A group of 10 ambassadors, consuls-general, and the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State are scheduled to take an excursion into Son Doong Cave, the world’s largest natural grotto in May this year.

The news was announced on Tuesday by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Binh Province, where the cave is located.

Son Doong is a part of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Bo Trach District. The cave was discovered in 1991, but only became internationally known in 2009 as the world’s largest natural cave after a group of scientists from the British Cave Research Association conducted a survey in the area.

The cave is 200 meters high, 150 meters wide, and runs for approximately 9 kilometers. There are two sinkholes along the ceiling of the cave, which allow sunlight to enter and have resulted in the growth of an entire rainforest inside.

Son Doong Cave was used as the set for recent Hollywood blockbuster Pan, while a documentary featuring the cave by the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) recently won the News and Documentary category at the 2016 New York Drone Film Festival on March 5.

Maria Stefanopoulos, production manager at ABC News, holding the ‘News & Documentary’ award for her show ‘Good Morning America Hidden Worlds: Son Doong Cave’. Photo: Screenshot from Instagram

The upcoming trip was approved by Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Commission for UNESCO, and is planned for May 11 to 17.

Up until now, seven ambassadors from the U.S., Australia, the UK, Sweden, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Argentina have officially registered for the trip, and will be joined by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Tom Malinowski.

Participants are to cover their own expenses for the trip.

The delegates are expected to go through a series of medical tests for condition and experience in trekking and adventure travel, as well as several days of training in advance, said Nguyen Chau A, CEO of Oxalis Ltd., the operator of Son Doong exploration tours.

Deputy Director Nguyen Van Ky of Quang Binh’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism expressed his hope that the tourism industries of Vietnam and Quang Binh will be boosted after the ambassadors’ visit.

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