It is a bit of a journey to get to Phong Nha, but well worth the trip on a Vietnam Motorcycle Tour Adventure! Phong Nha is home to Son Doong, the largest cave in the world! Ke Bang is the name of the national park located here. My favorite thing to do in Phong Nha, besides driving a motorcycle or motorbike around town and the outskirts, is going on walking tours of a few of the caves located in this mountainous landscape.
Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2003, however, the history of this area dates back much further. Thanks to Ho Khanh, a local farmer, guiding a team of British cave explorers from the British Caving Association, the world’s largest cave was rediscovered in April 2009. Long before that, in 1550, Phong Nha Cave was written about for the first time. In the 19th century, a French Roman Catholic priest, named Léopold Michel Cadière, surveyed this area and proclaimed Phong Nha Cave as “The number one cave of Indochina.” In July 1924, Barton, an English explorer proclaimed that Phong Nha Cave is better than the most famous caves in France and Spain.
How to Get There:
There are several ways of traveling to Phong Nha town. Flying is a comfortable way to reach Phong Nha. You can take a plane from the airport in Hanoi or the airport in Ho Chi Minh City to the airport in Dong Hoi, a beautiful beach town located 40 kilometers southeast of Phong Nha.
From Dong Hoi, you will need to have to take a bus or taxi to travel to Phong Nha. A taxi will cost around 400,000 VND. The bus is inexpensive and locals take this bus every day. The bus takes about 45 minutes to an hour and a half depending on stops, traffic, and weather.
If you are more adventurous, you can rent a motorbike in Dong Hoi and drive to Phong Nha. If opting for an overnight bus to cut down on hotel costs, you can take a bus directly from Hanoi to Phong Nha for around 250,000 VND.
Of course, we all know it’s so much better getting there with the wind blowing and the trees howling and being surrounded by trees on both sides. There are great roads to take between Dong Hoi and Phong Nha. A Vietnam Motorcycle Tour is the only way for me to see the wonderful sites and completely enjoy the scenery.
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Where to Stay:
Many hotels along the main road running through Phong Nha town, but if you would like peace and quiet, like me when I am on vacation, then an ecolodge is the way to go. There are several ecolodges located off the main road running through town. None of these hotels, homestays, or ecolodges are far at all from the legendary caves in Phong Nha – Ke Bang.
Fun Facts:
In 1935, a local man stumbled upon a wonderful find. He discovered Tien Son Cave just a kilometer from the entrance to Phong Nha Cave. This Cave is nicknamed Fairy Cave or Dry Cave. It looks like it could have come out of a fairy tale book, but does not have an underground river like the other caves in this area. From 1990 on, Ke Bang National Park was surveyed through the help of Hanoi University and foreign explorers who have helped discover underground lands of paradise!
Breathtaking Adventure:
Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park is a must-visit destination for adventure travelers and families alike. The scenery is breathtaking and the rides along the local roads and paths are excellent while you are on a Vietnam motorcycle tour.
Things to Know:
For Son Doong, you will need between four or five days and will need a load of cash to be able to enjoy the (inside) scenery of one of the world’s greatest formations.
Best Ride Outside of the City:
Tien Son Cave, also known as Fairy-tale Cave or Dry Cave, and Paradise Cave are both spectacular day trips from Phong Nha town that are a beautiful ride on a Vietnam motorcycle tour.
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