WORLD HERITAGE NATURAL RESERVE IN VIETNAM

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Last Updated: Friday, December 9, 2005 13:57:58 Vietnam (GMT+07)

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Along

the Heritage Road in central Vietnam: Phong Nha-Ke Bang

*Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2003, Phong Nha-Ke

Bang Natural Reserve has become one of the most-visited sites in central

Vietnam. *

 

Located amidst the limestone cliffs of Ke Bang in Quang Binh Province, the

caves of Phong Nha-Ke Bang some 50 kilometers northwest of Dong Hoi town

boast 300 majestic tunnels discovered so far and a number of underground

rivers and streams.

 

Surveys conducted in the 1990s by experts from the British Cave Research

Association (BCRA), Hanoi University's Geographical Ward, and the Vietnam

Cave Association show that the caves and tunnels in Bo Trach District extend

for over 64 kilometers in two distinct systems and include 17 caverns.

 

Howard Limbert, who led the British group to survey Phong Nha-Ke Bang, said

the Phong Nha cave was one of the two most beautiful in the world.

 

The results of their study have enabled BCRA to publish a number of

scientifically important works about the region.

 

In comparing Phong Nha with other cave systems in the world and Vietnam, the

organization has commented: " Phong Nha, over a 200,000 ha area, has by far

the longest underground rivers, the largest caverns and passageways, the

widest and prettiest sand banks, and the most astonishing rock formations. "

 

The cave (which usually lends its name to the whole system) just outside the

village of Son Trach is perhaps the most beautiful. Fascinating formations

crowd its 7,729 meters length besides distinctive caverns like *Toi* (dark),

*Vom* (vault), and *En *(swift).

 

The farther one ventures into the bowels of the earth, the more illusory the

stalactites and stalagmites look as they glitter in the artificial

brightness of the spotlights.

 

One of the most striking features is the pristine nature of many of the

caves, seemingly untouched by human hand despite the rising frequency of

visitors on guided tours.

 

Phong Nha - Ke Bang is also famous for its forests and woods as research

documents from the Institute of Forestry Research point out: " The topography

of Phong Nha - Ke Bang is a mixture of earth and limestone mountains, with

a 90% surface vegetation coverage rate " .

 

" Of this, 19% is occupied by primary forests, with a huge and, probably,

unique biological diversity, containing numerous plants and animals

currently listed in the Vietnamese and the global Red Books of protected

species. "

 

Recent surveys show that a total of 568 vertebrate species live in Phong

Nha-Ke Bang Natural Reserve, comprising 113 mammals, 81 reptiles and

amphibians, 302 birds, and 72 fish.

 

The high mammal species richness includes threatened species such as

Tiger *(Panthera

tigris)*, Asiatic Black Bear (*Selanarctos thibetanus)*, Asian

Elephant *(Elephas

maximus)*, Giant Muntjac *(Megamunticus vuquangensis)*, and the newly

discovered Sao La, known as Vu Quang ox *(Pseudoryx nghetinhensis).*

 

The site is particularly rich in primates, with 10 species and subspecies

accounting 45% of their total number in Vietnam.

 

Also a cultural heritage

 

The oldest evidences of human occupation in the area are Neolithic axe heads

and similar artifacts found in some of the caves.

 

In the Kho (dry) cave, scientists found layers of shells and ash, pieces of

ceramics, baked clay, bronze arrows and spearheads. They also found traces

of an old Cham temple and Cham scripts carved on the walls in Dong Bi Ky

cave.

 

During the war many of the Phong Nha caves were used as shelters and

warehouses to keep goods, weapons, munitions for the North Vietnamese army.

 

Phong Nha - Ke Bang is also home to Arem, Ma Coong, and Ruc, the smallest

ethnic groups in Vietnam. Until 1962 these indigenous peoples lived in the

forest, in houses made of bamboo and leaves or in the caves, and off forest

produce and hunting. They used simple tools and their clothes were made from

the bark of a toxic forest tree (Antiaris toxicaria) and lianas.

 

Since 1992 the Government has set up two new settlements for these people,

who are good at extracting essential oils from some flora species and using

herbs to treat diseases.

 

And a potential tourist site

 

Quang Binh has seen an increasing number of tourist arrivals in the past few

years. In 2003 it received more than 200,000 visitors and earned VND5

billion from selling entrance tickets just to the Phong Nha Cave.

 

To promote its tourism, Quang Binh will organize the Phong Nha-Ke Bang

Festival for the first time in April next year and plans to turn it into an

annual event.

 

The festival will include ceremonies to offer incense and sacrifices in

front of the Phong Nha cave like those held in the past.

 

The event will also feature a traditional rural market of Quang Binh,

traditional music such as *tuong *Khuong Ha*, cheo *Canh Duong, and *ho

khoan *Le Thuy, and other ethnic cultural activities.

 

Visitors to Quang Binh can also make excursions to many other beauty spots

like Da Nhay beach, Moc waterfalls, Hieu Ngo and Bau Tro sand dunes, Giang

River, and Bang hot spring.

 

*Reported by Nguyen The Ky – Compiled by Thu Thuy*