TREKK TO DISCOVER PHONG NHA ABANDONED VALLEY – HANG E – HANG VANG
Recognized twice by UNESCO as a world natural heritage with different criteria, Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park is the pride of the people of Quang Binh in particular and of Vietnam in general. Experiencing many changes in geology and geomorphology; Phong Nha – Ke Bang has displayed impressive evidence of earth’s history. This place is extremely blessed by Mother Nature with extremely majestic and wonderful landscapes. Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park contains many mysteries of creation. Each cave is a splendid picture, decorated with a system of sparkling stalactites. Abandoned Valley is one of its gorgeous pieces, what wonderful things await you there?
Unveiling the mysteries
The name “Hang E” is derived from the local Vietnamese language, where “Hang” means “cave.” The “E” in “Hang E” is a designation given to the cave by the British Cave Research Association (BCRA) during their explorations in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in the early 1990s. The BCRA used a letter-based system to name the caves they discovered, and “E” was the fifth cave they explored in the area. When first discovered, Hang E was named Nuoc Xanh cave because of its strange blue water color and hidden many thrilling elements. Up to now, the expedition team has not yet determined where that blue water originates from and why the water is so blue. They only know that the water from Hang E flows abundantly along Tien stream to Nuoc Lan cave and pours out leisurely Dark cave (Hang Toi). In addition, Hang E is proudly called by local people by the beautiful name Thuy Cung Cave.
Hang Vang is known for its strikingly beautiful stalactites and stalagmites, which are illuminated by natural sunlight that filters through the cave’s openings. The cave’s name, “Hang Vang,” translates to “Golden Cave,” which is derived from the golden hues that bathe the cave’s interior during certain times of the day.
About Hang E and Hang Vang
Hang E (Hang E) is a cave located in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh Province, Vietnam. It is one of the largest and most impressive caves in the world and is part of a complex of over 300 caves and grottos in the area.
Location and Access:
Hang E is situated in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its karst landscapes and extensive cave systems.
The cave is located approximately 35 kilometers northwest of the town of Dong Hoi, which is the capital of Quang Binh Province.
Features and Highlights:
Hang E is found to be 736m long and its passage is usually 10-15m and 5m high which inevitably ends in a sump.
Hang E is the feeder to Dark Cave (Hang Toi) and both caves take an extremely large amount of water in the wet season when Hang Phong Nha river sink can’t take the volume of water.
The cave features stunning stalactites and stalagmites, as well as unique rock formations and underground rivers.
Hang E is also home to a diverse ecosystem, with rare species of flora and fauna that have adapted to the cave’s unique environment.
Hang Vang is one of the lesser-known but equally stunning caves in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam. It is famous for its karst landscapes, underground rivers, and extensive cave systems:
Location and Access:
Hang Vang is located in the Abandoned Valley, a remote area within the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
Features and Highlights:
The cave is relatively small compared to other caves in the area, making it a more intimate and immersive experience for visitors.
The cave is also home to unique rock formations, underground rivers, and small pools.
Journey to discover Abandoned Valley
When talking about Quang Binh, about Phong Nha – Ke Bang, surely not many people are familiar with the place Chay River – Dark Cave (Hang Toi), where you can freely zipline, participate in water sports, and take mud baths in caves inside Dark cave (Hang Toi). But few people know that, after a length of more than 5.2km of this cave, leading to the back door of Dark cave (Hang Toi) opens up a wild and mysterious beauty.
To reach and explore this side of Hang Toi, you will join the journey to explore Sinh Ton valley, with a total trip length of more than 8 km, including 4 km of steep roads and 4 km along the stream connecting two places are two wild and breathtakingly beautiful caves: Hang E and Hang Vang.
Visitors will walk across the vast grass hills to reach Dau Rai ancient forest, cross the sky gate, go up Tien stream to explore the 500m depth of Hang Nuoc Lan, which is the back door of Hang Toi. Seen from a distance, Hang Nuoc Lan looks like the wine jar of ancient ancestors, it is surrounded by groves of trees growing from rocky mountains. In front of the cave entrance are large rocks covered with green moss, like a screen protecting the cave entrance from the rainy seasons. The gentle green color of the forest trees mixed with the limestone color of the cave entrance hides many discoveries.
A special feature of Hang Nuoc Lan is the high ceiling made of black limestone, but more surprisingly, the stalactites flowing down from the ceiling are pristine white. Beneath the underground stream there are interlaced and rugged rocks, attracting the group to explore further. Not only that, on the sandy beach in the cave, new stalactites are forming from water drops falling from the cave ceiling…
Next, visitors will go through the primeval forest to Abandoned valley surrounded by extremely majestic vertical limestone mountains.
Continuing the journey through the forest and wading streams through Abandoned valley, you will continue to explore more than 500m of the length of Hang Nuoc Lan (back door of Hang Toi) and the magical Hang E. These are the oldest caves of the Hang Toi system, a unique model of geological, geomorphological and cave formation in Phong Nha – Ke Bang.
Nature awaits you!
Abandoned Valley was previously also known as Thung Tre because there grew a lot of bamboo and bamboo trees, which helped people collect forest bamboo shoots. Covering an area of up to 2,000 hectares, the valley converges many types of terrain, from limestone mountains, flat land, caves to underground streams and quiet primeval forests. This place also possesses biological diversity, known as the kingdom of birds, among which there are many rare species recorded in Vietnam and the world’s red books such as blue pheasant, red rooster, and persimmon. Right in the middle of the valley is Hang E (Hang Thuy Cung) with strangely blue water. Unlike Hang Nuoc Lan, which has undulating, multi-shaped rocks, in Hang E, the water is gentler, more feminine with jade green color… The deeper inside, visitors can admire the view. The cave is like an underwater aquarium with beautiful colorful stalactites, mysterious lines and even a long ringing sound when people call each other…
In particular, to get to Hang Thuy Cung, you will have to swim through the underground river with water as green as jade, with a beautiful landscape like an aquarium. The deeper you go inside, you will be amazed by the magnificence and magic of the multi-shaped stalactites. At the same time, this is an opportunity for visitors to better understand the biodiversity values of the world natural heritage forests of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park.
Tips for Visitors
- Make sure to hire a knowledgeable guide who is familiar with the area and can ensure your safety throughout the trek.
- Pack light but bring essentials such as water, snacks, a first-aid kit, and a flashlight.
- Wear sturdy hiking boots and comfortable clothing suitable for trekking.
- Respect the environment and local communities by leaving no trace and following any rules or guidelines provided by your guide.
The trip is a good opportunity to satisfy nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts. It not only meets mental requirements but also improves health. If you are wondering about those requirements for your trip, we – VM Travel will accompany and support you.