Central Vietnam North
Between the grandiose Truong Son mountains and the deep blue ocean, one of the narrowest strips of land in the country, accomodating four provinces
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Area: 16,371 sq. km
Population: 2,892,000
Capital: Vinh
A large province in the central part of Vietnam, Nghe An has several historical and natural tourist attractions, including:
Birthplace
of President Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh was born and
spent his early years in Chua Village. At the age of 11 he moved nearby
to Sen Village (also called Kim Lien). His childhood home made of wood
and bamboo still stands today with a few original pieces of furniture
and other artefacts.
Hoang Thi
Loan's Tomb
Hoang Thi Loan was Ho Chi Minh's mother. She is buried at Dong Tranh Mountain.
Cua Lo Beach
A beautiful sandy beach that stretches 10 km. Once a haven for wealthy
French expatriates, now a popular seaside resort. Located 18 km from Vinh.
Area: 6,054 sq. km
Population: 1,279,000
Capital: Ha Tinh
Sandwiched between Nghe An and Quang Binh provinces, Ha Tinh Province shares a border with Laos and has 137 km of coastline with many nice beaches.
Ke Go Lake
A beautiful man-made lake 30 km long surrounded by hills and mountains.
Tourists come to swim, hike, fish and enjoy the scenery.
Thien Cam
Mountain
Once a summer resort built by the French, this area is growing in popularity
again. Nearby is the Yen Lac Pagoda, a national monument originally built
in the 13th century.
Hong Linh
Mountains
Birthplace of the famous Vietnamese poet, Nguyen Du. There are 99 peaks
and around 100 pagodas, shrines and temples.
Dong Loc
Road Junction
An intersection of roads that was once a Vietnamese supply line and the
target of over 2,000 air bombardments during the war against the U.S.
Using only shovels and hoes, a unit of ten young women volunteers patched
up the bomb craters and kept the roads open. Tragically they were killed
in an air attack, and now a monument stands at the junction commemorating
them.
Area: 7,984 sq. km
Population: 1,048,000
Capital Town: Dong Hoi
Quang Binh Province is situated in Central Vietnam and is the narrowest part of the country, with a coastline that stretches 126 km long. Famous sites include:
Phong Nha
Caves
An elaborate and magical cave system set in a region of limestone mountains
about 50 km from Dong Hoi. There are 14 caves, which are among the deepest
in the world at 4,500m. The world's longest underground river winds through
them. There is a beautiful underground lake and magnificent stalactites
and stalagmites.
Quang Binh
Border Gate
Built in 1630 to protect the remote capital of Phu Xuan of the Nguyen
dynasty. Its porch and walls have been restored to the original design.
Nhat Le Beach
A splendid and popular beach only 2 km from Dong Hoi. Nearby is Bau Tro,
the site of an archaeological discovery in 1923 of primitive Stone Age
people from 5,000 years ago.
Area: 4,588 sq. km
Population: 581,000
Capital: Dong Ha
Located in Central Vietnam near Laos and Thailand, Quang Tri Province was the site of many fierce battles during the war with the U.S. Here are some key tourist attractions:
Quang
Tri Citadel
Built in 1824 by King Minh Mang to house the town palace. The King worshipped
here, gave out promotions and celebrated festivals. Most of the Citadel
was destroyed in 1972 during the war with the U.S. after thousands of
tons of bombs rained down on Liberation Army forces who had seized it
from Saigon troops. Today, only vestiges of the thick brick walls remain,
standing as a silent memorial to the many dead.
Vinh Moc
Tunnels
Following heavy U.S. bombardments in June 1965, villagers of Vinh Moc
began digging shelters beneath their houses. Then they joined with their
neighbors to create a web of tunnels, some as deep as 23m underground.
Every household was entitled to 4 m2. There were also public facilities,
such as meeting rooms, art performance room, and a clinic where 17 babies
were born.
Truong
Son Cemetery
The final resting place of over 10,000 soldiers killed during the war
with the U.S. A group of monuments commemorates the dead. The 106-hectare
cemetery is located around 13 km from Dong Ha.
Hien Luong
Bridge
Built out of steel by the French in 1950. The bridge spans the Ben Hai
River, which runs 100 km through the Truong Son Mountains to the sea.
Cua Tung
Beach
A pleasant beach with powdery sand, shimmering water and gentle breezes.
It is located near the mouth of the Ben Hai River.