Travel to Quang Binh in the morning, where to go and what to do to have the most enjoyable experiences? Here are eight suggestions from Wanderlust Tips.
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1. TRA ANG CAVE – DISCOVER A GREEN AND COOL UNDERGROUND RIVER SYSTEM AND ITS PRISTINE STALACTITES
Tra Ang Cave (at km17, Quyet Thang Road No. 20) with a depth of 667 meters collects water from Va Cave, Son Doong Cave and En Cave and funnels it into Tra Ang Stream, which is over 4 kilometres long. It is a cave with a green and cool underground river system. Its pristine stalactites are diverse in structure with various shapes and colours. In front of the cave, there is a natural sand beach and the beautiful Tra Ang Stream.
♦ Top tips: Tourists can join a Tra Ang Cave day tour departing from Phong Nha. Price: VND1,650,000/person.
♦ Must see: If you have more time, you can join a 2 days and 1 night tour to explore both Tra Ang and Hamad Valley. Hamad Valley has beautiful natural landscapes and an abundant vegetation cover with high biological diversity. Price: VND 4,700,000/person.
♦ Cuisine: This area is quite secluded and doesnot have many tourist services so you should bring your own food and drinks.
2. SURVIVAL VALLEY – AQUARIUM PALACE CAVE
This landscape belongs to Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park. Sinh Ton Survival Valley has many types of terrain: limestone mountain, non-karst topography, caves and grottos and primeval forest and it is a kingdom of rare birds. Aquarium Palace Cave is in the middle of Survival Valley and features an exotic shade of blue in the water that until today explorers cannot fnd the origin of or reason for. Venturing further into the cave, it appears like an undersea palace with colourful and elegant stalactites.
♦ Top tips: Guests have many options when joining a tour to discover Sinh Ton Valley and Aquarium Palace Cave: 1 day tour: VND1,650,000/person or 2 days-1 night tour: VND4,700,000/person.
♦ Must see: If you have time, you can join the Rao Thuong – En Cave (2 days-1 night) tour from VND7,000,000/person, or a tour to conquer Son Doong – the world’s largest cave (5 days-4 nights) USD3,000/people.
♦ Cuisine: This area is quite secluded and does not have many tourist services so you should bring your own food and drinks.
3. VA CAVE & NUOC NUT CAVE – AN UNDERGROUND PARADISE
Va Cave has a unique stalactite system that seems to grow from the ground, with about 1,000 columns of relatively uniform size. The stalactite columns are precious, brittle and almost not to be found anywhere else in the world.Va Cave and Nuoc Nut Cave are part of the Son Doong cave system as can be seen in their shared water flow. In addition, these two caves have gorgeous stalactite and stalagmite formations. Some people even fnd that the stalactites in Hang Va are more beautiful than those in Son Doong Cave. You will be amazed when you set foot in the middle of this great scenery and experience this wonder of nature.
♦ Top tips: To discover Nuoc Nut Cave, tourists can take part in a one-day tour departing from Phong Nha. Price: VND2,400,000/person. If you want to explore Va Cave, you need to join a 2 days – 1 night tour at a price of VND8,000,000/person.
♦ Cuisine: This area is quite secluded and does not have many tourist services so you should bring your own food and drinks.
4. YEN PHU LAKE – FILMING LOCATION OF KONG: SKULL ISLAND
Yen Phu Lake is located in Trung Hoa Commune, Minh Hoa District, Quang Binh Province. This place has undulating rocks stretching over the water making for magical scenery in the early fog on the lush green lawn stretching far and there cows grazing grass. Film director Jordan Vogt-Roberts chose the impressive beauty of Yen Phu Lake as one of the settings for the famous blockbuster Kong: Skull Island.
♦ Top tips: Visitors can visit Yen Phu Lake and other famous places that appear in the hit movie like Chout (Mouse) Cave and Da Deo Pass (both in Tan Hoa Commune, Minh Hoa District). On 17thJune, Quang Binh Province has offcially put into operation the day tour: Yen Phu – Hoa Son – Ruc Mon Cave Tour.
♦ Cuisine: Bring food and drink for your exploration or return to Trung Hoa Commune Centre where you can fnd local stalls and restaurants.
