Dong Hoi
Đồng Hới is the provincial capital of Quảng Bình Province on Vietnam’s north-central coast. The size of the city is 155.71 km2 (60.12 sq mi). According to the 2017 census, the population was 119,222. It is accessible through National Highway 1A, Đồng Hới Railway Station, and airport. ng Hi is 486 kilometers (302 miles) south of Hanoi, 195 kilometers (121 miles) south of Vinh, 160 kilometers (99 miles) north of Hu, and 1,204 kilometers (748 miles) north of Ho Ch Minh City via road. It is bounded on the west and south by Quảng Ninh District, on the east by the South China Sea, and on the north by Bố Trạch District.
Đồng Hới has a 12-kilometer-long coastline with beaches of white sand. 50 kilometers to the north, Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the closest city.
This city is flourishing and gaining more people every year, yet there are beaches and caves nearby. There are few tourists in Dong Hoi, therefore you will receive numerous greetings. Nhat Le beach is nearby, but the river and canals are the focal point of the town.
If you dispute their rates, the locals will inform you that their prices are greater than practically everywhere else in Vietnam. They do not know why Dong Hoi encourages greater costs. It is unfortunate that people tend to rush through rather than spend a few days, as a result the locals suffer.
If you spend time in a great coffee shop and act sociable, you will likely meet several well-educated Vietnamese speakers of English. Then, you can gain insight into local culture. You can also attempt to learn a few Vietnamese words, which is an excellent approach to break the ice with locals.
There are European researchers in Dong Hoi who come to investigate the local forests.
If you do not wish to stay in Phong Nha proper, you can utilize Dong Hoi as a base for visiting the Phong Nha caverns. There are inexpensive public buses connecting the two cities (but verify the hour of the last bus! ), and your hotel can arrange more expensive organized tours. In either Dong Hoi or Phong Nha, you can rent motorcycles or take an Easy Rider tour.
Dong Hoi is an excellent place to spend a few days if you want to sit back, relax, and enjoy the pleasures of a tiny Vietnamese city without the normal city issues (traffic, loads of visitors, etc.). Some visitors end up staying longer than anticipated since life here is so pleasant and convenient.
Geography
Đồng Hới lies at the intersection of National Route 1, North–South Railway, and Ho Chi Minh Highway, with coordinates of 17°21′ North and 106°10′ East. This city is located at the center of Quảng Bình Province. It borders Bố Trạch on the north, Quảng Ninh on the south, the South China Sea on the east and Quảng Ninh on the west. It is 50 kilometers south of Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, 50 kilometers north of Bang Spa, and 180 kilometers south-east of the Cha Lo Laos border crossing. It has a 12 kilometer coastline. The sole river that goes through the city is the Nhật Lệ River. The freshwater source is Tro Lake. The beach at Nhật Lệ is equipped with excellent, white sand.
Climate
In Đồng Hới, there are four distinct seasons. Spring weather is cool, humid, and foggy. The average annual temperature is 24.4°C, the average annual precipitation ranges from 1,300 to 4,000 mm, and the average annual humidity is approximately 84%. The city has a monsoon climate with three types of wind: wind from the southeast, wind from the southwest, and wind from the northeast.
It rains throughout the autumn, although the weather is pleasant with temperatures between 26 and 31 degrees Celsius. Due to the northeast wind blowing from the Chinese mainland in the winter, the temperature may fall to -18°C and there may be some precipitation. August receives the most precipitation (118.4 mm), compared to January’s meager 38.9 mm. The best time to visit this city is between April and September, when temperatures are comfortable for swimming.
Tourism
Đồng Hới is blessed with beaches that provide good sand and clear water from Nhật Lệ. 60 kilometers north of the city, the Da Nhay and Ly Hoa beaches are renowned tourist sites. The Bang Spa (hot mineral spring) is perfect for spa bath enthusiasts. The city is located 50 kilometers south of the World Heritage-listed Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, which is perfect for cave and grotto exploration and biological study (primarily Phong Nha Cave and, beginning in September 2010, Thiên Đường Cave and Sơn Đoòng Cave are open to visitors).
Đồng Hới is included in tours of past battlefields, where visitors can experience once-dangerous terrain near the Annamite Range and the H Ch Minh path.
Đồng Hới is accessible by road (National Route 1 (Vietnam) – Asian Highway 1, Hồ Chí Minh Highway), by train at Đồng Hới Railway Station on the Hà Nội–Hồ Chí Minh City Railway, or by air from Hà Nội or Hồ Chí Minh City at Đồng Hới Airport.
Đồng Hới Airport began operations on 18 May 2008, with the first commercial aircraft departing from Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, followed by an air link with Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on 1 July 2009.
