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Tourist Attractions
Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park: the World Natural Heritage Site
The complex of Phong Nha - Ke Bang is 50km from the northwest of Dong Hoi City. It covers an area of 85,754 hectares. This complex is a part of the area of the oldest limestone mountains Read More
in Asia, which were taken shape 400 million years ago. In addition, it contains special values of the formation and development of the earth. Primitive forest accounts for 94 percent of the area of the entire forest, so its biodiversity is richest among Vietnamese forests. The forest boasts 568 floras and 876 faunas, many of which are listed in Vietnam's Red Book. With the great value, Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park was recognized as the World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2003.
Phong Nha Grotto
The beautiful grotto of Phong Nha is also a part of this world heritage site. It has a length of 13,000 meters with 14 large caves which are from 10 to 40 meters high. Read More
At the entrance are stalactites that look like huge teeth. Deep inside the caves are stalactites and stalagmites in various unusual shapes. A group of English geologists, together with Vietnamese colleagues, investigated Phong Nha Grotto and a number of other caves. The group boated deep inside the grotto and discovered that this is the longest underground river in Vietnam. It is attractive to geologists, hydro geologists and explorers.
An investigation of Vietnamese and foreign geologists shows that Phong Nha has "seven best" in Vietnam: longest cave, highest and widest entrance, the most beautiful sand and rock banks, the most beautiful underground river, the most magnificent and fanciful stalactites and stalagmites, the longest underground river, the widest and the most beautiful dry cave.
Tien Son Grotto
400m from the entrance of Phong Nha Grotto and 130m above sea level is Tien Son Grotto. It is also known as Dry Grotto or Upper Phong Nha. Climbing to steps, visitors reach the Read More
entrance of Tien Son Grotto. Deep 1,000m inside the mountain, the grotto looks like a stone castle. Its vault is high and well-venti-lated, and has white veins that seem to be gilded with silver and gold. Particularly, visitors to the grotto can enjoy acoustic resonance from slabs of stones and stone columns. When you knock at stones, they produce unusual sounds that seem to resound from the earth's womb. Tien Son Grotto is 980m long. Approximately 400m from the entrance is a 10m-deep abyss, and that is also the distance visitors are allowed to go in.
According to the studies of explorers from the British Royal Geographic Association, Tien Son Grotto was formed millions of years ago. It is even older than Phong Nha Grotto.Phong Nha and Tien Son create a beautiful picture in the complex of caves and grottoes in Phong Nha-Ke Bang Natural Heritage Site.
Phong Nha Caves are 50km from Dong Hoi City. Opening time of sightseeing site: 7am to 5pm every day.
Cultural and Ecological Tourist Center
(under the National Park's Management Board)
Son Trach Commune, Bo Trach District Tel/Fax: (052) 3677 323
Thien Duong Grotto
The newly-discovered Thien Duong Grotto is situated at Milestone 16 on the western line of the Ho Chi Minh Road, within the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Phu Trach Commune, Phu Binh District, about 30km from Phong Nha-Tien Son Grottos. Read More
It is a dry grotto with no underground river. The early evaluation of the British Royal Expedition shows that Thien Duong remains untouched, with a very splendid beauty, longer and larger than Phong Nha or Tien Son Grottos. In the grotto, there are several high and wide arches with numberless strange shapes. Deep in the grotto, stalactites are much unique than elsewhere, even in Phong Nha or Tien Son Grottos. The big, round beautiful stalactites adjoining one another sparkle like stars in the dark sky.
Thien Duong Grotto contributes to promoting the values of the world natural heritage site of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
Quang Binh Citadel Gate
This structure consists of an arch-gate and walls built in 1630 to protect Phu Xuan, the remote capital of the Nguyen Dynasty. Due to several battles and the passage of time, the citadel gate has suffered heavy damages. Fortunately though, it has since been restored to its original design.
Visitors crossing the territory of Quang Binh will be delighted by the wonderful landscapes surrounding the Citadel Gate.
Nhat Le Beach and Bau Tro Remains
This beauty spot is 2km north of Dong Hoi City, next to the Nhat Le Estuary. Nhat Le Beach is beautiful and very popular. In addition to sea bathing, visitors also have an opportunity to see the Bau Tro vestige.
In 1923, a French geologist excavated and discovered remains of primitive Stone Age people 5,000 years ago. This is the point of intersection of the Vietnamese and Cham cultures.
Ly Hoa Beauty Spot
This beauty spot is situated next to National Highway 1A, 24km from the city of Dong Hoi City. Ly Hoa is a small pass at the bottom of which there are many rocks breaking through the surface of the water. Not far from there, is Da Nhay Beach, a long expanse of white sand with blue water and gentle waves.
The landscape is fascinating and an ideal place for sea bathing. Visitors can also go and see the Phong Nha Caves via the river.
Canh Duong Sea Village
The village is by the National Highway N°1A and close to Roon River Mouth, very convenient for traffic between the North and the South.~Canh Duong is the most bustling and prosperous village in the coastal area of Quang Binh Province. Moreover, it also has a long history Read More
and cultural tradition. In 1643, people from Nghi Loc, Nghe An Province chose the sandy area near Roon River Mouth for their settlement. With the passage of time, the village has become crowded. Fishing, seafood processing and trade have been increasingly thriving. In addition to economic development, residents also pay much attention to cultural activities. Every spring, the village organizes festival with the ritual of deities procession, and traditional games, such as human chess, rice-cooking competition, boat race, and singing contest.
