Regarding the story about foreign experts from Oxalis Company (the company currently operating Son Doong and Tu Lan caves in Quang Binh province ) surveying volcanic cave complexes in Dong Nai province for tourism development investment, on March 9th, a representative from the Dong Nai Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism stated that Oxalis Company had submitted a report to the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee on the results of the survey.
The teak forest area, home to a unique system of volcanic caves.
PHOTO: LE LAM
In its report, Oxalis Company stated that it had surveyed three caves (temporarily referred to as caves 1, 2, and 3) in the teak forest of Dinh Quan District; and two other caves on land belonging to households in Tan Phu District (cave number 10 and 11).
Experts assess that caves 10 and 11, currently flooded and home to millions of bats, are unsuitable for tourism development. Furthermore, these caves show signs of deterioration, with significant waste accumulation and erosion due to heavy rainfall.
Experts from Oxalis Company conducted the survey in early January 2025.
PHOTO: HK
However, if properly restored, these caves could be developed into small-scale homestay and cafe tourism models, combined with fruit garden tourism and other tourist attractions in Ta Lai and Nam Cat Tien National Park, offering great potential for ecotourism in Tan Phu.
Regarding the three caves in the teak forest area, experts assessed cave number 1 as having a spacious and open entrance. However, the inside of the cave contains water, mud, and bat droppings, making the air dense and unsuitable for tourism.
Cave No. 2 is a continuation of Cave No. 1 (due to the collapse of the cave ceiling). The entrance is small, the cave is about 200m long, 3-4m wide, and 2-3m high. Inside, it is dry, there are no bats, and the cave floor is flat and easy to walk on.
"This cave has the potential to develop a cave lodge model combined with tourism," according to the report.
The entrances to the two caves.
PHOTO: HK
Cave No. 3 is approximately 300m long and 2m deep, with two entrances. The cave boasts beautiful scenery, is clean, and is free of bats. Tree roots penetrating the cave ceiling create a unique atmosphere. This cave could be developed into a volcanic cave tourism product, with a tour duration of 45-60 minutes.
According to experts, the teak forest is a vast area with many ancient trees, possessing potential for tourism development such as zipline and treetop attractions within the forest, drawing tourists along National Highway 20 connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat.
Based on the above assessments, Oxalis Company proposed two tourism models to the People's Committee of Dong Nai province: One is the Cave Lodge model: "This will be the most unique cave accommodation model in the world ," which can be combined with sightseeing tours when there are no overnight guests.
A corner of the teak forest during the dry season.
PHOTO: LE LAM
Accordingly, the company will install two houses at the two cave entrances to prevent subsidence and rainwater from entering the cave. These houses will include living and sleeping areas, creating a unique accommodation option for tourists.
This model can accommodate up to 10 guests, with prices ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 per night. When not in use, the accommodation becomes a tourist attraction.
Inside a volcanic cave
PHOTO: HK
The second model is cave exploration: The company will install a lighting system to serve tourists. At both ends of the cave entrance, two prefabricated houses can be installed, displaying images and videos about the formation of volcanoes and volcanic caves, combined with virtual reality to enhance the visitor experience.
This type of tour could attract both domestic and international tourists, especially groups of students and travelers passing through National Highway 20 to Da Lat.
With both models, Oxalis Company says it can complete the project in 90 days.
National Highway 20 runs through a teak forest.
PHOTO: LE LAM
Previously, in 2013, the Institute of Tropical Biology (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology) and the Berlin Cave Society (Germany) conducted a survey of this volcanic cave complex. The team surveyed a total of 11 caves with a total length of 1.8 km. The longest cave was 534 m long, 10 m wide, and 4 m high.
Thanhnien.vn
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/kham-pha-hang-dong-nui-lua-o-dong-nai-voi-mo-hinh-luu-tru-doc-dao-185250309104602032.htm
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