Son Doong Cave Expeditions 2026–27: Vietnam Tour News on Permit Rules, Prices, and Booking

## Vietnam Tour News – New Permit and Group Size Rules

The biggest Vietnam tour news for Son Doong Cave arrived on 17 August 2026, when Oxalis Adventure announced the 2026–27 expedition calendar: the season runs 1 October 2026 to 31 August 2027, with a mandatory weather closure from 1–30 September every year. Total permits for the entire season are now capped at 800, down from 1,000 in 2025. Each expedition will take a maximum of 8 guests, reduced from 10 in previous years. The first departure is on 2 October 2026, immediately after the September closure.

These smaller numbers do not reduce the total number of expedition departures—800 permits divided by 8 guests still equals about 100 groups, the same as 1,000 divided by 10—but they do cut the season's total visitor numbers by 200. Oxalis has not announced whether these limits will continue after 2027. For anyone planning a 2026–27 trip, the practical effect is fewer available spaces per departure and faster sell-outs for the dry-season months from February to May, which fall in 2027 for this season.

Travelers should book 4–6 months in advance through Oxalis Adventure's online system, as there are no walk-up slots. The 30% non-refundable deposit at booking and the balance due 45 days before departure apply to all 2026–27 departures, so checking cancellation and replacement rules before paying is essential.

## Vietnam Tour News: 2026–27 Son Doong Expedition Price and Payment Terms

The 2026 rate for the four-day, three-night Son Doong Cave expedition is US$3,250 per person, and this Vietnam tour news update explains exactly what that fee covers. Included in the price are transfers from Phong Nha to the trailhead and back, all camping gear, meals during the expedition, safety equipment, and the required caving permits. Bookings are handled exclusively by Oxalis Adventure, the only licensed operator, and there are no walk-up slots at any point in the season.

Payment is split in two stages. When you reserve a departure, Oxalis requires a 30% non-refundable deposit (US$975 at the 2026 rate). The remaining 70% (US$2,275) is due 45 days before your departure date. If you cancel after paying the deposit, Oxalis does not refund that portion, but you may be able to transfer to another departure depending on the cancellation policy at the time of booking. Confirm this before you pay.

One cost most travelers miss is the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park entrance fee, currently 150,000 VND per person. That fee is not included in the US$3,250 expedition price and is collected separately in Vietnam dong at the park office or via Oxalis check-in. Because the 2026–27 season caps permits at 800 and groups at 8 guests, February to May departures sell out fast; book four to six months ahead to lock in a spot and pay the deposit before your preferred dates fill.

Vietnam Tour News: Booking Advice – How Far Ahead to Secure a Slot

Oxalis Adventure, the only licensed operator for Son Doong Cave, caps the 2026–27 season at 800 permits and has reduced group size to eight guests per expedition. As Vietnam tour news goes, the practical takeaway is simple: the dry-season months from February to May fill first, so book 4–6 months ahead. There are no walk-up slots or last-minute releases; once the monthly quota is gone, it is gone for the season. The booking calendar runs through Oxalis’s simpler online system, which replaced the previous email-and-form workflow for the 2026–27 season.

Do not attempt to buy permits from third-party resellers or travel agents claiming direct access. Oxalis Adventure is the only operator with legal access to Son Doong, and all bookings must be made through its official platform. A 30% non-refundable deposit is taken at booking, with the balance due 45 days before departure. Before paying anything, confirm the cancellation and replacement policy in writing: if you cancel, you may be able to transfer your slot to another person, but refunds are limited. Ask whether the 30% deposit can be moved to a later date if you are ill or your e-visa is delayed.

Check your visa status before putting down money: many nationalities need a Vietnam e-visa (90-day multiple entry). Factor in passport validity of at least six months and a signed medical fitness waiver, which Oxalis requires before the trip.

Entry Requirements – Vietnam Travel Updates for Son Doong

Oxalis Adventure's 17 August 2026 update to its Son Doong expedition rules brings this Vietnam tour news: every guest needs a passport valid for at least six months from the expedition start date. The first 2026 departure is 2 October, so if your passport expires before 2 April 2027, renew it before paying the 30% non-refundable deposit.

Oxalis does not arrange visa-on-arrival. You must secure your own Vietnam entry document. For eligible nationalities, the 2026 Vietnam e-visa allows 90-day multiple entry, but eligibility varies by passport. Check the official e-visa portal for your nationality before making any payment — if your e-visa is rejected or delayed, the 30% deposit cannot be refunded.

After your e-visa is approved, Oxalis sends a medical fitness waiver that each guest must sign and return before departure. If you have any health conditions that could affect a 4-day expedition, get a doctor's clearance before booking. Finally, the national park entrance fee (150,000 VND) is separate from the US$3,250 expedition price and is paid on arrival.

What the US$3,250 Includes and What It Does Not

The 150,000 VND (roughly US$6) Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park entrance fee is not part of the US$3,250 Son Doong expedition price, so carry that amount in local cash or a card that works at the gate. According to the latest Vietnam tour news, Oxalis Adventure's 4-day/3-night package covers almost everything else inside the cave.

Included in the 2026–27 rate are all transfers from Oxalis's Phong Nha office to the trailhead and back, every meal during the four days, full camping gear (tents, sleeping bags, mats), safety equipment such as helmets and harnesses, and the mandatory cave permits. Guides and porters are also paid as part of the package, so there is no additional on-trail fee.

What remains outside the price: the national park entrance fee, international and domestic flights to Phong Nha or Dong Hoi, personal travel insurance, and gratuities for guides and porters. Budget for your own flight and insurance separately; tips are discretionary and usually given at the end of the trek in cash.

Oxalis Adventure caps its 2026 Son Doong expeditions at 8 guests and charges a non-refundable 30% deposit at booking, with the balance due 45 days before departure. Book only through the official Oxalis Adventure website: no other platform sells real Son Doong permits, and there are no walk-up slots for the season running 1 October 2026 to 31 August 2027. The 4-day/3-night expedition costs US$3,250 per person and covers transfers from Phong Nha, camping gear, meals, safety equipment, and permits, but not the 150,000 VND national park entrance fee. Before paying the deposit, confirm your passport has at least six months' validity and that your e-visa is approved or eligible; the current Vietnam e-visa allows 90 days multiple entry.

Pack one set of lightweight, quick-dry layers and broken-in hiking shoes; porters carry most group gear, so you can hike with a small daypack only. Bring a reusable water bottle—Oxalis provides safe drinking water at camps and lunch stops, but there is no single-use plastic on the trail. Arrive in Phong Nha at least one day before your departure date for the mandatory pre-trip briefing and gear check; budget for an extra night at a Phong Nha guesthouse, where simple doubles typically run 300,000–500,000 VND.