World Heritage In Vietnam: Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (Phong Nha-Ke Bang) is a national park and Unesco inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2003, located in the center of Quang Binh province in north-central Vietnam. It safeguards one of the two greatest karst zones in the world, which contains numerous caves and grottoes. Its name is derived from Phong Nha Cave, the most stunning cave in Ke Bang Forest, which contains several unique rock formations. One of Southeast Asia's best and most recognizable examples of a complex karst landform is undoubtedly the plateau.

Geography and Climate at Phong Nha - Ke bang National Park

Geographically, the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is situated in the Quang Binh Province in central Vietnam, around 500 kilometers south of the nation's capital, Hanoi. The Laos-Vietnamese border, which is only 42 kilometers from the sea, partially constitutes the western boundary of the park. In the districts of Bo Trach and Minh Hoa, the Park can be found between 170 20′ and 170 48′ N and 1050 46′ and 1060 24′ E.

The climate in this national park is tropical, hot, and humid, much like the North-central (or Bac Trung Bo) region generally and Quang Binh Province in particular. The average yearly temperature ranges from 23 to 25 °C, with summertime highs of 41 °C and wintertime lows of 6 °C. 2,000 to 2,500 mm of rainfall annually, 88% of which falls between July and December.

Every month has rain thanks to the more than 160 rainy days that occur annually. 84% of the mean yearly relative humidity. The normal tropical climate has contributed to creating a clean, lush ecological setting that is perfect for any tourist.

Highlights of Phong Nha - Ke bang National Park

Phong Nha-Ke Bang Vietnam takes great pride in its breathtaking surroundings, which could make you want to hold your breath.

Rivers and Streams

The two longest underground rivers in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang World Heritage may be found here, the lovely Son and Chay Rivers, which are gently running in the middle of the two sides' reed and green bamboo rows. These two rivers have shaped the majority of the caves in this area. The sole spot where the Son River emerges in around 20 kilometers is at the opening of the Phong Nha cave.

Additionally, the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National park region is home to more than ten magnificent streams, springs, and waterfalls, including the Tra Ang stream, Madame Loan & Chai waterfall, Gió waterfall, and Mc stream, which erupts from a limestone mountain range.

You can see the stunning Bong Lai Lake and Chai waterfall in the distance. They are both decorated with a number of dark violet flower baskets that are blooming in the warm weather. Ever heard a traveler say, "Wow! Heaven!" due to the lovely and attractive surroundings.

Limestone Mountains

The Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is also home to dozens of enormous limestone mountains that rise more than 1,000 meters. The Co Rilata Peak, which rises to a height of 1,128 meters, and the Co Preu Peak, which rises to a height of 1,213 meters, are two of the most notable summits.

A small portion of this national park's topography is not karst, and it is mostly found in the outside circle of limestone in its north, northeast, and southeast. With the deep divisions, these summits' heights range from 500 to 1000 meters. Tourists are drawn to the vast scale and singularity of the limestone mountain ranges found alone in Phong Nha-Ke Bang.

Flora and Fauna

98 families, 256 genera, and 381 species of animals, many of which are included in the Vietnam and World's Red Book, have been found in the Ke Bang main jungles. If you're brave enough, you can venture deeper into the jungle to observe these colorful, unique species, such as geckos, macaques, and other things, for yourself. It's exciting but also really interesting to watch them up near and personal!

Additionally, the fact that the tropical rainforests are home to a profusion of tropical trees, grass, shrubs growing on limestone rocks and soil mounts, sindora trees, a rattan and bamboo forest, and the largest Calocedrus rupestris in the country is good news for people who enjoy plants. It has 751 species of vascular plants, divided into 751 genera and 140 families, 36 of which are recognized in Vietnam's Red Data Book.

Phong Nha Cave

Visitors may experience a variety of surprises when they penetrate Phong Nha Cave at a distance of 1,500 meters! More than 300 caves have been found so far, and the Chay River is still actively forming more.

The Son River enters the cave's mouth and continues underground, where it is known as the Nam Aki River. 14 chambers make up the main Phong Nha cave, which is connected by a 1.5-kilometer underwater river. 

The Phong Nha Cave, Dark Grotto, E Grotto, Cha An Grotto, Thung Grotto, En Grotto, Khe Tien Grotto, Khe Ry Grotto, and Khe Thi Grotto are notable caves and grottoes. The most well-known is Phong Nha cave, which the British Royal Geography Association has designated as a "First-ranking Cave Wonder" for having the longest rivers and the most exquisite stalactites in the entire world.

