Are there any other war-related sites in Ho Chi Minh City that complement the museum visit?
Lost in obscurity for over two decades, the Kong Collapse was rediscovered in the most unexpected way—through the mysterious image of a “dragon’s eye” captured by a drone. What appeared next was even more astonishing: a massive sinkhole shaped strikingly like the head of King Kong from the Hollywood blockbuster. This surreal formation has since unlocked a thrilling new chapter in the underground exploration of Quang Binh—the cave kingdom of Vietnam.
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How Kong Sinkhole was found?
Kong sinkhole is located deep in the Tiger Cave system in the Phong Nha - Ke Bang area, Quang Binh Province. The Kong sinkhole was first discovered in 1997 by a British expert during the annual Phong Nha - Ke Bang discovery trip.
At that time, the only way to reach this sinkhole was to swim through Dai A Cave, also known as Tiger Cave. It was temporarily called a closed sinkhole because there was no way out. Therefore, cave experts could not complete the cave map and the whole cave system became a big question mark.
Drone shot capturing the full scale of the Kong Collapse sinkhole surrounded by untouched forest
More than 20 years later, Mr. Le Luu Dung, a cave explorer in Quang Binh, discovered an eye orbit of this super sinkhole from a drone. When the drone flew out of range, this super sinkhole appeared with the strange shape of the one and only King Kong of the MonsterVerse. As a matter of fact, Quang Binh was also the place where the blockbuster movie Kong: Skull Island was filmed.
Entrance to Tiger Cave system leading to the Kong Sinkhole in Vietnam
With curiosity, Mr. Dung and his group planned to explore the mysterious rocky cavity. The group had to walk for 6 hours and swim through the Tiger Cave. Afterward, they followed the drone, opened a path in the forest themselves, and crossed the steep slope without human footprints by following the footprints of the mountain goat.
"Members who managed to conquer the Kong sinkhole said the path to the top of it was very difficult because the path was full of sharp cat's ear stones. The slope was vertical, one side was a cliff, and the other side was an abyss. But Kong sinkhole was too beautiful, at that time, I could not believe I was admiring a huge sinkhole," Luu Le Dung recalled.
The magnificent structure of Kong Sinkhole
According to experts, the sinkhole is a great surprise hidden in the overlapping limestone mountain system of Phong Nha-Ke Bang as this cave has a unique structure that could only be created by nature for millions of years. Most of the caves have a vertical height, pretty much like other giant skylights with low slopes.
The process of measuring the depth of the Kong sinkhole yielded an unexpected result of 450m. At the same time, 3 new paths to enter the sinkhole are being discovered: swimming through the Dai A cave, swinging over the crater or walking, although it is a bit difficult. The Kong super sinkhole has been recognized by experts of the American Cave Association as the deepest sinkhole in Vietnam and has become one of the deepest sinkholes on the planet.
Reaching the Kong sinkhole is the most difficult cave adventure tour in Vietnam at present. With many extreme challenges such as walking through the forest, swimming in the dark cave, exploring 3 consecutive caves, particularly swinging from a vertical height of 100m, from the orbit of Kong sinkhole to the bottom.
Strict standards to explore Kong Collapse
Conquering the Kong Sinkhole is one of the most breathtaking adventures nestled deep within the jungles of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. It’s not just a natural wonder that stuns even seasoned explorers; it’s a destination for thrill-seekers. To reach it, adventurers must trek over 20 kilometers of untouched forest, navigate 6.5 kilometers of pitch-dark cave systems, and swim 500 meters through icy underground rivers at just 64°F (18°C)—a journey meant only for the truly fearless.
U.S. cave experts have surveyed, assessed the safety level, and developed their own operational formula for the swing activity to explore the sinkhole. With extremely strict safety standards such as a load-bearing rope anchor system, a 3-wire system including the main swing, a safety team-controlled lifeline, and an emergency lifeline.
All safety equipment must be imported from international standard manufacturers. Safety personnel and guides must meet the standards and be unlocked with full skills to handle rescue and respond to unexpected situations.
Participants must meet the following criteria:
Mandatory age from 16 to 65.
No symptoms of fear of heights, hypertension, bones and joints, cardiovascular disease, etc.
Currently, the Kong sinkhole has been open for tourism with the support of experts and porters. Tourists have to book a 60-hour tour of 35 million VND per person. However, only those who pass the medical examination and safety test can participate in this adventurous excursion.
Because of everyone's safety, the standards for exploring this cave are also very strict, and not everyone can participate, so IZITOUR also has some suggestions for other tours in Quang Binh as well as equally, if not more, interesting alternative activities when traveling in Phong Nha-Ke Bang.
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