Lung Khuy: Gorgeous Cave in Ha Giang

limestone cascades inside Lung Khuy Cave, North Vietnam

Table of Contents

Lung Khuy Cave

The cave was opened on 31st Dec 2015 after 5 billion dong was invested to make it accessible to the public. There is a path, about 1km long, from the road up the hill to the entrance and a network of some 400m of metal walkways that act as viewing platforms.

Halfway along the path is a view point where you can take a nice selfie. At the end of the path and close to the entrance of the cave are a small café, a toilet and ticket booth. It costs 50,000VND for an adult, 20,000VND for a child, and is free for anyone under 6 or over 60 years old.

On the route to the cave, you will see ethnic women selling seasonal local produce such as rock honey, turmeric and radishes. Once inside, you’ll see some very impressive rock formations. The local authorities developed the cave into a fantastic tourist attraction and the metal walkways throughout make it accessible to everyone.

the interior of Lung Khuy Cave, Ha Giang
the interior of Lung Khuy Cave, Ha Giang

Getting to Ha Giang

Ha Giang’s first and most recently opened cave on the plateau is Lung Khuy cave. An amazing natural spectacle tucked away in the hillside between Quan Ba and Yen Minh.

You have two choices of how to get to Ha Giang town. You can take a bike from Rentabike Hanoi and drive up. This involves a very long drive (300km). Alternatively, you could consider a stopover in Vu Linh or Green Vietnam. If you make the trip in two days you may wish to stop just 25km short of Ha Giang at Noong Lake, which makes for a nice picnic location if you have time, before heading to the main town.

Ha Giang's Fairy Mountains
after Heaven's Gate you will go down the pass and look over the valley to the Fairy Mountains

How to Get to Lung Khuy Cave

Assuming you have already got to Ha Giang, you take the 4C also known as ‘Happiness Rd‘ up to Quan Ba. It’s an easy route, mostly tarmac, and the only real difficulty is the occasional set of road works. Take it easy on the corners: use your horn and stay on your side of the road and all should be fine. It can be a squeeze at times if you are in a car, but you’re not 🙂

Taking this route will allow you to stop at Bac Sum Pass, then on to Heaven’s Gate, to take a few photos and to the lookout point to see Fairy Mountain.

Alternative Route

For the more adventurous driver, there is an alternative route to Quan Ba and Lung Khuy Cave. Initially, you follow the 4C to get out of town and head northwards. After around 8km you will come to the small town of Pac Cap. There is a bridge across the river, which you cross and then turn left to continue northward. This is good road for about 10km and then it turns into a wide dirt track that gets smaller and smaller.

There are one or two small river crossings but nothing worth worrying about. You will be in the middle of nowhere with little chance of help so it is wise to take things slow. Taking this route on a semi-automatic is fine in the dry weather, but after rain it’s a lot more challenging. Once you have come down into Nam Luong the road follows the river to Lung Tam and then climbs a little to your final destination.

This is a great drive but you should make sure everyone in your group has experience driving and that the weather’s not been too bad for the few days before you take it.

heading down the walkway in Lung Khuy Cave
heading down the walkway in Lung Khuy Cave

Secret Location

En route to Ha Giang, we know about another small cave that you might want to check out. It is only a short drive off the QL2 about 50km south of Ha Giang city. It is a short hike up to the cave and you will need a torch. The locals nearby often go up there and they can guide you, which is a good idea; take advantage of this. 

So, if you have time and you are interested (see the image), then get in touch with us and we can let you know where it is. 

this little cave is tucked away just a little south of Ha Giang
this little cave is tucked away just a little south of Ha Giang

Where to stay?

There are many places to stay in Quan Ba town and most of them are small guesthouses that have basic rooms and some which can offer food. A better option is to stay in one of the Dao Guesthouses in Nam Dam. These are family-run homestays and have everything you need: hot water, fire, toilets, bathing facilities (shared), fans, warm beds, great food, beer and ruou (rice wine). You can find good info on a couple of them here. With homestays, it’s always a good idea to call ahead and make sure they’ve space for you.

2022 Update: There are now quite a lot of homestays in Nam Dam village, so checking out Google Maps for pins is a good option. You can call or text to see if they can host you. 

delicious dinner at Nam Dam Homestay in Ha Giang
delicious dinner at Nam Dam Homestay in Ha Giang

When to go?

