Vietnam Caves, Hang Dong Cây Sanh, our final Expedition outing

Riverside Campsite

Ruth, Watto and I just had time for a quick two day outing before another Son Doong tour. A short drive and forty minute walk got us to our campsite by a dry riverbed.

Hang Dong cây Sanh entrance

From the campsite it was a thirty minute walk uphill to a cliff and an entrance to a cave by a large "Strangler vine" tree, hence the cave name, Cây Sanh being the local name for this type of tree. It use another tree for support, then slowly strangles the support tree as it grows, eventually the supporting tree dies but by then the tree can support itself.

Oh Dear, this Deer seems to have got stuck in the mud

The entrance was a steep slope down to a large area with big formations, at the bottom of the slope was a muddy floor with many deer prints and a pit containing bones which we were told were Deer.

The Skewer

The cave was full of formations, including one lone stalagmite, tall and thin, which we called "The Skewer".

The Skewer

After a while we reached a big chamber with many loose blocks and a choice of ways on, we chose left and down, past a pit estimated at 20m deep.

Oh Deer Chamber, you can just make out the daylight, up and left of the people

This gradually decreased in size before ending at calcite chokes. Time was running out for the day so we had a quick look at the way to the right. This appeared to continue down a short pitch or climb so we had to schedule a return the following day, instead of visiting another cave as initially planned.

Final Rift

The next day we returned to the right hand section, one route ended at a large chamber while down a roped climb ended at a high rift where the draft seemed to go. This was as far as we could get. We also descended the 20m pit which turned out to be 30m deep and ended at a too tight slot which drafted out.

Nice formations

That was it for new cave, apart from a side passage near the entrance so we did some photography on the way out before exploring the side passage.

Big Passage

This had a number of bat skeletons so we called the passage The Bat Graveyard, this ended after about 150m, very pretty but unfortunately that was really it.

Pretty side passage near the entrance

All in all, about 900m of new cave, most of it very pretty.

Strangler tree, or Cây Sanh, at the entrance

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