Objectives
The area is located close to the Cambodian border. On the Cambodian side (Kampot/Kampong Trach area) the same combination of a strongly growing tourism, beaches along the coastline as well as show caves has given rise to a booming seasonal tourism industry. Compared to the lack of knowledge about the caves on the Vietnamese side of the border the Cambodian caves near Kampot/Kampong Trach are already fairly well studied and well published (Denneborg et al. 2002; Laumanns 1996a, 1996b, 1998).
The project team visited as many of the limestone hills and their natural caves around Ba Hon/Ha Tien as possible during their time in the field in order to explore and survey these caves accordance with international standards in order to create maps of the cave passages.
On this and subsequent visits importance will be put on the following points.
- To make a photographic documentation of the caves found.
- Attention will also be given to possible archaeological sites and the biospeleology of the caves.
- To assess whether the caves found are suitable for tourism.
- All results will be made available free of charge to the Vietnamese authorities in the form of a comprehensive report. This will help the government to protect the natural heritage and to make use of it in a sustainable manner.
- International publications and presentations at international symposia arealso envisaged.
- Too raise awareness of the local decision-making authorities to the caves.
Consequently, we strive for a close co-operation with the regional administration.