Additional 44 caves have been discovered in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park in the central province of Quang Binh, raising the total caves found so far in this area to 405, according to the park’s management board.
Inside a cave in Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park (Source: VNA)
Of those, 33 are located in Dan Hoa, Hoa Son, Trung Hoa and
Thuong Hoa communes in Minh Hoa district, nine are in Son Trach commune, Bo
Trach district and the remaining in Truong Son and Truong Xuan communes, Quang
Ninh district.
As part of the six geological strata of La Khe, Bac Son, Mu Gia, Cat Dang, Muc
Bai and Le Ninh, mostly in La Khe and Bac Son that cover the largest area, the
caves are 44-602m from the seawater level.
Stalactites of different shapes have also been recorded there.
Vo Van Tri, head of the park’s Science and International Cooperation Office,
said it is necessary to conduct an in-depth study to better understand values
of newly-found caves, contributing to their sustainable preservation and
exploitation.
Dubbed the "Kingdom of Caves”, Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park was declared a
World Natural Heritage by UNESCO twice in July 2003 and July 2015 thanks to its
impressive scenery and archeological value.
It is also home to Son Doong cave, which was recognised in 2016 as the largest
of its kind by three international organisations, including the UK-based
Guinness World Records, Hong Kong-based World Record Association, and the US
and India-based World Kings.
As of mid-July, tourist arrivals in Quang Binh reached nearly 1.9 million, up
about 17 percent year-on-year, bringing an estimated revenue of 2 trillion VND
(88.8 million USD), marking a year-on-year increase of 15 percent.
In 2018, Quang Binh strives to greet 3.5 million tourists by the end of the
year, including 120,000 foreigners.
Source: VNA
Hoa Binh province’s rich natural and cultural resources position it as a prime location for developing community-based tourism (CBT). In recent years, support from central and provincial policies, as well as assistance from non-governmental organisations, have encouraged local ethnic minority and mountainous communities to actively engage in the sector.
Van Son Commune, Tan Lạc district, Hoa Binh province also known as "Cloud Valley," boasts a cool climate, stunning natural landscapes, and majestic scenery. Visitors who have been to this place should make a stop at Chien Hamlet to experience a lot of fascinating things and feel the friendly, warmth of the Muong ethnic people.
Thanks to the effective exploitation of natural landscape and the cultural diversity of ethnic minorities, Hoa Binh province has become an attractive destination for tourists seeking experiences and exploration.
The Department of Cultural Heritage has just coordinated with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hoa Binh province to organize a training on implementing the model of the cultural heritage connected in the cultural tourism journey in Cao Phong and Lac Son districts.
The Sung village in Cao Son commune, Da Bac district, is endowed with pristine natural landscape, and Dao Tien ethnic minority community in the village preserves rich cultural heritage, including traditional housing, clothing, language, scripts, customs, and daily life practices. Since the community-based tourism model was introduced in the locality, these traditional cultural values have been further preserved and promoted.