On, in and over the river: upstream in Quang Binh

There's a misconception that the coastal province of Quang Binh's charms lie only on its beaches, discouraging any attempt to look further than its crystal clear waters. However, the province is more than just sun, sea and sand thanks  to its gorgeous inland streams and caves.

There are many ways to get to Quang Binh, but the most popular way is by coach so people can enjoy the beautiful scenery along the road.

Photo by Ngoc Xinh

Kayaking is a popular activity on the Chay River, whether you're exploring with a partner or just enjoying lazy laid-back afternoon. Photo by Ngoc Xinh

If you're more of a hard plastic person, inflatable boats are always available. Photo by Ngoc Xinh

In the middle of the photo is a net designed to catch people who fall off a zipline. Up to you if you want to try! Photo by Ngoc Xinh

The Chay River, with its year-round jade water, is one of the rare places in Vietnam to have a zipline. Photo by Ngoc Xinh

Photo by Ngoc Xinh

Swings are hung on every branch that stretches out over the water. Hold tight and dip your toes into the cool water below, especially at this time of year with the mercury rising. Photo by Ngoc Xinh

Photo by Ngoc Xinh

When you're finished with soaking in the river, it's time to get back to Quang Binh  for a local treat. Above is a fish noodle soup. Photo by Duyen Nguyen

Sauteed snails with coconut AA "picky" experience for any crustacean lovers. Photo by Duyen Nguyen

Photo by Duyen Nguyen

Photo by Duyen Nguyen

Photo by Ngoc Xinh

Sources of information: vnexpress

Quang Binh Province, the land of caves, has some cheaper alternatives from Son Doong, if you're up to the challenge.

The central province of Quang Binh is not only home to the world's largest cave, Son Doong, but also other cavernous expanses such as Thien Duong, Tu Lan and En , all of which pose a daunting challenge for those brave enough to enter into the depths and explore their scemic beauty.

You need to be fit, able to swim and know how to manage a boat across the difficult terrain.

Thien Duong (Paradise) Cave

Dubbed an underground palace, Thien Duong Cave (Bo Trach District) is 31km (19.2 miles) long. It features a 7km (4.3 miles) trail that runs deep into the cave for tourists to explore.

The journey requires explorers to tackle diverse terrains, kayaking through the underground river and rock - climbing. One of the highlights of the cave is the place known as Heaven's Well, where the sun  shines through the glowing cavern.

Tu Lan Cave

The Tu Lan Cave system is located 70km (43 miles) from Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, next to Tan Hoa Village. It consists of more than 10 caves with stunning rock formations.

An expedition to Tu Lan Cave is classed as difficult, and requires visitors to be in good health, with trekking swimming experience. Prices range from VND5.5 to 20 million (2-4 days).

En Cave

An adventure into En Cave usually takes two days and one night, and involves crossing a large stream, trekking through primeval forest and valleys, and camping inside the cave. Next to En Cave is Cold Cave , where visitors can swim through the darkness to reach the stalactites. This journey requires visitors to walk 10km (6.2 miles) per day. The price of a tour is VND7 million ($307).

Nuoc Nut - Va Cave

The two-day tour to Nuoc Nut Cave and Va Cave involves a 10km (6.2 miles) walk, impressing visitors with its magical stalactites and underwater limestone towers. To get there, visitors need to cross rocky terrain and steep, sharp slopes with the aid of spe cialized equipment. Tents, lights and heaters are also required for a safe journey. This tour will set you back VND8 million ($351).

Resource: Vnexpress

Phong Nha - Ke Bang welcomes 10,846 tourists during Lunar New Year

(Quang Binh Portal) - Phong Nha - Ke Bang tourism has seen an impressive start during the Lunar New Year of 2017.

During the Tet holidays, total number of tourists to the world's natural heritage site, Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park were 10,846 tourists, of which the Phong Nha - Ke Bang Tourism Center welcomed 6,539 tourists (up 3% against the same period last year), including 1,300 international tourists (down 3% against the same period last year); tourism routes under the management of the Park received 61 tourists; the Phong Nha botanical garden received 246 tourists (up 156% from the same period last year), including 200 international tourists; Thien Duong Cave ecotourism site welcomed 4,000 tourists.

