Ngang Pass is a historical pass, full of nostalgia, and has been left behind by many people and travelers with masterpieces of poetry that will last forever.
Although time has passed, now Ngang Pass is still a famous landscape, attracting many tourists, especially young people, to sightsee and roam on Hoanh Son peak in the feeling of rediscovering nostalgia. .
On the roof of Ngang Pass, Quang Binh province is focusing on building a destination with bold spiritual tourism combined with a unique beach resort.
Walking on Hoanh Son peak
One day at the end of September, the golden autumn sun spread across the streets. Thanh Minh residing in Dong Hoi city and a group of friends invited each other to go backpacking to the top of Ngang pass. Minh texted me and invited me to go with him. From Dong Hoi city, follow Highway 9A north about 1 km to reach Ngang Pass.
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Hoanh Son pass at the top of Ngang pass - a pass with majestic beauty connecting Ha Tinh province with Quang Binh province on the Thien Ly road from North to South and vice versa.
Here, the Truong Son mountain range is like a blade sticking out to the sea, creating a mountainous area with very charming mountain and water scenery.
The pass is a section of National Highway 1A about 6,5km long, winding along the slopes of the mountains, from Quang Dong commune (Quang Trach) gradually rising to the top and then descending to Ky Nam commune (Ky Anh, Ha Tinh). Now there is a road tunnel so the pass is only a tourist route.
Standing on the pass looking down to the east is the East Sea with Yen island, Hon La island in Quang Binh side, Ha Tinh side are heaving rocky rapids piercing the coast creating smooth white sand beaches. Looming at the foot of the pass in the north and south are houses and a winding stream meandering beside rice fields and forests.
Going to the top of the pass, where there is a sign dividing the border between Quang Binh and Ha Tinh provinces, following a small trail on the right side of the mountain for a while, we visited and offered incense to the monument "Hoanh Son quan" standing still. dressed in the middle of green pine hills.
According to historical records, this is the Hoanh Son pass guarded on the ancient north-south Thien Ly road. Hoanh Son gate is over 4 meters high, built during the 14th Minh Mang dynasty (1833), and is still intact, along with the two foundations of the stone ramparts running in two directions into the mountain and into the sea.
Previously, there were 1.000 stone steps on each side to go up and down the mountainside. Now, the south gate no longer has any stone steps (or only traces left), the north door only has a few hundred steps left.
In the midst of the gentle autumn wind, standing on the top of Ngang Pass looking at "Hoanh Son Quan", I evoked thoughts of a time when the Dang Trong - Dang Ngoai conflict was fought with soldiers, swords, and fire.
On the relic's door, where the mossy stone steps are..., it seems that somewhere there are still footprints of ancestors who once traveled up and down the north and south on the Thien Ly road and even the ancestors who stopped by, leaving it for posterity. The oracles and lyrical poems weigh heavily on passersby.
From the top of Ngang Pass, looking to the west, the mountain stands up like a green screen with thousands of clouds flying idly in the empty air.
Descending about 400 meters down the southern pass, we saw a mountain range hundreds of meters high, blocking the front like a towering green wall.
The pass here seems to run straight into a wall, giving riders a strange feeling. About 600 meters from the foot of the pass is the temple of Princess Lieu Hanh, located in the cluster of relics and scenic spots of Ngang Pass.
The temple was built in 1557, then was much damaged, and was recently restored according to its original form. And also about 3 km from Ngang Pass is Vung Chua-Yen Island, the eternal resting place of the legendary general Vo Nguyen Giap, which has become a sacred place, welcoming millions of people each year to offer incense and visit.
Promoting the potential of Ngang Pass relics and landscapes
According to Quang Binh tourism planning until 2025, along with the World Natural Heritage Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, the north of the province is also planned a tourist destination, mainly in the mountain pass relic-scenic area. Horizontal.
The strength of this destination is spiritual tourism with the tomb of General Vo Nguyen Giap and the temple of Princess Lieu Hanh. Besides, this place also has many small islands and beautiful beaches that are being invested into eco-tourism resorts and craft villages combined with community tourism.
According to Truong Thinh Group Chairman Vo Minh Hoai, recently, Quang Binh province approved the policy for the investment unit to build the Vung Chua-Yen Island tourist area with a capital of more than 500 billion VND, on an area of 45 hectares.
The project is implemented with the goal of building an eco-tourism area, a beach resort combining entertainment and yachting, meeting the needs of many types of tourists.
In particular, in addition to a beach resort, visiting Hoanh Son Quan, the relics of Princess Lieu Hanh's temple, this place also serves guests to view coral reefs and ecosystems at Vung Chua beach, Hon La island, visit Yen island, Bird Island.
According to many residents of Quang Dong commune (Quang Trach), Chim Island is only a few nautical miles from shore and is home to gray seagulls (also known as terns).
The island is less than 1 square kilometer wide but is an ideal paradise for millions of gray seagulls, swiftlets... to reside. From Canh Duong seaport, it only takes two hours to reach Chim Island - one of the ideal tourist destinations for domestic and foreign tourists coming to Quang Binh.
Talking about the tourism potential of the area south of Ngang Pass, Director of the Department of Tourism of Quang Binh province Ho An Phong excitedly mentioned Canh Duong sea village, which in the future will form a special sea culture-tourism village. typical of Quang Binh.
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Ngang Pass Road Tunnel on National Highway 1A connecting Quang Binh and Ha Tinh provinces.
He said that, with the potential and advantages of natural resources along with the close location to the Ngang Pass relic and scenic area, Vung Chua-Yen Island tourist area, Canh Duong village has a rich cultural tradition with Many unique customs were established during nearly 375 years of formation and development of this land.
To turn Canh Duong into the first coastal cultural-tourism village of Quang Binh, the Department of Tourism coordinated with local authorities to implement a "mural street" project in this coastal village with unique murals and 3D paintings. unique, "telling" the story of the process of formation, development, heroic tradition in the resistance war and the simple beauty of the rich coastal village.
At the same time, the Department of Tourism is also coordinating with units to implement and call for investment in tourism and service projects to bring tourists quality tourism products and services and other experiences. especially at Canh Duong, such as: space displaying the two largest and oldest whale skeletons in Vietnam in their original form, basket boat park, Whale restaurant...
Now, some households in this coastal village have learned to invest in opening homestays to welcome tourists to stay and experience some marine activities, enjoy marine specialties, and admire the rich landscape of the floating coastal village. this language.
At the foot of Ngang Pass in two provinces of Quang Binh and Ha Tinh, people's lives have changed a lot. The houses are solid and close together, and livelihoods are also more secure.
Particularly south of the pass, the potential of the coastal strip of Guangdong-Canh Duong is gradually being awakened, helping people improve their lives significantly.
Among them, the formation of Hon La Economic Zone with many factories, goods production enterprises and recently ongoing tourism projects will help that land to rise and change gradually. day.