Vuc Quanh Cultural and Ecological Tourist Site
Vuc Quanh Cultural and Ecological Tourist Site is located in Trung Nghia Hamlet 7, Nghia Ninh Commune, 4km west of Dong Hoi City, covering an area of about 10 hectares. Read More
From the gate of this resort, follow a small path lined with trees on one side and a winding stream on the other side, one comes to a village with traditional houses having thatched roofs, walls made of mud mixed with straw. Each house has a yard, and an orchard garden with underground A-shaped shelters lying scattered around. Inside these shelters are displayed tools and equipment for kindergartens, schools, and hospitals. In the two banks of the stream are put gasoline drums and bags of rice. A network of trenches, ferries or communication lines are also built. Tourists feel like visiting Quang Binh 30 years ago, amidst its struggle against enemy fierce bombings.
Besides the war village-museum, the investor also sets up many camping sites for tourists along the stream. In addition, there is also about 1 kilometer of the reproduced Truong Son Trail.
Tourists can drive a Zin 130 truck in this rugged trail to experience the difficulties of the soldiers during the resistance war. This tourist site is just 2km away from the Ho Chi Minh Road and lies on the same route to Phong Nha Cave. It has become one of the famous tourist attractions in Quang Binh Province.
Bang Mineral Hot Spring
Located 60km south of Dong Hoi City, in Kim Thuy Commune, Le Thuy District, Bang Mineral Hot Spring has been recorded as the only hot water source in Vietnam with an on-spot Read More
temperature of 105°C. The mineral water with a composition of many precious elements has become an internationally prestigious mineral water source. In addition, this hot spring is potential for resorts. Investments have been made on several ten hectares of land area for the development of swimming pools, spas, accommodation and tourist services to make Bang Mineral Hot Spring a favorite resort and wellness tourism destination of both international and domestic visitors.
Besides health and eco-tourism, the southern Quang Binh tours with many privileged natural landscapes are also favored tourist attractions of the area. These tours will provide tourists with memorable visits to the national General Vo Nguyen Giap exhibition house, the tomb and temple of mandarin Nguyen Huu Canh who greatly contributed to the national expansion to today Ca Mau Cape, picturesque An Ma Lake and many other cultural and historical vestiges.
Festivals
The Cau Ngu Festival and Boat Race in Quang Binh
Read More
Cau Ngu Festival
14th to 16th of the 4th lunar month
The festival is held annually for 3 days in Bao Ninh Commune, Dong Hoi City. The village's communal house is dedicated to two fishers and Whale, which, according to legend, saved the village's fishers in a heavy storm. The festival begins with the ritual of whale skeleton procession. After that, amateur artists perform traditional songs and folk dancing. On the following day, people take part in the ritual of "going to the sea". They float paper boats and fish to the sea, and then pray for good weather and a bumper crop.
Boat Race in Quang Binh
National Day 2 September.
Like residents in coastal areas, Dong Hoi City and Le Thuy people in Quang Binh annually organize boat races on the National Day (2 September). These boat races have taken place for more than one hundred years. In the past, Dong Hoi City boat race was held every six years, in the years of Mouse and Horse. The race ended with buong phao ceremony to commemorate the persons who drowned. Le Thuy boat race took place in spring or in the sixth lunar month after the harvest.
After the 1945 August Revolution, these two boat races have been held on 2 September and added with cultural activities of this land.
Tourist Information
IDD code: 84 - 52
Transport
Dong Hoi City is 94km from Dong Ha City (Quang Tri Province), 166km from Hue City (Thua Thien - Hue Province), 197km from Vinh (Nghe An Province), and 489km from Ha Noi.
Air
Dong Hoi Airport
Loc Ninh Commune, Dong Hoi City 6km from Dong Hoi City center
Vietnam Airlines
35 Tran Hung Dao St., Dong Hoi City
Tel: 3850 826, Fax: 3850 827
There are flights between Dong Hoi & Ha Noi.
Train
Dong Hoi Railway Station
Nam Ly Ward, Dong Hoi City
Tel: 3839 630
Dong Hoi City is a stop on the route of the Reunification Express route train.
Bus
Dong Hoi Bus Station
Nguyen Huu Canh St, Dong Hoi City.
Tel: 3822 150
Taxi
Quang Binh Taxi
Tel: 3828 282
Xuyen Viet Taxi
Tel: 3848 484
Tourism Division (DCST)
1 Me Suot St., Dong Hoi City
Tel: 3824 901, Fax: 3821 191
Tour Operator
Cosevco Tourist & Mineral water Jsc.
16 Quach Xuan Ky St., Dong Hoi City
Tel: 3822 086, Fax: 3822 086
Quang Binh Tourist
102 Ly Thuong Kiet St., Dong Hoi City
Tel: 3882 228, Fax: 3822 160
Hotels
Restaurant
Read More
Ba Hien Restaurant
52 Truong Phap St.
Tel: 3827 473, Fax: 3842 540
Excellent seafood, reasonable price
Beer Sai Gon Restaurant
299 Ly Thuong Kiet St.,
Tel: 2467 788
Hien Vi Restaurant
5 Nguyen Pham Tuan St.,
Tel: 3821 266
Sao Mai Restaurant
Quach Xuan Ky St.,
Tel: 3821 055
Thanh Phuc Restaurant
242 Ly Thuong Kiet St.,
Tel: 3823 618
Post Office
01 Tran Hung Dao St.
Tel: 3822 560, Fax: 3824 254
Medical Services
General Hospital
Le Loi St.,
Tel: 3824 185
Banks
BIDV
189 Huu Nghi St.,
Tel: 3824 607
VietinBank
215 Ly Thuong Kiet St.,
Tel: 3840 582
In Bo Trach District
Da Nhay Hotel
Thanh Trach Commune
Tel: 3866 042, Fax: 3866 042, 21 rooms, US$13-17
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