The city offers 98 hotels and guesthouses ranging from 1 to 3 stars, including the Cosevco Hotel (which is closed and not available for booking), Saigon-Quang Bnh Hotel, Nam Long Hotel, and Nam Long Plus Hotel (all of which are available for online booking via multiple websites), and the 4-star Sun Spa Resort. The cuisine consists of seafood, traditional “hot pot” dishes, Vietnamese, and European dishes. In 2005, the city received close to 300,000 tourists. On February 1st, Flagstick began construction on another new venture: FLC Dong Hoi Golf Links in Quang Binh Province.
A complex consisting of 10 adjacent golf courses, three clubhouses, more than 1,000 villas, a large resort hotel, commercial village, and convention center is currently under construction in the seaside area of Dong Hoi and Quang Ninh District, Le Thuy District. The first phase of construction is scheduled to be completed by November 2016, with a spring 2017 opening date.
Dong Hoi - Introduction
Country
Currency
License plates
Population
Area
Official language
Density
Time zone
Dong Hoi Travel Guide
Best time to visit Dong Hoi
Summer is unquestionably the ideal time to explore Dong Hoi. The warm temperatures guarantee that the water is suitable for swimming and other beach sports. This is the finest time to visit the beaches of Dong Hoi due to the absence of fog and the resulting enhanced visibility.
Temperatures during the autumn season in Dong Hoi range from 26 to 31 degrees Celsius. The temperatures are accompanied by light precipitation as a result of southwest breezes. This season is damp and cloudy, with low visibility. In this season, most coastal activities begin to wind down.
Dong Hoi experiences winter temperatures between 12 and 18 degrees Celsius. November through February are the coldest months of the year. There are several foggy days and low visibility throughout this season.
How To Travel To Dong Hoi
Local buses from the Northern Bus Station from Hue take approximately 3–4 hours and cost 80,000 dong (Mar 2012). Sinh Cafe (400,000 dong) and Mandarin Travels (800,000 dong) are four to five times more expensive than Sinh Cafe (400,000 dong) (300,000 dong).
The majority of buses will drop off passengers at Hung Vung, which is closer to town than the bus station. A hotel is easily accessible on foot from Hung Vung.
Dong Hoi is where the Reunification Express makes a stop. The city center is 3 kilometers from the train station. A hard seat without air conditioning costs approximately 67,000 VND and takes 4.5 hours. Express trains are more expensive.
Attractions & Things To See In Dong Hoi
The Dong Hoi citadel gates stand towering as a symbol of the devastation caused by war in Vietnam. The Dong Hoi Citadel Gates, once a sign of ultimate grandeur and power, are now a mere shell of their former selves and the only remaining ruins of the Dong Hoi Citadel.
The old Tam Toa church is still operational despite being destroyed by the Dong Hoi bombardment. The Tam Toa Catholic Church was constructed in the nineteenth century.
The beautiful Nhat Le Beach, situated where the Nhat Le river drains into the sea, is truly a sight to behold.
The Paradise cave is one of the longest tunnels in Asia, and its stone patterns are breathtaking.
Activities & Things to do in Dong Hoi
Beaches – Cross the bridge; the Bao Ninh beach is about a 20-minute walk from the center of Dong Hoi; continue along the Nhat Le river downstream for 10 minutes to reach Nhat Le beach.
Both beaches are lovely. Nhat Le beach extends north to the village of NhanTrach’s sand dune.
Bao Ninh beach extends to Hai Ninh village to the south. Although Nhat Le beach is nearby, the river is the focal point of Dong Hoi.
There are a few locals, a few hotels and restaurants, construction workers, and a little children’s amusement park on the gorgeous beach.
The beach is lovely and has few visitors.
Food & Restaurants in Dong Hoi
- Nhu Y, 11 Le Quy Don, 052-3821-280. Excellent Vietnamese cuisine; English menu.
- QB Cafe, 3 Le Loi St, 052-3824-694. There is both Vietnamese and Western cuisine available, including pizza, pasta, burgers, and chips. Also delicious fruit shakes Offer an English menu.
- Groceries. Along Ly Thuong Kiet, there are two or three supermarkets. At least one contains pricing labels.
- Ocean View Homestay, Truong Phap street, Quang Phu village, Dong Hoi city, Quang Binh Province (2km from Dong Hoi airport, 4km from train station), (+84)052 3810 686. They serve excellent Western food, as well as Thai and local cuisine. Romantic place for dining.
Nightlife in Dong Hoi
Dong Hoi is a somewhat rural city devoid of trendy nightlife. It does, however, contain a number of pubs where you can have a meal and a beverage with your family.
The Buffalo Hostel and Pub is a wonderful area to sit and sip a beer.
36 Beer is a relatively new bar that is quite rowdy and unsuitable for people seeking tranquility.
27 cm Pub and Cafe is a beachfront bar where patrons can enjoy a drink and play pool. The Tree Hugger cafe and AE Pub and Coffee are open from the afternoon until midnight.
Dong Hoi has a generally laid-back and relaxed atmosphere.
