As one of the natural wonders recognized by UNESCO, Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park has never run out of “heat” for tourists who love nature and challenges. So what are you waiting for if you haven’t come to Quang Binh for the upcoming vacation? A trip back to nature, immersing in rustic mountain life is not a bad idea!
Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park is a destination that anyone traveling to Quang Binh wants to visit once. This place is favored by nature with diverse vegetation, limestone caves and unique natural formations, promising to bring exciting conquest experiences.
So in the vast area stretching to 200,000 hectares of this National Park, how to have a perfect discovery journey? Let tropicsvn take care of the hard work with the super detailed and useful Phong Nha – Ke Bang travel experience from A – Z below.
- General information about Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park.
- The ideal time to travel Phong Nha – Ke Bang.
- How to get to Quang Binh and Phong Nha.
- Book a hotel room in Quang Binh.
- Beautiful tourist destinations “lost soul” in Phong Nha – Ke Bang.
- Enjoy delicious Quang Binh specialties and forget the way back.
- Notes to keep in mind when traveling to Phong Nha.
- Traveling to Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park
1. General introduction to Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park
Located in Quang Binh province and about 45 km from Dong Hoi city center, Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park is one of the most important and largest conservation areas in the country. The garden is made up of two main areas: Phong Nha Cave – the first cave discovered here, and the majestic limestone mountain system of Ke Bang.
Coming here, you will be lost in a wild and mysterious world with more than 300 large and small caves; ancient rocky mountains with the age of hundreds of millions of years; underground river system; diverse flora and fauna; Unique and special ancient Champa culture, adventurous activities.
Possessing countless gifts from nature, Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park is recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage, becoming a dream destination for many domestic and foreign tourists.
2. Ideal time to travel Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park
As a province in the North Central region, Quang Binh is characterized by a relatively harsh tropical monsoon climate with rainy and dry seasons. Therefore, to have a discovery trip in the most beautiful season, you should come here in the period from April to the end of August. This is when Quang Binh is in the dry season, nature puts on a fresh green color, and the weather is dry. Dry and sunny, convenient for trekking – exploring caves, sightseeing, boating,…
A small note is that you should avoid traveling to Quang Binh in the period of September – December, because this is the peak of the rainy season, prone to flooding and dangerous landslides. In addition, from January to March, the weather has been more stable but the river water is still high, so you will not be able to explore the water caves, especially Phong Nha cave.
3. Move to Quang Binh and Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park
3.1. Moving to Quang Binh
Plane
It only takes 1 – 1.5 hours to travel from big cities, airplanes are always the preferred means of transport for tourists. Airfare to Dong Hoi airport costs about 500,000 – 800,000 VND/way and fluctuates another 200,000 – 500,000 VND during peak tourist season.
To save more, you can order on tropicsvn and apply promotional codes to receive direct discounts or refunds when booking flights to Quang Binh.
Train
Located on the North – South railway system, Quang Binh has Dong Hoi station to serve the needs of traveling by train. With a ticket price from 200,000 VND/way purchased at tropicsvn, the train to Quang Binh will take about 4 – 8 hours.
To save time, you should choose to depart in the evening to arrive in Quang Binh the next morning. Or if you want to enjoy the scenery, leaving early in the morning and getting off at Dong Hoi station in the early afternoon is also a good choice.
Coach
Large car networks, many car companies from popular to high-end, soft prices, good service, … are the advantages that make passenger cars still popular with tourists. Currently, you can buy bus tickets at tropicsvn for from 150,000 VND/way without having to go to the bus station or ticket office.
Buses are an ideal choice when exploring Phong Nha – Ke Bang because you can enjoy the scenery along the way
3.2. Moving to Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park
From Dong Hoi city, you need to travel another 45 km to Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park with some popular means such as:
Bus
The advantage of the bus is that it is super cheap and easy to catch on the city center routes. To get to Phong Nha, you need to board bus B4 with a fare of 35,000 VND/way. However, because the bus system in Quang Binh is still not very developed, the number of seats is quite limited, the cars are old and not too comfortable.
Rent a motorbike or self-drive car
For those who like to experience natural roads and landscapes, private vehicles are the most suitable transportation option. You will start moving from the center to Phan Dinh Phung, then go along Highway 16 for about 40 km to Phong Nha – Ke Bang.
Rent Motorcycles:
Motorbike rental service in Quang Binh costs about 100,000 VND/day for digital cars and 150,000 VND/day for scooters. Some reputable car rental addresses you can refer to are:
- Motorbike Rental: 7 Phan Boi Chau, Dong My, Dong Hoi, Quang Binh.
