The Huffington Post of the US has described Son Doong Cave in
Vietnam’s central province of Quang Binh as one of the most
attractive destinations for global tourists in the next 20 years.
The cave is put on par with 14 other destinations throughout the
world, including Mount Everest of Nepal, the Grand Canyon Escalade of
the US, a n underwater city of Dubai, and Koh Rong Island of
Cambodia.
The newspaper says, “Trial tours launched
last year in Son Doong, the world’s biggest cave. Judging by the
public’s response, we predict the seven-day adventures – which include
rappelling into the cave, camping by its massive stalagmites and
exploring the underground river and jungle – will become much more
accessible in the coming decades.”
Son Doong
Cave, which scientists believe was formed 2 to 5 million years ago, was
first discovered in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park by a
local man in 1991.
The cave was later made public in 2009 by a
group of British scientists from the British Cave Research Association
after they extensively surveyed the area.
Son Doong has a length
of at least 6.5 kilometres and is estimated to be 200 metres in width
and at least 150 metres in height (while its very largest chamber is an
incredible 250 metres in height, enough space to accommodate 40-storey
skyscrapers).
Recently, the New York Times named Quang Binh as
one of the most attractive destinations in Asia and eighth out of the
world’s 52 top tourist destinations for 2014.-VNA