Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is in Quảng Bình Province, in the north of the Central Coast region of Vietnam, about 500 km south of the nation’s capital, Hanoi. This national park was listed in UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in 2003 for its geological values as defined in its criteria viii.
Part of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
Phong Nha-Ke Bang area is noted for its cave and grotto systems as it is composed of 300 caves and grottos with a total length of about 70 km, of which only 20 have been surveyed by Vietnamese and British scientists; 17 of these are in located in the Phong Nha area and three in the Ke Bang area. Phong Nha holds several world cave records, as it has the longest underground river, as well as the largest caverns and passageways.
Underground river
The park derives it name from Phong Nha cave, the most beautiful of all, containing many fascinating rock formations, and Ke Bang forest.
The plateau on which the park is situated is probably one of the finest and most distinctive examples of a complex karst landform in Southeast Asia.
A team of British cave explorers of British Caving Association
In April 2009, the world’s largest cave Son Doong Cave, was discovered by a team of British cave explorers of British Caving Association.
Discover the Son Doong Cave
Travel to Phong Nha-Ke Bang
Not far from the road, visitors will reach a big boat pier where dozens of boats with one design are waiting for them. The pier management board say they receive thousands of visitors each day.
Travelling along the blue, peaceful and quiet Son River, visitors can call in Thien cave. The 538-stair cave lead to a giant cavern which can house hundreds of people at a time. Looking up, visitors can see a multitude of stalactites twinkling in the dim sunlight.
Inside scene of the cave
Once deep inside Phong Nha Cave, visitors have a chance to enjoy a multitude of stalactites blazing in the colourful light. These long, pointed pieces of rock, together with a vaporous atmosphere, inspire visitors with image of the various shapes they resemble.
A visit to Phong Nha is such a good idea for any Vietnamese visitors, as well as foreign tourists to Vietnam.