Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is a stunning natural wonder in Vietnam that offers visitors an unforgettable experience. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for its incredible caves, rich biodiversity, and stunning landscapes.
Where is Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park?
Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park is a national park in Vietnam, located in Bo Trach and Minh Hoa districts of Quang Binh province. It is about 50 km northwest of Dong Hoi city and about 500 km south of the capital city Hanoi.
The national park shares its border with the Hin Namno nature reserve in Khammouan province, Laos to the west, and is about 42 km away from the East Sea to the east, from the national park’s border.
How to get to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park?
To travel to Phong Nha Ke Bang, you need to move to the city of Dong Hoi. There are many modes of transportation for you to choose from, such as buses, trains, airplanes, and personal vehicles.
By air plane
For the straight flights to Dong Hoi city, they are only available in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city. The prices will vary depending on the airlines and the seasons.
The average frequency of flights is 3 flights per day with the operation of 4 airlines: Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Pacific Airlines, and Bamboo Airways.
By train
Dong Hoi Station is located on the North-South Railway line, so you can travel here by train. Currently, there are many train trips with various time frames for you to choose from, such as SE1, SE2, SE3, SE4, SE5, SE6, SE7, ….
The ticket price for trains from Hanoi to Dong Hoi ranges from 340,000 VND ($14,5) to 800,000 VND ($34) per ticket, and the ticket price for trains from Ho Chi Minh city to Dong Hoi ranges from 410,000 VND ($17,5) to 1,070,000 VND ($45,6) per ticket.
By bus
You can easily book a bus trip to Dong Hoi from any bus stations in the major cities in Vietnam. The bus fare from Ho Chi Minh city to Dong Hoi is about 600,000 VND ($25,6) per ticket and the travel time is about 24 hours. The bus fare from Hanoi to Dong Hoi ranges from 300,000 VND ($12,8) to 350,000 VND ($15) per ticket, and the travel time is about 10 hours.
Things to do in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
Phong Nha Cave
Surely, Phong Nha Cave is a must for anyone who visits the Phong Nha-Ke Bang tourist complex. The majestic cave is very easy for tourists to explore and discover. Phong Nha Cave is one of the longest water caves in the world, with a length of nearly 8km.
You will have a chance to admire the captivating stalactites and staglamites on a boat trip and enjoy the refreshing air in this huge cave.
Tien Son Cave
Tien Son Cave is also a another spectacuar cave in the cave system of Phong Nha-Ke Bang. If Phong Nha Cave is a water cave, then Tien Son Cave is a dry cave. This cave is approximately 980m long.
This place has huge and incredible dry lava rocks and boulders that leave visitors amazed and mesmerized. A special feature is that if you hit the rock columns or the slabs, you can hear echoing sounds like gongs and bells that are incredibly magical.
Paradise Cave
You can expect what to see by the name, this cave is as beautiful as a paradise on earth. This is the longest dry cave in Asia, with a whopping length of 31.4km and a height from the bottom to the cave ceiling of about 60m.
Upon entering this place, visitors can freely admire the blocks of petrified wood with many different shapes. There are petrified wood blocks in the shape of the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus, and there are also blocks in the shape of the Jade Emperor discussing water with his attendants,… all of which are extremely unique.
Swallow Cave
Swallow Cave (Hang En in vietnamese) is one of the most unique places that you can’t miss. Inside Swallow Cave, there is a stunning turquoise river. The light shining down through the skylight reflects on the clear water, creating an indescribably alluring beauty.
On the ceiling of the cave, there are many rocky crevices which serve as the dwelling place for thousands of swallows and bats. This is also the reason why people call this cave “Swallow Cave“. Many tourists enjoy trekking to explore Swallow Cave, camping overnight by the sandy riverbank, and admiring the lives of thousands of swallows nesting inside the cave.
Mooc Stream
The Mooc stream is an incredibly fascinating stopover when you visit Phong Nha-Ke Bang. When you come to this place, tourists will be amazed by the stunning natural scenery with towering primeval forests, lush vegetation, and a crystal clear stream that is breathtakingly beautiful in the emerald green color.
At Muoc stream, tourists can experience many fun and exciting activities such as kayaking, fishing, and swimming races. The ticket price to enter Muoc stream includes these recreational activities and costs 180,000 VND ($7,7).
Chay River – Dark Cave tourist complex
When visiting Phong Nha-Ke Bang, you cannot miss the Chay River – Dark Cave ecotourism area. Here, visitors can sit on a boat to explore the picturesque Chay River. On the tranquil boat, you will be able to visit beautiful caves that resemble a fairyland.
The Chay River – Dark Cave tourism area also offers many interesting games for you to explore such as kayaking, swimming in the river, zipline sliding, mud bathing, etc. The all-inclusive ticket price for the Chay River – Dark Cave tourism area is 450,000 VND ($19,18).
Son Doong Cave
Located in the center of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Son Doong Cave, also known as “Hang Sơn Động” by locals, is the world’s largest natural cave. It stretches over 5 kilometers in length, more than 200 meters in width, and reaches up to 150 meters in height. It is estimated that it can accommodate a 40-story skyscraper entirely inside its chambers.
Not only famous for its enormous size, Son Doong Cave also has a rich ecosystem of fauna and flora. Son Doong is a habitat for many animal species and is also a diverse vegetation carpet with hundreds of different plant species, formed by the rushing underground river flowing beneath the ground and illuminated by sunlight from a collapsed section of the cave.
For those interested in history, the park also has several sites related to the Vietnam War, including the Ho Chi Minh Trail and the Vinh Moc Tunnels.
Join us on a journey of discovery and adventure in this stunning region of Vietnam.
