A view inside the newly discovered cave in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Tri Province, northern Vietnam, featuring an exceptionally rare 350-meter underground waterfall. Photo: T.G. / Tuoi Tre
The park management board announced the discovery on Monday, saying that it contains a striking waterfall formation that experts say is highly unusual.
According to the team, the cave was identified during field exploration and initially accessed for survey work.
Early findings show that the cave has a vertical depth of approximately 350 meters, with a continuous flow of water running from the upper sections down to the lower areas, forming a dramatic underground waterfall.
Experts said the survey has not yet been completed, as many areas of the new cave remain inaccessible.
As a result, a comprehensive assessment of the cave and its internal features has not yet been possible.
The park authority said further scientific surveys and detailed studies are planned in the near future.
More detailed information about the newly discovered cave and waterfall is expected to be announced once the research is completed.
Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park is known as the ‘kingdom of caves,’ with more than 425 caves discovered, around 50 of which have been opened for tourism.
Among these caves, Son Doong Cave is the largest and most prominent, featuring an underground river system.
Several other caves in the park also show evidence of water flow.
However, experts said it is extremely rare for such water flow to form a waterfall reaching hundreds of meters inside a cave, making the latest discovery particularly remarkable.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park was first inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2003 under criteria related to geology and geomorphology.
On July 3, 2015, the site was extended to include biodiversity and ecosystem values.
Meanwhile, Son Doong was officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest natural cave in 2013.
