The central province of Quang Binh plans to launch experimental
adventure tours to Son Doong Cave, which is considered the largest cave
in the world, in early August this year.
The tours were suggested by Howard Limbert, an expert of the British Cave Research Association (BCRA).
As scheduled, the trial tours will be held twice a month with the
participation of a group of only 7 tourists and 15 local guides.
After a trial time, the tours will operate officially from February to August every year.
Son Doong cave was first discovered in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park by a local man named Ho Khanh in 1991.
The cave was then made known publicly in 2009 by a group of British
scientists from BCRA, led by Howard Limbert, after their surveying trip
in Phong Nha-Ke Bang Park.
According to Limbert, the
cave is five times larger than the nearby Phong Nha cave, previously
considered to be the largest in Vietnam.
Son
Doong cave is found to have a length of at least 6.5 kilometres. It is
estimated to be 200 metres in width and 150 metres in height. The
largest chamber of the cave is judged to be 250 metres in height.
Scientists have also discovered a great number of stalactites in
astonishingly extraordinary shapes and also primitive forests in the
cave.-VNA