1.1. Nhat Le Beach

If you travel to Dong Hoi, Nhat Le is a must-see beach – quiet sun-drenched seaside, pure white sand and sparkling crystal blue water. Nhat Le beach is a dream place for those who love playing with waves, being cuddled by gentle currents or simply feeling the smooth sand under your bare feet.

Unlike many other beaches in Vietnam, Nhat Le beach still remains its pristine charm. Taking a walk along the charming river or simply lying down on the sand floor and letting the fresh breezes caress you are something you can expect when visiting the beach. 

The best time to enjoy the beach is the early morning when it is amazingly peaceful. The whole world is for you. Spend this time to do some meditation with the sunrise and feel grateful to our Mother Nature.

Tam Toa Church is an old Catholics church built during in 1887 when Dong Khanh Emperor actively adopted French culture. He allowed the European priests to preach the Catholic along the seaside and rivers in the country. The present building was constructed in Portuguese style with a typical large bell tower. Fr Claude Bonin (chief engineer) chose a hill on the breathtaking shore of Nhat Le river to build the Tam Toa Church, as the place was easy to reach by boats.

Tam Toa Church is built in the style of Gothic architecture of Europe. There is documented in detail is Portuguese architecture, with a bell tower higher than 10m. According to the records, the church was renovated and redecorated in 1940, spacious and beautiful than the original situation. Unfortunately, there are not many detailed records detailing interior decoration as well as layout

Around the story of Tam Toa Church where there was a fire of war against the fire, there were many controversies and controversies in the time of the restoration of architecture and spiritual life of Christian. It can be said that the events took place at the Tam Toa Church, making this place one of the most consecutive ups and downs of Quang Binh province, which when tourists have the opportunity to travel here.

Quang Binh gate is one of three gates of Dao Duy Tu Wall – The citadel system dated from 1631 that protected the Inner Realm from attacks by Trinh Dynasty from the North. Quang Binh Gate, which was built in 1639, has been restored to its original state after heavily damaged so many times, now is standing as a historic evidence for the hard time of the country.

Dao Duy Tu is a talent from Thanh Hoa – a province of Dang Ngoai (Outer Realm – ruled by Trinh Dynasty) but was valued high by Nguyen Phuc Nguyen Lord who ruled Dang Trong (Inner Realm – Southern Vietnam from Gianh river). For nearly 50 years of fighting between Outer and Inner Realms, the Inner area by Nguyen Lord stayed strong thanks to the walls by Dao Duy Tu. “Thay” meaning “teacher” is the way Nguyen Lords called Dao Duy Tu to show their respect to him.

Unfortunately, only very few small parts of the wall system keep remained after bitter wars in the past.

1.5. Dong Hoi market: The City’s vibrant soul

Located right in the heart of the city along the river, the Dong Hoi Fish Market is the best place to experience authentic local culture and coastal life.

• The Fresh Catch: Watch local fishermen proudly display an extensive, colorful array of daily marine treasures, from mackerel scads and squid to sea clams.

• Beyond Seafood: It is a food lover’s haven. Explore aisles packed with fresh regional fruits, vegetables, traditional herbs, and aromatic spices essential to Vietnamese cuisine.

• The Atmosphere: Immerse yourself in the bustling energy, lively vendor banter, and rich aromas that make this market a must-visit sensory experience.

Tip: Visit Dong Hoi market early in the morning to catch the peak energy when the fishing boats arrive, and don’t hesitate to snap photos of the beautifully arranged stalls!

Dong Hoi market

•  Theme 1: Nature and natural resources of Quang Binh

•  Theme 2: Culture of ethnic groups in Quang Binh 

•  Theme 3: Quang Binh pre-historic period and Champa culture 

•  Theme 4: Quang Binh from the 11th century to 1945 

•  Theme 5: Quang Binh during the resistance war against the French colonialists (1945 – 1954) 

•  Theme 6: Quang Binh in the war against the USA for (July 1954 – May 1975)

•  Theme 7: Quang Binh in the period of Socialism construction and development (from 1975 to present)

You also can found a number of collections thanks to the archaeological discoveries implemented within the province. Some of them are: The collection of pottery, utensils and porcelain, the collection of My Cuong pottery-ceramics, and the collection of ancient Vietnamese and Chinese coins (aged from 200 to 2000 years ago). 

