Other UNESCO sites: the ancient capital of Hue and the old port city of Hoi An are located some 200km south of the park.
In addition to the many activities of the park, you can also enjoy a beautiful white sand beach, about fifty kilometers from the park.
Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park is located in Quang Binh Province, central Vietnam. Created in 2001 and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park is part of a 4000km2 limestone area, shared equitably between Vietnamese and Laotian territories. Covering a total area of over 857km2, the Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, with its own ecosystem, was created to protect one of the largest karst areas in the world .
Nicknamed "the kingdom of caves and caves", the park has more than 300 systems of natural cavities , stretching over 70km, of which only 20 have been explored until today. Among them: Hang Son Doong, the largest cave in the world discovered in 2009.
1. Go to Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park
The nearest train station and airport are located in Dong Hoi Town, 50km from the park. Several bus companies serve the park.
2. Phong Nha Ke Bang Hotels
It is easy to find all types of housing at the park. Most hotels are concentrated around the administrative center of the park, close to Phong Nha cave. Victory Road Villa is one of the best hotels in Phong Nha. It is centered and has beautiful rooms with private balcony.
3. Activities
Discovery of caves
Although for some, the idea of visiting caves is not very attractive, it will be nothing to Phong Nha. Here, caves are part of more complex systems over miles. The visit of some of them requires several days, through the rainforest, rivers, ethnic villages ...
The most famous caves and cave systems:
The cave of Paradise
It is one of the most beautiful caves in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park. It was discovered in 2005 , during an expedition by the explorers of the British Association of Speleology. The latter then called it "the cave of Paradise" because its beauty had exceeded their imagination.
The cave was formed more than 400 million years ago. Its stalactites and stalagmites, often reaching several meters in length, are very imposing and very diverse in terms of shapes and colors.
It is located 35km from the administrative center of the park.
Once on the site, you will still have to walk one kilometer on a path through the forest to reach the entrance of the cave.
Phong Nha Cave
Phong Nha is a cave with underground river, more frequented because it is located near the administrative center of the park, where most hotels and restaurants are concentrated.
The first leg of the walk is by motorboat along the Son River to the entrance of the cave. Once inside, the ride continues rowing. A small stop allows you to walk on foot part of the cave. After your visit, and before you embark to reach the city, you can climb the stairs to the side of the mountain that will take you to a "dry" cave called Tien Son.
Hiking and trekking in the park
Several hiking options and treks of one or more days are available. For example, the day trek in the abandoned valley is really interesting. You will cross rainforest and streams, explore caves, barbecue on the banks of a river, swim in the darkness of the underground river with headlamps.
Zip Line in Chay river - Dark Cave
Despite the site's high traffic, the activities are very interesting, especially for those who like thrilling activities. You can spend half a day or even a whole day there. Entrance fees of 450,000vnd per person give you access to many attractions: zip line, kayak or canoe trips, swimming in emerald waters, exploring the caves, mud bath and other water sports. This site is located 18km from the administrative center of the park. The entrance fee includes the rental of life jacket and flashlight.
Bike ride in the countryside
Like Halong Bay, Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park is a good place to stroll and discover the Vietnamese countryside. You can cycle through rice paddies on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, meet buffaloes, discover caves on the way . Some people recommend the one-day bike ride in the Bồng Lai Valley, where you can enjoy delicious grilled chicken and cold beerat Pub with Cold Beer, or at other restaurants: Mối Mối, The Duck Stop, Wild Boar Eco Farm.
It is easy to rent a bike or motorbike in hotels or rental shops in the park.
During the summer, which lasts from May to September, it is very hot. I advise you to go for walks early in the morning or late afternoon.
Other activities
If we have more time at the park, we can visit other sites:
You can book tours with a French speaking guide at our Vietnam travel agency .
