Viet Nam’s Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a World Heritage site originally inscribed for its geological values in 2003, has been extended and now includes protection for ecological and biodiversity values. Located in the Annamite ecoregion hotspot, the extended area is home to globally threatened species, including large mammals such as the Clouded Leopard, the Large-antlered Muntjac and the critically endangered Saola. The park is of particular importance for the conservation of endangered primates, such as the Red-shanked Douc Langur and the Southern White-cheeked Gibbon.

1. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National
Park, Viet Nam
Photo gallery

2. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a World Heritage site in Viet
Nam, has been extended following IUCN’s advice.

3. ©IUCN/JosephineLangley
Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2003 as a geological site, it
now also includes protection for biodiversity and ecosystems.

4. ©IUCN/HagYoungHeo
With an original surface area of 85,754 ha, Phong Nha-Ke Bang
has now been extended to 123,326 ha.

5. ©IUCN/JosephineLangley
Located in the Annamite Mountains in Viet Nam, the parks shares
its west boundary with the Hin Namno Nature Reserve in Laos.

6. ©IUCN/HagYoungHeo
Most of the park is covered by forests, including 84% of primary
forests - the highest percentage in any Vietnamese protected area.

7. ©IUCN/JosephineLangley
Its 100 kilometres of caves and underground rivers make it one of
the most outstanding limestone karst ecosystems in the world.

8. ©IUCN/JosephineLangley
This karst formation has evolved since some 400 million years
ago, being the oldest major karst area in Asia.

9. ©IUCN/JosephineLangley
New cave species continue to be discovered during scientific
studies, including fish, lizards, scorpions, snakes and turtles.

10. The site is home to many plant and animal species, including 154
mammals, 117 reptiles, 58 amphibians, 314 birds and 170 fish.
©IUCN/JosephineLangley

11. ©IUCN/HagYoungHeo
Some of these species are threatened such as the Hatinh Langur,
the Clouded Leopard and the critically endangered Saola.

12. ©IUCN/JosephineLangley
Resident of the nearby Dong village.

13. ©IUCN/JosephineLangley
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