The Quang Binh museum is a must-see for history lovers and curious travelers. It holds a fascinating collection of artifacts and exhibits that tell stories of wartime survival and post-war rebuilding, representing the strong spirit of the people of Quang Binh. Exploring the museum will make you feel connected to the past and appreciate the challenges and successes that have shaped this province. Set aside time to immerse yourself in the history at the Quang Binh museum.

2. Dong Hoi – What to eat

Fun facts about Food in Dong Hoi:

i.What people didn’t bother to eat in the past now becomes specialties.

ii. The best food is usually served in simple food vendors, mainly at their homes and rarely advertised on social media. As the local people turn their kitchen into a home restaurant, you will have to “go the extra mile” because the best food is not always at the center of the town.

 The good news is that Dong Hoi is a super small town and you can reach the amazing food easily by a few minutes bicycle riding.

Banh Loc (Clear Tapioca Dumpling) is a favorite and popular snack of Dong Hoi people and some other provinces in the Center of Vietnam. Banh Loc is made of Tapioca flour filled with meat and shrimp (or yellow mung bean) and served with fish sauce. Banh Loc is voted as one of the most 30 yummy dumplings in the world by CNN Travel.

There are two main types of Banh Loc, which are banana leaf-wrapped one and non-wrapped one. It is very easy for you to find small stalls along the street or in the market where you can enjoy this snack, but the most famous shop is Huong Hoai at No. 17, Le Thanh Dong Street.

Clear Tapioca dumplings in Dong Hoi

2.2. Chao Banh Canh (Vietnamese Udon)

 It is not difficult for you to find a signboard with “Chao Banh canh” or “Chao canh” when riding along the streets in Dong Hoi. Chao is usually translated into rice porridge through Vietnam but Chao Banh Canh (Thick noodle soup) is actually made of rice flour- noodles with broth. There are different toppings in a bowl, which can be fish, crab, shrimp, egg, pork, etc. Chao Banh canh now becomes the most popular breakfast of Dong Hoi residents.

1.     O Hanh restaurant – No. 04 Le Thanh Dong Street

2.     Ba Hong Restaurant – No. 51 Nguyen Huu Canh Street

3.     Me Luoc traditional restaurant (more than 60 years now) – No. 238 Ly Thai To Street

4.     Quan 75 – No. 01 Le Quy Don Street

2.3. Banh beo (Steamed Rice Cakes with Shrimp)

Among dozens of snacks in Dong Hoi, Banh beo is always ranked high in the must-try list. Like many other dishes in Vietnamese cuisine, Banh beo is the wonderful combination of fishing and farming products. Rice flour remains the primary component, ground steamed shrimp is indispensable. However, the factor that makes the dish’s taste is fish sauce. Fish sauce for Banh Beo is not as salty as the regular one, but it is sweetened by shrimp broth and sugar. The taste is the perfect harmony of the softness of steamed rice flour, the sweetness of ground shrimp and the saltiness of the fish sauce.

2.4. Banh Xeo (Crispy Vietnamese Pancake)

Bánh xèo is served everywhere in Vietnam, with slight regional differences in ingredients. Traditionally, it is served in a unique way, usually complemented with vegetables such as lettuce, carrots, and cucumbers, heavily seasoned with fresh cilantro, mint, and parsley.  With saying so, you probably heard about Banh Xeo when travelling through Vietnam. However, the fresh ingredients here make Banh Xeo in Dong Hoi so tasty.

Additional ingredients, most commonly scallions, bean sprouts, shrimps, and cubed pork or beef, are sautéed before the mixture is added to the pan. The pancake is pan-fried at a low temperature and gently folded in half, keeping the ingredients safely tucked inside the pancake.