Vietnam is home to some of the world’s most spectacular caves, including the vast Hang Son Doong. For many travellers, exploring these caves is a highlight. For me, however, it was a very different story.
Our group visited Tam Coc in Ninh Binh, but I chose a boat trip in Trang An instead. There’s often debate about which is better, but I wasn’t particularly eager for another cave experience — despite my usual love of adventure.
I booked an organised tour locally. Along the way, we made a brief stop at an impressive architectural complex and an ancient temple, rich in history and relics, before continuing on to the caves.
At Trang An, we joined the queue for Dia Linh Cave (also known as Sui Tien Linh, or “Sacred Mountain”), one of the area’s top attractions and part of the UNESCO World Heritage site.
From the outset, I knew this was going to be a challenge.
The cave was filled with striking cone-shaped stalagmites, formed over thousands of years. It felt dark, enclosed, and endless — even with dim lighting. Under normal circumstances, I would have found this fascinating. Instead, I could barely bring myself to look, willing the journey to be over.
Then, halfway through, a boat ahead of us broke down.
We were stuck.
For about fifteen long minutes, we had no choice but to wait in the darkness while it was cleared. Some travellers tried to lighten the mood by singing loudly, clearly amused by the situation. I, on the other hand, was anything but amused.
I just wanted to see daylight again.
One of the highlights of my trip was cruising through the spectacular limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay.
→ Read my full Ha Long Bay cruise experience
