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Q
uang Binh province has been
blessed by Mother Nature
with forests, rivers and a
stunning coastline. History
has been less kind, but this battle-hard-
ened province and long-impoverished
land is now making the most of its
natural assets and emerging as one of
Vietnam’s most talked about up-and-
coming tourist destinations.
Ten years ago, Dong Hoi, the capi-
tal town of Quang Binh province, was
a poor place. The province was well
off the beaten track. There were a few
state-owned guesthouses equipped
with poor furniture and facilities; these
places seldom saw custom from travel-
lers, instead, they were frequented
by officials of state authorities and
companies.
It’s now quick to get to Dong Hoi
from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City by air.
Railways and road infrastructure have
been upgraded to make trips more con-
venient. So, many more tourists can
explore the wonderful landscapes as
well as rich cultural and historical sites
along the route.
The province has strong historical
links, being the homeland of General
Vo Nguyen Giap whose tomb is located
on the beautiful Swiftlet Island. It is also
home to sections of the legendary Ho
Chi Minh Trail.
After visiting Vietnam’s national
hero, a heady mix of beaches, historical
sites and cultural landscapes (in particu-
lar the World Natural Heritage Site of
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park) are
waiting for tourists. The province has
also tempted investors to set up stun-
ning resorts, which in turn are luring
more well-heeled tourists from Hanoi,
Ho Chi Minh City and beyond.
The caves in Phong Nha-Ke Bang
are the province’s greatest attrac-
tion. A heritage site since 2003, the
remarkable karst landscape is home
to some of the world’s longest and
largest caves and underground river
systems. Many have only been par-
tially explored, while some are already
open to tourism.
There is one obvious main attrac-
tion in Phong Nha-Ke Bang - the incred-
ible and bewitching Thien Duong Cave,
which opened to tourists four years
ago. Acclaimed by the British Royal Cave
Association as “the most beautiful cave
in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang area,” Thien
Duong stretches 31.4km in length and
is home to stunning stalagmites and
timeout
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HERITAGE
CORNER
With the recent appearance of more and more luxu-
rious tourism products such as helicopter tours, the
central province of Quang Binh is emerging as an
alternative destination for high-end travelers looking
for stunning beaches, top-notch resorts, and UN-
ESCO world nature heritage sites.
Duc Hanh
reports
TOURISM