Tu Lan Family Experience Tour
The 1-Day Tu Lan Family Experience Tour is a wonderful one day family trip to safely explore nature, and the beauty of the Tu Lan Cave system. Families are accompanied at all times by a team of Safety Assistants and a Tour Guide. Families will participate in activities such as: walking through the jungle, swimming in natural rivers, having a picnic lunch in the jungle, trekking and climbing to explore Hung Ton Cave, Secret Cave and playing some enjoyable games.
This is a tour for family members to bond together as well as for children to experience the outdoors and learn new skills. Joining this family adventure day, guests will experience the following unique features:
- Explore stunning natural landscapes: Join the Tu Lan Family Experience tour and travel through 2 wide valleys, Tan Hoa Valley and Hung Ton Valley. These open grasslands are surrounded by limestone mountains and lush primary forests, creating a peaceful and impressive setting.
- Discover Tu Lan caves with unique formations: The journey takes your family to Secret Cave, known for its diverse formations such as stalagmites, stalactites, cave corals, and cave pearls. This is a great experience for families to learn about caves that formed over millions of years. You will also visit Hung Ton Cave, one of the earliest discovered caves in Tu Lan, found in 1992. From the entrance, visitors can enjoy a wide view of the green Hung Ton Valley.
- Enjoy swimming in fresh natural streams: In the middle of the valley, natural pools offer a perfect place to relax. During this one day trekking tour, you can swim in cool clear water, float along the stream, enjoy the wild nature, and join fun mini games with your group.
- Have a picnic lunch by the stream: After swimming and relaxing, enjoy a picnic lunch prepared by local chefs. The highlight is their famous grilled meat, served fresh by the stream for a simple and enjoyable outdoor meal.
- A journey that transforms lives: Beyond the natural splendor, your presence contributes to a powerful story of community resilience and growth. Sustainable tourism has played a key role in transforming Tan Hoa, driving the poverty rate down from 85.7% in 2010 to just 2% in 2024. This expedition supports vital initiatives, including the construction of floating houses and septic toilets to improve local living standards. Furthermore, Oxalis is committed to future generations, sponsoring free open swimming and safety training to over 300 children in Tan Hoa and along the Rao Nan River every year.
Itinerary
The Tu Lan Family Experience schedules can be changed due to weather conditions. The jungle trail can be quite muddy and slippery when raining. The Tu Lan Family Experience itinerary, booking process, fees and other information is detailed below.
Download the itineraryBriefing At Tan Hoa - Trekking to Explore Rao Nan Valley and River - Hung Ton Valley
From 07:00 to 07:30 am on the day of the tour, the bus will pick you up at your hotel in the Phong Nha area, then drive to Oxalis’ office in Tan Hoa Village, 70 km from Phong Nha. At the office, the guide will provide a safety briefing where you will hear about the rules and guidelines on trekking tours for children, and the tour schedule; sign the Release Form, pack your bag, and receive the safety equipment for the tour.
After the safety briefing, the family trip will start with a flat walk across green fields for about 2.5km to reach the Rao Nan Valley.
After taking in the valley views, the family trip becomes more adventurous as the group crosses the Rao Nan Stream and climbs over Baby Hill to reach Hung Ton Valley. Walking through the lush valley surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and the sounds of forest birds, you will arrive at Hung Ton Cave. Here, you can explore the dry passage and enjoy a spectacular view of the valley from the cave entrance.
Then, the family returns to the middle of the valley for lunch by the river. This is also a great time for families to enjoy beginner-friendly survival activities such as learning how to hang a hammock, making traditional Cheo salt, and playing some water games.
Note: Our tour departs promptly in the morning! Please plan your travel to reach Phong Nha before 06:30 AM. If you are traveling by train to Dong Hoi, the SE3 (from the North) and SE8 (from the South) are the best options. Don't worry if you arrive very early on tour departure date – we offer free use of our dorm beds so you can rest and freshen up before the adventure starts. Please book this in advance.
Explore Secret Cave
After having lunch at Hung Ton valley, the group continues the journey with an exciting climb over Baby Hill toward Secret Cave. Here, the guide and safety assistant will give instructions on how to use the helmets and headlights. All members are equipped with safety gear and ready to become real explorers.
With a length of about 100 meters, Secret Cave reveals a fascinating and untouched world filled with stunning formations. Reaching the exit of the cave, you will see the whole passage lit up by the sunlight, illuminating the mysterious space inside.
Leaving the cave, the group crosses the cool Rao Nan River, enjoying a refreshing moment before heading back. Return to Oxalis Tan Hoa office by the same way to finish the tour. At the office, the group can take a shower, relax and watch the sun go down in Tan Hoa with a cool drink.
The bus will take the group back to Phong Nha at around 17:00 - 17:30 pm, ending a great family adventure day.
