Quang Binh tourism is a journey to the sunny and windy piece, where there are many famous scenic spots. It is blessed by nature with a series of caves that fascinate young adventurers and blue beaches stretching with fine white sand. 

1. Attractions in Quang Binh Province

Attractions in Quang Binh Province

Yes, few places in Vietnam concentrate as many beautiful landscapes and diverse terrains as Quang Binh.

There are magnificent caves in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park and pristine beaches such as Nhat Le, Da Nhay, Bao Ninh Beach. River systems combined with limestone create strange water of jade green at Nuoc Mooc or Chay River. Each place gives you a very different experience.

 

In addition, Quang Binh also has historical sites, attractive spiritual tourist attractions: Vung Chua, Temple of Mother Goddess Lieu Hanh, Hoang Phuc Pagoda.

• Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park: Phong Nha, Tien Son, Heaven Caves, Chay River - Dark Cave, Mooc Springs, Wind Waterfall - Botanic Gardens, Tam Co Cave (The cave of eight girls), the cave of swallow, the world's most significant Son Doong Cave, Ozo Park
• Dong Hoi City: Quang Binh Quan, Tam Toa Church, Mother Suot Monument, Quang Phu Sand Dunes, Dong Hoi Citadel, Dong Hoi food night market
• The attractions in the North of Quang Binh: Vung Chua - Dao Yen Island (offering incense), Ngang Pass, Princess Lieu Hanh Temple, Canh Duong mural village, Da Nhay Beach
• Attractions in the South of Quang Binh: Bang Hot Spring, Hoang Phuc Pagoda, General Vo Nguyen Giap Memorial House, Than Dinh Mountain, Truong Son Martyrs Memorial Temple, Long Dai Ferry Terminal, Tomb Ceremony of Nguyen Huu Canh

Means of transport to Quang Binh

1. From Hanoi ⇔ Dong Hoi, Quang Binh
2. From Ho Chi Minh ⇔ Dong Hoi, Quang Binh
3. From Da Nang & Hue ⇔ Dong Hoi, Quang Binh

You are wondering whether to come here by train, by plane or by car. It would help if you chose the one reasonable and economical, depending on where you are. Your starting position significantly affects the choice of route to Quang Binh, so orient your way before carrying your backpack.

We want to suggest the most reasonable transportation options to travel to Quang Binh below:

From Hanoi ⇔ Dong Hoi, Quang Binh

• By plane:
  • Vietnam Airlines: round trip VN8591 departs at 07:15AM & VN8593 returns at 14:25PM, 55 minute flight.
  • Bamboo Airways: round trip QH1241 <=> QH1242 leaving 16:55, returning 17:55, 1-hour flight (Bamboo belongs to FLC Group, just born but highly appreciated, just behind Vietnam Airlines)
  • Vietjet Air has a route but has stopped flying now.
  • Jetstar: the airline has a route, but sometimes it is not, so check carefully before booking.
• By train: It takes about 10 hours. Contact Hanoi station at 120 Le Duan Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Or order online via website:  dsvn.vn
  • From Hanoi, you should choose SE1, SE3, or SE19 in the afternoon and reach Quang Binh Province the following day.
  • To go back to Hanoi, you should choose SE2 or SE8 in the evening and stop in the morning.
• By cars with beds: About 9 hours:
  • Mrs.Huong car (0941 297 888)
  • Hung Long car (0242 21 21 855)

From Ho Chi Minh ⇔ Dong Hoi, Quang Binh

• By plane:
  • • Bamboo Airways: round trip QH1142 from Saigon at 05:55 PM, QH1143 from Dong Hoi at 08:10 PM, flight time 1h35 minutes, new route
    • Vietnam Airlines: Airbus 321 VN1400 departs at 06:25AM & VN1401 returns at 08:40AM.
    • Vietjet Air: Airbus 321 VJ260 flight departs at 3:10 PM & VJ261 returns at 5:20 PM daily.
    • Jetstar: low-cost airline departs and returns daily, flight BL516 departs at 17:55PM & BL517 at 20:05AM returns.
    • Book early and hunt for cheap tickets.
  • By train: long distance, long travel time, not recommended
  • By car: long distance, long time to travel, not recommended
  • Of course, if you have a lot of time and want to save money, you can contact Saigon Railway Station and bus operators such as Hoang Long, Mai Linh, Xuan Truyen at the Mien Dong bus station to buy tickets for only 500000 - 600000 VND (21,77$ - 26,134)

