vietnamese cave.

Some of the world’s tallest stalagmites, reaching over 80 meters, are found here. The cave also contains at least 150 smaller caves and underground rivers.

Access to Son Doong is only possible via guided tours, with strict limits on visitor numbers to protect the environment. Tours must be booked in advance, often up to a year ahead.

Beyond its appeal to explorers, Son Doong has been a backdrop for productions such as Alan Walker’s music video “Alone, Pt II”, the BBC’s “Planet Earth” series, and other international programs.

The cave was discovered in 1990 by Ho Khanh, a logger from Phong Nha Town, Quang Binh Province. It was recognized by Guinness World Records in 2013 as the world’s largest natural cave and again in 2015 for having the greatest volume.

In 2022, Google honored Son Doong with a Doodle on its homepage in 18 countries, marking the anniversary of its world record recognition.

Other surreal destinations in the list include Iceland’s Vatnajökull National Park, Brazil’s Lencois Maranhenses, and Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni salt flats.