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.
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.
1. Boat Ride to Phong Nha Cave
Boat tour to Phong Nha Cave is easy, hence as a result, it’s touristy. Tour starts at Son Trach Town, boat cruises along with past buffalo, limestone peaks and church steeples into cave’s entrance. The illuminated caverns will show themselves before the eyes of visitors. Visitors also can visit Tien Son Cave by climbing 330 steps up the mountainside where the 9th-century Cham altars remain.
– During the floating season, the cave will be closed due to the flood.
– Entrance fee: 150.000VND/person
– Boat fee: around 360.000VND/14 persons
– English speaking guide: 300,000VND
– Visiting time: 3 hours (1 hour for Tien Son)
To get to Paradise Cave, you must also hire a boat which will bring you into the cave through a narrow waterway. Once you’ve arrived, you’ll get off the boat and can wander on foot to admire the cave. Paradise is beautifully illuminated by colorful lights and you can take good pictures of stalactites and stalagmites.
– Entrance ticket: 250,000VND/adult, 125,000VND/kid above 1,3m, kids under 1,1m enter free.
– If you want to save energy, there is a tramcar service with the price of 100,000VND for 4 people, 150,000VND for 6.
2. Trekking Tour to Son Doong Cave
The only way to explore Son Doong Cave – this is also the only tour operator available to Son Doong. This trek requires the highest level in terms of physical fitness, endurance and trekking skills. Visitors to Son Doong will have to go through a safety briefing before departure day, still, at any given time, if the tour guide sees you’re not fit for the trip, you’ll be removed from the crew without refund. This just shows how dangerous the trek to Son Doong is. But it gets more and more rewarding once you’ve entered the cave. During the trek, you'll be visiting:
– Entire Son Doong Cave
– Hang En Cave
– Ban Doong ethnic minority village
Tour price is expected to be USD3000/pax for a 4D3N tour (actual trekking), only available from January to August.
3. Kayaking on Chay River
With an impressive system of rivers, Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park is a great place to discover the caves by kayaking. This is a must-do thing for all nature lovers to Vietnam.
4. Dip yourself in the mud bath of Dark Cave
The nature inside Dark Cave remains untouched. There is no electricity to illuminate the karst structures of the cave, hence visitors will have to use flashlight helmet during the trip.
One very special feature of Dark Cave is mud-bathing in Thuy Tien or Bong Lai Lakes. Mud-bathing is no doubt good for your health, and mud-bathing in a cave gets ten times cooler!
5. Ziplining in Chay River
One of the most thrilling activities to enjoy in Chay river where a 400m long zip line from wildlife observation tower to Dark Cave. You’re allowed to jump off from the zipline into the azure swimming tools below. Chay River has some of the most beautiful and dramatic scenery in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park. It will be a miss if you skip this wonderfully exciting thing to do when in Phong Nha – Ke Bang.
However, this activity is particularly risky so we suggest you to book a tour combining Chay River and Dark Cave to ensure your safety.
– Price (entrance fees vary): High season all-inclusive (cave and zipline) 450,000 VND per person
– Low season all-inclusive 250,000 VND per person
– High season limited access (zipline & kayak) 270,000 VND per person
– Low season limited access 170,000 VND per person
6. Relax in the real heaven on Earth – Nuoc Mooc Stream
If you're looking for a pretty, refreshing, quiet and beautiful place to relax after a long trek to the Phong Nha – Ke Bang caves and grottoes, you need to get to Suoi Nuoc Moc or Nuoc Mooc Stream - a place that is praised as 'paradise on earth'.
The stream is located near to other attractions in Phong Nha - Ke Bang such as Paradise Cave, Chay River, and Dark Cave, Nuoc Mooc still remains its beauty with incredible jade green water and the beautiful surrounding. The water of the stream here is cooler than other places, so you shouldn't visit the stream in winter months.
A wooden bridge is made to connect to banks of the stream and allows the guests to climb on to take pictures. This site is also ideal for activities like swimming (with the life jacket on), kayaking and zip-lining.
– Location: Nuoc Mooc Stream is located on Quyet Thang road, along the west branch of Ho Chi Minh Trail and about 10km northwest of Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park.
– Best time to visit: March to May
– Price: 80,000 VND per person for basic entrance fee; 180,000 VND for an all-access pass
7. Cuddle with ducks at The Duck Stop
Visiting The Duck Stop at Bong Lai Valley is an interesting thing to do near Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park and to support the locals. Built by a 23-year-old, the small house in The Duck Stop has all the typical features of a rural house in Vietnam's countryside.
By coming here you'll enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the countryside and get close to nature and the little friends - the ducks. You can also try to be a farmer for a day with activities like feeding the ducks and riding a buffalo. The ducks here are trained to not be afraid of the guests and they will actually approach the humans first. It's just a lovely experience overall!
When is the best time to visit Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park?
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park has the typical climate of a region affected by the tropical monsoon season with high temperature and humidity. In summer, it can get to 41 Celsius degree and in winter it gets down to 6 Celsius degree. The ideal time to visit this beautiful park is from February to August. Avoid the flooding season which usually starts around Mid-September until mid-November. There will be heavy rains and flooding from time to time during these months. Some caves will be closed in this season and adventure tours to Son Doong and other caves won't be available.