This is the story of Son Doong, the largest cave in the world, and of the man who found it and then could not find it again. In December 1990, Ho Khanh, a local man who made his living from the forest, was deep in the jungle hunting for agarwood, a valuable wood. A heavy rain caught him. He took shelter beneath a limestone cliff and noticed mist pouring out of the rock. Inside, he could hear a river roaring far below. A strong wind blew out of the opening, and it frightened him. He did not go in. He walked home through the storm, and when he reached his village he realized he could not remember the way back. There were no trails, only forest. He told people about the misty cave with the roaring river. Where had he been standing?
Son Doong: The Cave a Farmer Lost
Ho Khanh found a cave in 1990, lost the way back, and in 2008 found it again: Son Doong, the largest known cave on Earth.
Chapter 1
A Storm in the Jungle
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who discovered Son Doong cave and how?
Ho Khanh, a local logger, found the entrance in December 1990 while sheltering from a storm during an agarwood hunt. He could not remember the route back to the cave through the jungle, so it was lost for 18 years. He rediscovered it in 2008.
How big is Son Doong compared with other caves?
Its main passage runs more than 5 kilometres, reaching 200 metres high and 150 metres wide. Its volume is roughly 38.5 million cubic metres, about four times that of the previous record holder. A jumbo jet could fly through it without its wings touching the walls.
Can visitors go into Son Doong today?
Yes, but access is tightly limited. A single operator is licensed, and only 1,000 visitors are permitted each year. Each group of 10 travels with 30 porters and experts, and Ho Khanh heads the local porter team.
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