Hang Con Moong

Useful Information

Location:	Thành Yên, Thạch Thành, Thanh Hoá. South of Mo village, Tlianh Yen commune, Thaih Thanh district, Thanh Hoa province. In the area of Cuc Phuong National Park. (20.2641613, 105.6236235)
Open:	no restrictions. [2024]
Fee:	Park: Adults VND 40,000. [2013]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	n/a
Dimension:	L=40 m, H=10 m.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Conor McAdams et al. (2018): The Pleistocene geoarchaeology and geochronology of Con Moong Cave, North Vietnam: Site formation processes and hominin activity in the humid tropics, Geoarchaeology 2019, pp 1-26. DOI pdf
Address:	Con Moong Cave, Cuc Phuong National Park, Tel: +84-30-848006, Fax: +84-30-848052. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1974	cave discovered by archaeologists.
1976	cave excavated by Vietnamese archaeologists.
21-JUN-2006	added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.
2012	conference about the archaeological excavations at Con Moong and Mang Chieng caves.
2014	end of excavations.
2015	declared a Special National Archaeological Site.
2020	plan to preserve, restore and promote the cave approved by the Prime Minister.

Description

Hang Con Moong (Con Moong Cave) is not really a tourist site, at least not at the moment. The cave was submited to the UNESCO World Heritage List, but it was not approved and is still on the tentative list. The main idea was that international attention and growing tourism, as well as funding from the UNESCO, would protect the unique historical and scientific value and encourage more study of the site. The Archaeological Institute submitted a scientific dossier about the cave in 2009, which is available on many pages on the web, including the WHL page. Despite being translated into English, it is quite hard to understand, it seems the terminology even in science is quite different from international standards. The cave was certified as Special National Archaeological Site in 2015. Also, a sort of visitor center or museum was built in front of the cave. We listed the cave because it was published that it would soon become a show cave. This has still not happened 15 years later. As far as we understand the museum is closed, and the cave is not gated. In 2024 another attempt to list the cave on the WHL list is made, while the cave itself is not developed. There are trails in the cave and electric light, so it is actually a show cave, but as there is nobody around, the light is off, the museum closed. We suggest bringing a lamp.

The Hang Con Moong contains sedimentary layers preserving evidence of human evolution from the Palaeolithic Era to the Neolithic Era. This equals the development of humankind from hunter-gathers to farmers. The cave provided shelter to the people of three separate prehistoric cultures: the Son Vi, the Hoa Binh and the Bac Son. This cave is a key for the understanding of Vietnam and South East Asia prehistory.

Con Moong means Cave of the Beast in the language of the Muong people, who make up 99% of the local population. The cave has two entrances, who look like two gaping mouths, which gives the rock the look of an animal head, hence the name. The cave is rather small, but dry and airy. The archaeological area has a size of about 100 m² and the cave is 40 m long, 5m wide and up to 10 m high.

Hang Con Moong is located in Cuc Phuong National Park, which has many karst features and caves. Several caves are open to park visitors, but they are not developed except for probably a ladder in steep parts. Cave visits require a permit, sufficient equipment including helmet and light, and if available a guide.