CBS’s “60 Minutes,” one of the longest-running television news shows in the United States, featured a documentary about Son Doong Cave in central Vietnam on Sunday.
The documentary chronicles the British Cave Research Association’s multi-year exploration of the world’s largest cave in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Tri Province, from preliminary surveys to in-depth scientific studies.
It provides scientific and documentary insights into the geology, ecology, and conservation efforts of the site.
It is hoped the documentary will increase awareness of the site’s exceptional value and promote sustainable tourism development.
The nine-member crew, which included producers Nicole Young and Jonathan Partridge, correspondent Scott Pelley, and photographer Ryan Deboodt, coordinated the filming trip from January 14 to 17.
It was planned with Oxalis Adventure, the only firm that offers tours to Son Doong Cave, VnExpress International reported.
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Raising awareness and promoting tourism
Le Minh Tuan, director of the Quang Tri Provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, said the broadcast is an outstanding opportunity to promote the province’s tourism image to international viewers.
As quoted by the Vietnam News Agency, he said the documentary not only draws attention to the site’s global significance but also opens up potential to draw in higher-spending international visitors.
Tuan said Quang Tri intends to utilize the program’s media exposure to bolster promotion efforts and continue creating unique tourism products connected to nature conservation to uphold sustainable development.
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Origin
Son Doong Cave was discovered by a local man named Ho Khanh in 1990.
He went alongside British cave experts on additional studies that led to the cave’s designation as the largest in the world, with a volume of about 38 million cubic meters.
The cave opened to travelers in 2013.
Oxalis Adventure’s Son Doong Expedition Tour is one of the adventure excursions that draw the greatest number of international visitors to the Southeast Asian country.
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Shameeka Voyiya 
Carmela Calling