For tens of thousands of years, the Phong Nha-Ke Bang area has been inhabited by prehistoric humans.
Archaeological excavations at Bi Ky Cave, Phong Nha Cave, Cha Noi Cave, Khe Rinh Cave, etc., have uncovered numerous stone tools, pottery fragments, and artifacts dating from 10,000 to 5,000 years BCE.
This proves that this area was once an important survival center for ancient inhabitants of the North Central region, thanks to its favorable terrain: safe caves, abundant water sources, and rich forests and mountains.
Inside the ancient caves, people once built fires, hunted, gathered, and carved rudimentary drawings on the rock walls reflecting their primitive life.
Therefore, Phong Nha-Ke Bang is not only a "land of rocks" but also a cradle preserving the evolutionary traces of humankind over tens of thousands of years of history.
From the 9th to the 11th centuries, this area was under the strong influence of the Champa kingdom.
Archaeologists have found ancient Sanskrit inscriptions carved directly onto the walls of Phong Nha Cave—evidence that the cave was once used as a sacred sanctuary by the Champa people.
The inscriptions depict Champa kings offering land and goods to the gods, reflecting their belief in worshipping Shiva, Vishnu, and other protective deities.
The ancient Champa people considered Phong Nha a "sacred cave in the heart of the mountains," a place where heaven and earth met, and water and rock created a spiritual atmosphere.
The remaining carvings and reliefs still reflect the exquisite craftsmanship and profound religious thinking of the ancient inhabitants of Central Vietnam.
Many researchers believe that Phong Nha was once part of the Champa people's trade and pilgrimage route, connecting the Nhat Le Sea with the Truong Son mountain range, contributing to the formation of the distinctive karst civilization of Southeast Asia.
From the 11th century onwards, when Dai Viet expanded southward, Vietnamese people came to cultivate this land, forming the first villages along the Son and Gianh rivers.
Over the centuries, Phong Nha – Ke Bang became a prosperous border region, a place where Vietnamese, Cham, Bru, and Van Kieu cultures intersected.
During the feudal period, many temples, pagodas, and shrines were erected, reflecting the rich religious life of the local people.
Phong Nha was also an important stop on the North-South highway, connecting merchants and envoys traveling between the capital Hue and the Western Truong Son region.
Documents from the Nguyen Dynasty record that many survey teams and military outposts were stationed in the Phong Nha forest to protect the route and exploit valuable resources such as timber, beeswax, and agarwood.
During the two wars of resistance against France and the United States, Phong Nha – Ke Bang was a particularly important strategic area.
The rugged limestone terrain, the dense primeval forests, and the complex cave system made it a resistance base and a safe haven for our army and people.
Caves such as Tam Co Cave, Toi Cave, En Cave, and Phong Nha Cave were used as weapons storage, treatment centers for the wounded, and bomb shelters.
The legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail, running along the Phong Nha region, became a vital communication artery connecting the rear with the front lines.
Countless soldiers fell in the Truong Son Mountains, so that today, every inch of Phong Nha is not only filled with rocks and forests but also steeped in the imprint of blood, sacrifice, and patriotism.
Site sites such as Tam Co Cave, Xuan Son Ferry, Nuoc Mooc Stream, and Cha Lo Heaven's Gate are still preserved as symbols of the indomitable spirit of the people of Quang Binh.
Currently, the Phong Nha – Ke Bang area is home to many ethnic communities such as the Kinh, Bru – Van Kieu, Chut, and Ma Coong…
Each ethnic group brings its own unique cultural color, contributing to the diverse and rich identity of the heritage region.
The Bru – Van Kieu people are notable for their new rice harvest festival, buffalo sacrifice festival, folk songs like “cha chap” and “a-rieu-ping,” along with gong playing and Xoang dances that evoke the majestic sounds of the mountains and forests.
They live in harmony with nature, worshiping forest and water gods, expressing their belief in the power of heaven and earth.
The Chut people – one of the smallest ethnic groups in Vietnam – still preserve many ancient customs, reflecting the early stages of human civilization.
Community-based tourism villages such as Bản Đoòng, Bản Còi Đá, Bản Nồng, and Bản Chày Lập are gradually becoming attractive destinations where tourists can experience the life, cuisine, and traditional customs of the people in the Trường Sơn region.
After being recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site (2003) and with expanded criteria for biodiversity and culture (2015), Phong Nha – Ke Bang has become a symbol of the harmonious blend of nature and humanity.
Conservation efforts focus not only on the ecosystem and caves but also on preserving the cultural and historical heritage of the local people.
Community-based tourism, experiential tourism, and cultural-historical tourism programs are being strongly developed, allowing visitors to explore both the majestic nature and the simple spirit of the people here.
Restored traditional festivals, preserved traditional crafts, fairy tales, and folk songs retold in a green tourism setting – all create a vibrant and captivating Phong Nha – Ke Bang.
Today, the people of Phong Nha are not only residents of the heritage site, but also guardians of the land's soul, working together to preserve its values so that it remains "a symphony of nature, history, and Vietnamese culture."
Phong Nha – Ke Bang is a land that perfectly combines majestic nature with profound cultural and historical depth.
From the footprints of prehistoric people, Champa stone steles, ancient Vietnamese villages to the legendary Truong Son Road – all have created a heritage imbued with the soul of Vietnam.
This place tells not only the story of rocks and forests, but also the story of people – resilient, creative, and in harmony with nature throughout thousands of years of history.
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