Who Discovered Phong Nha Cave? Revealing Its Formation Process

Long before Phong Nha was surveyed and widely introduced by researchers, it had been known to human communities for centuries. Vestiges left behind inside the cave indicate that the Cham people once inhabited this area, most notably through ancient Cham inscriptions and religious artifacts discovered in Bi Ky Cave. These relics are believed to date back to around the 9th–11th centuries, suggesting that the cave once held spiritual significance for ancient populations.

By around the 16th century, Phong Nha was mentioned in O Chau Can Luc by Duong Van An. His writings about Ke Bang Mountain and its extraordinary landscapes became some of the earliest Vietnamese records of this region. Later, in the late 19th century, Léopold Michel Cadière conducted surveys of Phong Nha and documented numerous important artifacts. His expeditions played a vital role in elevating Phong Nha from a locally known landmark into a subject of scientific and academic interest.

The earliest known written records of Phong Nha Cave belong to the scholar Duong Van An in O Chau Can Luc, compiled around 1550–1555 during the Le – Mac dynasties. He described the cave situated inside Ke Bang Mountain, featuring rock formations with peculiar shapes resembling dragons, phoenixes, lions, tigers, and elephants... This is also one of the earliest documents recording the name Phong Nha in Vietnamese historical literature. By the Nguyen Dynasty, Phong Nha continued to appear in official historical archives. In 1824, King Minh Mang bestowed upon the cave the title "Dieu Ung Chi Than" (God of Miraculous Response), and later Nguyen emperors honored it with the title "Than Hien Linh" (Manifest Holy Deity). The cave's imagery was also carved onto the Nine Dynastic Urns (Cuu Dinh) at the Hue Imperial Citadel.

In the Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi (Gazetteer of the Unified Dai Nam), the site was also referred to as Thay Tien Cave or Thay Mountain Cave. As for the name "Phong Nha," it is commonly interpreted in two ways: "wind passing through teeth," evoking the image of stalactites inside the cave, or derived from an ancient local place name.

Before becoming a renowned destination, Phong Nha Cave had preserved the footprints of ancient communities. Most prominent are the Cham vestiges dating back over 1,000 years, notably the 97 ancient Cham characters carved onto the rock walls of Bi Ky Cave. Alongside these are brick altars, stone statues in the Champa style, glazed ceramic shards, and various other artifacts. These ancient inscriptions remain not fully deciphered to this day, leaving an added layer of mystery to the cave.

By the late 19th century, Phong Nha began to be approached from a scientific perspective. In 1899, the French priest Léopold Michel Cadière navigated a dugout canoe approximately 600 meters deep into the cave, documenting Bi Ky Cave along with Cham relics, and sent his report to the École française d'Extrême-Orient (EFEO). He hailed Phong Nha as the "Number One Cave of Indochina." From these ancient relics to this expedition, Phong Nha gradually moved beyond the realm of a locally known cave, inaugurating a journey of research and exploration spanning multiple generations.

Following Cadière's accounts, Phong Nha gradually attracted the attention of international explorers and scholars. Early 20th-century expeditions continued to yield numerous discoveries regarding cultural vestiges inside the cave, from altars and Buddha statues to ancestral tablets and artifacts bearing Cham–Vietnamese hallmarks.

A notable milestone took place in July 1924, when the British explorer Barton spent about 14–15 days surveying Phong Nha. He was exceptionally impressed by the scenery inside the cave, considering its beauty comparable to renowned caves such as Padirac in France or Cuevas del Drach in Spain. By the 1930s, Phong Nha was included by the French Resident Superior's Tourism Office in Hue on the list of remarkable destinations in Indochina, marking a crucial step in promoting this destination.

However, early explorations still relied primarily on boats, walking, and direct observation, unable to conduct a comprehensive survey of the entire cave system. During the war years, Phong Nha took on an entirely different role: serving as a shelter, a storage depot for food and weapons, and a field hospital, particularly between 1965 and 1972.

From those early expeditions, Phong Nha entered a more systematic phase of exploration starting in the 1990s, when Vietnamese scientists collaborated with the British Cave Research Association (BCRA) on surveys in Phong Nha – Ke Bang. These expeditions not only expanded knowledge of Phong Nha Cave but also gradually unveiled the astonishing scale of the entire cave network in the region. In 1990, initial surveys were conducted. By 1992, the expedition team completed a map of Phong Nha Cave with a surveyed length of approximately 7,729 meters, including an underground river system totaling over 13 km according to records at that time. Today, the popular sightseeing route for tourists covers only the first 1,500 meters of the cave.

Surveys continued in subsequent years, gradually refining cave maps and broadening understanding of the geology and hydrology of Phong Nha – Ke Bang. This journey also contributed to bringing many other famous caves to light, including Son Doong – a cave celebrated for its colossal scale, which was thoroughly surveyed and announced to the world starting in 2009, with a pivotal role played by local resident Ho Khanh in guiding the team and providing regional insights.

Behind the splendor of Phong Nha Cave lies a geological formation process spanning hundreds of millions of years. The limestone massif of Phong Nha – Ke Bang was formed across various geological eras, subsequently shaped by the continuous forces of water, tectonics, and weathering. Rainwater percolated through fissures, dissolving the limestone and gradually carving out underground rivers, expansive caverns, stalactites, and multi-tiered cave networks. It is this protracted process that created one of the region's most extraordinary karst systems.

From a location known mainly to local inhabitants, Phong Nha was progressively surveyed, introduced, and developed into a prime tourist destination. In 2003, Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park was recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage site under geological and geomorphological criteria; its heritage value was further expanded in 2015. Today, Phong Nha Cave has become one of the premier tourism symbols of Quang Binh, captivating visitors with its rare combination of underground rivers, limestone mountains, intricate cave systems, and exceptional geological and historical significance.

Understanding the origins, history, and formation of Phong Nha Cave not only enriches your journey but also gives deeper meaning to every step inside the cavern. For every stalactite and every branch of the subterranean river holds the sedimentary layers of time and the narrative of ancient nature. To not just "see" but truly "understand," a well-organized guided tour with specialized experts from Sovaba Travel will open the door to an authentic experience. Beyond leading you to the most breathtaking spots, our Phong Nha Cave tour connects you with the cultural, historical, and scientific values that an unguided journey could hardly convey.