From Da Nang & Hue ⇔ Dong Hoi, Quang Binh

• Airplane: no flight path.
• By train: About 6 hours through Hai Van Pass, which is very beautiful:
  • From Da Nang and Hue, you should choose SE8 or SE6.
  • To go back, you should choose SE5 or SE7.
• By cars with beds: About 5 hours, going through Hai Van Tunnel: 
  • Hai Ha bus company (0905 619 619) goes from Da Nang 10:45AM, 14:00AM and 16:30AM, returning from Dong Hoi 05:15AM, 07:00AM and 21:00AM daily.
  • Trung Tin bus company (0982 022 681) goes from Da Nang 05:30AM 60:00AM 07:00AM back from Dong Hoi 12:00AM, 12:30AM and 13:00PM daily.
  • Hanh Luyen bus company (0983 796 310) from Da Nang 10:00 AM returning from Dong Hoi 9:00 PM.
  • Nam Ha bus company (0973 083 085) goes from Da Nang 6:00 PM back from Dong Hoi 06:00 AM.

Time to visit Quang Binh Province

Like other places in the Central region, Quang Binh also has two distinct seasons: the dry season from April to August and the rainy season from September to March next year.

The rainy season is mainly in September, October, and November. Especially to avoid storms, you should not come to Quang Binh in October. See the weather forecast and temperature in advance to schedule and dress appropriately.

Each season will have different typical natural scenes, so you should choose the correct time to make your trip to Quang Binh convenient.

If you want to swim and fully enjoy the beauty of the narrowest strip of land in Vietnam without worrying about the weather, the summer between March and late August is the ideal time. At this time, Quang Binh is hot, but the sea also helps the climate somewhat cooler. Do not forget to prepare sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses.

 

The rainy season is also winter in Quang Binh. Rain usually lasts from September to November. From December to March, winter starts, and it is cool, sometimes with cold air. Prepare warm clothes and umbrellas.

During this time, the attractions are not overloaded and bustling like in the summer. Also, Quang Binh tourist attractions often have promotions and discounts.

In particular, there are unique festivals in Quang Binh that you can go on to immerse yourself in the exciting atmosphere of the celebrations:

• Minh Hoa March Full Moon Festival: Takes place on the full moon day of March (lunar calendar) every year in Minh Hoa district, a border district in the western highlands of Quang Binh. The festival has a series of beautiful activities. Especially you can participate in the love market where many young men and women fall in love with each other.
• Dong Hoi Culture and Tourism Week: During the holidays of April 30 and May 1 with a series of exciting festivals, cultural-artistic, physical-sports activities.
• Traditional Boat Racing Festival and Son River Carp Contest: Held at Phong Nha Ke Bang tourist center in Bo Trach district, taking place on April 30 and May 1
• Festival cave in Phong Nha -Ke Bang: Festival of Quang Binh cave is held every two years. Usually, it takes place within one month, from July 20 to August 20. On this occasion, tickets to Phong Nha Ke Bang attractions will be discounted from 10% to 20%.
• Le Thuy Traditional Boat Racing Festival: Takes place on National Day September 2 every year. It is one of the country's oldest and largest boat racing festivals. The Ministry of Culture - Sports - Tourism has recognized it as a national intangible cultural heritage.

What to eat during Quang Binh

On Quang Binh tourism, you will enjoy fresh seafood sold on Truong Phap Street. Do not miss eating local dishes such as Bot Loc Cake, Banh Xeo Cake, Eel noodles, Oyster porridge, and Khoai Fish Hot Pot.

Fresh seafood in Quang Binh

Many seafood plates such as shrimp, fish, clam, snail grilled, steamed, boiled so that you can freely choose at restaurants, sidewalk eateries on Nhat Le Beach, Bao Ninh Beach, Quang Phu Beach.

Especially, squid in Quang Binh is considered the best in Vietnam. The squid is very thick and sweet due to the high salinity of Quang Binh's sea.

Do not forget to enjoy the dishes made from squid, such as grilled squid, steamed squid, one-sun squid, fried squid, sweet and sour mango squeeze. The local cooks are very gentle and hospitable.

Rice cake soup

You may be surprised to imagine this dish by the name because it is not cooked with rice grains like other porridges but from rice flour. Flour is mixed and then thinly sliced ​​and cut into fibers, then cooked. It is served with shrimp, pork ribs, fish, or crab.

Address of some restaurants in Dong Hoi City:

• Suong Hong restaurant: 38 Nguyen Trai, Hai Dinh ward, Dong Hoi City
• Ba Hong restaurant: 51 Nguyen Huu Canh Street, Dong Hoi City 
• Gia Bao restaurant: 8 Ly Thuong Kiet, Dong Hoi City
• O Hanh restaurant: 04 Le Thanh Dong, Dong Hoi City
• The restaurant at 46 Dong Hai, Dong Hoi City
• The restaurant at 75 Le Quy Don Street, Dong Hoi City
• The restaurant 10 Nguyen Truong To Street, Dong Hoi City
• The restaurant at 02 Tran Bang Can, next to the gate of Chu Van An elementary school
• Quang Phu restaurant behind Quang Phu market
• Loc Dai Bridge porridge restaurant, Dong Hoi city

Oyster porridge

Oyster porridge is made from oysters taken from Nhat Le River. Oysters are stir-fried with spices such as onions, chili, pepper, and salt to absorb.

In Dong Hoi city, you can eat at Thuy Duong or Ms. Ngang restaurant. In addition to the specialty of oyster porridge, there is also a delicious dish of field eel.

If you want to enjoy a traditional bowl of oyster porridge, you must go to the restaurants in Quan Hau town. They are about 7km south of Dong Hoi city along National Highway 1A.

Addresses of some Quang Binh oyster porridge restaurants:

• Thuy Duong restaurant: Phan Boi Chau Street, Dong Hoi City
• Restaurant Thuy Duong 2: Phan Boi Chau Street, Dong Hoi City
• Ms. Ngang's restaurant: 18 Hoang Dieu, Dong Hoi City
• Nghe Tam Restaurant: Sub-area 5, Quan Hau TT, Quang Ninh district
• Hoa Huong Restaurant: Sub-area 4, Quan Hau Center, Quang Ninh district. 
• Quan Sung Restaurant: Quan Hau town, Quang Ninh district
• O Mai restaurant: National Highway 1A, Quan Hau town, Quang Ninh district
• Thao Nguyen restaurant: 18 National Highway 1A, Quan Hau town, Quang Ninh District

Field eel porridge in Quang Binh

Eel porridge is made from field eel, ensuring freshness, fat, tough meat, and sweetness after soaking the spices. They are not being crushed, intact. When eaten, it is sweet, soft with the spicy taste of compress, chili, pepper, and a little yellow iridescent color of turmeric.

Everything seems to blend to make dinners unforgettable. In addition to eel porridge, the restaurants also have eel soup, eel noodles, eel fried.

Address of some restaurants eating eel porridge in Quang Binh:

• Thuy Duong restaurant: Phan Boi Chau Street, Dong Hoi city
• Restaurant Thuy Duong 2: Phan Boi Chau Street, Dong Hoi city 
• Ms. Ngang's restaurant: 18 Hoang Dieu, Dong Hoi city
• Eel porridge from Nghe An province: Phan Boi Chau street, Dong Hoi city

Snakehead fish noodle

Snakehead fish noodle is a daily dish of local people. The plate is quite simple but has a unique flavor. 

The main ingredient to make this dish is still brown rice flour. The rice is soaked enough to grind into a powder, and the dough is well kneaded. The cook pounds the flour until two or three o'clock in the morning until tight, chewy.

The maker will cut the dough into pieces, use a glass bottle to roll the dough, cut it into small pieces, and drop it in boiled water. Every time you travel to Quang Binh, try this unique dish.

Meanwhile, the snakehead fish, after cleaning, is steamed. Then, the cook uses his hands to separate the fish meat and marinate it in fish sauce, onions, pepper, and chili for aroma. The fish meat will be filtered off the bones, kept separate, and then put in the bowl of soup when you order.

Depending on each person's taste, you guys can add a little spicy chili powder, finely chopped onions, pepper.

Trying a bowl of porridge soup, you will feel the flexible taste of the brown rice-colored red rice porridge. Each piece of snakehead fish is crispy, fragrant, along with the sweet and tender broth.

 

Address of some restaurants:

• The restaurant at 76 Ton Duc Thang, Dong Hoi City
• Nguyen Thai Hoc Street next to Nam Ly Kindergarten, Dong Hoi City
• The intersection of Ha Huy Tap and Hoang Dieu streets, Dong Hoi city
• Ngo Gia Tu Street, Dong Hoi City

Bot Loc Cake: Bot Loc Cake is a culinary product you should not miss when coming to Quang Binh.