In addition, quality of services at the destinations has been improved, ensuring security and social safety as well as foodhygience. A series of activities have been organized to serve tourists, including opening "Tet" fair at the Phong Nha - Ke Bang Tourism Center, organizing cultural activities to welcome the Lunar New year for international tourists according to the customs and cultural traditions of Vietnamese people.

Especially, the ceremony of opening forest door and launching the first tour to Son Doong Cave - the world's largest cave for 10 international tourists in 2017.

Nguồn: quangbinh.gov.vn

Master plan on Phong Nha-Ke Bang Park receives green light.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam gave the nod to a master plan on conserving and promoting the volue of the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park - a national relic site - in central Quang Binh province in the 2016 - 2025 period, with a vision to 2035.

He assigned the provincial People’s Committee to coordinate with offices involved to design the relic site planning to be submitted to the Prime Minister for approval.

Located in Bo Trach district, the park covers 85,754 hectares with a 195,400-hectare buffer zone. It is among the 238 most important ecological zones in the world.

Phong Nha – Ke Bang won UNESCO heritage recognition in 2003 thanks to its system of 300 different caves and grottos which date back some 400 million years.

With the length of 7.7 kilometres, Phong Nha cave system is said to have the longest water cave and the most beautiful grottos.

Meanwhile, Son Doong, which was first explored in 2009, is considered the largest natural cave in the world.

It has a length of at least 8.5 kilometres and is at least 200 metres in height (while its very largest chamber is an incredible 250 metres in height, enough space to accommodate 40-storey skyscrapers).

On May 13 this year, the American television network ABC (American Broadcasting Company) made a live broadcast through the Good Morning America programme featuring En and Son Doong caves.

Phong Nha – Ke Bang recognized as a world heritage for second time for its biodiversity by UNESCO.

(Quang Binh Portal) – Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh province has just recognized as a world heritage for the second time for its biodiversity by the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO), with the park’s expanded area under recognition from 85,754 ha to 123,326 ha.

Phong Nha – Ke Bang recognized as a world heritage for second time for its biodiversity by UNESCO

The recognition was approved after an agreement by members who attended the 39th conference by the World Heritage Committee (WHC), which was held in Bonn, Germany, on July 3.

It is the second time that Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park received UNESCO’s recognition, the first time in 2003 for its geological and geomorphologic values.

Located in Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province, the park is home to more than 2,934 identified species of flora and more than 800 species of fauna, many of which are listed among the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Red Book for endangered species in the world.

The UN agency said: “The Park's landscape is formed by limestone plateaux and tropical forests. It features great geological diversity and offers spectacular phenomena, including a large number of caves and underground rivers”

"The site harbours a high level of biodiversity and many endemic species. The extension ensures a more coherent ecosystem while providing additional protection to the catchment areas that are of vital importance for the integrity of limestone landscapes."

The characteristic of the national park are its karsts that are millions of years old, and said to be most valuable in Southeast Asia. It has majestic landscapes with a spectacular cave system, abundant biological diversity and many historical and cultural relics, and underground rivers.

The Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park is the third site in Asia and the first in Southeast Asia to be recognized as a world natural heritage.

Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park to get UNESCO’s recognition for the second time is a honour for Vietnam in general and Quang Binh province in particular. This is also a driving force for the province to conserve natural resources, promote tourism and improve livelihoods for local people, helping environmental protection and socio-economic development of the localitity.

Phong Nha – Ke Bang recognized as a world heritage for second time for its biodiversity by UNESCO

Adventurous bridge at Chay River – Dark Cave opens to tourists

(Quang Binh Portal) – The adventurous bridge – a new tourist product at Chay River – Dark Cave tourism route opens to tourists, according to information from Phong Nha – Ke Bang Tourism Center.

This is one of attractive and adventurous games held in the Phong Nha – Ke Bang Tourism Center in the coming time.

Accordingly, the adventurous bridge has nearly 60m long and 7m far from the water’s surface. It is designed with challenging obstacles from easy to difficult levels to grab the “Flag of victory” in the shortest time.

In order to conquer the adventurous bridge, each player is required a good health and some necessary skills.

Opening the adventurous bridge to tourists is an event in series of main activities of Quang Binh Cave Festival 2015, which is held on August 5th – 11th, 2015.

It is known that the adventurous bridge and zipline system - two new tourist products at Chay River – Dark Cave tourism route will be granted certification by Vietnam Guinness on August 6th, 2015.