Oxalis Adventure CEO Nguyen Chau A said on October 7 that several fraudulent websites were using domain names similar to the company's official site to advertise Son Doong expeditions.
The sites copy much of Oxalis Adventure's design, images and content, while artificial intelligence has also been used to create material that makes them appear professional and harder to identify as fake, he said.
Oxalis Adventure identified oxadventur.com, oxadventura.com and oxadventure.shop as fraudulent sites. They have also used Google advertising to reach people searching for information about Son Doong tours.
Some customers noticed irregularities while attempting to book through the sites and verified the information before transferring money, avoiding financial losses.
According to Oxalis Adventure, its official booking process does not require immediate payment. Staff first contact customers to verify their details, provide advice and assess their fitness for the expedition. Payment is required only after they are confirmed as eligible for the tour.
The six-day, five-night Son Doong expedition is open to people aged 18-70, with groups limited to 10 guests. Tours operate from January to August each year and currently cost USD 3,000 per person.
According to Oxalis Adventure, Son Doong tours are already booked through the end of 2028.
Nguyen Chau A advised travellers to carefully check domain names, tour operator details and payment procedures before booking, particularly when accessing websites through online advertisements or domains resembling that of Oxalis Adventure.
The company said it would report the fake websites to Quang Tri's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and police for investigation.
