Exploring the Hidden Wonders of Quang Binh: A Journey into Natures Embrace

Quang Binh Province is located in North Central Vietnam. It shares its northern border with Ha Tinh Province, its southern border with Quang Tri Province, its western border with Laos, and its eastern border with the East Sea (South China Sea). The provincial capital is Dong Hoi City, and there are also Ba Don Town and the districts of Bo Trach, Le Thuy, Minh Hoa, Quang Ninh, Quang Trach, and Tuyen Hoa.

• Ideal Season

Quang Binh's climate is distinctly divided into two seasons: the rainy season from September to March of the following year, and the dry season from April to August. Moreover, from November to around March, temperatures in Quang Binh decrease, fluctuating around 17-22 degrees Celsius. The best time to visit is from late March to early September.

During the rainy season, traveling might be restricted, and activities like beach swimming and cave exploration could be challenging to carry out. However, for those who enjoy exploring, Quang Binh's rainy season has its own unique charm. You can engage in river and stream trekking, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) in Minh Hoa District, particularly from August to November.

• Attractions and Activities

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site. It boasts over 400 caves with a total length of 220 km and is intersected by three main rivers: Chay River, Son River, and Trooc River. The national park spans the districts of Bo Trach and Minh Hoa, located about 50 km away from Dong Hoi City.

The botanical garden is a place where visitors can learn about unique plant and animal species. The garden displays and preserves species listed as endangered, rare, and prioritized for protection in Vietnam. Visitors can take a short walk around the botanical garden, visit Gioc Waterfall, and explore wildlife care areas.

• Cave Systems Quang Binh is known as the "Kingdom of Caves" with numerous beautiful and pristine caves that have set world records.

Phong Nha Cave was formed millions of years ago through the process of limestone dissolution. It has been evaluated by British Royal Cave Association explorers as a remarkable wonder of aesthetic and geological value. The cave meets seven criteria: having the most beautiful underground river; having high and wide entrances; having beautiful underground sandy and rocky beaches; having beautiful underground lakes; having large and beautiful dry caves; having a system of fantastic stalactites and stalagmites; and being the longest water cave.

To explore Phong Nha Cave, visitors take a boat ride from the Phong Nha Tourism Center upstream the Son River for about 30 minutes.

Thien Duong Cave (Paradise Cave) Known as the "palace in the heart of the earth," Thien Duong Cave is located about 70 km northwest of Dong Hoi City, adjacent to the western branch of the Ho Chi Minh Road and about 25 km away from Phong Nha Cave.

Visitors must climb more than 500 steps to reach the cave entrance. Inside, a vast space with countless stalactites and stalagmites opens up. With a length of 31.4 km, Thien Duong Cave is considered the longest dry cave in Asia.

Son Doong Cave is the world's largest natural cave, formed approximately 2-5 million years ago. It has a width of 150 meters, a height of over 200 meters, and a length of nearly 9 km. The estimated volume of Son Doong Cave is 38.5 million cubic meters. Its stalactites can reach up to 14 meters in height. The cave features an underground river that stretches 2.5 km. It is also home to coral communities and fossilized remains. Son Doong has two "skylights," where sunlight enters, allowing tropical plants to thrive, one of which is referred to as the "Garden of Edam."

To visit Son Doong Cave, tourists need to book a tour, prepare physically, and familiarize themselves with safety regulations. The tour season runs from late January to August each year, and the exploration takes 5 days and 4 nights. The average group size per tour is 10 people. The current tour price is 72 million VND per person.

The Tu Lan Cave System is located in the primeval forest area and limestone mountains covering an area of over 650 hectares in Tan Hoa commune, Minh Hoa district. The Tu Lan Cave System was first explored in 1992 by the British-Vietnamese Cave Exploration Group. By 2022, experts had discovered, surveyed, and measured more than 25 large and small caves within the system.

Tu Lan is formed along the Rao Nan River, outside the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. The caves in the Tu Lan system include both wet caves (with flowing streams inside) and dry caves. Notable examples include Chuot Cave, Hung Ton Cave, Bi Mat Cave, Song Cave, Ken Cave, Kim Cave, and Tien Cave. Dry caves often feature beautiful and unique stalactites due to being unaffected by floodwaters. Visitors can swim in the underground cave system, camp in the forest, and explore the caves.

En Cave is the third-largest cave in the world, stretching 1.6 km through a massive limestone block. It has three entrances, with the most famous entrance being 120 meters high and 110 meters wide, with a ceiling height of 145 meters and the widest passage reaching 200 meters. The cave features a winding stream that leads to Son Doong Cave. Parts of the Hollywood film "Peter Pan" were filmed here.

The tour season for exploring En Cave is from December to the end of September each year. The journey to En Cave takes two days and includes trekking activities such as jungle trekking, stream crossing, uphill climbing, and exploration of Ban Doong, the home of the Bru-Van Kieu ethnic group.

