Quang Binh

Quang Binh Province is in the north central coast in Vietnam and well known with Dong Hoi city and National Park Phong Nha – Ke Bang, also the famous cave called Phong Nha. Located far from Ha Noi Capital about 600km, far from Ho Chi Minh City about 1.266km and far from Da Nang about 300km, Quang Binh is impressvie to all people because of peaceful life that many people dream of.

How to get in

From Ha Noi: 

As mentioned above, Quang Binh Province is far from Ha Noi about 600km. This is so long road for transfer but it is worthy to you to try beacause the road is so attractive with wonderful sightseeings from the endless fields and green glasses along.

For coming in Quang Binh fastly, you can book a flight ticket with the time flying about an hour and 30 minutes and the arrival airport located in Dong Hoi City.

If not you can book a train ticket from Ha Noi with moving in 9 hours. In the case that you get a trip by car or coach, you will spend 12 hours for transfer.

You can book ticket from the coaches as Hoang Long in Luong Yen Station in 03 Nguyen Khoai Street in Hai Ba Trung District, Dung Hong Coach in 381 in Pho Vong in Ha Ba Trung District, Dong Hien Coach in 281 Doi Can, Cau Giay District, ect.

From Ho Chi Minh City:

You can take a flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Hoi City in Quang Binh with flying time about an hour and 35 minutes.

For the train from Ho Chi Minh City to Quang Binh, you will spend 22 hours. You can book the train ticket in Sai Gon station in 01 Nguyen Thong Street in District 3 that not far from the center of the city.

In the case you love to transfer by car, you can book ticket in some coaches as Hung Long in Mien Dong Station in 292 Dinh Bo Linh Street in Binh Thanh district or some other coaches as An Binh, Xuan Tien, Song Gianh in Mien Dong Station also. The time for transfer by car is long. It takes you about 20 hours.

From Da Nang:

You can take a train or bus for transfer to Quang Binh. The train time from Da Nang to Quang Binh is about 7 hours, you can book train ticket in Da Nang Station in 202 Hai Phong Street in Da Nang City. For Transfer by bus or coaches, it takes you about 7 to 8 hours too. You can use the service of Hoang Long Coach that located in 161 Ton Duc Thang Street in Cam Le Ward, Da Nang City.

From Nha Trang:

Quang Binh is far from Nha Trang about 800km and more, so you can takes a train or coach for your transfer from here. If you take a train, the train time for transfer is about 16 hours while the coach time takes you about 15 hours. To book the train ticket, you should come to Nha Trang Station in 17 Thai Nguyen Str. in Phuoc Tan District and in the case that you love to transfer by coach, you can book ticket at Hoang Long office in 42 Cai Lo Tuyen Str., Dien Khanh District in Khanh Hoa.

Go around

Quang Binh is a rich city of landscapes so you can use different means for visiting. In the center of Dong Hoi City, you can take a bike, a motobike or taxi or bus for short trips. You have to use car in the case you love to visit the districts and cities far from Dong Hoi City. 

There are some information that you may concern:

For transfer:

 You may rent a motobike or bike, car  in Anh Duong Company in 85 Ly Thuong Kiet Str. in Dong Hoi or rent a car in Ha Chi Company in Loc Ninh in Dong Hoi. The taxi for your transfer may be Mai Linh Taxi – Tel: 0523 858585, Tien Sa Taxi – Tel: 0523 797979 or Quang Binh Taxi – Tel: 0523 828282

For destinations:

Natural landscapes: you can visit Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park with the springs, caves in which there are very famous cave Phong Nha Cave and Thien Duong Cave. If you love to disvocer the wonderful of waterfall, you should come to visit Tam Lu Waterful in        Truong Son Commune in Quang Ninh district. Beside there is a lot of caves in this province as Len Cave in Dong Hoa Commune in Tuyen Hoa District, Minh Cam cave in Tuyen Hoa too.

Beaches: you can find out the wonderful time in the nice beaches in Dong Hoi as Nhat Le Beach in Dong Hoi City, Da Nhay Beach in Bo Trach District, Bao Ninh Beach in Bao Ninh District. There is some resorts may you love to stay for the holiday.

Historical Site: Quang Binh is one of the province that owns many historical sites because it played very important role the time war in Vietnam. Especially there is the very famous road in the war time named Truong Son and called Ho Chi Minh Trail now. That is the reason why Quang Binh has its importans historical sites that many people concern. If you love to discover the historcal sites here you can visit some places as the caves in Hoa Thanh Commune in Hoa Tien District, the main points in 12A Road in Minh Hoa District, Van La Tunnel in Quang Ninh District, Ngu Thuy Battle in Le Thuy District,  to know more about the history relating to the war that happned. 