- Mr. Tung’s shop: 7 Truong Phap, Dong My, Dong Hoi, Quang Binh.
Self-drive car rental:
From 500,000 – 800,000 VND/day is the average car rental price bracket in Quang Binh, varying depending on the type of car and the number of seats. Suitable for large travel groups or families, renting a self-driving car is an economical and safe option. You can rent a self-drive car on tropicsvn with a wide selection of vehicles, clear prices, guaranteed reputation, safe transactions and extremely thoughtful car delivery service.
4. Quang Binh Hotel
For those who want to spend the whole trip exploring the Phong Nha – Ke Bang complex, staying at a nearby hotel will save a lot of time. However, if you are only visiting for the day, it is more feasible to book a hotel in Dong Hoi. Whatever your needs, tropicsvn will also bring super quality suggestions at tropicsvn’s hotel booking feature.
4.1. Hotels near Phong Nha – Ke Bang
Accommodations near Phong Nha are mostly 1-2 star hotels, motels or homestays. For just under 500,000 VND/night, you’ve got a comfortable, clean room with breathtaking mountain views. Compensating for the lack of high-class services or modern facilities, you will be completely immersed in heaven and earth, and breathe fresh air.
Son Doong Riverside
- Address: Ha Loi, Son Trach, Bo Trach, Quang Binh.
- Reference price: From 350,000 VND/night.
Carambola Bungalow
- Address: Phong Nha, Son Trach, Bo Trach, Quang Binh.
- Reference price: 475,000 VND/night.
Phong Nha Coco Riverside
- Address: Phong Nha, Son Trach, Bo Trach, Quang Binh.
- Reference price: 385,000 VND/night.
4.2. Dong Hoi Hotels
The closer to the center, the more diverse Quang Binh hotel system will satisfy all tastes from resort to luxury at a 5-star hotel, to an affordable place to stay, meeting the basic needs of rest.
Vinpearl Quang Binh
- Address: Quach Xuan Ky, Hai Dinh, Dong Hoi, Quang Binh.
- Reference price: From 1,800,000 VND/night.
Riverside Hotel – Quang Binh
- Address: 15 Truong Phap, Dong My, Dong Hoi, Quang Binh.
- Reference price: 850,000 VND/night.
Hoa Binh Hotel
- Address: 52 – 54 Ly Thuong Kiet, Dong My, Dong Hoi, Quang Binh.
- Reference price: 450,000 VND/night.
5. The beautiful tourist destinations of Phong Nha – Ke Bang “lost your soul”
5.1. Phong Nha Cave
Named “Thien Nam First Cave”, Phong Nha is the most typical scenic spot in the National Park. Going down the Son River with clear blue water, you will reach the mouth of the cave up to 10m high and start the journey to explore the nearly 8,000m long Quang Binh cave system with 12 large and small caves.
Deep inside the cave, visitors will be amazed by the sparkling golden sands, green underground lakes, and especially the magnificent stalactite system like true masterpieces of art. From water caves to dry caves, every detail in Phong Nha cave is created by the hand of nature over hundreds and millions of years, like bringing you into a fairy scene.
Fare:
- High season (from April to September): 150,000 VND/adult, children free.
- Low season: 120,000 VND/person, children free.
- Sightseeing boat: 550,000 VND/boat (12 seats).
5.2. Paradise Cave
As the longest dry cave in Asia with a total length of 31.4km, Thien Duong Cave is located in the heart of an ancient limestone mountain complex, surrounded by pristine primeval forests. From the entrance, you will take a tram to the foot of the mountain, then pass 524 steps to reach the cave entrance. Following the wooden stairs, you will begin to feel the cool air and be surprised by the diverse beauty of the stalactite system here.
Under the modern lighting system, stalactites of all shapes such as unicorn statues, Lien Hoa towers, communal houses, terraced fields, etc. are all sparkling and fanciful. Don’t forget to go to the last leg and “check-in” at Gieng Troi – where the light shines, giving the place the name Paradise.
Fare:
- Peak season (from April to September): 250,000 VND/adult, 125,000 VND/child.
- Low season: 200,000 VND/adult, 100,000 VND/child.
5.3. Botanical Garden
With an area of more than 40 hectares, the Botanical Garden is a large primeval forest, embracing a diverse ecosystem and a conservation area you cannot ignore when coming to Phong Nha – Ke Bang.
Prepare a good pair of climbing shoes, and you are ready for a short trekking trip to check in at Gio Waterfall, Vang Anh Lake, seedling nursery, precious tree planting area, or animal breeding area.
