Phong Nha-Ke Bang Among Vietnam’s 11 Most Beautiful Places

On 30 August 2026, The Times of the United Kingdom published “11 of the most beautiful places in Vietnam (and how to see them)”, introducing 11 destinations that the author considers among the most beautiful places in Vietnam, together with suggestions on how best to experience them.

Alongside well-known destinations such as Hue, Hanoi’s Old Quarter, Son Tra Peninsula, Sa Pa, My Son, Hoang Su Phi, Con Dao and Ban Gioc Waterfall, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park was selected by The Times as one of the outstanding representatives of Vietnam’s natural beauty.

Another World in Central Vietnam

What makes the article particularly striking is not simply Phong Nha-Ke Bang’s inclusion on the list, but the way The Times portrays this extraordinary landscape.

Author Joshua Zukas compares the green mountains of Phong Nha-Ke Bang to scenery from the film Avatar. Yet beyond those mountains lies something even more remarkable: an immense cave system that draws travellers from around the world and has given the author reason to return time and again.

The Times particularly highlights Phong Nha Cave and Paradise Cave as relatively accessible experiences suitable for families. A boat journey into Phong Nha Cave or a walk among the spectacular stalactites and stalagmites of Paradise Cave offers visitors a glimpse of the extraordinary scale of this karst landscape.

But this is only the beginning.

Deeper within Phong Nha-Ke Bang lies another world: underground rivers, immense cave formations and multi-day expeditions into some of the planet’s most remarkable subterranean landscapes.

The Times highlights Son Doong Cave as the most exceptional experience, with enormous underground chambers of extraordinary dimensions. Alongside Son Doong, Hang En and Hang Va are also presented as spectacular alternatives offering remarkable cave experiences at a more accessible cost.

The Value of Phong Nha-Ke Bang Extends Beyond Its Caves

Perhaps even more significant is the way The Times connects Vietnam’s beauty with the importance of conservation.

At the beginning of the article, the author suggests that one of the best ways to experience the beauty of a rapidly changing Vietnam is to support the people and businesses helping to preserve what makes these places special.

This message is particularly meaningful in Phong Nha-Ke Bang.

Above its world-famous caves are tropical forests, limestone mountains, rivers and streams, as well as habitats for many rare species of plants and wildlife. This landscape is not simply something to admire; it is a living ecosystem that needs to be protected for future generations.

That is why Phong Nha-Ke Bang can be experienced in so many different ways.

Families can take a boat along the Son River to explore Phong Nha Cave. Visitors can spend several hours walking through the spectacular formations of Paradise Cave. Nature lovers can discover forests, rivers and peaceful villages nestled beneath limestone mountains. And for those seeking adventure, deep within these mountains lies an immense underground world still waiting to be explored.

A Meaningful International Recognition

The Times list is not an official tourism ranking or award. Rather, it reflects the author’s editorial judgement and personal travel experience – shaped by more than a decade of living in Vietnam and travelling extensively across the country.

Nevertheless, seeing Phong Nha-Ke Bang included alongside Hue, Hanoi, Sa Pa, Son Tra, My Son, Hoang Su Phi, Cat Tien, Con Dao, Vietnam’s south-central coastline and Cao Bang among these 11 selected destinations is a meaningful recognition of its extraordinary natural value.

Beyond international lists and recommendations, however, the enduring value of Phong Nha-Ke Bang remains rooted in the landscape itself.

Green mountains. Tropical forests. Rivers winding through the valleys. And deep beneath the earth, a vast world of caves shaped by nature over millions of years.

That is one of the reasons people come to Phong Nha.

And perhaps it is also why so many find a reason to return.

Phong Viet