Location: In Quang Binh province, about 500km from Hanoi.
Overview
Phong Nha Cave is located in Bo Trach district, created by the Gianh river and East limestone caves which make the natural heritage inside the mountain.
In order to see Phong Nha, people have to use small boat, and prepare torches and light. The cave’s entrance looks like close to the water surface when being seen from far distance. Actually, the entrance is 10 m height, 25 m wide, and looks like a giant feast’s mouth. The stalactites in the vault of the entrance look like teeth of the feast.
There are three main systems in Phong Nha – Ke Bang area: Phong Nha Grottos, Vom Caves, and Ruc Mon Caves.
The Phong Nha cave system is 40km long in total, rising from south of Ke Bang Limestone Moutain. The Phong Nha system has evaluated as the most value in the world by the British Cave Research Association (BCRA) which held several world cave records: longest underground river, highest and widest entrance, most beautiful sand and rock banks, most magnificent and fanciful stalactites.
The cave itself is 1451 m long with many sections. Inside the cave, there are many perfectly square shape stone like being carved by people. There is an altar of the Cham people inside, with various of ancient Cham character.
Below the base of the cave is the small Buddha’s statue. The base’s largest area is 50m, some place are narrowed till 8m. Those make the small sound would become big noise by the ceiling of the cave.
In this range of cave there is another cave called Dry Cave. Though it is discovered tens of years before, it is still neglected and the two caves are plant to be developed to be the uninterrupted bundle of tourist spot for domestic and international guests.
The system of Vom caves is over 30km long, at the height of 360m above the sea level and ending with Vom Cave.
The system of Ruc Mon caves is also a large cave. However, this area has not been well surveyed so there are not many information of this area.
There is also another cave in Phong Nha – Ke Bang area which is Son Doong cave. This is just explored in April 2009 by a group of British explorers. It is regarded as the largest cave in the world and remains untouched.
There are also systems of newly found reptiles and species such as Sao la, Mang lon, and Mang Truong Son. Then it is considererd the huge biological museum in Vietnam.
Useful information
Transportation to Phong Nha – Ke Bang:
Bus in national road 1A to the South from Hanoi for 500km. Then 30km more to the West.
Train to the Dong Hoi station from Hanoi’s rail station. Take a bus on Ho Chi Minh road for 45km more.
Open time: 6:30 to 16:30 in summer, and 7:00 to 16:00 in winter.
Boat price: 220,000 to 250,000 VND.
Ticket price:
Phong Nha cave: 40,000 VND
Tien Son Cave 40,000 VND
