[Photos] Scaling the Great Wall of Vietnam

Words by

February 28, 2016

Last June, cave photographer Ryan Deboodt revisited Son Doong, the world’s largest cave, to capture its latest attraction: the Great Wall of Vietnam.

Deep inside Son Doong, this calcite wall stands 262 feet high, blocking the cave's second entrance from view. When researchers first explored the cave in 2009, the towering formation blocked their way. It was only on a return trip that the cavers were able to scale the wall. For Deboodt, who has made numerous trips to Son Doong, this was his first time seeing the Great Wall of Vietnam.

“An incredibly hot (it's 11pm and still feels like 99F) and exhausting day photographing the exit of Hang Son Doong. In my three times previously in Son Doong I had never been [to] the Great Wall of Vietnam and it didn't fail to impress,” Deboodt shared on his Facebook page.

These photos of the Great Wall of Vietnam were taken during the two and a half weeks Deboodt spent in China and Vietnam photographing and filming the countries' caves.