Suggested itinerary before and after the tour:
To ensure the best preparation before your journey or to relax after the expedition, Oxalis suggests staying at Chay Lap Farmstay if you wish to combine exploring Phong Nha with experiencing a peaceful countryside atmosphere, or Blue Diamond Retreat if you prefer to immerse yourself in nature and enjoy relaxing moments amidst the mountains and forests. Special discounted rates exclusively for Oxalis guests are 1,100,000 VND/room/night at Chay Lap Farmstay and 1,600,000 VND/room/night at Blue Diamond Retreat.
During your time in Phong Nha, the Phong Nha Caves Exploration Museum (open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM, free admission) is a must-visit destination. Here, you can experience the Son Doong 5D VR technology for 500,000 VND per ticket. All proceeds from this activity are contributed to the Oxalis Foundation to support local community projects, making your journey even more meaningful.
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Difficulty Level and Physical Fitness Requirements
Difficulty Level: Easy
Requirements: Prior experience with walking tours or outdoor excursions. Participants must possess a baseline level of physical fitness, demonstrated by the ability to climb five flights of stairs continuously or run 3 km on flat ground within 30 minutes without experiencing signs of overexertion such as dizziness, blurred vision, headaches, or nausea. Participants must not have any medical conditions that would restrict them from engaging in mountain climbing or caving activities, as outlined in Oxalis's guidelines.
Suitable for: Suitable for almost everyone.
Tours with the same Difficulty Level: Tu Lan Family Experience (TF1), Phong Nha: Nuoc Nut Cave Discovery (NP1), Tu Lan Experience (TL1), Tu Lan Family Adventure (TF2), Hang Tien-Tu Lan Discovery Tour (HTL), Hang Tien Cave Day Trek (HT1).
Terrains
The tour takes place in remote areas with complex terrains. Customers must be physically fit. Please carefully read the tour itinerary and honestly fill out the booking information yourself, especially your experience and health condition.
- Easy trek, suitable for children
- 6km trekking, 300m caving
- Swims and river crossings
- 110m elevation gain
For more information on the necessary physical activities for a successful trip, please refer to: /getting-ready-oxalis-tour/index.html.
Safety on the tour
This is always the top priority of Oxalis Adventure to ensure the safety of both visitors and Oxalis’ staff on any trip, including multi day adventures. We only use high-quality equipment meeting international standards, mainly imported from France, the UK, and Switzerland. The tour guides must undergo professional training and be tested for skills regularly. Only qualified guides may lead an Oxalis tour. Visitors can learn about the "safety management" and " safety equipment" that Oxalis uses here.
By signing the Release Form, visitors agree to follow all tour safety regulations and the instructions of the cave experts and guides throughout the expedition. To ensure the safety of the entire group, the safety experts and guides have the authority to require any guest to end the expedition if they fail to comply with the safety regulations explained during the briefing.
Items to bring on tour
Tu Lan Family Experience Tour involves different terrains and weather conditions, so guests need to be well prepared. They will be asked to have appropriate clothing for safety reasons, good for moving in the jungle, river crossing, or exploring the cave as well as avoiding dangers and risks from sharp rocks, snakes, insects, or poison ivy. Long trousers and long sleeved shirts should be worn for trekking. Trekking shoes play a very important role in trekking tours with your family. Visitors must choose a good and well fitting pair of shoes for rocky paths. Please test your shoes before the trek. The Oxalis tour consultant will give you helpful advice before joining the Tu Lan Family Experience Tour.
You need to prepare
Essential clothing
- 1 15L backpack (or a 20-30L Backpack for a family)
- 1 quick-dry, bright long-sleeved T-shirts
- 1 quick-dry and long trekking pants
- 1 waterproof jacket (in winter from December to March)
- 1 pair of good gripping trekking/approach closed shoes. Heavyweight trekking boots are not necessary
- 1 pair of calf-length, densely-woven socks
- Clothes to change after the trek
- Footwear to change after the tour (If you use your own trekking shoes)
Personal items
- Mosquito repellent
- Sunglasses, sun hat, sunscreen
- Hand fan for summer (April to August)
- Personal medication
- Passport
Oxalis provides
- Caving and safety gears: helmet, headlight, gloves, …
- 1 PVC backpack (25L) to carry helmet, dry box, water and things you need during the trek.
- Basic trekking shoes are available to borrow from Oxalis (sizes 36-44). If you use Oxalis shoes, please bring thick socks and two pairs of insoles to help prevent blisters. A VND 50,000 cleaning fee applies.
