Phong Nha Cave reveals further secrets

Experts from Phong Nha-Ke Bang Eco-tourism and Culture Centre have just discovered two lakes in Phong Nha Cave.

 

First image of the 70-square metre lake in Phong Nha Cave 

The centre Director Le Thanh Loi said the lakes were around 500 metres from each other. The first stretches 70 square metres while the other is over 300 square metres. Experts have yet to determine how deep Xuyen Son Ho Lake is.

This is the second discovery this year at Phong Nha Cave after a colour-changing stalactite was detected in July.

From October 1 this year, the centre will open the Xuyen Son Dong cave for tourists and will hold a contest to name the 300-square metre cave.

Last king’s palace opened to tourists

The Centre for Preservation of Hue Relics has opened Khai Tuong Lau (An Dinh palace), where Vietnam’s last king Bao Dai and his family lived from 1945 to 1955, to tourists.

The palace was built in 1917-1918 by King Khai Dinh, before he enthroned, by his own money.

Khai Dinh’s son, Bao Dai, lived here from 1922, and 17 years laters, it became the assets of Bao Dai’s eldest son, Bao Long.

Before 1945, An Dinh Palace was managed by the Nguyen Dynasty. After August 1945, it became the home of King Bao Dai’s mother and Bao Dai’s family.

In 1954, Ngo Dinh Diem administration confiscated the palace.

Bao Dai’s mother bought the house at No.79 Phan Dinh Phung to stay until she died.

After 1975, the revolutionary administration took over and gave the palace back to Bao Dai’s mother but she donated the palace to the government.

An Dinh Palace was then managed by the Hue Labor Cultural House before it was handed over to the Center for Preservation of Hue Relics in early 2012.

The palace was restored in 2007-2008. The Center for Preservation of Hue Relics and German experts restored the 2,000sq.m mural in the palace.

The An Dinh Palace at present: