In the heart of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a World Natural Heritage site, where towering limestone mountains embrace millions of years of secrets, a forest of ancient cypress trees, over 500 years old, stands as a masterpiece of nature. This is not just a precious timber species, but a "living fossil." The deeper one explores, the more astonished one becomes by its endless mysteries that are difficult to decipher.
Touching the "green treasure"
We embarked on a journey through the core of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park to Thuong Trach commune, a border area. From Arem village, gazing into the distance, a cluster of cypress trees stands atop rocky mountains, etched against the Truong Son mountain range. For the Arem people, these are considered a "green treasure," the soul of their village.
After more than an hour of trekking through the forest and climbing over steep limestone cliffs, our destination loomed majestically before us. Hundreds of cypress trees, with their mysteriously beautiful shapes resembling giant bonsai, rose from the rocks. Remarkably, the higher we climbed, the more cypress trees there were, while other tree species decreased. At the summit, the cypress trees were almost entirely dominant. Their roots were very strong, allowing them to cling tightly to the rocks and spread outwards.
| A cluster of cypress trees juts out from precarious rocky outcrops - Photo: Provided by Arem Tourism Joint Stock Company. |
Ancient, endemic plant species of global value.
According to scientists , the rock cypress is a rare, endemic, and ancient plant species of Vietnam, classified as critically endangered in the World Red List. In 2019, we had the opportunity to collaborate with members of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Management Board in researching a provincial-level project on the ecological characteristics and distribution of the rock cypress.
Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, then Deputy Head of the Forest Ranger Station (now Deputy Director of the Center for Forest Protection and World Heritage), led our group to the only individual cypress tree in Phong Nha-Ke Bang discovered to have both male and female cones on the same tree.
“The rock cypress here was discovered in 2001 during a research trip. At that time, this species was mistaken for the common mountain cypress. In 2005, scientists from Vietnam and abroad, in collaboration with the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Management Board, collected samples of the rock cypress and conducted in-depth research, after which they correctly identified the species,” said Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh.
Currently, the distribution area of the rock cypress in Phong Nha-Ke Bang reaches 4,000 hectares with nearly 600,000 trees of all sizes. The tallest trees are about 13 meters high, and their trunks are home to dozens of different plant species. Rock cypress mainly regenerates from seeds; however, what researchers have yet to decipher is that many large rock cypress populations have absolutely no saplings. This is scientific evidence confirming the absolute pristine nature of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park ecosystem.
From the mountaintop, one can gaze into the distance and see the picturesque Arem village. For the Arem people in Thuong Trach commune, the cypress tree is considered a treasure, symbolizing the indomitable spirit of the people here. Currently, the cypress tree is strictly protected by the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Management Board, as it is one of the most unique forest habitats in Vietnam and the world.
A new experience for tourists.
In December 2025, the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Management Board officially partnered with Arem Tourism Joint Stock Company to launch the ecotourism project "Exploring the Cypress Trees and Kling Cave"—a unique product deeply rooted in nature exploration and conservation. During this tour, in addition to exploring the over 500-year-old cypress tree complex, visitors can also challenge themselves to conquer Kling Cave, Ruc Ca Roong Cave, and ACu Cave, and learn about and experience the traditional culture, history, and cuisine of the Arem ethnic group.
“This is the first tourism product that combines the experience of exploring the rare ancient cypress tree cluster with the magnificent cave system in the heritage area, linked with learning about the customs and cultural traditions of the Arem people in the Truong Son mountain range. This tourism product promises to open up a new and attractive experience for tourists, especially those who love to travel and want to touch the most pristine values of the Truong Son mountains,” shared Mr. Hoang Ngoc Thuc, CEO of Arem Tourism Joint Stock Company.
To Linh