25 February, 2015
The Vietnamese ambassador in Australia has signed an agreement with a tourism association there to promote geotourism at caves in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in the central province of Quang Binh.
In exchange, Vietnam will also work with the Augusta Margaret River Tourism Association to help attract more tourists to popular caves in Western Australia, Vietnam News Agency reported.
Speaking at the signing ceremony late last week, Terry Redman, Premier of Western Australia, also announced that the trade value between Vietnam and Western Australia was over 1.18 billion Australian dollars (US$922.47 million) last year, up 150 percent from 2012.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park won UNESCO's heritage recognition in 2003 thanks to its 300 different caves and grottoes which date back some 400 million years.
The park, however, did not really attract the world’s attention until 2009, when a group of British explorers with the help of a local man discovered Son Doong Cave, which was later named the world’s largest cave and opened to tourists in 2013.
Many other caves at the park have also gained the world’s recognition.
Source: Thanh Nien News