Monday, November 16, 2009

Dong Hoi


Dong HoiDong Hoi is the capital city of Quang Binh province, in the north central coast of Vietnam. Dong Hoi is the closest city to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, UNESCO’s World Natural Heritage Site located 50 km north of the city.

Location:
Dong Hoi is located on the National Road 1A, North-South Railway and Ho Chi Minh Highway, at the coordinates 17.21’ N and 106.10’ E. This city is situated in the heart of Quang Binh Province. It has a coastline of 12 km. Nhat Le River is the only river that runs through the city. Tro Lake is the source of fresh water for the city-dwellers. The Nhat Le Beach is endowed with fine and white sand.
Climate:
Like all provinces in north and north central of Vietnam, there are four distinct seasons in Dong Hoi. In the spring, it is cool, humid and foggy. The average annual temperature is 24.40C, average rainfall varies from 1,300 – 4,000 mm, total sunshine hours per year is 1,786 hours, average annual moisture is around 84%. The city has monsoon climate with three types of wind: southeast wind, southwest wind, and northeast wind.
Tourism:
Dong Hoi is endowed with beautiful beaches with fine sand and clean water of Nhat Le. The Da Nhay and Ly Hoa beaches (60 km north of the city) are popular tourist destinations. The Bang Spa (hot mineral spring) is ideal for those who enjoy spa baths. The city is situated 50 km south of the World Heritage Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park which is ideal for cave and grotto exploration and biological research activities. Dong Hoi is also included in former battlefield tours where travelers can visit several once dangerous fields along Annamite Range and Ho Chi Minh Trail. Dong Hoi is accessible by road (National Highway 1A, Ho Chi Minh Highway), by rail at Dong Hoi Railway Station on the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City Railway, or by air from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City at Dong Hoi Airport.
The city provide tourists with 98 hotels and guest-houses from 1 to 5-star hotels like Cosevco Hotel, Saigon-Quang Binh Hotel and especially the 5-star resort of Sun Spa Resort. The available cuisine includes seafood, the traditional "hot pot", Vietnamese and European-style meals
Source: Vietnam Travel