DESTINATION RESEARCH – Phong Nha

I. Map: Regional map

Phong Nha map

II. Overview (A brief introduction about the destination)Phong Nha-Ke Bang was recognized as a world natural heritage. It is one of two the largest limestone in the world with more than 300 large and small caves , it was dubbed the "Kingdom of the caves" hidden under the exquisite beauty of creation. Especially the system of underground rivers and hundreds of species of rare plants that exist, including several species listed in the Red Book of Vietnam and the world as a haven for scientists, the adventurers and tourists.

III. Accessibility:

1. By plane:- Airport: Dong Hoi airport Location: Dong Hoi city (50km from destination)

- Domestic flight routes:From Hanoi: 2 flights per day Trip duration: 1 hour 25 minutesFrom HCMC: 2 flights per day Trip duration: 1 hour 35 minutes

Routes Flight Day Departure time Arrival timeHanoi – Dong Hoi

VN7591/VN1591 Mon, Tue, wed, Thu, Sat, Sun

8:20/14:05 9:45/15:30

HCMC – Dong Hoi

VN1400/VN4170/BL350

Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun

15:20/14:00, 15:00/14:00

16:50/15:35,16:35/15:35

Dong Hoi - Hanoi

VN7590/VN1590 Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun

8:55/10:10 10:15/11:30

Dong Hoi HCMC

VN1401/VN4174/BL350

Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun

17:20/16:10/17:20

18:50/ 17:50/ 18:50

Airline Agency:

- International flight routes: not available yet

2. By boat: not available.

3. By train:

- Location: Dong Hoi city( 50km from destination)

- Common Train:

From Hanoi (522km) : Train number: SE1 19:30 – 5:35, SE3 22:00 – 7:25, SE5 9:00, – 19:22, SE7: 6:00 – 16:21, TN1: 13:10 – 00:39.

From HCMC (1204km): Train number: SE2 19:30 – 18:30 , SE4 22:00 – 19:37, SE6 9 :00 – 9 :00 (24h) , SE8 6 :00 – 4:35, TN2 13 :10 – 15 :15.- Tourism train :

- Area: 343.638 hectares ( 125.729 hectares core)- Population: 47.000- Ethnic groups: Kinh, Bru- Van Kieu, Chut.- Tel code: 052

From Hanoi : QB1: 20:05 – 8:20, QB 2: 16:25 – 5:20.

4. By road: distance from some nearby cities/towns

- From Dong Hoi to Phong Nha: 50km 1,15 hours drive

By Bus: 15.000đ/pax/way

- From Ho Chi Minh city to Dong Hoi: 1204 km 27 hours drive

- From Hanoi: 522km 11 hours drive

Hưng Long: 250.000 đ/pax/way tel: 04.22121.855

Dòng Hiền: 250.000 đ/pax/way tel: 04.38327.330

- From Da Nang: 280 km 6 hours drive.

Hải Hà: 220.000 đ/pax/way tel: 0905735579

- From Hue: 172 km 3,8 hours drive.

80.000 đ/pax/way tel: Hạnh Luyen: 0983.796.301 Sơn Thu: 052.3801.794

IV. Weather:- Dry season: April to August.- Wet season: September to march, 2000-3000 mm/year.- 4 season in year. Average temperature: dry season 24 - 25 degree Celcius, wet season 18-20 degree Celcius.- Tourist season: not any, good to see any time of year.

V. Tourism resources:1. Tourist attraction:

Phong Nha cave: The Phong Nha cave is the longest wet cave or river cave in the world. The extremely large subterranean river system is running through the entire cave, however, there are some large dry chambers in the cave which the water doesn’t reach anymore.

Tien Son cave:  

Tien Son is filled with enormous columns, stalactites and stalagmites. Perhaps its most surprising feature is its many fallen stalagmites. Following a series of landforms and movement of rocks, this mass was levered or lowered, blocking the current and creating what is now Tiên Sơn cave while the underground river redirected its current to Phong Nha cave.  Tien Son and Phong Nha are clearly part of the same cave system although they appear not to be connected at present. Millions of years ago the Son river probably flowed through Tien Son but it now flows lower down the valley.

Paradise Cave:

Thien Duong cave ( Paradise Cave ) was discovered by scientists of the British Caving Research Association in 2005.   The cave with natural primitive features looks like a landscape painting, which makes it very attractive to tourists. The cave, 200m higher than water level, has the most beautiful and spectacular stalactites. Despite the

strong geological tectonic process, the whole of the cave’s structure has been preserved intact. The cave mouth has been formed by two fossilised tree trunks which once elicited the attention of the Vatican’s Saint Peter Chancel. Each part of the cave opens into a distinct space, with giant naturally formed silhouettes of unicorns, lions, and dragons. In some places the waves of its sandstone appear like a desert. Its interpretive openness symbolizes the reconciliation of various religions embraced throughout Vietnam’s long history.

Chay River – Dark Cave:

Chay RiverThe 10km-long Chay River is an estuary of Son River with a gentle stream flow, pure water and many species of endemic fishes like Cyprinus centralus, Cyprinus sp, Chela quangbinhensis and Hemibagrus vietnamensis. 

Hang Toi has a primitive beauty with thousands of several spectacular stalagmite and stalactites. This is a shelter of many species of animals like bat and swift, especially, Ha Tinh langur - one of primate species listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book. 

Mooc Stream:

Mooc Stream from Phong Nha, heading west to the foot of the grandiose Truong Son mountain range, our car rode on quiet Ho CHi Minh road, the west branch which is winding through the peaceful villages of only about 20km.

Son Doong cave:

Son Doong cave in Vietnam is one of the most beautiful natural caves and the largest ever found in the world. Hang Son Doong cave complex of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, located in Son Trach, Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province of Vietnam Son Doong cave is one of the largest natural cave ever found in the world. Who first discovered as a peasant named Ho Khanh. In 1991, he happened to shelter in this cave while looking deep into the fores.

2. Tour activities: Overnight cruise Boat cruise/sampan Cycling Walking

Trekking Horse riding Elephant rideOx/buffalo carting

Homestay Kayaking Rock climbing Telepheric

Swiming

VI. Accommodation:- 5-star standard: Sun spa resort ( 263 rooms, tel: 0523842999), Muong Thanh hotel (95 rooms, tel: 3822276).- 4-star standard: Tân Bình hotel (81 rooms, tel: 052.3843076)- 3-star standard: Luxe hotel ( 60 rooms, tel: 3845959), Sunrise hotel( 50 rooms, tel: 3810666)- 2-star standard: Kim Lan hotel

- Special accommodation (homestay/eco-lodge, camp): homestay( Chay river), eco – stay ( 24 beds, tel: 0919167246), Camping (Son Dong cave, Tien Son cave)

VII. Food. Bread soup: Sương Hồng – 38 Nguyen Trai Street. Quang Noodle: Anh Đao 27 Phan Boi Chau street “Bèo cake” : Msr. Van 80 Le Thanh Hong street.

VIII. Online References: (link for further reading)- http://phongnhaexplorer.com/en - http://www.quangbinhtourism.vn/en/Homepage.aspx - http://phongnhatourism.com.vn/en -