Phong Nha - Ke Bang

Phong Nha - Ke Bang
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Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park contains the oldest major karst area in Asia. The site consists of two parts: Phong Nha Nature Reserve and Ke Bang forest.

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 126 km, of which only 20 have been surveyed.

The site was proposed in 1999, 2000 and finally 2002, after which it was included in the list in 2003. The knowledge of the area still is remarkably limited.

Year Decision Comments
2003 Inscribed Reasons for inscription
1999DeferredAbout Phong Nha Cave: Bureau - Does not meet criteria by itself. Should consider including larger area and joining with Laos Hin Namno Karst area

Reviews

Kevin (usa):
My cousin and I were at the Phong Nha Cave in February of 2009. Our visit was doeable via the bus that originates from Hanoi. When we stopped at Dong Hoi we took rides on the back of 2 motorcyclists who drove us there in the open air. The ride was close to an hour and goes through some amazing rice patties and tree farms. The road is new and very comfortable to ride on. There is very little traffic as Central Vietnam is still a fairly lowly populated area compared to the North and the South.

Arriving there, we were amazed by the beauty of this park. For some reason, one could still see many farms on the lowlands inside this protected national park, but as one look upward towards the karst mountains all you see is picturesque beauty that is very green and comforting. The canoes that took us from the park main entrance to the embankment inside the park wiggles through some amazingly emerald waters so that in some parts of this river one could see the bottom with the naked eye.

There were two caves that we have visited: one on top of this hill that we climbed after numerous steps and rehydration with local vendors who sells these products and another cave which could be reached through a river which runs inside it. The cave reached via the river is pretty radical considering that there is no light inside this tunnel and only a few people are in front of and back of you. The formations of this cave is plentiful and amazingly grand.
Date posted: July 2009
anthony Sun (USA):
Phong Nha is part of unique set of cave systems in the world in that it has a subterranean river flowing through the cave and out and the river is navigable by boat. This allows the visitor a unique experience to sit in a boat and either paddle or cruise through the cave while admiring the experience.
My family and I experienced Phong Nha in 2005. The starting point is the town of Dong Hoi which is access able from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh. A short drive brings you to Phong Nha which is a pleasant place to walk among the mountains. The cave is located on the river and boats can be rented to paddle you in. The cave is about 5 miles deep but the boat will take you less than a mile and then you get to walk in dry caves looking at the rock formations.
I have experienced several other similar caves, notably the Yellow Dragon Cave at Wulingyuan, China (WHS) and the Puerto Princesa Cave on Palawan, Phillipines (WHS). Phong Nha is by far the best and most natural with the most unique rock formations.
The Yellow Dragon Cave has become very touristy and feels like Disneyland and the Puerto Princesa Cave in the Phillipines are a big disappointment. The trip to Puerto Princesa is long and bumpy together with a rough boat ride across the bay. The karst formation on the cliffs look beautiful but when they motor you in the cave, there was nothing to see. You paddle in and after 30 mins, you turn around and paddle out.
Date posted: December 2008


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