5. VUNG CHUA – YEN ISLAND – VISIT THE TOMB OF GENERAL VO NGUYEN GIAP
Vung Chua – Yen Island is located in Tho Son Village, Quang Dong Commune, Quang Trach District. This is the resting place of General Vo Nguyen Giap (1911 – 2013) – The frst General of Vietnam’s People Army. In 1984, the New Encyclopaedia Britannica – one of the most extensive encyclopaedias in the world – voted General Vo Nguyen Giap as one of the 10 preeminent generals of the world. General Vo Nguyen Giap’s tomb is located in Mui Rong (Dragon Cape) opposite Yen Island.
♦ Top tips: The road to General Vo Nguyen Giap’s tomb has 103 steps, 103 apricot trees and 103 Phanera variegate trees representing the General’s age when he passed away.
♦ Must see: Ngang Pass, Bird Island (also known as Wind Island) 12 kilometres from the shore, where many rare species of birds converge.
♦ Cuisine: On National Highway 1A, in Quang Dong Commune, there are many restaurants such as Mountain Goat Binh Thuan Restaurant, Phuong Hoang Rice Restaurant, Thuc Vien Restaurant, Bencang Café & Food,…
6. U BO MOUNTAIN – DALAT OF QUANG BINH
U Bo Mountain is the highest peak in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang World Natural Heritage Site. The mountain is located in the middle of a jungle, so its atmosphere is fresh and cool all year round. At the top of the mountain, there is a 10-metre high tower, from where you can observe the beautiful scenery below. In addition, on the way, visitors also experience natural forest and thousands of ancient historical sites on Ho Chi Minh Road’s western branch.
♦ Top tips: To conquer the peak of U Bo you can go from Tra Ang intersection (on the Quyet Thang Road No. 20) then go along Ho Chi Minh Road’s western branch for about 40 kilometres, or you can go from the crossroads next to Phu Quy farm on Ho Chi Minh Road, Provincial Road 11 (eastern branch) for about 35 kilometres. There are day tours to visit U Bo Mountain with prices from VND1,400,000/person.
♦ Cuisine: There are not many services so bring food and drink when visiting U Bo Mountain.
7. THAN DINH MOUNTAIN – BEAUTIFUL SPIRITUAL TOURISM ATTRACTION
Than Dinh Mountain is located on Long Dai River, in Rao Da Village, Truong Xuan Commune, Quang Ninh District. To reach the top of the mountain, visitors must conquer more than 1,200 stone steps.
♦ Top tips: From Dong Hoi City, go south along Ho Chi Minh Road (eastern branch) for about 20 kilometres to An Ninh Commune, then turn right and travel along the road for about 8 kilometres, to arrive at the foot of Than Dinh Mountain. If travelling by waterway, take a boat from Nhat Le River or Kien Giang River through Long Dai Bridge to Truong Xuan Commune, then walk along the road for about 2 kilometres to reach Than Dinh Mountain.
♦ Cuisine: You can bring your own food or return to Dong Hoi City for a meal after visiting the mountain.
8. BANG MINERAL HOT SPRING – A PRECIOUS AND HEALTHY FLOW OF WATER
Bang Mineral Hot Springs belongs to the Kim Thuy Commune, Le Thuy District, and is around 60 kilometres Southwest of Dong Hoi City. There are wide green hills covering 70ha of pure and cool environment and wonderful landscapes. Most notable is a winding stream with spa water running endless lines, both opencast and mysterious. The spring has many pharmacological effects, considered rare and very good for the treatment of some diseases.
♦ Top tips: Bang Spring has not developed tourism so tourists have to visit this place on their own.
♦ Must see: Cultural and historical vestiges near Bang Spring: General Vo Nguyen Giap exhibition house, the tomb and temple of mandarin Nguyen Huu Canh, Headquarter of the Army Corp 559 Truong Son and Long Dai Ferry.
♦ Cuisine: Nguyet Ha Restaurant (Dinh Muoi, Gia Ninh, Quang Ninh), Que Huong Restaurant and Su Huong Restaurant (Nguyen Trai, Kien Giang Town, Le Thuy District).
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