On April 24, according to the Management Board of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park (Quang Tri province), from March 21 to April 11, 2026, a survey of new caves and tourism resources at Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park was organized with the participation of a British cave expedition team of 10 experts.
The survey scope spans many areas belonging to Phong Nha, Thuong Trach, Kim Phu, Kim Dien, Tan Thanh, Tuyen Lam and Truong Son communes.
The delegation surveyed a total of 29 caves, including 26 new caves and the expansion of 3 old caves, with a total measured length of 13,643m. Many large-scale caves with high scientific value are recognized.
Notably, Thien Cung cave, 4, 206m long, is the longest cave in the survey, with special significance in terms of science and exploitation potential. Nuoc Lan cave, 2,721m long in Tan Thanh commune, Tuyen Lam; Ma Dom cave, 1,257m long in Kim Dien commune; Cha Ngheo cave, 583m long in the national park area are also outstanding discoveries.
Survey results show that the cave system in the area is strongly developed according to karst terrain, reflected in the simultaneous existence of vertical deep caves and horizontally developed caves. Typically, Má Dơm cave is -102m deep, Tru cave is -68m deep.
In the strictly protected sub-zone 2, Kim Dien commune, Cha Ngheo cave has deep vertical well-shaped entrances, inside there are waterfalls and complex structures, leading down to the underground stream below. The cave continues to develop and has not been fully surveyed, showing the potential for forming a large-scale cave system.
In Sinh Ton valley, the team discovered that Thien Cung cave entrance is of particular importance, identified as the ancient flow of the Dark Cave River. The cave is large in scale, with many stalactites, developed almost parallel to the Dark Cave system and has an hydrological connection with the Chay River.
In Kim Phu commune, behind Ruc Mon cave, the survey team surveyed a chain of 3 caves with underground streams, of which upstream caves have the potential to develop adventure tourism. Mo Roo cave is about 500m long, with beautiful scenery, convenient access, suitable for tourism exploitation.
In the area of Tan Thanh and Tuyen Lam communes, Nuoc Lan cave is recorded to have seasonal flows, but at the time of survey, the cave was dry.
In the area of Road 20 belonging to the service - administrative sub-area, Chac Den cave is identified as a vertical well cave about 20m deep, leading down to a large corridor, possibly a high branch of the Phong Nha river cave system, with long development potential in the future.
The 2026 survey results have significantly supplemented the cave database of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, further affirming the outstanding geological, geomorphological and karst system values of the area.
The new discoveries are not only of scientific significance but also open up many potentials in conservation, research and sustainable tourism development, contributing to enhancing the value and position of this World Natural Heritage in the coming time.
