Tham Koung cave in Huaphan province. - Vientiane Times/ANN
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN): Visitors to scenic Huaphan province will soon be able to add a new location to their itinerary, following plans by local authorities to improve access to and create various attractions around Tham Koung cave.
A local company plans to build a car park, restaurant, and a bridge across the Nam Et river to enable easy access to the cave, and also set up zip-lines, tours of the cave, kayaking and rock climbing activities, along with places for visitors to relax by the riverside.
Work on these developments is expected to start soon and the various facilities will be open to the public in a few years’ time, according to a provincial official. and it will also push country further in the tourism world during the 2024 Visiy Laos year campaign.
When the development is complete, it is envisaged that Tham Koung cave will become a major attraction in Et district, bringing more visitors to Huaphan province.
Tham Koung cave is located on the Nam Et river between Namxong and Napheing villages and is about 8km from the urban centre of Add district.
The cave, carved out of a limestone rockface, is one of the most dramatic in Huaphan province and is located in an attractive riverside setting.
Although not officially registered on the province’s list of tourist attractions, many people have sought out and visited the cave.
Huaphan province is located in the far north of Laos, about 600km from Vientiane, and has many visitor attractions.
It is renowned for its stunning waterfalls, including Sa Lery, Tadloun and Phavang, verdant green rice terraces, Tham Hang cave and the Hiem and Nam Meuang hot springs, the Hintang archaeological site, and the Nam Et-Phouleuy National Protected Area.
Huaphan is also home to Pha Thee Mountain and has a striking city pillar in the provincial capital.
Travel to Huaphan is much easier than in the past following the opening of Nongkhang airport in the provincial capital Xamneua district last year.
Before the airport opened, most people travelled to Huaphan by road which, although passing through majestic scenery, was a long and tedious journey because of the mountainous terrain. But now the new airport has put the province within easy reach of people wanting to travel from Vientiane.
In the future, Nongkhang airport is expected to accommodate international flights, enabling more foreign tourists to visit Huaphan and also providing easier access for businesspeople considering setting up operations in the province. - Vientiane Times/ANN