You might be unable to return when you sit on your boat along the Son River into the Cave and listen to the wind whistling like it's in a cathedral. The stalactites and stalagmites appear more unreal as you go further into the cave because they glitter when a bright light is shone on them.  

You may view the beautiful scenery of massive, tooth-like stalactites that are falling and stalagmites that are roughly ascending here. The cave is filled with magnificent silk that is colorful woven throughout by the stalactite's dazzling light.

The strange and wonderful secrets that each cave holds are unique to it, inspiring and entrancing visitors to visit and explore for themselves!

Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park's Cultural Heritage

Neolithic ax heads and other similar objects discovered in some of the caverns provide the earliest indication of human habitation of the region. At Maria Mountain in the north of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, there are some remnants of Ham Nghi King, the last monarch of the Nguyen dynasty before the French colonial period.

The Arem, Ma Coong, and Ruc ethnic groups currently reside in two villages in the park's central region. These indigenous people survived on forest goods and hunting up until 1962, living in caves or the forest in homes built of bamboo and leaves. They employed basic tools and lianas and the bark of the toxic forest tree Antiaris toxicaria to make their clothing.

These 475 individuals belong to the two smallest ethnic groups in Vietnam, and the government of Vietnam has established two new communities for them since 1992. Many commercially significant species are known to these people, particularly rare timbers like Mun and Hue (Diospyros spp., Dalbergia rimosa), oil extraction from species like Tau (Hopea hainanensis), and a variety of medicinal plants.

With an ancient Cham Temple found there and its use as a place of worship in the ninth and tenth centuries, the Phong Nha Cave has long been a significant religious and tourist destination. The Phong Nha Ke Bang Vietnam forest and caves served as a garrison and weapons storage facility for the Vietnamese army during the conflict with the USA.

Conservation Values of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Given that it is one of the last remaining significant tracts of unaltered forest habitat in Vietnam, Phong Nha-Ke Bang World Heritage has great conservation value. One of the largest sections of forest on limestone karst in Indochina, it forms a contiguous forest block with the nearby Him Namno Biodiversity Conservation Area in Laos.

The Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park's tall lowland forest, a type of ecosystem that is regionally vulnerable, is present, which raises the area's conservation importance.

Activities for tourists in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Since Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park was included in UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, there has been a significant increase in the number of visitors. The Trading and Tourism Department of Quang Binh Province is in charge of the region's tourism operations. The province has 280 international standard rooms as well as 8 vehicles for tourist transportation with seating capacities ranging from 4 to 15. The Son Trach commune's forest guards are assigned to the Bo Trach district's tourist security role.

To make Phong Nha-Ke Bang Vietnam a top tourist attraction, the province of Quang Binh has invested in improving the site.

In order to make the region a popular tourist destination in Vietnam, the province has granted development permits for a number of eco-tourism projects. 

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is a component of the "Middle World Heritage Road” tourism promotion initiative, which also includes the Central Highlands of Vietnam's Hue Ancient Capital, the Champa ruins of My Son, the city of Hoi An, and the Space of Gong Culture.

Local travel businesses arrange a number of tourist activities in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, which take the following forms:

- Tour for cave and grotto exploration on boats and with experienced cave expedition methods

- Ecotourism, which involves exploring the Ke Bang Forest's national park's flora and fauna.

- Mountain climbing: There are steep, over 1,000 m-tall mountains here that present a significant challenge for intrepid climbers.

The Dong Hoi Airport was built and is scheduled to open at the end of 2008 in order to accommodate the growing number of visitors to the location.

What to Eat in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park?

The region of Quang Binh is home to a multitude of delectable specialities that tourists never forget.

Sweet potatoes, dried

Naturally, sweet potatoes cultivated in soil are the key component of this dish. The sweet potatoes are first boiled, then they are sliced into slices and dried for about 10 to 12 sun exposures. This cuisine is frequently consumed as a snack because of the potatoes' natural sweetness, which will make your tongue feel as though it is melting.

Porridge with noodles

Rice noodles, shrimp, crab, and snakehead fish are the main ingredients of noodle soup porridge. Vegetables that have been chopped are added to the thick broth along with some spicy flavor. To enhance the flavor of their dish, the locals frequently pair it with tiny fried spring rolls.

Pork and shrimp dumplings

One of the most consumed foods in Quang Binh Province. To make the stuffing, people first combine braised pork, shrimp, cassava powder, wood ear mushrooms, river shrimps, and various hot seasonings. Cover them with banana leaves after that. To properly eat the cuisine, dip it in the distinctive Vietnamese fish sauce.