48 hours exploring Vinh City

Vinh City is located in the southeastern part of Nghe An province, on the Lam River, along the vital North-South transportation axis. Thanks to its advantageous location, Vinh is easily connected to other localities via road, rail, waterway, and air. In recent years, the city has seen significant investment in infrastructure and tourism services, gradually becoming an attractive destination with its beautiful beaches, peaceful atmosphere, and increasingly完善 amenities.

This 48-hour itinerary in Vinh City is based on suggestions from Dong Khue, a tour guide specializing in Central Vietnam; The Linh, a local resident; and research conducted by a VnExpress reporter.

Day 1

Move

Several sleeper bus companies operating the North-South route stop in Vinh City, including Quan Hoan, Hoang Long, Anh Khuyen, Thanh Nhan, and Quang Dung. The Thong Nhat train, including the SE1/2 and SE3/4 express trains, also stops at Vinh station. Train and bus fares range from approximately 300,000 VND to 1,700,000 VND per person per way, depending on the departure point. From Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City, and other locations, tourists should choose flights or trains/buses to Vinh City early in the morning to have enough time for sightseeing.

Breakfast: Eel soup

Eel soup is a famous specialty of Nghe An province, known for its delicious and rich flavor. The eels used in the soup are small, firm-fleshed freshwater eels. After being soaked in rice water for several hours to clean the intestines, the eels are briefly boiled, the meat is removed along the spine, marinated with spices, and then stir-fried with onions, turmeric, and chili peppers to enhance the aroma and give it a golden color. The eel bones are then crushed and strained to extract the broth for the soup.

Eel soup is usually served with bread or rice noodles, depending on preference. A serving of eel soup costs 40,000-50,000 VND.

Enjoy coffee

Foamy coffee, a specialty of Vinh Market for over 30 years, is a popular choice for tourists visiting the city. Besides its characteristic bitterness, the foamy coffee boasts a rich, creamy foam and a strong aroma. Customers can order black or milky coffee depending on their preference. When enjoying it, they can savor the foam first or stir it to blend it with the coffee underneath.

Additionally, Vinh City has many spacious and beautifully decorated cafes that are popular with young people for taking photos, such as Co Mot Ngay Cafe - 172 Ngu Hai Street, Em Mo Cafe - 385 Nguyen Van Cu Street, and Yen Cafe - 152 Kim Dong Street. Drink prices range from 35,000 to 55,000 VND per serving.

Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area

This is a must-visit destination for most tourists in Nghe An province, located in Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district, 13 km from Vinh City, along National Highway 46. The historical site includes the ancestral homes of President Ho Chi Minh's paternal and maternal families, and the tomb of Mrs. Hoang Thi Loan, President Ho Chi Minh's mother. It preserves memories associated with his homeland, family, and childhood.

The memorial area offers free admission and is open from 7:00 AM to 11:30 AM and from 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM on weekdays.

For lunch in Vinh City, The Linh suggests that tourists can choose restaurants serving family meals, group meals, or dishes characteristic of Nghe An cuisine. Some popular local restaurants with reasonable prices include the snakehead fish noodle soup stalls on Hermann Street, Vinh Hue beef noodle soup, Xua clay pot rice on Phan Chau Trinh Street, Ong Tran restaurant, and Huong Que restaurant, with prices ranging from 50,000 to 200,000 VND per person.

Visiting the national historical site of the great poet Nguyen Du.

The Nguyen Du family estate is located in Tien Dien commune, Nghi Xuan district, Ha Tinh province, but is quite close to Vinh City, about 8 km away. Here, visitors can learn more about the life and career of Nguyen Du, the author of the famous Tale of Kieu, and also gain insight into the Nguyen family in Tien Dien.

Take a stroll around the square and visit the museum.

The square, home to an 18-meter-tall statue of President Ho Chi Minh, is the largest political and cultural hub in Nghe An province. Visitors can stroll around, meet locals, or enjoy coffee at the cafes surrounding the square.

Located nearly 2 km away is the Soviet-Nghe Tinh Museum, displaying over 5,000 artifacts and images related to the revolutionary movement of 1930-1931. Several outdoor spaces within the museum grounds, combined with the ancient architecture of Vinh Citadel, create an ideal backdrop for photography, especially for young visitors. At the end of the trip, visitors can relax in Vinh City or visit Cua Lo Beach, about 20 km away, to swim and enjoy a delicious seafood dinner.

Evenings in Vinh City are quite lively, perfect for strolling around and enjoying Nghe An cuisine with signature dishes such as Mrs. Man's rice noodle rolls, Aunt Hang's steamed rice cakes, grilled pork skewers from Ga Market, Yen Thinh's late-night sticky rice, or stir-fried chicken.

Tourists can also choose to stay at homestays or hotels in the center of Vinh City such as the Muong Thanh, Saigon Kim Lien, and Summer hotel chains, with prices ranging from 500,000 to 1,000,000 VND per night.

Day 2

Have breakfast and visit Cua Lo fishing port.

Tourists can have breakfast at the hotel or at local eateries in the center of Vinh City, such as banh muot (steamed rice rolls), bun cham cheo (rice noodles with dipping sauce), and eel soup, with prices ranging from 40,000 VND depending on the dish.

Cua Lo fishing port is bustling in the early morning as fishing boats dock, creating a lively scene of buyers and sellers. Tourists can buy fresh seafood such as fish, squid, shrimp, and crabs sold in the port area. Alternatively, visitors can request nearby restaurants to prepare the seafood for them, paying an additional service fee.

Participate in water sports activities.

Cua Lo Beach is considered an ideal location for activities such as swimming, volleyball, golf, and nighttime squid fishing in traditional basket boats.

A trip to Cua Lo during the summer months wouldn't be complete without trying its delicious seafood. Hotel restaurants are always more expensive than those outside. Therefore, visitors can look for restaurants along the beachfront.

Crab meatballs and seven-course grouper dishes are two of the must-try foods for tourists. Grouper fish are quite aggressive when caught, but in the hands of skilled chefs, their meat can be prepared into seven delicious dishes such as salad, steamed with lemongrass, stir-fried fish offal, hot pot, porridge, fried fish fins, and crispy fried skin. In addition, there are other dishes such as fresh squid, steamed crab with tamarind, squid porridge, clam porridge, and eel porridge.

Experience the fun places in Cua Hoi.

Cua Hoi is located about 4 km from Cua Lo, at the mouth of the Lam River where it flows into the sea. It offers accommodation and recreational activities suitable for families with young children.

VinWonders Cua Hoi boasts the first and only sea-crossing cable car in North Central Vietnam, spanning over 3.5 km and connecting the seaside amusement park complex with the Song Ngu Island ecological cluster.

From the cable car, visitors can enjoy the pristine beauty of Cua Lo beach, with views that offer moments of relaxation and tranquility before setting foot on the ecological island to visit the over 800-year-old Song Ngu ancient pagoda, stroll across Thien Canh bridge, enjoy fresh local seafood, and relax at the floating restaurant on the sea.

Alternatives

Thanh Chuong tea hills, Corn Temple, Phu Mat National Park, Bao Nham stone church. These places are scattered throughout the province, with different routes, so more travel time is needed.

According to vnexpress.net

Source: https://baohanam.com.vn/du-lich/48-gio-kham-pha-thanh-pho-vinh-160513.html