Forget the city,
venture into
rural Phong Nha.
By Cheryl KhoShort
BreaksCountr y Ro ads ,
Take Me Home
TURN YOUR ATTENTION AWAY from the
chaotic hubbub of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh;
enter the natural, idyllic charm of Phong
Nha’s bucolic setting in central Vietnam.
From the adventurous spirit of the Bong
Lai Valley biking trail to the vast hollows of
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, this is
one short getaway that is chicken soup for
the urban soul.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and
its wonders
A preserved sliver of Nature’s creation
resides within this park of thick
jungle and karst mountains - a sacred
UNESCO World Heritage Site - in the
form of Phong Nha Cave and Hang Son
Doong Cave.
The former conceals a snaking
subterranean river system, bringing you
past chandeliers of dripping stalactites
and the most spectacular stone
columns painted in all manners of
natural hues and patterns - relics frommillions of years ago. Disembark about
3 kilometres in for a thrilling caving
expedition before a final invigorating
frolic in its secret underground lake.
Nature’s masterpiece, Hang Son
Doong Cave, currently holds the title
of World’s Largest Cave, spanning
over 5.5 miles, and can fit a 40-storey
skyscraper within. This is a whole other
realm that has created in itself its own
ecosystem and weather conditions:
lush foliage, underground rivers and
fluffy clouds unsullied by the touch of
man.Photo: Oxalis AdventurePhoto: ePi.Longo