Putting 2,000 hectares of 500-year-old forest and 'mysterious' ethnic village into tourism exploitation

About 2,000 hectares of green cypress forest in Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park along with some caves and mysterious ethnic minority villages of Arem will be developed for tourism.

The 500-year-old green cypress population will be put into tourism exploitation - Photo: HOANG TAO

On October 23, the People's Committee of Quang Tri province announced that it had approved the Ecotourism project to explore the green stone cypress and Kling cave under the Ecotourism, resort and entertainment project of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park.

The project is managed by the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park Management Board, implemented in sub-areas 645, 643 and 288A in Thuong Trach commune, with a total investment capital of 4.29 billion VND in the form of investment cooperation, with implementation period until 2030.

The green cypress forest of about 2,000 hectares was discovered in 2004 - Photo: HOANG TAO

The green cypress forest in this area covers an area of ​​over 2,000 hectares, is about 500 years old, and was discovered in 2004. There are expected to be 3 tours lasting from 1 to 3 days, with exploration points of the green cypress forest, Kling cave, Ruc Ca Roong cave, A Cu cave and Arem ethnic minority village.

Arem Village - home to the Arem ethnic group - one of the smallest communities in Vietnam. Once living isolated in deep caves in the Phong Nha - Ke Bang forest, the Arem people have now settled down, preserving many customs, languages ​​and unique cultural features associated with the Truong Son mountains and forests.

The Provincial People's Committee requested Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park to seek a joint venture with sufficient capacity and in accordance with legal regulations. After the term of the joint venture expires, the parties must evaluate and report to the Provincial People's Committee for consideration of extension.

Investors are only allowed to build temporary items such as shelters, safety ropes, and mobile toilets to ensure the safety of tourists and not affect the forest environment.

The project aims to develop sustainable ecotourism, create jobs, increase income for local people and contribute to the budget.

Ancient green cypress trees with diameters many people can hug - Photo: HOANG TAO

Rough, mossy tree roots - Photo: HOANG TAO

The green cypress is a large, evergreen tree with a very strong root system that clings tightly to rocks and spreads out around it.

In Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, the green cypress is mainly distributed in the limestone mountain area in the strictly protected area, with an altitude of 572m or more (most concentrated at an altitude of 600 - 800m). The potential distribution area of ​​the green cypress is about 3,700ha, of which the habitat area is about 2,000ha, with about 592,000 mature trees.

Orchids growing on the trunk of a green cypress tree - Photo: HOANG TAO

Cypress forests will create more tourist attractions for Quang Tri province - Photo: HOANG TAO

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dua-2-000ha-rung-500-tuoi-va-ban-toc-nguoi-bi-an-vao-khai-thac-du-lich-20251023124119943.htm