The 10km-long Chay River is an estuary of Son River with a gentle stream flow, pure water and many species of endemic fishes like Cyprinus centralus, Cyprinus sp, Chela quangbinhensis and Hemibagrus vietnamensis. Chay River hides itself in Phong Nha forests with the Vom Cave system like Thien Duong Cave (Paradise Cave), Me Bong Con Cave and Toi Cave (Dark Cave), etc.

Inauguration of tour to Chay River - Hang Toi (Dark Cave)

Hang Toi (Dark Cave) was discovered in the years of anti-America resistance war by local people and used as a bomb shelter. This cave is a branch of Phong Nha cave system with 5,258m long and 80m high; the entry of cave is 30m high and 10m wide with heavy forest around the cave mouth. Hang Toi has a primitive beauty with thousands of several spectacular stalagmite and stalactites. This is a shelter of many species of animals like bat and swift, especially, Ha Tinh langur - one of primate species listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book.

After coming into operation, tour to Song Chay - Hang Toi will be linked with other tourist spots in the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park to become a closed tour with the itinerary as follows: Phong Nha Grotto - Tien Son Grotto - Chay River – Hang Toi – Nuoc Mooc Spring Eco-trail - Thien Duong (Paradise) Grotto - Tam Co (Eight Ladies) Cave and temple of commemorating heroic martyrs on Road 20 - Quyet Thang.

Participating in this tour, visitors will have opportunities to contemplate pristine and impressive beauty of the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, learn more about species of animals and plants living here, visit historical relics which have made legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail; experience unique culture of local people’s daily life; and enjoy traditional foods of Quang Binh motherland.

Some photos about Chay River - Toi Cave:

Reported by Dang Ha