Geographical Location 

Climate

Like the North-central (or BacTrung Bo) in general and Quang Binh Province in particular, the climatein this national park is tropical, hot, and humid. The annual meantemperature is 23 to 25°C, with a maximum of 41°C in the summer and aminimum of 6°C in the winter. Annual rainfall is 2,000 mm to 2,500 mm,and 88% of the rainfall is from July to December. With more than 160rainy days per year, no month is without rain. Mean annual relativehumidity is 84%. The typical tropical climate has helped build up a pure atmosphere of the green ecological environment, ideal for any visitor.

Formation History

Formation: ThePhong Nha–Ke Bang karst has evolved since the Paleozoic (some 400million years ago) and so is the oldest major karst area in Asia. Likemuch of Vietnam, it has been subject to extensive tectonic changes,thus the limestones of Phong Nha are inter-bedded with a number ofother rocks. There is also strong evidence that sulphurous solution andhydrothermal action have played an important role in shaping thebroad-scale landscape and the caves.
Historical name: Thepark deprives it name from Phong Nha cave, the most beautiful of all,containing many fascinating rock formations, and Ke Bang forest.One has explained that Phong Nha means “Wind and teeth” based onChinese transcription, which expresses the blowing wind inside the caveand teeth-like rough stalagtites. There have been several other ways ofexplanation, yet none is more popular than this.
People now flockto this National Park for contemplating the UNESCO-recognized worldnatural beauty, and also for directly witnessing the fabulous rockformations inside the caves.

A nature-gifted magnificient landscape: 7 best in one

PhongNha-Ke Bang park takes pride in the assessment of containing “7 bestthings” as a result of a National Science Conference held in Quang Binhin April, 1997. They are:
1. The longest water cave
2. The highest and widest cave mouth
3. The widest and most beautiful sand & rock bank
4. The most beautiful underground lake
5. The most magnificient and miraculous stalactite
6. The nation’s longest underground river (around 13,969 m)
7. The nicest and widest dry cave
Itis certain that when one goes on a bout around this beautifullymiraculous zone, he may be surprised and feel that he were lost insomewhere in the Heaven where he does not want to leave at all! So nowlet’s take a round trip to try this fabulous feeling!

Let’s tour!

Rivers & Streams

PhongNha is such a beautiful landscape that you may have to hold your breathon contemplating. Here are the charming Son and Chay Rivers, (the twolongest underground ones in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang), gently flowing inthe middle of the two sides’ reed and green bamboo rows. Mostof the caves here have been shaped by those two rivers. The Son Riverflows into the mouth of the Phong Nha cave, which is the only pointwhere it emerges in around 20 kilometeres. Also, there are more thanten spectacular streams, springs and waterfalls in Phong Nha-Ke Bangarea, namely Gió waterfall, Madame Loan & Chài waterfall, Mọcstream erupting from a limestone mount range, and Trạ Ang stream. Farfar away can you see the enchanting pure Bong Lai Lake and Chaiwaterfall, adorned with a number of dark violet “bằng lăng” flowerbaskets blooming in the warm weather. Some tourists ever uttered: “Wow!Heaven!” since the scenery is so much romantic and marvellous!

Limestone Mountains

ThePark also contains two dozens of mighty limestone mountains with over1,000 m in height. Some of the most noteworthy peaks are the Co RilataPeak with the height of 1,128 m and the Co Preu Peak with a height of1,213 m. Non-karstic topograhical area accounts for a low percentage,distributing mainly in outer circle of limestone in the north,northeast and southeast of this national park. The height of thesesummits varies from 500-1000  m with the deep divisions. Thegrandiosity and uniqueness of the limestone mountain ranges that only can be found in Phong Nha-Ke Bang is of great attraction to tourists.

Flora-Fauna

It’s now time to explore the zone in its rich Flora-Fauna composition. The Ke Bang primary jungles have been hometo 98 families, 256 genera and 381 species of vertebrates, many ofwhich are listed in the Vietnam and World's Red Book. If you are boldenough, you can go further into jungles to see by yourself these lively rare animals, Gecko,Macaque, White-cheeked Crested Gibbon, Hatinh and Black Lagur, MainlandSerow, Giant Muntjac, Saola, Bear, Bull, and so forth. Watching them closely and directly is somehow thrilling but extremely interesting!
Besides, for those fond of plants, it’s good news that the tropical jungles have ahuge number of tropical trees, grass, bush on limestone rocks and soilmounts, sindora trees, rattan and bamboo forest, and the nation’sgreatest Calocedrus rupestris. Ithas 140 families, 427 genera, and 751 species of vascular plants, ofwhich 36 species are listed in the Vietnam's Red Data Book.

Visiting Phong Nha Cave

Penetrating to a distance of 1,500 m inside Phong Nha Cave, tourists may go from surprise to surprise! Phong Nha - Kẻ Bàng is

World recognition

Honorablyrecognized to be the World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2003, PhongNha-Ke Bang National Park has brought in a great pride for not only thelocals but also all the Vietnamese. The reason for being recognized isthat it meets criteria viii “outstanding geological, geomorphical, andgeographical values”. This year, Phong Nha-Ke BangNational Park has submitted to UNESCO second time for recognition as aworld natural heritage for biodiversity.
Besides, in the “7New World Natural Wonders” voting, Phong Nha-Ke Bang has been one among3 sites of Vietnam (together with Ha Long Bay and Fanxipan) to be inthe candidate list. Though the final results are to be given at the endof the year, in the announcement of the New7Wonders at 6 a.m onFebruary 22^nd, 2008 (Vietnamese time), Phong Nha-Ke Bang wasranked second (to Ha Long Bay) in the list of 77 world natural wonders.Ever since the significant moment of being on this list, the NationalPark has attracted a much greater number of visitors from all over theworld!

How to get there?

Ifyou are in Hanoi, the best way to get to the site is by train, theThong Nhat one. After arrival at Dong Hoi station, you could travel byroad or by sea. Both are easy to use, yet the latter could bring youthe realistic understanding of a riverside life.

Tourist activities