Google honors Son Doong cave

son Doong cave is a natural cave in Tan Trach commune, Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province of Vietnam. This is considered the largest natural cave in the world ever known.

Son Doong Cave, Quang Binh (Photo: YAP)

Son Doong Cave is located in the Phong Nha – Ke Bang cave complex, which is part of an underground system connecting more than 150 other caves in Vietnam near the border with Laos.

The New York Times once ranked Son Doong cave at number 8 out of 52 places on the list of places to visit in 2014.

To celebrate the official discovery of Son Doong cave – April 14, 2009, Google has updated a doodle special on the homepage to honor this huge natural cave.

Doodle is promoted on Google search engine in 17 countries and territories including: Vietnam, US Virgin Islands, United Kingdom, Romania, Sweden, Greece, Singapore…

Doodle honoring Google’s Son Doong cave

Doodle recreates the scene of a giant sinkhole located deeper in Son Doong cave, with sunlight illuminating the cave scene with many green shades of the mountains.

According to Google shared, hidden deep in the remote forests of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site, is an “unparalleled natural phenomenon” on Earth. is the giant Son Doong cave.

Through the Son Doong cave doodle, Google continues the story of spreading Vietnam’s unique cultural and heritage values ​​to the world. In addition to the companionship of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and the Department of Tourism of Quang Binh province, the project also has the participation of Oxalis Adventure company – the exclusive tour operator to explore Son Doong cave, Miss H’ Hen Niê and famous people to spread the pride of one of the most unique natural wonders on the planet and contribute to supporting Vietnam’s tourism promotion after the pandemic.

Son Doong Cave – a unique natural wonder in the world

Son Doong Cave was certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest, with a width of 150 m, a height of more than 200 m, and a length of up to nearly 9 km. The cave is located in the Phong Nha – Ke Bang cave complex – the largest national park in Vietnam. This national park is not only the “home” of Son Doong – the world’s largest cave, but also the “dwelling place” of En cave – the third largest cave in the world and also the first destination on the way to the cave. son Doong cave. Besides, more than 350 caves, underground rivers and rare flora and fauna have been found here.

Geologists estimate that Son Doong cave was formed about 2 to 5 million years ago. In 1990, a local farmer named Ho Khanh accidentally discovered the entrance of the cave while looking for shelter from the rain. In 2008, Ho Khanh found his way back to the cave and in 2009 he brought this natural wonder to light when he returned with Howard and Deb Limbert of the British Cave Research Association. Explorers conducted the first official survey at the cave and concluded that this is the largest cave in the world.

The majestic scene inside Son Doong cave (Photo: Dan Tri)

Survey results show that, inside Son Doong cave, with a size large enough to contain a 40-storey building of the city, scientists have discovered countless records of geological formations, including jade. The world’s largest limestone clam, the world’s tallest stalactite…

In addition, in giant sinkholes deeper in the cave, where sunlight and rain nourish two primary forest ecosystems, explorers have discovered that this is inhabited by flying foxes – The only monkey in the world that lives underground and the white fish has no eyes.

The rainforest here is thriving and spreading. It even has its own local weather system.

Dubbed the “King of Caves”, Mr. Howard Limbert – one of the first members of the Royal British Cave Association to explore Son Doong cave in 2009 – said: “I have explored 700 caves throughout Vietnam and 350 of them are in Phong Nha – Ke Bang. It can be seen that Son Doong still has many unresearched mysteries. We often encounter clouds in the compartments of mountains. There are other great caves in the world, but to own the forest in the cave and its own weather system, I think this is a very unique thing of Son Doong.Besides, the biodiversity in the cave is also a factor. especially, I hope in the near future plant experts can come to study this aspect more closely.”.

In 2019, 3 British divers proved that there is still much to discover at this huge cave after finding an underwater tunnel connecting Son Doong with another cave.

To explore and admire this wonder of the world, “explorers” will have a trip to experience combined sports such as forest crossing, stream wading, mountain climbing, even canoeing in high water season.. In the past 5 years, Son Doong cave has welcomed nearly 3,500 visitors to explore the cave, according to Oxalis Adventure – Son Doong expedition organization.

Join hands to promote the natural beauty of Son Doong

Mr. Nguyen Le Phuc – Deputy General Director of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism – said: “The event that Son Doong cave with outstanding global values ​​was honored on the Google homepage on April 14, 2022 is the pride of Quang Binh in particular and of Vietnam’s tourism industry in general. It is a cave. The largest in the world, surely the grandeur, unique terrain and beautiful scenery of Son Doong will bring visitors impressive and overwhelming experiences.Vietnam has officially reopened to international tourism. with very favorable medical entry conditions and the restoration of visa and immigration policies as before the epidemic.All ready.We welcome visitors from all over the world to come to experience the experience. full experience in Vietnam”.

Those who are interested in Son Doong cave but have not had the opportunity to directly visit and explore this place can admire it through Son Doong cave at Wonders of Vietnam – an online exhibition on Google Arts & Culture launched at the beginning of the year. 2021.

Here, online visitors can admire a set of photos and videos of Son Doong Cave, as well as interactive features that allow to experience the wonders of Vietnam in new ways. This is also one of the projects that Vietnam National Administration of Tourism cooperates with Google in an effort to promote Vietnamese tourism to the world.

“In recent years, Son Doong cave has contributed to promoting Quang Binh tourism and Vietnam tourism to the world. Today, myself and Quang Binh people feel more proud when Son Doong cave is recognized. Google introduces a special doodle to tourists and people around the world.The sustainable tourism development at Son Doong cave, Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park has created livelihoods and jobs for the community. population, contributing to economic restructuring, improving the quality of life, changing the urban face in Phong Nha town and communes in the buffer zone of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park as well as improving public efficiency. forest protection, protection of natural resources, raising people’s pride in their homeland” – Mr. Ho An Phong – Vice Chairman of Quang Binh Provincial People’s Committee – said.

Following the icons of doodle bread, doodle pho, doodle of Hoi An city … on the homepage of Google, doodle Son Doong continues to be a practical activity of the search giant to promote culture – cuisine – Vietnam tourism to the international community.

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