Phong Nha - Ke Bang Travel Tips: Weather, Caving Tours, and Adventure Essentials

Nature has bestowed Vietnam with an extraordinary wonder - lush tropical jungles, mysterious caves, and some of the oldest limestone mountains in Asia. This is Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

1, Location

Phong Nha-Ke Bang (Vietnamese: Vườn quốc gia Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng) is an extensive national park located in the Bố Trạch and Minh Hóa districts of Quang Binh province, Central Vietnam, about 500 km south of Hanoi. It protects one of the world's largest karst regions, featuring approximately 300 caves and a limestone forest ecosystem within the Annamite mountain range.

Its core zone covers 85,754 hectares, divided into:

• Strict protection zone (64,894 km²)
• Ecological restoration zone (17,449 km²)
• Administrative and service zone (3,411 km²)

This plateau is one of the finest examples of complex karst formations in Southeast Asia.

2, Climate

The park has a tropical climate - hot and humid. The average annual temperature ranges from 23 - 25°C (with a maximum of 41°C in summer and a minimum of 6°C in winter). Annual rainfall is between 2,000 - 2,500 mm, with 88% occurring from July to December. The relative humidity averages 84%.

3, Formation history

The karst landscape of Phong Nha-Ke Bang has been forming since the Paleozoic era (around 400 million years ago), making it the oldest in Asia. Its topography has been shaped by tectonic movements as well as the action of sulfuric and hydrothermal waters.

The name "Phong Nha" means "Wind and Teeth", referring to the sound of the wind in the caves and the shape of the stalactites. "Ke Bang" comes from the name of a nearby forest.

4, The 7 greatest features

According to a 1997 scientific conference, the park boasts:

• The longest underwater cave,
• The highest and widest cave entrance,
• The most beautiful sandy-rock riverbanks,
• The most enchanting underground lake,
• The most magnificent stalactites,
• The longest underground river (13,969 m),
• The most impressive dry cave.

5, Rivers and Streams

The Son and Chay Rivers flow through the park, forming the longest underground river system in the region. The Son River enters Phong Nha Cave, disappearing 20 km underground. Other natural attractions include:

• Gio, Madame Loan, and Chai Waterfalls,
• Moc and Ta Ang Streams,
• Bong Lai Lake and Chai Waterfall, adorned with Lagerstroemia flowers.

6, Limestone Mountains

The park features dozens of limestone massifs over 1,000 meters above sea level, including:

• Co Rilata (1,128 m)
• Co Preu (1,213 m)

Non-karst areas make up only a small percentage, mainly located on the park's outskirts.

7, Flora and Fauna

Fauna: The park is home to 381 species of vertebrates, including geckos, macaques, gibbons, saola, and bears. Many of these species are listed in both the Vietnamese and Global Red Books.

Flora: The park boasts 751 species of vascular plants, including the endemic Calocedrus rupestris. 36 species are classified as endangered.

8, Exploring Phong Nha Cave

Nicknamed the "Kingdom of Caves," Phong Nha Cave features 14 chambers connected by an underground river. Highlights include:

• Hang Toi (Dark Cave)
• Hang En (Swallow Cave)
• Hang Khe Tiên (Khe Tiên Cave)

A boat ride along the Son River into the cave unveils stunning stalactites and stalagmites, shaped like “teeth” and illuminated like silken ribbons.

9, Global recognition

UNESCO-listed in 2003 (Criterion VIII - Geological Value).

In 2008, a finalist in the "New 7 Wonders of Nature" contest, alongside Ha Long Bay and Fansipan.

10, How to get there?

From Hanoi, take the Thong Nhat train to Dong Hoi, then continue by land or water transport.

11, Tourist Activities

• Cave exploration (boats, spelunking equipment)
• Ecotourism in Ke Bang Forest
• Climbing peaks over 1,000 m.