International media praise the spectacular and surreal landscape of Son Doong Cave
WVR - On the program 60 Minutes, CBS News recently aired a report describing the majestic beauty of Son Doong Cave, highlighting the enormous scale and surreal landscape inside this largest natural cave in the world.
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| Son Doong Cave. (Source: CBS News) |
CBS News acknowledges that in the mid-21st century, humanity once again discovered a natural wonder comparable in stature to Mount Everest or the Grand Canyon.
This remarkable discovery became a reality in 2009 when a cave identified as the longest and largest in the world was officially explored. This natural wonder is located in Vietnam and is named Son Doong Cave.
“The scenery is truly magnificent. Sunlight pierces through an opening in the cave ceiling at a height equivalent to 120 stories, illuminating the ground. Underground streams flow through the light like raindrops falling, while the rock formations echo the only sound in the absolute silence of the cave,” CBS News describes.
In this exploration journey, the team of explorers led by Mr. Howard Limbert, who has spent over 30 years researching in Vietnam and discovered around 500 caves, embarked on a journey to explore Son Doong Cave, bringing many memories.
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| The journey to Son Doong Cave. |
The only way to reach Son Doong Cave is on foot, with a trekking trip lasting about a day and a half.
“Our group consisted of 53 people, moving in groups, mainly carrying tents and filming equipment, along with safety and climbing experts. We had to cross streams 20 times, where water flows through limestone, one of the two essential elements forming the cave,” journalist Scott Pelley shares on the 60 Minutes program commemorating since 2004.
Meanwhile, during the journey, Mr. Peter MacNab stated that he viewed the exploration as an adventure and could not know what awaited around the bends.
Mr. MacNab recalls his first visit to Son Doong Cave: “It was simply about finding our way. And then everything gradually appeared: The grand halls, the wide corridors, or the narrow, cramped sections, along with the beautiful stalactites.”
The highlight of the journey is the moment of being there, transcending the concept of time and experience. This is considered a worthy reward for the exploration journey that began many days earlier.
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| Howard Limbert and Scott Pelley join the expedition team. |
Additionally, in the report, the story of the exploration journey of the expedition team becomes particularly valuable as it fully captures the rare grandeur of Son Doong Cave, one of the most impressive natural wonders in the world.
When journalist Scott Pelley remarked that on Earth, there are not many places left to explore for the first time, explorer Peter MacNab responded: Indeed, it takes a very thorough search to discover such a wonderful wonder.
That strange feeling is like a breeze blowing from the depths of the earth. Cave explorers understand that it is the “breath” of a giant cave.
Journalist Scott Pelley adds: “The scene is spectacular, like the entrance we just rappelled down. Two men are hanging between the rock walls, holding lights; above is the cave entrance and also the last daylight we will see for a long time.”
The group undertook a 3-day, 2-night exploration of Son Doong Cave, spanning approximately 5.6 miles, with a height equivalent to 65 stories and a width of about 1.5 football fields. Even a Boeing 747 could fly through the widest section without touching the wings. However, there are sections just wide enough for a person to pass through.
In the large caves, according to journalist Scott Pelley, it feels like you are no longer underground. Life without phones or satellites makes us completely isolated from the world.
