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Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park
Location: Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
is located to the north of the majestic Truong Son Range in central Quang Binh
Province.
Characteristics: Phong Nha - Ke Bang is ancient karst area of the highest
significance and value in both Vietnam and the world.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is one of the world's two largest limestone
regions, and it has been recognized as a world natural heritage site by the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at its
27th general assembly session being held in Paris from June 30-July 5, 2003. At
the session, delegates from over 160 member countries of UNESCO World Heritage
Convention agreed to include Phong Nha - Ke Bang Park and 30 others worldwide to
the list of world heritage sites. Phong Nha - Ke Bang Park is now the fifth
UNESCO recognized site in Vietnam after Halong Bay, Hue Imperial City, Hoi An
Ancient Town and My Son Cham Towers. The over 200,000 ha of parkland includes
beautiful limestone formations, grottoes and caves, and boasts lush forestland
covering 95 percent of the park area.
The area is considered a paradise for researchers and explorers of grottoes and
caves, and Vietnamese and British scientists have so far surveyed 20 with a
total length of 70km. Of them, 17 are in the Phong Nha area and three in the Ke
Bang Area. The Phong Nha Grotto itself which lends its name to the whole system
is probably the most beautiful of all, containing many fascinating rock
formations, enchanting visitors with evocative names such as Lion, Fairy Caves,
Royal Court and Buddha. Besides the grotto and cave systems, Phong Nha has the
longest underground rivers, the largest caverns and passageways, the widest and
prettiest sand banks, and the most astonishing rock formations in the world.
According to initial statistics, the primitive tropical forest in Phong Nha - Ke
Bang houses 140 families, 427 branches, and 751 species of high-rated plants, of
which 36 species are endangered and listed in the Vietnam Red Book. The forest
is also home to 32 sets, 98 families, 256 races and 381 species of four land
backboned animals. Sixty-six animal species are listed in the Vietnam Red Book
and 23 other species in the World Red Book.
Phong Nha - Ke Bang also boasts dozens of mountain peaks of over 1,000 meters
still unexplored by men and seen as ideal sites for activities like climbing and
exploration. Worthy of note are Peak Co Rilata with the height of 1,128m and
Peak Co Preu, 1,213m. Lying between these peaks are valleys which promise
tourists exciting eco-tours.
In addition to the diversity in the ecosystem, Phong Nha - Ke Bang is home to
archeological and historical relics, such as an ancient hieroglyphic script of
the Cham ethnic minority, King Ham Nghi's base built for the resistance war
against French colonialists in the late 19th century, and the Xuan Son ferry
station, Ho Chi Minh Trail and Road 20 used during the US resistance war.
Central Quang Binh Province has poured heavy investment into upgrading the Phong
Nha - Ke Bang visitor site to turn it into the country's major tourist
destination.
Source: VNAT |
High Quality Tour Service:
Roy, Spain
Fransesca, Netherlands
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Address: Room 509, 15T2 Building, 18 Tam Trinh Str., Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi, Vietnam (See map)
Tel: +84.24.62768866 / mail[at]tuanlinhtravel.com
Visited: 1967