According to Chairman of Quang Binh Provincial People's Committee Tran Thang, the process of creating the earth's crust more than 450 million years ago created Phong Nha-Ke Bang heritage, with unique values in terms of geology, geomorphology, ecology and biodiversity.
In recently years, domestic and foreign officials, experts and scientists have recently raised proposals to improve the efficiency of management over the UNESCO-recognised Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in the central province of Quang Binh.
The Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park comprises an area of 123,326 ha and contains terrestrial and aquatic habitats, primary and secondary forest, sites of natural regeneration, tropical dense forests and savanna and is rich in large, often spectacular and scientifically significant caves.
The property contains and protects over 104 km of caves and underground rivers, making it one of the most outstanding limestone karst ecosystems in the world. The Son Doong Cave, first explored in 2009, is believed to contain the world’s largest cave passage in terms of diameter and continuity.
With its invaluable values, the park has been twice recognised by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site, with the second in 2015. It has also been recognised by the Prime Minister as a special national site.
According to the Management Board of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (Quang Binh), over the last 20 years, the British Cave Research Association (BCRA) has discovered 425 caves with different sizes, lengths and features in Phong Nha - Ke Bang and surrounding areas.
In April, experts from BCRA have discovered 22 new caves with a total length of 11.7km in the central province of Quang Binh within a 3-week period.
By now, 389 caves have been explored with a total length of 243 km in Phong Nha - Ke Bang only. There are three major systems: The Phong Nha Cave System, the Vom Cave System and the Mooc Spring System.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang listed among best travel destinations in 2022
Phong Nha-Ke Bang among Southeast Asia’s most diverse national parks