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Hanoi designer Ha Duy, 33, and his friends began their 10 km journey at Hang En (Swallow Cave) in Quang Binh Province - where many swallows can be found nesting. After a day here, the group exited the cave at the back, crossed a stream and passed a segment of a dense forest - a task made possible thanks to experienced guides that accompanied them. |
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After descending into the cave, the group relied on their headlamps to navigate fast-flowing streams via suspended bridges, a journey of four hours. Duy said he was impressed by the beauty of stalactites he described as "beyond [my] imagination." |
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They began the third day of exploration with a lot of climbing and crawling to exit the first sinkhole. |
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The challenging journey paid off though - as they got to see how nature crafted an exquisite stalactite hole, and other unusually beautiful shaped rock formations. |
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The team reached the second sinkhole in the afternoon of the third day. They got to swim in a clear stream, witness the cave's largest stalactite cluster, alongside exotic animals like eyeless white fish and crickets with super long antennae. |
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"The night at the second sinkhole was a new experience because the echoing effect inside the cave made hearing any small sounds possible." |
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Duy stands next to what is called Buc Tuong Vietnam (Vietnam Wall), which is as high as a 30-story building. |
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Duy also had to buy trekking shoes, clothes appropriate for the diverse climate inside the cave, masks, medicine, and some energy food. |
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The team consisted of 10 people including five Vietnamese experts and one foreign expert on the terrain. A group of 25 people went ahead of the team to bring certain items needed for the trip to designated destinations, on top of preparing food and tents for the explorers. |
Photos courtesy of Ha Duy