Luxury resorts near Vietnam’s world-famous caves
On the beaches of the central Quang Binh Province, six resorts offer easy access to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a primeval forest home to over 300 remarkable caves.
The Sun Spa Resort Quang Binh in the town of Dong Hoi is around 50 kilometers from Phong Nha-Ke Bang.
Stretching along Bao Ninh beach, the resort features 234 rooms, 12 beach front villas and 10 bungalows with private swimming pools and Jacuzzi baths.
The best rooms have ocean views, and all rooms are designed in a classic European style with private terraces.
The resort provides Sun Spa guests free Yoga and Tai Chi classes on Bao Ninh beach.
Due to its proximity to Phong Nha-Ke Bang, guests can easily book tours to visit Son Doong, the world’s largest cave, as well as the popular Thien Duong (Paradise) or Tu Lan caves.
Run by a Vietnamese and Australian couple, Phong Nha Lake House Resort in Bo Trach District is around 12 kilometers from Phong Nha-Ke Bang and has 34 rooms overlooking Dong Suong Lake’s poetic natural scenery.
Its design takes its inspiration from a traditional northern Vietnamese architecture.
All rooms here are constructed using natural materials such as timber, stone, brick, thatched roofs and Vietnamese terracotta tiles.
It has an outdoor swimming pool on the terrace and three restaurants serving Asian and Western cuisine.
In addition to cave tours, guests can go sailing, kayaking or enjoy other adventurous water sports on Dong Suon Lake.
Located on Vo Nguyen Giap Street in Dong Hoi Town, Gold Coast Hotel Resort & Spa has 132 rooms, seven villas and several bungalows stretching along Bao Ninh beach.
It is around 50 kilometers from Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
The resort has an outdoor swimming pool overlooking the sandy beach.
There are six different room types, including those with ocean views and others with city views.
In addition to four restaurants, the resort has a pool bar and a lobby bar that can seat 70 guests at a time.
Manli Resort in Dong Hoi Town is around 40 kilometers from Phong Nha-Ke Bang and has 93 rooms, including 32 bungalows.
A 600-square-meter outdoor swimming pool surrounded by green trees and villas with red-tiled roofs is one of the resort’s highlights.
But the biggest draw here is all the villas overlooking Nhat Le beach, one of the most beautiful in Quang Binh Province.
The sand and sea are only a few feet from the doorsteps of the resort’s accommodations.
Guests here can choose ocean view rooms or those with views of the pool.
The resort is not far from Dong Hoi Market and Nhat Le Bridge.
The Chay Lap Farmstay, around 20 kilometers from Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, is a favorite of travelers touring caves like Son Doong, Tu Lan and Tien. Its natural landscape and green farms make it one of the most popular homestays around.
It has 41 rooms: 14 farm rooms with unique floating houses designs, 11 garden rooms, and 16 mountain rooms.
Each bungalow uses a dome, paneled with pine wood and tiled with bamboo.
Chay Lap Farmstay offers outdoor picnic activities in Chay village, which is nestled among million-year-old limestone mountains and green forests.
Popular outdoor activities here are cycling, football, walking, and rowing on a small lake.
Currently, Oxalis is the only private tour operator in Quang Binh licensed to operate adventurous tours to Son Doong and Tu Lan.
The price for a four-day expedition into Son Doong costs $3,000 per person, while a three-day tour of Tu Lan costs VND7.2 million ($315.33) per person.
Located in Dong Hoi Town, Celina Peninsula Resort is around 50 kilometers from Phong Nha-Ke Bang and no less than one kilometer from Nhat Le beach.
Surrounded by a tropical garden, the resort has 171 rooms, villas and bungalows with garden or beach views. Each room has a private balcony or terrace.
All rooms are designed in neoclassical style in combination with French architectural features.
It has two restaurants and a bar next to an outdoor swimming pool.
The resort has an outdoor space for parties and events that can accommodate 700 people.
According to online travel booking agencies, Celina Peninsula Resort is popular thanks to its greenness and convenient location.