Nam Cake

When it's cold, I will order a hot plate of Nam Cake. It is attractive because of the smoothness of rice flour, the rich taste of the filling mixed in the dipping sauce, with the spicy flavor.

Address of restaurants in Dong Hoi City:

• Me Xuan restaurant: 15 Le Thanh Dong street, Dong Hoi city
• Hoai Huong restaurant: Le Thanh Dong street, Dong Hoi city
• Thai restaurant: 13 Dong Hai, Dong Hoi City
• Aunt Thuy's restaurant: 11 Thanh Nien, Dong Hoi City

Banh Xeo Cake

While enjoying these cakes in Quang Binh, tourists will feel the hot mingles with the aroma of rice, cool vegetables, greasy shrimps, pork liver, dipping sauce, peanuts.

Among the restaurants, Tu Quy Cake is the oldest and most famous one.

 

Address of some delicious cake restaurants in Dong Hoi:

• Tu Quy Restaurant, 17 Co Tam, Dong Hoi City
• Tu Quy Restaurant, Garden 63 Truong Phap, Dong Hoi City
• Ly Ly Restaurant, 11A Co Tam, Dong Hoi city
• Co Nam Restaurant, 13 Tran Hung Dao, Dong Hoi City
• Thuy Phuong's Restaurant, 09 Co Tam, Dong Hoi City

Son River Fish

Whitefish meat is sweet with its taste. It is processed into many delicious and nutritious dishes from steaming, braised, to grilled and has become a specialty bearing the brand name of the area.

Going to any restaurant in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, diners can order and enjoy the taste of this fish dish.

In addition, do not forget to enjoy the delicious specialties here such as river shrimp, stream fish, garden chicken, Ban pork, venison, bamboo shoots.

How to travel in Quang Binh?

Motorbike:

If you want to be like a backpacker, you can rent a motorbike at an affordable price of 150,000 VND/car/day (6,53$). You can contact the hotel reception to book and deliver it to you anywhere in Dong Hoi.

Suppose you want to go to Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park by motorbike. In that case, you need to be healthy because the road is long, dangerous and more importantly, you must obey traffic laws.

It is best to prepare car repair tools so that you can repair your car if there is an accident because this place is less populated.

Tourist electric vehicle:

Suppose you go around the points in Dong Hoi city. In that case, the tourist electric vehicle is an exciting choice for you to enjoy the scenery while helping to protect the environment. Contact the hotel reception.

Car rental service:

Also, you can use the Quang Binh car rental service, a 4- or 7-seat car will save time, and you can visit two caves (Phong Nha cave, Thien Duong cave). In one day, the rental price of a 4-seater and 7-seater car is about 1000000 VND (43,54$), you can contact 0232 652 8868 to book a car, and the driver will schedule the same car to pick you up at the hotel or anywhere in Dong Hoi.

Ticket price for sightseeing in Quang Binh Province

For those of you who want to travel to Quang Binh on your own or a backpacking trip, you should know some information about ticket prices:

• Phong Nha Cave: 120,000 - 150,000 VND (5,23$ - 6,53$)
• Tien Son Cave: 65,000 - 80,000 VND (2,83$ - 3,48$)
• Chay River – Dark Cave: 299,000 - 450,000 VND (13,02$ - 19,59$)
• Paradise Cave: 200,000 - 250,000 VND (8,71$ - 10,89$)
• Mooc Springs: 110,000 - 180,000 VND (4,79$ - 7,84$)
• Ozo Park: 100,000 - 200,000 VND (4,35$ - 8,71$)
• Botanical Garden: 20,000 - 40,000 VND (0,87$ - 1,74$)

 

Conditions for applying prices at Quang Binh tourist attractions:

• Paradise Cave: Children under 1.1m are free of charge, children from 1.1m - 1.3m tall apply the 50% child price bracket, and over 1.3m are charged as adults.
• Phong Nha & Tien Son Caves: Children under 1.1m are free of charge; from 1.1m to 1.3m charge 50% of adult tickets.
• Chay River - Dark Cave: No zip-line swing is held for children under 1.4m tall; children from 1.4m and above are like adults.
• Mooc Spring: Under 1.3m high, free admission.
• Ozo Park: Children from 1m - 1.4m: 100,000 VND/child, Children under 1m: free