Explore the Chu Bluk volcanic cave system

After crossing the scorching road, the group reached the foot of the volcano. While the area outside featured sparse dipterocarp forests, oil palm trees, or deciduous trees in the dry season, the area around the crater was covered with countless dense thickets of thorny bushes and foul-smelling grasses, growing taller than a person's head. No image description.

Reaching the summit, approximately 600 meters above sea level, is when all the fatigue disappears as you gaze upon the spectacular scenery. No image description.

The guide constantly encouraged and boosted the morale of the entire group as they prepared to explore the caves starting from the volcanic crater. No image description.

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. No image description.

Cave C9 has a large arched entrance, often likened to a miniature Son Doong Cave in Quang Binh province, with lush green vegetation near the cave mouth. No image description.

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 entire path down to the cave, making it quite difficult for the whole group to move. No image description.

Cave C8 is hidden beneath a dense canopy of trees and was once a gas vent released during a lava flow, which was later expanded by weathering and collapse. To descend into the cave, we had to use ropes, being lowered one person at a time. No image description.

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. No image description.

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!

Heritage Magazine