Of those visitors, 3,649 were Vietnamese and 2,821 were American. Tourism activities at Son Doong Cave have generated 130 local jobs, including porters, cooks, safety assistants, and tour guides.
Son Doong Cave is located in Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park in Quang Tri Province. It was first discovered in 1990 by local resident Ho Khanh. At the time, he saw only a deep chasm and did not venture further into the cave.
In 2009, the British Cave Research Association led an expedition into Son Doong Cave and identified it as the world’s largest natural cave. The cave is known worldwide for its immense size and distinctive formations.
In 2013, the former Quang Binh Province, now part of Quang Tri Province, authorized Son Doong for tourism, with visitor numbers capped at 1,000 a year.