Other sites: there are many sites in Quang Binh that you can explore as Bau Tro – a very famous archaeological site in Quang Binh, Than Dinh Mountain in Quang Ninh District, Cha Lo – Heaven Gate in Minh Hoa District, ect.

The weather

There is the tropical monsoon climate in Quang Binh and this area is effected by the climate both from the North and the South of the country. There are two seasons in Quang Binh with the rain time from September to March and the dry season from April to August. The best time for you to visit Quang Binh is in December to March because it is not rain so much also not to hot.

Food and drink

For food: you can taste some special dishes in Quang Binh as Chao Canh ( porridge soup), Chao Hau ( oyster porridge), Canh chua Ca nuc ( pompano sour soup), Canh Nam tram ( Melaleuca mushroom soup), Banh canh Ba Don ( a type of noodle in Ba Don), Lau ca khoai (Bumalo hot pot) and some type of cakes as Banh xeo gao lut (brown rice pancakes), Banh beo tom chay ( small steamed rice cake with shrimps), Banh khoai ( a type of rice pancake) ect.

There are some famous restaurant in Quang Binh that you may concern as Hai Yen Restaurant, Quoc Dung Restaurant, Van Tue Restaurant, Phu Cuong Restaurant,..located in Truong Phap Street in Dong Hoi city. You also find out some floating restaurant here like Bien Dong, Hai Duong, Son Hanh, Hai Dang where serve seafood and some specialities of Quang Binh people.

For drink: in Quang Binh, there are two type of special drinks as Ruou can Macoong ( Macoong wine) and Ruou den ( a type of alcohol that soaked with sea snakes). If you come to have your meals in the local restaurant, you can ask for some drink of Ruou can Macoon or Ruou den. Beside, you can find out other popular drink like local alcohol, wine and beers here.

Some addresses that serve your drinking as Emperor Bar in Nguyen Huu Canh Str., Club N. Phuong Dong in 179 Ly Thuong Kiet Str., Coco’s Coffe Bar Classic in Nguyen Huu Canh Str., Bar – Café Thach Thao in 44 Nguyen Trai Str., and some other bars and clubs in Dong Hoi City.

Staying

Quang Binh has its some famous destination as Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park and some nice beaches as Nhat Le Beach, Da Nhay Beach, Bao Ninh Beach so there are some great resorts, hotels and homestay for your staying.

The list of hotels and resort for your reference:

• Sunspa Resort: 4*, My Canh Str., Bao Ninh Commune, Dong Hoi City; Tel: 0523 84299
• Sai Gon Quang Binh: 4*, 20 Quach Xuan Ky Str., Dong Hoi City; Tel: 0523 822 27
• Muong Thanh: 4*, 119 Truong Phap Str., Dong Hoi City; Tel: 0523 811 666
• Tan Binh: 3*, 04 Le Van Huu Str., Dong Hoi City ; Tel : 0523 812 999
• Chay Lap Homestay: Chay Lap Village, Phuc Trach Commune, Bo Trach District
• Phong Nha Farmstay: Hoa Son Village, Cu Nam Commune, Bo Trach District.  

Shopping

For your shopping in Quang Binh, there are some markets and business center in Dong Hoi City as Tuan Viet in 01 Me Suot Str., Hieu Hang Super Market in 27 Nguyen Huu Canh Str., The Anh Super Market in 230 Ly Thuong Kiet Str. and Thai Hau Super Market in Ba Don Town, Dong Hoi Market in Me Suot Str., Ba Don Market that located in the north of Quang Binh Province. In the case that you love to have some souvenirs, you can find out some shops as Clem’s in 18 Duong Van An Str., Nhat Tam Y Shop in 02 Quach Xuan Ky Str., Shop No 47 in 47 Huu Nghi Str., in Dong Hoi City.

Culture, Holidays and people

Quang Binh people’s are so friendly and knid. They can share with you the best moment of the peaceful life in the wonderful countryside. There are some special features in the culture in the north central coast that may you love to discover. It is not so quite and not to busy or noisy, all things are so gently in the enjoynable life without so much discomforts.

Relating to the festivals in Quang Binh, if you come here in September 2^nd, you have chance to join the big festival called Boat Racing Festival that happened in Kien Giang River. In the case you come here in January, there is the festival of Macoong People. This is an exciting moment for you to discover their culture.