Most people will tell you that the season in Ha Giang is September to November but, in reality, it doesn’t really matter when you visit. It is true that the skies are clearest at this time of year and there is the Buckwheat Flower season which makes many fields look gorgeous. However, it is possible to visit at other times of the year. Take a look at average temperatures here. You should look carefully at the weather between January and March because this is when it’s coldest, and also in July and August when it’s wettest.

limestone cascades inside Lung Khuy Cave, North Vietnam
limestone cascades inside Lung Khuy Cave, North Vietnam

If you need any further advice or tips on routes in Ha Giang or particularly anywhere over the North, get in touch as we can help you with this and bikes. 

Quick Connect

BMW 1250 GS

Engine Type

air-liquid cooled, twin cylinder, DOHC, boxer engine

Displacement

1255 cc

Bore X Stroke

102.5 mm x 76 mm

Ignition

FI

Fuel System

fuel injection

Compression Ratio

12.5:1

Starter

electric

Gearbox

6-speed

Front Suspension

BMW Motorrad Telelever; stanchion diameter 37 mm

Rear Suspension

single-sided swing arm with BMW Motorrad Paralever

Front Brakes

dual disc brake, floating brake discs, diameter 305 mm, 4-piston radial calipers

Rear Brakes

single disc brake, diameter 276 mm, double-piston floating caliper

Front Tyres

120/70 R19

Rear Tyres

170/60 R17

Wheelbase

1514 mm

Seat Height

850 mm

Ground Clearance

790 mm

Kerb Weight

249 kg

Fuel Capacity

20 litres

Dimensions

2207 mm (L) x 952.5mm (W) x 1430 mm (H)

Honda XR 150 motorcycle rental

Engine Type

air cooled, OHC, single cylinder

Displacement

149 cc

Bore X Stroke

57.3 mm x 57.8 mm

Ignition

CDI

Fuel System

20 mm piston valve carburettor

Compression Ratio

9.5:1

Starter

electric with kick starter backup

Gearbox

5-speed

Front Suspension

telescopic fork, 180 mm axle travel

Rear Suspension

single shock swing arm, 150 mm axle travel

Front Brakes

dual piston caliper, 240 mm disc

Rear Brakes

mechanical drum

Front Tyres

90/90 19

Rear Tyres

110/90 17

Wheelbase

1362 mm

Seat Height

825 mm

Ground Clearance

243 mm

Kerb Weight

129 kg

Fuel Capacity

12 litres

Dimensions

2091 mm (L) x 811 mm (W) x 1125 mm (H)

Honda CB 500X motorcycle rental

Engine Type

liquid cooled parallel-twin four stroke

Displacement

470 cc

Bore X Stroke

67 mm x 66.8 mm

Ignition

PGMI – FI

Fuel System

fuel injection

Compression Ratio

10.7:1

Starter

electric

Gearbox

6-speed

Front Suspension

41 mm SFF-BP USD Forks

Rear Suspension

Prolink Mono with 5 stage pre load adjuster

Front Brakes

dual 296 mm discs with 4 piston calipers; ABS

Rear Brakes

240 mm disc; ABS

Front Tyres

110/80R19M/C (59H)

Rear Tyres

160/60R17M/C

Wheelbase

1445 mm

Seat Height

830 mm

Ground Clearance

180 mm

Kerb Weight

199 kg

Fuel Capacity

17.7 litres

Dimensions

2,155 mm (L) x 830 mm (W) x 1,410 mm (H)

Honda CRF 300 motorcycle rental

Engine Type

single cylinder, DOHC, liquid cooled

Displacement

286 cc

Bore X Stroke

76 mm x 63 mm

Ignition

Full Transistor Digital

Fuel System

PGM-FI electronic fuel injection

Compression Ratio

10.7:1

Starter

electric

Gearbox

5-speed

Front Suspension

43 mm telescopic upside down

Rear Suspension

Prolink Mono with 5 stage pre load adjuster

Front Brakes

256 mm disc, 2 piston caliper

Rear Brakes

220 mm disc, single piston caliper

Front Tyres

80/100 21

Rear Tyres

120/80 18

Wheelbase

1455 mm

Seat Height

880 mm

Ground Clearance

285 mm

Kerb Weight

142 kg

Fuel Capacity

7.8 litres

Dimensions

2230 mm (L) x 820 mm (W) x 1200 mm (H)

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