New cave opens to the public in Vangvieng, Laos

Since its recent discovery in Vangvieng district, Vientiane province of Laos, Tham Nangfar cave has been made accessible to visitors and is now open to the public, offering free entry and an exciting new option for travellers to the region.

Head of the province’s Information, Culture and Tourism Department, Mr Bounmy Phommavongsa, told Vientiane Times the cave was only recently discovered in Huaysa-ngao village.

It is situated close to the popular Tham Non cave, which is managed by a private company under a concession agreement.

As Tham Nangfar is located on land included in the company’s concession agreement, the company was given permission to improve the cave’s entrance and install interior electric lighting. Visitors can now see some of the beauty of the cave without the need to use a torch or lantern.

Tham Nangfar cave is open every day and entrance is free, Mr Bounmy said. Because it is so close to Tham Non cave, the two can be explored on the same day.

Many other sights and activities make Vangvieng district one of the most popular tourist destinations in Laos. Hot air ballooning and zip-lining together with kayaking, tubing and speed-boating on the Xong River are some of the region’s highlights. Festivals each month mean a vibrant atmosphere exists all year round.

In preparation for Visit Laos-China Year 2019, authorities improved services and regulated the prices of goods in Vangvieng so that visitors could have as enjoyable an experience as possible.

Officials expect more than 1 million Chinese tourists out of an overall total of 4.5 million to visit Laos during Visit Laos-China Year 2019.

During Visit Laos Year 2018, more than 300,000 people visited Vangvieng district, with most coming from the Republic of Korea and China.

The district’s Information, Culture and Tourism Office said 187,000 people visited Vangvieng in 2017.

Vientiane province has 171 officially designated nature-based attractions, 25 cultural sites and four historical sites, according to the 2018 Tourism Statistics report from the Tourism Development Department, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.

The province has over 32 hotels, 312 resorts and guesthouses, 273 restaurants and 41 entertainment venues. It is located about 150km north of Vientiane.

Information can be obtained from the Vientiane provincial Information, Culture and Tourism Department on 023 431535.  

Editor: Wang Shixue