The Va Cave system features intricate and one-of-a-kind stalagmites in the stunning Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh Province.
Located near the exit of Son Doong Cave, and connected to Nuoc Nut Cave, Va Cave stretches 1.7 kilometers along the Ho Chi Minh Highway. A representative of Oxalis, an adventure tour operator in Quang Binh, said that the journey to explore the two caves usually lasts two days and one night, and that the highlights of Va Cave are the crystal-clear underground lakes and the thousands of cone-shaped stalagmites that adorn these caves.
This image was taken at the end of March at the entrance to Va Cave.
The first day of the tour is dedicated to Va Cave, where you can witness the stunning waterfalls that form in the dry season between April and August. These waterfalls are created by rainwater that seeps through the cracks in the rocks and flows into the cave.
Cave experts believe that the special feature of Va Cave is the most intricate and unique cone-shaped stalagmites in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Compared to other caves in the park, Va Cave is relatively young, only 2 to 3 million years old. The oldest one is Hoa Huong Cave, which is 5 million years old.
Va cave features a remarkable system of stalagmites with about 1,000 blocks of uniform size.
According to the tour operator, these stalagmites were formed from hard objects such as wooden branches or grains of sand at the bottom of the cave’s lake. As the water level rises, it brings with it calcium and deposits it on these objects, creating stalagmites and lake walls. These stalagmites will never grow taller than the lake wall.
Ngo Tran Hai An, a travel blogger from Ho Chi Minh City who visited these caves in late March, rated the difficulty level of the tour as 4 out of 6. Visitors have to overcome rocky terrain, and use long-distance trekking and rope swings to enter the caves.
The cave is filled with many underground lakes. Visitors have to swim through the cave to explore it. Hai An said the water was crystal-clear but very cold, and in some parts it flowed very fast. The waterfall was at the end of the cave, about 1.7 kilometers from the entrance.
“I couldn’t help but stop and take pictures several times because the scenery was so breathtaking,” An said. “The water came from the top of the mountain, then seeped into the ground and then slipped through the cracks of the cliffs into the cave, cascading over the stalagmites, making them sparkle like diamonds.”
The further you go, the harder the path in the cave becomes. Near the end, before reaching the cone-shaped stalagmites, visitors have to climb along a dangerous cliff equipped with safety belts for protection.
Located in the core zone of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Va Cave has a rich vegetation with many types of trees, fungi and insects.
The stalactites in Va Cave were formed by tiny drops of water dripping down over millions of years.
The cave is connected to Nuoc Nut Cave, which visitors explore on the second day of the tour. Nuoc Nut Cave was first discovered in 2003 by a local resident who helped a British team of experts survey the caves in the national park. The cave is 2.2 kilometers long and about 2 million years old.
Cave experts said that Nuoc Nut Cave was created by underground rivers originating from the Son Doong and Va caves. The cave’s ecosystem is also unique thanks to being deep in the ground, with underground water flowing through it and surrounded by the dense forest of the national park.
Hang Nước Nứt được ví như một sao Hỏa thu nhỏ
Nuoc Nut Cave is like a miniature underground Mars because of its red stalactites and space. The ground has cavities that resemble miniature terraces. When the lights are on, you can admire the stunning wavy lines along the ceiling of the cave.
The tour to explore Va and Nuoc Nut caves is limited to only 1,500 guests per year for capacity and conservation reasons, from January to the end of August.
Photos by Ngo Tran Hai An
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