Phong Nha - Travel guide

So, right in the middle of Quang Binh Province is Phong Nha—just this amazing spot that totally blows people away because of its gorgeous scenery, deep cultural roots, and awesome adventure stuff. Part of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and contains some of the biggest and most amazing caves in the world.

This tour guide will help you prepare a flexible tour itinerary for Phong Nha depending on how many days you have here. But if you only have two days and are looking for a full fledged plan, then why not check this Phong Nha tour plan by Milly from Mini Adventures, a famous travel blogger from London, UK!

Local Vibes

In Phong Nha, nature joins hands with culture, respecting the conservation in terms of their nature and living a simple life in the countryside. Ethnic minorities such as the Chut and the Van Kieu are found here and there, but they still preserve a lot of peculiar cultural elements, just like special clothes, ornaments, and music.

You can be completely involved in the local atmosphere: visiting traditional villages, joining some local festivals, or even trying some of the regional dishes. The village of Phong Nha is very laid-back, and it's really a very good spot to see how locals go about their lives: farming and whatnot, making really cool traditional items.

The place is super lively during the year with folk festivals all round. The major festival is that of Phong Nha-Ke Bang Festival when one gets a chance to explore its cultural heritage through traditional music, dances, and foods. These visits by people will be an excellent opportunity for the guests to get along with the locals and understand their mode of living and traditions.

Where to eat in Phong Nha: Food in Phong Nha tastes absolutely divine. Most of the local meals have their ingredients from the mountain or rivers nearby. Some must-try things are Bánh Xèo, or Vietnamese pancakes, Bánh Cuốn—steam rolled rice—and Phở—or noodle soup. There are heaps of small places in Phong Nha where one can find real local food at very cheap prices, thus enabling one to enjoy the flavors of the place.

Scenic Beauty

To the lover of nature, Phong Nha represents something of a dream with landscapes that leave one aghast - those cool limestone karst mountains, green jungles, and twisting rivers. This is an awesome spot during motorcycle rides, which enables one to check out the gorgeous sights of rice paddies, mountain peaks, and tropical forests.

Son River: The beauty of Phong Nha is felt only with a boat ride along Son River. In fact, it's a serpentine track, going through a national park and really offering very nice views in the surroundings. Actually, a boat cruise is the best way to feel all the beauty and serenity of this place. These will overwhelm you: giant limestones and greens while floating on the water—a feeling so cool, just right to sit back and reflect upon.

Limestone Karsts: How cool are those limestone karsts everywhere? It took them millions and millions of years to shape up, and they look so awesome against the scenery outdoors today. These various shapes and sizes of karsts create epic photos at the time of sunrises and sunsets while the shades in the ground give really pretty shadows.

Hiking Trails: For those fond of the ground, there are several hiking trails around Phong Nha that take the visitor through dense jungles up to viewpoint points that present breathtaking sceneries. Trails vary in both lengths and difficulties, catering for the casual walker to the serious hiker. One well-liked trail is the hike to Ngang Pass, commanding views over surrounding mountains and valleys. This is one rewarding hike since you'll encounter numerous species of flora and fauna.

By the way, you can also do a self guided tour in Phong Nha if you are someone who hates feeling like a tourist in guided tours or just on a budget!

Adventure Things

As expected, Phong Nha is super famous for its adventure stuff: caving, kayaking, and trekking. Read about some of the activities you may want to do while you visit here:

Caving: Well, Phong Nha has this super crazy reputation for its cave systems, and some of the biggest, most awesome caves exist. The way to get to Phong Nha Cave is by boat, and besides having amazing stalactites and stalagmites, the cave extends for about 7,729 meters. Really, only part of this is open to visitors without a guide. For the really adventurous, there is also the Dark Cave to explore: one can swim along the underground river, take a refreshing mud bath. The cave comes up rather uniquely combined in the sense of adventure concerning caving and water activities.

Paradise Cave - Thiên Đường—is really famous for its wonderful formations and extends more than 31 kilometres with a nice walking path inside. The first kilometre is strikingly spectacular with a few really cool stalactites and stalagmites. Often described as the most beautiful cave of the world so it shall be included when visiting Phong Nha.

Kayaking: It has become one of the great ways of appreciating the rivers within a national park for water lovers. You only rent a kayak and just paddle up along the silent waters, soaking into the great sceneries and catching glimpses of the wild animals nearby. It is so cool in kayaking that you feel one with nature, allowing one to look at beautiful sceneries afresh.

Biking: Take a bike and tour the countryside to villages and farms. It is one of the most fun ways to get into the local atmosphere and to view all the beautiful sceneries. Surroundings of Phong Nha are very flat, thus easy to travel and by the way you will be able to communicate with very friendly locals.

Ziplining: If you're one for adventure, ziplining through a jungle sounds brilliant. At Dark Cave, there is this zip line where it zooms you over the river, giving an amazing view of the landscape. If you only have a day in Phong Nha, then this is a must do activity on your tour. 10/10 recommended!

Wildlife and Biodiversity

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is not only diverse in many types of caves but is also famous for its amusing biodiversity, housing an enormous number of plant and animal species, including quite a large number of rare and endangered ones. Being a lover of wildlife, you surely will enjoy trying to track cool animals like the Asian black bear, the Indochinese tiger, and a number of primate species.

It is also a haven for the birdwatcher, with more than 300 species of birds recorded within the area. Early morning, the best hikes for capturing pictures start to get busy with their day-to-day activities to be able to capture this beautiful creature. Be sure to not miss bringing your binoculars and camera in capturing views of these avian inhabitants.

The local government and numerous organisations are becoming seriously involved in the protection of the cool ecosystems of the park, so they would like the visitors to be cool with the environment and follow certain regulations with the view not to disturb the sensitive habitats. One can surely participate in ecotourism and support any local conservation effort to help protect the natural state of Phong Nha for the future.

Practical Tips to Visit Phong Nha

How to Reach: The nearest major town is Dong Hoi, and it is approximately 45 km away. From Dong Hoi, one can reach Phong Nha town via bus, taxi or via train. Majorly the tourists travel by flying to Dong Hoi Airport, which is well connected to major Vietnamese cities.

Best Time to Visit: The perfect time to visit Phong Nha is from April to August, where the weather is nice and well-fitting for outdoor activities. Also, one has to be prepared for periodic rains from September to November since the weather is monsoon.

Accommodation: Ranges from budget hostels, mid-range hotels to guesthouses, and highly recommended to stay in Phong Nha town for convenience to reach the caves and other local attractions.

Transportation: Motorbikes are highly popular to see this area since it will be providing an opportunity to visit the caves and cool landscapes at will. Bikes can also be rented and are highly suitable for casual country rides.

Respect: Respect the culture and traditions of the local villages by dressing up modestly, never taking pictures without asking for permission, and not causing pollution that disturbs the local lifestyle.