Creating a breakthrough for tourism in Phong Nha-Ke Bang.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is becoming an attractive tourist destination both domestically and internationally , contributing to enhancing the image and position of Quang Binh tourism. Currently, the tourism products here are not yet commensurate with the potential, the quality of some tourism products is not high, and they are seasonal. With the project "Ecological, resort, and recreational tourism in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park until 2030," Quang Binh province hopes to create a breakthrough in attracting investment in tourism development and effectively promoting the values ​​of the World Natural Heritage site.

The ecotourism development plan until 2030 identifies 9 destinations and 11 tourist routes in Phong Nha-Ke Bang with potential that need priority investment to develop various types and products of tourism.

Potential and mystery

According to Pham Hong Thai, Director of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Management Board, the national park possesses many outstanding global values ​​in geology, geomorphology, and biodiversity. The Phong Nha-Ke Bang limestone massif is one of the largest karst masses in Southeast Asia, with a history of formation dating back over 400 million years, encompassing all the major stages of Earth's crust development. It has over 1,000 caves, of which 425 have been surveyed and mapped, with a total length of over 230 km, including Son Doong, the world's largest cave. These are attractive destinations for both domestic and international tourists.

The area boasts a diverse and rich flora and fauna with 2,953 plant species and 1,394 animal species; including 43 newly discovered species and many rare ones. Furthermore, the core and buffer zones of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park hold significant historical and cultural value, such as the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail, the 20th Victory Road, the Cave of Eight Young Volunteers, the Ma Coong people's drum-beating festival, and the Bru-Van Kieu people's new rice harvest festival. With these values, the national park, covering over 123,000 hectares, has been recognized twice by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site.

From having only two tourist products – visiting Phong Nha Cave and Tien Son Cave – Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park now boasts 17 tourist products, including world-class offerings such as "Conquering Son Doong, the world's largest cave" and "Conquering and visiting En Cave". After 22 years since being recognized as a World Natural Heritage site, the total number of visitors to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park has reached nearly 11 million, generating approximately 2 trillion VND in tourism revenue.

However, according to the Director of the Park Management Board, the quality of some products does not match the heritage resources, tourism is still seasonal, and products are repetitive, making them not truly attractive to tourists. Meanwhile, the park's tourism development potential is enormous, as it not only boasts a stunning and fascinating cave system but also holds seemingly endless mysteries beneath its pristine forests.

We had the opportunity to visit the area of ​​the evergreen cypress discovered in 2004, a rare and endemic plant species found only in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang evergreen rainforest. The evergreen cypress is a large, evergreen, coniferous tree with a wide canopy; it reproduces asexually by seed and is considered one of the most unique forest habitats due to its global importance and conservation value, and is classified as endangered in the World Red List.

Currently, the limestone cypress is mainly concentrated in the limestone mountainous area within the strictly protected zone of the core area of ​​the National Park, covering an area of ​​over 5,000 hectares. The presence of this ancient and endemic plant species is scientific evidence confirming the pristine and unique biodiversity of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

During the war, U Bo was a fiercely contested location in Quang Binh. Now, from the Tra Ang bridge intersection, driving along the western branch of the Ho Chi Minh Highway for a short distance and stopping at Km 51, tourists begin their journey to conquer U Bo amidst a wealth of beautiful and captivating scenery. Reaching the summit of U Bo reveals the truth of the song "Truong Son East, Truong Son West, one side scorched by the sun, the other side battered by the rain." From an altitude of over 900m, visitors can easily take in a panoramic view of the vast primeval forest below.

On sunny, clear days, from the summit of U Bo Mountain, the city of Dong Hoi, with its blue sea, golden sand, and undulating high-rise buildings, appears like a beautiful painting. Soon, Quang Binh province will allow the opening of a tourist route exploring the cluster of cypress trees on the high mountains or discovering the natural beauty of U Bo Mountain, promising many fascinating and rare experiences for tourists visiting the majestic Truong Son mountain range.

New product, new experience.

According to Pham Hong Thai, Director of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Management Board, the Quang Binh Provincial People's Committee recently identified 20 areas, including 9 sites with a total area of ​​approximately 342 hectares and 11 potential tourist routes in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, to attract investment for the development of various types and products of tourism.

These new tourist destinations each have their own unique character and appeal. While the eco-tourism destination, featuring a zoo with typical tourism products, can be developed into a service for educational tours, scientific research, environmental education, and entertainment, the high-end resort destination at Km7 on Highway 20 Quyet Thang aims to be developed into a resort or hotel of 5 stars or higher.

In addition, some tourist destinations, such as: the semi-wild animal breeding area of ​​Nui Doi, the high-end resort area of ​​U Bo mountain, the eco-tourism area of ​​Chay Waterfall, the resort area of ​​Ba Tay Hill, the high-end resort area of ​​Hung Tram Na... are oriented towards developing into eco-tourism destinations, wildlife observation sites, and places to explore cultural and historical values, build high-end resorts or hotels, and offer activities such as mountain climbing, swimming in streams, and kayaking...

In addition, this National Park has 11 areas with unique and mysterious potential that are being developed into tourist routes, including: exploring the Re Khe forest by plane, exploring the Ca Roong Kling Acu cave, experiencing the nature of Vooc Well cave, exploring the nature of Chi Huy cave, Cay Sanh cave, Bai cave, conquering U Bo peak and experiencing nature on the Truong Son mountain range, exploring the cluster of cypress trees over 500 years old, living on limestone mountains at an altitude of over 600m...

According to Mr. Pham Hong Thai, shortly after the Quang Binh Provincial People's Committee announced its decision approving the eco-tourism, resort, and entertainment project for Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park until 2030, many tourism businesses have come to explore investment opportunities. The first projects have also begun, from the paperwork stage to administrative decisions, including those from dedicated investors, and several well-known products associated with the Phong Nha-Ke Bang World Natural Heritage site have already been developed.

The Ba Tay Hill area, a resort project designed to nestle against the cliff and overlook the Son River, utilizes environmentally friendly and landscape-friendly construction materials, promising a fresh and attractive experience for tourists visiting the center of Phong Nha tourist town. The project to explore the Chi Huy Cave, also known as the Seven-Tiered Cave, is also being urgently invested in by businesses. While its stalactites aren't as striking as those in other caves, it served as a barracks and storage area for Vietnamese soldiers during the war against the US, resulting in a relatively spacious and flat interior. Businesses investing in this tourism product combine nature exploration with historical experiences, using digital technology to allow viewers to feel the sounds of bombs, bullets, and trucks transporting goods through the forest during the war years.

With 20 areas possessing unique geomorphological, geological, natural landscape, and historical-cultural values, the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Management Board is committed to coordinating and creating the best conditions for businesses and investors to conduct field surveys in potential areas; simultaneously providing complete information on natural, social, climatic, geological, and topographical conditions to help investors develop ideas and feasible solutions for investment projects. This aims to transform the potential values ​​of the heritage into distinctive and unique tourism products, ensuring that the heritage is not just a title but is sustainably preserved and brings economic value to the community.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/tao-dot-pha-cho-du-lich-phong-nha-ke-bang-post845189.html