Pygmy Cave is the fourth-largest cave in the world and was discovered in 1997 within the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. The entrance to the cave is about 100 meters high and 845 meters long. During the day, natural light can penetrate the cave. The exit of the cave is also used as a camping area.

Inside Pygmy Cave, water flows from the ceiling and is used for drinking, cooking, and daily activities. Natural light penetrates deep into the cave, allowing ferns to grow luxuriantly. At the cave's exit, visitors can see ropes used by locals to climb up for swiftlet farming and honey collection.

Kong Collapse is part of the Ho Cave system within the Phong Nha-Ke Bang area, resembling the head of a giant ape, similar to the movie "Kong: Skull Island," which was partially filmed in Quang Binh. Kong Collapse is 450 meters deep from the mouth to the bottom and is one of the deepest sinkholes in the world.

Exploring Kong Collapse is a challenging adventure tour in Vietnam, involving activities like rappelling 100 meters, trekking 23 km, swimming 300 meters, and exploring a 7-km-long cave. The journey requires hours of trekking through narrow paths with continuous ascents and descents. During the tour, visitors will pass by Pygmy Cave and camp in Over Cave.

The Gianh River is considered a geographical symbol of Quang Binh province. The river is 160 km long, originating from the Cô Pi mountain range, with the source located at an altitude of 2,017 meters in the Truong Son range. The Gianh River flows through the districts of Minh Hoa, Tuyen Hoa, Quang Trach, and Bo Trach before emptying into the sea at the Giang estuary. Quang Binh also has four other main river systems: Roòn, Ly Hoa, Dinh, and Nhat Le.

The Son River, also known as Nguon Son, Rao Son, or Trooc River, entirely flows within Quang Binh province. A part of its upper stream is over 7,700 meters long and runs underground through limestone mountains in western Quang Binh. The Son River flows out from the Phong Nha Cave entrance, converging with the Gianh River in Ba Don Town. Boat tours are available for scenic rides along the Son River.

Phong Nha Botanic Garden, located near Phong Nha Village, is a small area of 40 hectares of primary forest and secondary forest. This area has a rich diversity of flora and fauna, including rare and precious species.

Culinary Delights in Quang Binh:

• Banh Bot Loc: A must-try dish in Dong Hoi is "Banh Bot Loc." This dish features a translucent tapioca flour wrapper filled with shrimp, fatty pork, and wrapped in banana leaves. After being steamed to perfection, the delicate texture of the wrapper and the rich flavors of the filling come together. There's also a version with mung bean filling.

• Banh Mi Bot Loc: Imagine combining freshly baked baguette with 7-8 Banh Bot Loc, adding some sauce and green onions. This dish can be found in Dong Hoi's market or roadside eateries, typically priced around 10,000-15,000 VND per piece.

• Chao Canh: Chao Canh is a soup with a sweet and savory broth, soft rice noodles, and a touch of spicy greens. Besides being popular in Dong Hoi, this dish is also enjoyed in Ba Don town. Ba Don Chao Canh features a robust flavor from various sea fish like catfish, snakehead fish, and more, accompanied by crispy rice crackers.

• Bun Cha Ca Thac Lac: This dish offers a noodle soup with fish cake made from fish bones or pork bones, accompanied by soaked purple onions and sliced chili peppers. Fresh lettuce and banana blossoms are served alongside. A bowl costs around 30,000 VND and makes for a great breakfast.

• Chat Chat: A unique dish from the banks of the Gianh River, Chat Chat consists of small clams mixed with green bean paste. The people of Quang Binh creatively make various dishes using these clams, including stir-fries, noodle soups, and more.

• Chao Hau: A local specialty from Quan Hau town, Quang Ninh district, this chao features fresh, fatty river clams that create a rustic and fragrant bowl of porridge, leaving an unforgettable taste.

• Banh Khoai: A variation of the popular "Banh Xeo" pancake, Banh Khoai is thicker and stuffed with beef and fresh shrimp. Diners wrap the Banh Khoai in rice paper and dip it in sweet and sour fish sauce.

• Diverse Seafood: Quang Binh boasts a rich variety of seafood such as fish salad, steamed crab, deep-fried ramora fish, fermented fish sauce, and more. Fish salad often includes catfish or snakehead fish, soaked in citrus sauce and wrapped in rice paper. You can find this dish in many seafood restaurants in Dong Hoi's city center or on boats along the Nhat Le River.

• Ca Khoai: Quang Binh's Ca Khoai, also known as river goby, has a unique taste and is often used to make delicious Ca Khoai hot pot.

• Nam Tram: This delicacy is only available during certain periods (around lunar April and lunar July-August), typically lasting for 5-7 days after heavy rains. These mushrooms grow on "tram" trees and are often stir-fried with sweet potatoes, pork, shrimp, or used in soups.

• Khoai Lang Deo: Dehydrated sweet potatoes are a specialty that involves drying freshly harvested sweet potatoes under the sun for 7 to 9 days. The result is a chewy, sweet, and fragrant delicacy with a unique appearance.