If we say North Vietnam is a kingdom of karst structures then Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park no doubt, is the capital.

Phong Nha - Ke Bang is the only destination in Vietnam that has been known for its beauties long time ago yet there’s still something to surprise the whole world. In the past, visitors coming to Phong Nha Ke Bang for names like Paradise Cave and Phong Nha Cave. But now, everyone talks about Son Doong Cave – The largest cave in the world – when Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park is mentioned which just proves that how immense nature wonders in Phong Nha – Ke Bang is and still awaiting for human’s discovery.

Overview

Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park belongs to Quang Binh Vietnam. Quang Binh is also the narrowest province of the country and land of five flowing rivers: Gianh, Ron, Nhat Le, Ly Hoa, and Dinh. These five rivers helped created the most massive and impressive karst system in the world of which major parts are still being explored. Phong Nha Ke Bang deserves the 1st spot in the list of most beautiful Vietnam landscape.

The national park covers a total area of more than 200,000 hectares including some of the most beautiful mountain sceneries and limestone formations in Vietnam. The forest in the national park takes up to 95% of the whole area. The national park is created to protect 300 caves and grottoes and also the ecosystem of limestone forest. Up until now, researchers have discovered 20 grottoes and caves (17 of them belongs to Phong Nha Cave System and 3 in Ke Bang Limestone Mountain Area) with a total 20 kilometers in length. The national park is divided into 3 functional areas:

– Strict protection zone (64,894 ha)

– Ecological restoration zone (17449 ha)

– Division of Administrative Services (3,411 ha)

Besides its geography values, Phong Nha - Ke Bang is also an important archaeological and historical site. Researchers have discovered here an ancient hieroglyphic script of Cham people - this proved the fact that Phong Nha Ke Bang had been explored first by Cham group in this region. Phong Nha Ke Bang also was military base King Ham Nghi built for the resistance war against French colonialists in the late 19th century and was later used as Ho Chi Minh Trail and Road 20 used during the US resistance war of Vietnamese people.

Attractions in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

1. Phong Nha Cave

This cave, shaped by Chay River, is a masterpiece of nature which stretch for 44,5km long, containing 14 chambers on a 13,969m-long underground river.

Visitors can only visit 1500m out of the total length that has been explored by the discoverers. Hidden away the magnificent works of nature, Phong Nha Cave has what to be the most well-shaped stalactites and stalagmites in the national park, glittering with the colorful electric lights. The grandiose of the cave will make you so overwhelmed that the feeling is hard to forget.  A boat ride on Chay River to visit the cave to would give visitors the feeling they’re on a hunt for treasure.

2. Paradise Cave

The name describes this cave the best – The most sophisticated work of karst structures. Paradise Cave is located on an elevation of 200 meters above the sea level, near the west branch of Ho Chi Minh Highway.

Local people lovingly gave the precious name 'paradise' to praise the beauty of the place. Located on an elevation quite high above the sea level, the cave spreads on a total length of 31 kilometers explored. The limestone formation inside the cave is even more spectacular than Phong Nha Cave with massive ceilings and columns.

3. Va – Nuoc Nut Cave

Just recently opened from 2015, Va – Nuoc Nut Cave quickly has become one the most interesting cave to explore in Phong Nha – Ke Bang national park.

The sight inside Va – Nuoc Nut Cave is just so unique to behold – about 1000 white stalagmites formed in cone-like shapes, dipped in green water. Visiting Va – Nuoc Nut Cave is absolutely must-do thing for nature lovers and adventurers.

4. Son Doong Cave

We’ve saved the most important for the last – Son Doong Cave, the more beautiful it is the harder for humans to come and appreciate the sights of it. Just known to the world recently but already the main draw of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, a trip to Son Doong is worth every cent of your money.

Discovered by Ho Khanh – ‘King of Caves’ who also the one discovered Paradise and Va Cave, Son Doong is different from its peers. The beauty – on the scale nature has created for it, Son Doong is just breath-taking.

Son Doong Cave is announced as the largest cave in the world, 5 times larger than Phong Nha and En Cave with a total length that has been calculated 9km. There are two lines created by the ceilings collapsed, allowing the sunlight into the cave.

Main sessions of Son Doong: Hope and Vision, The Hand of Dog, Green Gours, Garden of Edam, Passchendaele, and Great Wall of Vietnam at the end of the cave.