Hello eveyone,
How's it going ? I wish you a wonderful weekend with your beloved one.
It's fantastic news that Vienam, our lovely country, will reopen tourism soon after nearly two years of "sleeping" due to the pandemic.
Today, I'm returning to share with you about a journey to the Son River, one of the most beautiful and significant rivers in the Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park. The National Park is well-known not only for its hundreds of caves, but also for its cultural, historical, and religious aspects. As we travel upstream of the river, we can observe various churches that have contributed to the architectural uniqueness of the area.
The Son river originates at Phong Nha cave, one of Quang Binh's most famous and popular caves, and runs for almost 7.5 kilometers upstream. During the flood season, the water river turns a bright red color, similar to that of a lipstick. This is why the river is referred to as the "Son" River by the locals. The word "son" implies "lipstick." However, during the spring and summer months, the water appears to be crystal clear and blue, with white sand and green water mosses visible on the bottom.
In the early 17th century, Christianity in Vietnam made its first encounters with Westerners through trade. The French began to propagate Christianity in the area in the 17th century, and they began to build the first churches along the Son River. Today, this beliefs make up roughly 40% of their whole population. If you have the opportunity to travel to Phong Nha, you should make a visit to the local churches.
Gia Hung church is one of the most spectarcular churches in this area which is located in Hung Trach hamlet and was established in 1890, is one of the first churches in the area, with approximately 5,000 followers. The most characteristic is the newly built church, which was officially opened in 2017 and features an interior composed of wood and stone, creating a modern and old architecture.
I would suggest if you have any opportunity to visit Phong Nha Ke Bang, you can combine to do caving as well as explore this amazing church. Close to this, you also can enjoy hand-made cakes in a traditional baking village.
During the spring season is, in my opinion, the greatest months to visit and discover this amazing region because the temperature is just right, neither too hot or too cold. If you don't have enough time, you can take a short journey down to the river to see the churches and locals' lives in this amazing area. You also can enjoy the local cuisine here.
