Phong Nha, the first cave

Located approximately 50km northwest of Dong Hoi city center, Phong Nha Cave is situated in the Ke Bang limestone mountain range, Son Trach commune, Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province. Considered the "foremost cave of Southern Vietnam," it is sheltered and covered by a tropical forest. It is famous for its unique rock formations named after their natural shapes, such as "Lion," "Unicorn," "Royal Court," "Palace," and "Buddha Statue." Legend says that King Ham Nghi used Phong Nha Cave to store his treasures, and during the war against the American imperialists, it was used as a field hospital, a hiding place from enemy bombs, and an ammunition depot. In 1992, a group of British scientists from Hanoi University conducted an expedition into the cave, successfully exploring 7,729 meters of cave, with a maximum length of 50 meters and a depth of up to 83 meters. As Vietnam's 5th UNESCO World Heritage site in 2003, Phong Nha-Ke Bang Cave is highly regarded by experts for its seven "bests": the most beautiful underground river; the highest and widest cave entrance; the most beautiful sand and rock formations; the widest and most beautiful dry cave; the most fantastical and magnificent stalactites; the longest water cave; and the most beautiful underground lake. Visitors will be completely captivated by the majestic beauty of Phong Nha Cave, a breathtaking beauty rarely found in other caves. Join Vietnam.vn in exploring the beauty of the Phong Nha Cave World Heritage site through the photo series "Phong Nha, the First Cave" by author Nguyen Van Hai. This photo series was submitted to the "Happy Vietnam" photo and video contest organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications .

In Phong Nha, visitors will float along the crystal-clear, tranquil Nam River, drifting through spaces of light and shadow, enjoying the cool breeze inside majestic, colorful, and diverse stalactite caves, listening to the music of the mountain god's feast, and feeling a sudden chill from the unexpected gusts of wind. The limestone corridors are covered with sparkling stalactites, creating a thrilling sensation as if one were lying in the mouth of a giant monster.

Unlike other tourist destinations, Phong Nha – Ke Bang caves offer a series of exciting and surprising experiences. The magnificent scenery of majestic limestone formations awaits visitors. Numerous smaller caves, such as Bi Ki, Tien Cave, and Cung Dinh Cave, await exploration. Phong Nha – Ke Bang has been recognized twice by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage site due to its diverse natural environment. It boasts a complex of limestone geological formations, a magnificent cave system, and underground rivers. Among them is Phong Nha, the "First Cave," stretching over 7,000 meters and home to the longest underground river in Asia, over 14,000 meters long. This cave contains the magical beauty of stalactites and stalagmites, along with a rich and diverse ecosystem. Not only is it a natural wonder, but it also holds many cultural traces from prehistoric times. This is the pride of the people of Quang Binh and an invaluable heritage of humanity. In 2024, the "Happy Vietnam" photo and video contest continued to be organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications in collaboration with the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists on the website.   https://happy.vietnam.vn is open to all Vietnamese citizens and foreigners aged 15 and above. The competition aims to honor individuals and groups with positive informational products that make practical contributions to promoting a beautiful image of Vietnam to the world. Through this, it helps people at home, overseas Vietnamese, and international friends access authentic images of Vietnam, its people, its achievements in ensuring human rights, and working towards a happy Vietnam. Each competition category (photos and videos) has the following prizes and prize values: – 1 Gold Medal: 70,000,000 VND – 2 Silver Medals: 20,000,000 VND – 3 Bronze Medals: 10,000,000 VND – 10 Consolation Prizes: 5,000,000 VND – 1 Most Voted entry: 5,000,000 VND. Winning authors will be invited by the Organizing Committee to attend the Award Ceremony and Certificate Presentation, broadcast live on Vietnam Television.

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