July 19th, 2006
Quang Binh
Destinations:
- Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park - world natural heritage
Location: Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is located to the north of the majestic Truong Son Range in central Quang Binh Province.
Characteristics: Phong Nha - Ke Bang is ancient karst area of the highest significance and value in both Vietnam and the world.
- Bang Mineral Hot Spring
Location: Bang Mineral Hot Spring is located 60km south of Dong Hoi City, in Kim Thuy Commune, Le Thuy District, Quang Binh Province.
Characteristics: Bang Mineral Hot Spring has been recorded as the only hot water source in Vietnam with an on-spot temperature of 105oC.
- Quang Binh Gate
Location: Quang Binh Gate is situated in Dong Hoi City, Quang Binh Province.
Characteristics: Quang Binh Gate - an architectural construction with a basis of an artistic and historic value.
- Tien Son Grotto
Location: Tien Son Grotto lies in Phong Nha - Ke Bang tourist complex that comprises natural beauty-spots in Quang Binh Province.
Characteristics: The grotto looks marvelous inside with hundreds of stalagmites and stalactites of different sizes and shape.
Festivals:
- Canh Duong Festival
Time: 3rd to the 7th day of the first lunar month.
Place: Canh Duong Commune, Quang Trach District, Quang Binh Province.
Characteristics: Including cau ngu ritual and ky yen ritual. Contest of rice cooking in-group, have to cook rice while preventing a toad out of a circle.
- Ho khoan (Alternate singing between rowers) Festival
Time: the 29th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Le Thuy District, Quang Binh Province.
Characteristics: Ho khoan song with 9 tunes (mai), each tune is symbolize a kind of work. At the night of the festival, alternate singing between boys and girls are taking place.
- Bao Ninh Village Festival
Time: From the 14th day to the 16th day of the fourth lunar month.
Place: Bao Ninh Commune, Dong Hoi City, Quang Binh Province.
Objects of worship: Nhan than (father and son of fisherman) and Ca Ong (whale).
Characteristics: Procession of Ong’s bone, “Ho khoan, cheo can” performance, bong (flower) dance. Sea festival involves the ceremony of floating paper boats, paper fish to the sea and praying, the boat race of six villages.
- The worshipping ceremony of the beginning crop of cultivating rice seedlings in Le Son Village
Time: 1st day of the eleventh lunar month.
Place: Le Son Village, Tuyen Hoa District, Quang Binh Province.
Objects of worship: Village’s tutelary god.
Characteristics: Worshipping to tutelary god (10 trays of steamed glutinous rice, 10 cocks), after that a couple which is good at work and has son and daughter is chosen to cultivate rice seedlings in the field which is in front of the communal house.
- Cau Ngu Festival
Time: 14th day of the fourth lunar month.
Place: Dong Hoi City, Quang Binh Province.
Objects of worship: Ca Ong (whale).
Characteristics: Procession of Ong’s bone from village to communal house.