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Dong Hoi - Magnificent nature

Located along the North Central coastline and crossed by calm Nhat Le River, Dong Hoi is a vibrant city that flaunts amazing potential for tourism. It’s not an understatement to claim that Dong Hoi – Quang Binh is a gift of Mother Nature. It is naturally endowed with the magical beauty of caves dating back millions of years ago alongside picturesque beaches with stretchy white sands and deep recesses of dark green jungles.

The scenery

Nhat Le Beach: Nhat Le Beach is serene  with white sand and sapphire blue waves roaring onshore, making it an ideal destination for your vacation. Nhat Le is natural  and dreamlike, bringing you  relaxing moments for listening to the wind and letting go of sorrow. 

Mother Suot Monument: Mother Suot is a heroine figure of Dong Hoi City, who rode the soldiers across Nhat Le River despite incessant raids of bombardments during the Vietnam War. The Magnificent Mother Suot Monument is held in high regard among the locals.

Quang Phu Sand Dunes: Like a stretchy crescent sash that welcomes foreign footsteps, these undulating sand dunes resemble ripples of the high sea as if they are competing with their bubbling counterparts on Quang Phu Sea ahead.

Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park: Around 50 km northwest of  Dong Hoi is Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park. It’s a World Natural Heritage that carries  invaluable geological superlatives, including  limestone creations that have survived  millions of years and over 300 caves, not to mention underground rivers, streams and waterfalls. Finest caves here include Son Doong Cave, the Paradise Grotto or Tien Son Grotto…

Son Doong Cave: Son Doong is the largest natural cave of the world, hosting countless amusing stalactites and a whole perennial jungle deep within its recess. As the sunlight manages to get in, stalagmites shine and glint, fascinating any witness. The cave is so large that it is reportedly capable of accommodating three large jets equidistantly at its widest point.

Cuisine

Dong Hoi is the place to be for avid fans of fresh and nutritious seafood: shrimps, oysters, scallops, clams, rays, greater yellowtails, silver pomfrets or squids… Shrimps and scallops are steamed while fish is  wrapped in foil and grilled. Such simple recipes preserve their irresistibly sweet and original  taste. When it comes to seafood, another treat is Bombay duck, sweet and sour Bombay duck hotpot that has been regularly mentioned in many stories . 
Tourists should not miss out, besides seafood, its local snacks: soupy congee, oyster porridge, filtered rice cakes and bèo cakes… A bowl of soupy congee combines nutritious, flaky snakehead fish, prawns, minced lean pork, some spring onions, parsleys and deep fried nem rolls. Nem rolls, colloquially called ram, are made of minced pork, grated wood  ear (mộc nhĩ), and condiments, then deep fried. The crispy, crunchy taste of nem rolls goes well with mild dipping sauce and sparks a mini palate boom on your tongue.

Activities

In addition to sea swimming  and visits to historical and cultural sites in Dong Hoi, exploratory tours are perhaps the most anticipated .
Let’s make a plan to sneak in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, trek through jungles, venture into caves, kayak, watch flamingos and peacocks at the Wind Waterfall – Botanical Garden, etc. Son Doong is the world’s largest natural cave, hence the journey is full of tough challenges, so it is recommended that you diligently train and register way in advance. Visitors can also drop in other caves such as the Paradise Grotto, the Dark Cave or Tu Lan Cave…
After a long day of natural exploration, head for Chay Lap Underwater Sport Center to rest and join some moderate exercises such as swimming, coracle rides and partying…

Transportation

Passengers will take a flight to Dong Hoi and arrive at Dong Hoi Airport, around 6km north of the city center and taking 15 to 20 minutes to commute. Passengers may opt for motorbike, taxi or bus. A taxi hailed at the terminal gate charges on average VND120,000 to 200,000/ride. Those who want to hail a motorbike must walk 50m further from the terminal gate and are charged VND35,000 to 40,000/ride. There is no airport shuttle bus, so passengers are required to travel 1km further from the gate to the bus stop of B1 Route (Dong Hoi – Ba Don), B2 (Dong Hoi – Kien Giang) or B4 (Dong Hoi – Phong Nha).

Useful tips

  • Travel time June to August

  • Wi-fi 3G/4G

  • Visa Visa exemption for temporary residence of maximum 15 days from the date of entry

  • Contact information

  • Language Vietnamese and English

Flight information

Vietnam Airlines operate a variety of flights to Dong Hoi at various frequencies and competitive fares to meet both business and leisurely travel demands. Flights arrive at Dong Hoi Airport at a frequency of 1 flight/day from Hanoi and from 1 to 2 flight/day from Ho Chi Minh City. Interested passengers should directly search for best ticket fares here.

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