Sacred land of Vung Chua

Sacred land

Ten elite athletes will be selected to participate in the THACO Marathon for Road Safety Dien Bien Phu 2024 relay race, starting at 11:00 AM on April 10th from the tomb of General Vo Nguyen Giap at Vung Chua - Yen Island ( Quang Binh province), carrying a replica of the "Determined to Fight - Determined to Win" flag to the Command Headquarters in Dien Bien Phu (Dien Bien province).

A corner of Quang Dong commune, Quang Trach district, where the Vung Chua - Yen Island landmark is located, attracts spiritual tourists who come to visit the tomb of General Vo Nguyen Giap.

This is a running event organized by the National Traffic Safety Committee in coordination with the Traffic Newspaper and the People's Committee of Dien Bien province, taking place from April 10 to 14, 2024, to express gratitude, respect, and appreciation to the heroic martyrs and those who sacrificed and participated in the campaign that led to the victory of Dien Bien Phu, making a significant contribution to the country's national independence.

Eleven years have passed since the sacred land of Vung Chua - Yen Island in Quang Dong commune, Quang Trach district, welcomed the remains of General Vo Nguyen Giap to his final resting place.

For over a decade, Vung Chua - Yen Island has become a sacred place that people from all over the country turn to.

According to "Dai Nam Du Dia Chi Uoc Bien", Vung Chua is a strategically located area with unobstructed views of the East Sea, yet sheltered from the wind.

This place is surrounded by sturdy mountains like a fortress wall, forming a "dragon coiled, tiger seated, stretching endlessly to the sea" formation, with the Dragon's Head peak shielding it to the northwest.

A straight, paved road leads to the resting place of General Vo Nguyen Giap.

Nestled at the foot of the Hoành Sơn mountain range, about 10km southeast of the Ngang Pass, Vũng Chùa - Yến Island is one of the beautiful scenic spots located in Hòn La Bay.

Vũng Chùa is surrounded by the islands of Hòn La, Hòn Gió, and Hòn Nồm (also known as Yến Island because many swallows come to the island to build their nests).

Yen Island, covering approximately 10 hectares and located 1km from the shore, boasts a pristine beauty, rising like a screen in the middle of the sea. It protects Vung Chua from strong storms and winds, making it a popular anchorage for ships and boats seeking shelter.

Previously, this sacred land was very wild, unfamiliar, and little known. Only when General Vo Nguyen Giap chose it as his final resting place did this sacred land become a "red address" for tens of thousands of Vietnamese people to come and offer incense, visit the tomb of the brilliant general, and admire the scenery.

Furthermore, Vung Chua is located within the Hon La Economic Zone, so Quang Binh province has invested in a comprehensive and modern infrastructure. Many constructions and factories have sprung up, especially the Quang Trach I and II Thermal Power Plant projects currently under construction, and the area is truly undergoing a strong transformation and development.

A sacred site for spiritual tourism.

More than a decade has passed since Vung Chua - Yen Island welcomed General Vo Nguyen Giap to his final resting place, and this sacred land has never ceased to be visited by pilgrims.

The stone-paved path leading to the General's tomb is always kept clean, ready to welcome visitors who come to offer incense and admire the scenery.

Since then, Quang Dong commune, once a poor rural area at the foot of Ngang Pass, has undergone positive changes and is known to tourists both domestically and internationally.

Coastal roads and access roads to General Vo Nguyen Giap's tomb have been upgraded, making transportation and travel more convenient.

Still busy with cleaning and tending to the plants at the cemetery, Mr. Nguyen Tien Binh (Quang Kim commune, Quang Trach district) said that since the General chose this place to "rest in eternal peace," there hasn't been a single day without visitors. Especially during holidays, Tet (Lunar New Year), or major national celebrations, the number of visitors increases even more.

The General's tomb is always crowded with visitors who come to offer incense and admire the scenery.

"There are relatively few visitors at this time, but we estimate that there will still be around 500 to 600 people coming to pay their respects," Mr. Binh said.

Joining the silently moving procession, Mr. Nguyen Tien Hung (from Nghe An) said: "I have been to Quang Dong commune many times, and every time I come here, the first thing I do is go in to offer incense and pay respects at the tomb of General Vo Nguyen Giap."

The resting place of the General is both sacred and picturesque, with its pristine mountain and island scenery. Seen from afar, Yen Island exudes the image of a majestic mountain guarding both the mainland and the sea.

According to the leaders of Quang Dong commune's People's Committee, the management and protection of the General's tomb has now been handed over to the family by the border guard forces.

After being closed for four years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and extensive renovations, the tomb of General Vo Nguyen Giap reopened in early November 2023, allowing locals and tourists to visit and offer incense.

Respectfully lighting incense at the General's tomb.

According to observations, although the number of visitors coming to pay their respects and offer incense was quite large, the management, security, and guidance were carried out very well, creating a solemn, polite, and orderly atmosphere.

Before the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Dragon, the family of General Vo Nguyen Giap returned to Vung Chua - Yen Island to prepare the altar, clean the tomb area, and organize the making of banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) and offering incense. On this occasion, the General's children and grandchildren also brought many types of trees to plant in the tomb area.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh (a vendor selling offerings to tourists) said that she and many other residents of Quang Dong commune earn extra income from selling goods to people who come to pay their respects to the General.

"Every day we earn a decent amount of money selling incense and flowers here, enough to cover our living expenses. Since welcoming the General, this area has never been without pilgrims," ​​said Mrs. Thanh.

According to Mr. Nguyen Duc Hien, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Dong commune, the economy of Quang Dong commune has traditionally relied solely on agricultural production and fishing at sea.

However, in recent years, the commune has shifted strongly towards developing tourism and services, creating jobs for thousands of people.

Currently, the commune has nearly 100 restaurants and hotels, capable of serving a large number of tourists visiting Quang Dong.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/linh-thieng-vung-dat-vung-chua-noi-yen-nghi-dai-tuong-vo-nguyen-giap-192240409004722787.htm