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| Cave in Phong Nha- Ke Bang |
Viet
Nam may be focused on building upwards, but what's happening underground is
perhaps more exciting than the latest skyscraper -- think hidden caves large
enough for 40-story buildings and wartime tunnels traversing the earth beneath
your feet, according to CNN.
The
American television channel run article themed “Underground in Viet Nam: Caves,
tunnels and wine cellars,” saying that some of Viet Nam's most impressive
features are found well below the surface.
World’s biggest cave
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| Son Doong cave |
But
you won’t find anything remotely urban here. In the world’s largest cave
passage lofty stalagmites, some shooting as high as 70 meters, stand in for
concrete office blocks while shafts of light from above have led to wild
gardens taking root on the cave’s floor.
Son
Doong is one of the many caves underneath the 85,754 hectares of park, which
holds UNESCO World Heritage site honors. While the limestone karst landscape on
top is impressive, the system of caves, grottoes and underground rivers give
visitors a distinct “Journey to the Center of the Earth” experience.
Getting
there involves a six-hour trek into the jungle. Therefore the two caves most
visitors frequent are the area’s namesake Phong Nha and Thien Duong (also known
as Paradise Cave).
Ha Long Bay’s 'Surprise'
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| Surprise Grotto |
Ha
Long Bay is located in Quang Ninh province in the North Vietnam, famous for its limestone islets peppered throughout the UNESCO
World Heritage site. A good itinerary, however, should feature more than just
the emerald water and karsts; boats therefore often include a visit to the
area’s Sung Sot cave, also known as “Surprise Grotto.”
The
spacious cavern consists of two chambers of stalagmites and stalactites lit up
by rainbow-colored fluorescent lights. It may seem meager compared to Phong
Nha-Ke Bang National Park but it is still worth exploring.
Local
guides delight in pointing out parts of the cave’s bumpy interior that resemble
human and animal forms and at busy times tour guides’ red lasers dart
frantically around the ceiling. In spite of the crowds the place still feels
expansive, with the ceiling a full 30 meters above.
Wartime warrens
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| Cu Chi tunnels |
A
hunched stagger through the maze of Cu Chi tunnels is not for the
claustrophobic -- even in the sections that have been enlarged for Westerners.
The
constricting feeling visitors endure for only a few minutes, however, cannot
compare to what life was like for the thousands of Vietnamese who spent years
underground here during the Viet Nam-American war.
Construction
began on the web of subterranean paths in the 1940s and eventually the system
spread out over 250 kilometers, stretching all the way to the Cambodian border.
Inside were hospitals, separate quarters for living, dining, sleeping and
military planning, all used by troops to conduct their business secretly
beneath the earth for 20 years.
Today
only two sections are open to the public, Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc, situated 60
and 70 kilometers (respectively) northwest of Saigon. Besides going through an
expanded part of the tunnel, visitors can marvel at once-deadly booby traps or
even fire off a few rounds at the onsite range.
Subterranean village
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| Vinh Moc tunnel |
The
Vinh Moc tunnel system amounts to just 1% of the length of Cu Chi, but still
stretches two kilometers. It doesn’t have the same “wow” factor but when you
consider the extremes the families went to that built it, it’s easy to be
impressed.
Vinh
Moc’s location in central Viet Nam was under siege from aerial raids during the
country’s war with the United States. For protection, villagers moved life
underground and created a subterranean home.
The
setup consists of three levels, the lowest of which is 23 meters deep. It took
around 18 months to carve it all out and the locals used it for six years --
during which time 17 babies were reportedly born inside.
Imperial Ha Noi remains
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| Thang Long archaeological dig site |
Stumbling
into Ha Noi's quiet Thang Long archaeological dig site, it’s easy to feel like
you’re somewhere you’re not supposed to be.
Unlike
the capital’s other touristy spots what is left of the ancient citadel -- Ha
Noi's equivalent to Beijing’s Forbidden City -- and the archaeological dig
across the road from the main buildings are relatively quiet.
The
dig site covers 33,000 square meters of prime Ha Noi real estate and includes
remnants from dynasties that have ruled the country over the last 1,000 years.
Visitors make their way along an elevated walkway past wells, dried-up
waterways, and many a pile of stones.
The
signs along the path are all in Vietnamese and unless you have a strong
interest in archaeology you may prefer the still-standing buildings across the
street, from which Ha Noi's leaders orchestrated their troops during the Viet
Nam War.
Ha Noi’s five-star bunker
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| Ha Noi’s five-star bunker |
Guests
at Hanoi’s Sofitel Legend Metropole during periods of wartime tumult were
treated to a more spacious underground experience. In the summer of 2011
workers renovating the hotel’s Bamboo Bar stumbled upon a bunker that had long
been forgotten.
The
40-square-meter space, two meters below the bar floor, is made up of five rooms
and two corridors. Reliable sources say American folk singer Joan Baez once
gave an impromptu performance during a 1972 raid, helping calm the nerves of
the other guests.
Judging
by what was found when it was first reopened, those sheltered below also
relaxed with the help of a little French vino.
The
management of the 110-year-old hotel aren’t keen to open up the shelter to tour
groups just yet -- but they also don’t want to let this opportunity pass them
by. There’s talk about it becoming a museum or wine cellar, but nothing
concrete has been decided yet.
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Source: CNN
