Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park lies in Quang Binh Province -
the central Vietnam. Covering an area of about 200,000 hectares, Phong Nha – Ke
Bang situated in Quang Ninh, Bo Trach, Tuyen Hoa and Minh Hoa districts, is
50km northwest of Dong Hoi City.
Phong
Nha - Ke Bang can be compared to a huge geological museum thanks to its
complicated geological structure with different categories of stone including
sandstone, quartz, schist, siliceous limestone, granite, granodiorite, diorite,
applet, pegmatite, etc. Phong Nha-Ke Bang is the oldest and largest tropical
karst formed 400 million years during the main geological periods of the Earth,
bearing the original topographic and geologic characteristics. Experiencing
major tectonic phases, high mountain ranges and the depressed sedimentary
basins were formed. These fluctuations have also contributed to the diversity
of geology, topography, geomorphology.
Phong
Nha - Ke Bang karst mountains can provide a lot of valuable information about
the Earth's prolonged geological process through various periods, from the
Ordovician Age - Silurian Age (about 463.9 - 430 million year ago) to
the Quaternary Age (1.75 million years ago). It is also noteworthy to
mention a geological characteristic – the system of underground rivers and
grottos in limestone mountains.
In the
non-karst geomorphologic area, there are many low mountains covered by a
floristic carpet. The erosion has created a number of abrasion-accumulation
terraces along the valleys of the Son and Chay rivers and at the margins of the
central limestone massifs. The transition terrain consists of a diversity of
rock intercalated by limestone mountains.
Besides
the historical value of geology, topography, geomorphology, Phong Nha - Ke Bang
is also favoured with the mysterious and majestic landscapes by nature. The
Phong Nha–Ke Bang Natural Park still hides various myths of nature. It also has
spectacular karst caves formed for hundreds of millions of years.
Locating
in the area with a high average rainfall, however, few rivers and streams can
be seen because water is absorbed to run inside limestone mountains. Therefore
over tens of million years, water has eroded rocks, creating numerous caves in
the area. Phong Nha-Ke Bang area is noted for its cave and grotto systems as it
is composed of 300 caves and grottos, divided into three main systems: Phong
Nha Grottos, Vom Caves, and Ruc Mon Caves.
The Phong Nha grotto system is over 57km long in total, rising
from south of Ke Bang Limestone Mountain. The main entrances are Khe Ry and En
Grottoes situated at a height of 300m above sea level. The grottoes of this
tree-branch system run in the direction of northeast-southwest.
The
system of Vom caves is over 35km long, rising from Ruc Ca Roong Cave located at
a height of 360m above sea level and ending with Vom Cave. The system runs
south and north. Ruc Ca Roong River sometimes hides in mountains, sometimes
appears in narrow and deep valleys, and flows into the Chay River at the
entrance of Vom Cave.
The
system of Ruc Mon caves that lies in the district of Minh Hoa is also a large
cave. However, the information about this system is not abundant because few
surveys have been conducted in this area so far.
Some
typical caves and grottoes in Phong Nha - Ke Bang are Phong Nha, Tien Son and
Thien Duong grottoes, Toi, En and Khe Ry caves. Especially, Son Doong Cave is
considered as the largest cave in the world with 200m in height, 200m in width,
at least 8.5km in length.
With its
characteristics of topography, climate, soil and hydrography, Phong Nha - Ke
Bang boasts a rich, diversified and unique flora. Investigations show that
Phong Nha - Ke Bang has a large tropical forest floor. It covers 96.2 percent
of the natural area, of which nearly 90 percent is covered by primeval forests.
The diversity of rare and precious species of animals and plants in Phong Nha -
Ke Bang is corollary of its natural conditions, and is a feature of the forest
ecosystem.
Statistics
show that the flora of Phong Nha - Ke Bang belongs to 152 families, 511
branches, and 876 species, including 38 listed in Vietnam’s Red Book, 25 in
IUCN’s Red Book (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources) and 13 endemic species.
A very
important discovery in this national park is three rare and precious species –
Sao la, Mang lon and Mang Truong Son - were founded in this area. Especially,
Sao la and Mang lon are new species discovered in the world. Of the 81 recorded
reptile and amphibian species, 18 are listed in Vietnam’s Red Book and 6 in the
IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. In addition, there are 259 butterfly
species, 162 fish species including 4 endemic ones in Quang Binh only and
one first found in Vietnam; 302 bird species including 15 species listed in
Vietnam’s Red Book and 19 in IUCN Red Book. Particularly, black-comb blue
pheasants (ga loi lam mau den), white-tail blue pheasants (ga loi lam duoi
trang) and peacocks are the global-level endangered species. Phong Nha - Ke
Bang is considered a huge biological museum in Vietnam.
With its
vivid evidences of geological and geomorphologic values, Phong Nha – Ke
Bang has been declared a world natural heritage by UNESCO at the 27th meeting in Paris in July 2003.
ATTRACTIONS:
Some typical caves:
- Phong Nha
Grotto
- Toi (Dark) Cave
- Tien Son
Grotto - En (Swallow) Cave
- Son Doong Cave
- Thien Duong (Paradise) Grotto
USEFUL INFORMATION:
Opening time: from 07:00 to 17:00 on weekdays.
Ticket price:
+ Tour of Phong Nha - Tien Son grottos
- Sightseeing
tickets:
Phong Nha Grotto:
- Adults: VND80,000
- Children (from 7 to 15 years old): VND40,000
Tien Son Grotto:
- Adults: VND40,000
- Children (from 7 to 15 years old): VND20,000
- Boat renting price: Visiting Phong
Nha, Tien Son grottos (each boat carrying 01 to 14 people, including children):
- Visiting 01 grotto: VND 320,000/boat;
duration: 3.5 hours
- Visiting 02 grottos: VND
350,000/boat; duration: 05 hours
+ Nuoc Mooc Spring Eco
Trail
- Sightseeing ticket:
- Adults: VND50,000
- Children (from 7 to 15 years
old): VND30,000
+ Tour of Chay River –
Toi (Dark) Cave
- Sightseeing ticket:
- Adults: VND80,000
- Children (from 7 to 15 years
old): VND40,000
- Boat renting price: VND 500,000/boat; duration: 05 hours
Each boat carries 01 to 14 people, including children.
+ Tour of history -
spirituality: Free of charge
+ Explore the
mysterious depths of Phong Nha Grotto and Explore the nature
of Rao Thuong– En Cave.
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