- Water bottle (1L)
- Water filter
- Compost toilet, toilet paper, hand cleaner
- First aid and medical rescue equipment
Optional items
- Arm cover if wearing short-sleeved T-shirts
- Camera & Tripod
- Bandana or headband
- Rehydration tablets
- Blister prevention tape
Food and drinks in the tour
Although the expedition takes place deep in the primary forest and inside the cave, you will be provided with three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Oxalis has a dedicated team of cooks who prepare fresh ingredients brought directly to the expedition route, ensuring you receive the nutrition you need throughout the long days of trekking.
For your health and safety, all drinking water served during the expedition is treated through a specialized water filtration system and thoroughly boiled at the campsites to meet strict safe drinking-water standards. Hot drinks such as tea and coffee are also available.
The menu offers a variety of options, including standard, vegetarian, and special-diet meals. If you have specific dietary requirements or food allergies, please note them on your booking form so the Oxalis team can make the necessary preparations in advance.
Camping, Showers and Hygiene During the Expedition
The lunch spot for Tu Lan Family Experience is located next to the river and pools so guests can swim here. All swimming activities are supervised by safety assistants. Soap and shampoo cannot be used in the rivers and pools.
Toilets and water facilities: Each campsite is equipped with modern toilets and convenient shower facilities. All water used for washing and other daily needs is carefully treated through a filtration system to ensure safe use throughout the expedition.
Waste management and environmental protection: To help preserve the cave ecosystem, 100% of solid waste generated during the expedition is carried out of the cave. For wastewater and toilet waste, Oxalis uses portable septic tanks combined with an advanced filtration system to ensure that discharged water meets Vietnam’s strict environmental standards.
Tour booking process
This is a tour that requires careful logistical preparation from both guests and Oxalis. Reading the tour information thoroughly will help you make an informed decision before booking. If you have any questions or are unsure about anything, please chat with an Oxalis adventure consultant using the chat icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen, or contact us via hotline at +84 919 900 357 for assistance. The booking process is as follows:
Step 1: Learn about the tour
Visit oxalisadventure.com to learn more about the itinerary, highlights, adventure level, tour price, and most importantly, the health and fitness requirements.
Step 2: Choose your departure date
Click “Book Now” on the tour page to view the available departure dates. Available dates will be shown on the calendar. Select your preferred date and enter the number of participants.
Step 3: Provide your information
Complete your contact details accurately, especially your email address and phone number. You must provide truthful information about:
- Your health condition and any medications you are currently taking;
- Allergies or special dietary requirements, such as vegetarian meals or food allergies;
- Trekking experience;
- Exercise frequency and level of physical activity.
Important: Oxalis reserves the right to cancel your booking without a refund if any information provided is found to be false or incomplete, particularly information related to your health and physical fitness.
Step 4: Complete your booking request
Select any additional services you may require, such as transfers or accommodation at Chay Lap Farmstay and Oxalis Home.
Read and agree to the booking terms and conditions, then click “Submit Booking Request.” The system will send a booking code to your email address.
Step 5: Consultation and information confirmation
Within 48 working hours, an Oxalis travel consultant will contact you by email or phone to:
- Provide detailed information about the expedition;
- Confirm your booking details;
- Assist with arranging any additional services you have requested.
Step 6: Payment
Once your information has been confirmed, Oxalis will send you an invoice and payment instructions.
You must complete the payment within 24 hours of receiving the payment instructions. After this period, your booking request may be automatically cancelled.
Step 7: Booking confirmation
Once Oxalis receives your payment, you will receive an official booking confirmation by email.
From this point, you can begin preparing your clothing, equipment, and fitness for the expedition.
Terms of tour cancellation
To confirm your booking, you will be required to pay the tour deposit after completing the booking process. Guests may cancel the trip 7 days prior to the departure date and receive a full refund. For cancellations after 7 days, no refund will be given. See more details in “Terms of tour cancellation”.
Tour price and available dates for booking
- Season: Tours operate from mid-November to mid-September every year.
- Group Size: Limited to 12 guests per tour for safety and conservation.
- Tour Types: Fixed departure dates for individuals; private tours available for special groups or film crews.
- Exclusive Offer: Enjoy a 10% discount for UOB cardholders and Xiều Oxalis (returning guests).
- Last-Minute Booking Notice: Online bookings close at 19:00 (7:00 PM) the day before departure. For bookings after 19:00, please contact our Adventure Team via chat box or Hotline at +84 919 900 357 (Call/WhatsApp) for immediate assistance and slot availability.
Useful Information Must read
Tu Lan Family Experience Tour
Duration: 1 day
Difficulty Level: Easy
Age 6-70 years old
Group size: 12 customers (Join-in)
Operation: mid-Nov to mid-Sep
USD 98 • VND 2,600,000/pax
Book nowWhether you prefer long treks, camping in a cave, sleeping under the stars in the jungle, swimming underground in river caves, explore the huge dry caves or just taking an exploratory day trip, Oxalis Adventure Tours can provide the right amount of adventure just for you.
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