Quang Tri - Located in Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, Commander Cave with unique stalactites was once a strategic logistics base, receiving and transporting weapons and goods to support the South.
The eco-tourism area "Legendary Truong Son Road - Commander Cave" at km12, Road 20 Quyet Thang, Phong Nha commune is located in the Ecological Restoration subdivision, Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, has just been put into operation.
The highlight of this tourist area is Commander Cave (also known as NH Cave, 7-storey cave) hidden among limestone mountains and covered by natural forest. The cave is 150 m long, 100 m wide, and has 7 floors.
Chi Huy Cave is 14 km from Phong Nha commune and 70 km from the center of Quang Tri province.
During the resistance war against the US, this cave was the strategic logistics base of the 559 Command, managed by Station 14. It received and transported thousands of tons of goods, gasoline, weapons, and food to support the southern battlefield. The cave was also a field surgery station, treating wounded soldiers.
Thanks to its solid natural structure, camouflaged by dense forest canopy, the Command post was bombed by American planes but was not destroyed.
Inside the cave, weapons, food, etc. were stored to support the southern battlefield.
The first floor recreates the first aid treatment area and medical equipment, goods, and ammunition. The second floor contains strategic logistics goods, from food to ammunition boxes and guns. The third floor is the communications area, while the fourth floor is the command area for officers.
The fifth floor - warehouse for essential goods, ammunition boxes, guns, and food; 6th floor - food and weapons gathering area combined with space to display relics of soldiers and remaining items in the cave and 7th floor - working and resting area for soldiers.
In addition to its historical value, Commander Cave has stalactites with many unique shapes, still intact through the war.
Inside the cave, visitors can admire the beauty of many "works" created by nature tens of millions of years ago.
Two stalactites over 1m long hang suspended from the cave ceiling.
A dense system of stalactites extends from above with ivory and yellow colors.
Outside Commander Cave, visitors experience virtual reality. With the Zil-130 car model, visitors seem to cross Truong Son in the smoke, falling bombs, exploding bullets, dense forests and the roar of planes above.
Visitors can also visit the exhibition area of artifacts, documents, and color-restored photos of the Ho Chi Minh Trail and Road 20 Quyet Thang.
The entrance fee from Monday to Thursday is 300,000 VND/person, from Friday to Sunday and holidays is 500,000 VND.
The ideal time to visit is from March to September, when the weather is dry and sunny. Visitors can walk under the natural forest canopy or take the tram.