Quang Binh Cave Festival kicks off

The opening ceremony was attended by Party Central Committee (PCC) members: Nguyen Ngoc Thien, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Truong Minh Tuan, Minister of Information and Communications; and Hoang Dang Quang, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, along with leaders of ministries, branches and organisations, as well as leaders of Khammouan province of Laos, and a large number of local people and visitors.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Nguyen Huu Hoai, Chairman of the Quang Binh Provincial People's Committee said that the festival aims to promote the beauty of the network of caves in Quang Binh Province, which is famous for being home to over 300 mysterious and breathtaking caves, as well as introduce cultural and spiritual values of the stunning tourist site to local and international tourists with the goal of strengthening tourism development in the province.

The ceremony featured colorful art and music performances. The audience was treated to performances showcasing the mystifying beauty of Phong Nha and the local traditional Macoong drums, as well as a play re-enacting the life of late General Vo Nguyen Giap, one of Vietnam’s greatest military strategists born in Quang Binh.

Short documentaries featuring Son Doong Cave – the largest known cave passage cross-section in the world since 2009 – and other caves in Quang Binh were also screened to introduce the attractions to visitors.

On the occasion, Quang Binh province’s Son Doong cave was recognised as the world’s largest natural cave by the World Record Association and World Records Union.

Earlier, the Tourism Association of Quang Binh province opened the Quang Binh Sailing Festival 2017 at Nhat Le Park, Dong Hoi city, on June 16, as part of activities under the framework of the 2017 Quang Binh Cave Festival.

The sailing festival, which is scheduled to run until the end of August, features many activities, such as a parade, a sailing competition and a kayaking competition.