Published:  18:17 Saturday - December 31, 2011

An English couple has jointed 14 expeditions to Vietnamese caves over the past 20 years and contributed to UNESCO’s recognition of Phong Nha-Ke Bang as a World Natural Heritage Site.

Dr. Howard and wife Dr. Deb spend most of their time on cave expeditions. Since the age of 15, Howard has been exploring caves in the UK and Europe.

The limestone Mountain Karst is what attracted them to Asia. In 1990, they decided to go there. The couple patiently sought the cooperation of regional agencies and organisations. Finally, they got some help from Hanoi General University, now called as Vietnam National University, Hanoi, to make their trip to Vietnam possible.

Dr. Howard and wife Dr. Deb 

After that, they focused on destinations in Vietnam to explore. Being a member of the British Cave Research Association, Howard has led an expedition team to Vietnam since 1990.

The team has cooperated with the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, to conduct 14 journeys to different localities in Vietnam, including Quang Binh, Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Hoa Binh, Lang Son, Cao Bang and Ha Giang. The association has also discovered nearly 300km of caves in Vietnam.

In 1997, the team found Khe Ry in Quang Binh Province, the world’s longest undergound cave. In 2009, it discovered Son Dong, the world’s biggest cave, also in Quang Binh.

Tien Son Grotto belongs to Phong Nha - Ke Bang - Vietnam Tourism

Their reports have contributed to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park being recoganised by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site.According to Doctor Howard, Vietnam has one of the worlds most impressive limestone areas. A number of caves situated in Ke Bang Mountain have yet to been found, Howard and his team hope to continue their search with the cooperation with the Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

Calling for natural preservation:

The couple has helped to call international community to pay attention to the protection of nature and the environment of Vietnam. They have also shown a number of well-known film-making groups around Vietnam.Through the films that came from this, the world has become more aware of Vietnam's beauty and the world's biggest cave, Son Doong, in Quang Binh. The couple will visit Vietnam again from March 3 to April 26, 2012, along with their team and some film groups to make films about caves in Quang Binh.

Son Doong Cave - Quang Binh Province - Vietnam Tourism

In 2010, the British expedition team took the film groups and reporters from Kyodo, NHK, BBC, and National Geographic among others, to Vietnam to make films about Son Doong Cave. In 2011, they invited representatives from BBC to Quang Binh to make another film about Son Doong Cave.

Source: DTI


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