This is why we wanted to go to Dong Hoi. The caves are spectacular, and graded up to expert and experienced cavers, to those who are afraid of the dark. These latter cave parts have lights and stairs, boy do they have stairs!! Mike and Yvonne were willing to go on the 'adventure tour', but that section of the 'dry cave' was flooded. (Don't worry, some things in Vietnam make no sense at all).
Still, we got our daily dose of exercise. The entrance to the Paradise Cave (Hang Thien Duong) is some 750 metres up a long drag of switchback tracks.
This is the longest dry cave in Asia, at 31 km.
The Vietnamese have constructed a series of wooden steps and platforms that extend about 1 km in, which is all lit. After that the more adventurous can go further with caving equipment.
So, having climbed the 250 odd steps down into the cave you then turn around and climb 250 steps out of the cave. Don't forget you are still half way up this big hill/mountain, and as you are not allowed to go back down using the switchback you came up on, you have to take the stairs. All 400 odd of them!!
Then lunch. Food is very good, although finding vegie stuff is a bit demanding. Yvonne is now a black belt in the use of chopsticks.
The next cave was a doddle. Jump on a boat and it goes into the Phong Nha cave, which is part of the Ho Chi Minh trails. Used during the Vietnam war to hide troops and supplies.
Not a great deal else to see in Dong Hoi. Got a train ticket to Hue, a place famous for it's citadel, and past Emperors tombs.
Leave with some pictures of dark, scary caves; Yvonne with chopsticks.
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