In particular, do not forget to stop at the specimen galleries to witness first-hand the rare and precious species of flora and fauna being preserved.
Ticket price: 40,000 VND/adult and 20,000 VND/child from 1.1m and up.
5.4. Ozo Park
Built right in the national park, Ozo is an ecological park that owns the most spectacular tree game system in Vietnam. Here, visitors can walk across wooden bridges in the heart of the pristine primeval forest, relax in the green space, and enjoy playing in the cool Ozo stream.
Of course, how can you skip the thrill rides in the trees; challenge kayaking, sup, or even more exciting, canoeing down the 999m waterfall!
Fare:
- Package 1 (visit + tree and water games + mountain bike): 200,000 VND/adult and 100,000 VND/child from 1m and up.
- Package 2 (package 1 + challenge down 999m of Ozo stream within 1 hour + shuttle bus to the park: 450,000 VND/person (only for people with height from 1.4m and above).
5.5. Mooc Spring Resort
Suoi Nuoc Mooc tourist area is located right in the middle of a green valley on the banks of the Chay River, surrounded by towering limestone mountains. Visitors coming here not only have the opportunity to admire the beautiful natural scenery, but also participate in attractive water sports activities such as boating, fishing, swinging, bathing in streams…
While having fun, you definitely have to “make” a set of virtual live photos with a super cool natural background, making your friends admire them.
Fare:
- Ticket price: 65,000 VND/adult and 35,000 VND/child from 1.1m tall.
- Package ticket price (including fun activities): 110,000 VND/adult and 70,000 VND/child from 1.1m tall.
6. What to eat when traveling to Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park?
6.1. Filter pie
Different from Hue’s specialty, filter cake in Quang Binh has a crust made from fresh tapioca, shrimp, meat, wood ear or green beans. The cake that just came out of the steamer has a delicious smell, the crust is clear, soft and chewy served with spicy chili fish sauce, nothing like it.
In Quang Binh, you can try up to 3 different types of filter cake: leaf cake, ceiling cake served with bamboo shoots, and deep-fried filter cake.
6.2 Grilled chicken with salt and pepper
As a familiar dish at restaurants in Phong Nha, grilled chicken dipped in salt and cheese is processed in a rustic way but makes visitors fall in love. To make this dish, the chicken must be free-range, small but firm. No need for seasoning, the chicken will be pressed flat on the griddle and grilled until the skin is golden crispy and the meat is still succulent.
The point that makes this dish different is the seasoning with salt. Only in Quang Binh, salt is made from basil, lemon leaves, green pepper, green chili and finely ground salt. Tear a piece of chicken, add a pot of hot sticky rice, dip it in spicy salt and add a glass of cold beer to make a perfect dinner.
6.3. Chop and shovel rice paper
As a type of small mussels, abundant in the area where brackish water and fresh water intersect, great-grandson has become a unique dish only available in Quang Binh tourism. The great-grandson after catching will be washed many times with water to remove the sand, then boiled and taken for meat. Finely chopped meat is stir-fried with onions, stirred on a hot pan and seasoned to taste. Scooping a piece of rice paper with great care and putting it in your mouth, you will feel the spicy taste of chili, the crispiness of the cake, the richness of the meat and the aroma of roasted sesame seeds, blending immaculately.
You can enjoy these specialties at the restaurants in Phong Nha below with prices from 50,000 – 200,000 VND/dish:
- Tuan Ngoc restaurant: Xuan Tien, Son Trach, Bo Trach, Quang Binh.
- Riverside Restaurant: Located in the main street of the National Park.
- A Vietnam Corner Restaurant: Located right in the tourist area of the National Park.
These are typical dishes in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park. In addition, you should not miss other special dishes when visiting Quang Binh. You can refer to the list of Quang Binh dishes through the article “10 delicious Quang Binh dishes that are both cheap and addicted to suggestions from tropicsvn”.
7. Some notes when exploring Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park
- You should dress as comfortably as possible, wear sneakers and don’t forget a hat, bug spray and sunscreen.
- When participating in water activities, make sure to wear full life jackets and follow the rules at the amusement park.
- Fully charge phone and camera batteries, equip waterproof bags for electronic devices to be able to capture beautiful moments of Phong Nha nature.
Quang Binh is not a harsh or boring land as you think. Traveling to Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, you promise to have a trip to discover the mysterious beauty of the green forest to love the gifts of nature. Book tickets now at tropicsvn and countdown the journey to conquer!