Explore the Chu Bluk volcanic cave.

After traversing the scorching road, the group arrived at the foot of the volcano. While the surrounding area featured sparse dipterocarp forests, oil palms, or deciduous trees during the dry season, the area around the crater was covered with countless dense thickets of thorny bushes and tall, overgrown grasses. Reaching the summit, approximately 600 meters above sea level, brought a moment of relief from fatigue as they gazed upon the spectacular scenery. The guide continuously encouraged the group, boosting their spirits as they prepared to explore the caves starting from the crater.

The Chu Bluk volcanic cave system is named by scientists using a combination of letters and numbers. Our group had enough time to explore three caves, and we were particularly impressed with caves C9 and C8.

Cave C9 has a large arched entrance, likened to a miniature Son Doong Cave in Quang Binh province , with lush green vegetation near the mouth. The path down to the cave is a steep slope of about 30-40 degrees. Large and small lava rocks are piled up and scattered along the way, making it quite difficult for the whole group to move down. Cave C8 is hidden under a dense canopy of trees and was once a gas vent during the lava flow, then expanded by weathering and collapse. To descend into the cave, we had to use ropes, being lowered down one by one.

The feeling at that moment was a mix of excitement and fear, as if we were falling into the mouth of a sleeping "monster." The world inside the cave was truly wondrous, especially when sunlight shone through, illuminating the moss-covered rocks and clumps of ferns. The scene was eerie and captivating; some people were startled when they encountered a giant spider lying motionless on the cave floor.

After a tiring but emotionally fulfilling trekking journey, the whole group returned to the homestay and enjoyed dinner with local specialties such as grilled chicken and sour fish soup with red-tailed catfish, prepared by Cường Núi Lửa's mother herself. We raised our glasses of warm wine together, the scent of burnt grass and the mountain forest lingering in the air!

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