Son Doong, the Hidden Cave
A man sheltering from a storm in the Vietnamese jungle found a cave entrance with clouds coming out of it. It turned out to be the largest cave passage in the world.
What was reported
Around 1990, Hồ Khanh, a local man from the area that is now Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, was sheltering in the jungle when he found an opening in a cliff, with the sound of a river inside and mist pouring out. He could not find it again for years.
In 2009, he led a team from the British Cave Research Association back to it. They discovered a passage so vast that it has its own jungle, river and clouds.
Explanations offered
Son Doong is the largest known cave passage in the world, more than 5 km long and up to 200 metres high in places. It was carved by a river through limestone, and parts of its roof have collapsed, letting sunlight in and allowing forests to grow inside. Tours are strictly limited.
- When
- Found around 1990; explored in 2009
- Where
- Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng, Quảng Bình, Vietnam
- Witnesses
- A local man and British cave explorers
- Status
- Explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.