Quang Binh exploits river tourism

On those green streams, Quang Binh is gradually awakening its tourism potential, promising to bring visitors unique and impressive experiences.

Quang Binh province has five major river systems, all originating from the majestic Truong Son mountain range, flowing quietly downstream, irrigating fertile fields before merging into the ocean. Each river here is like an old story echoing, connecting the past, present and opening up the future for the land known as the “kingdom of caves”.

On those green streams, Quang Binh is gradually awakening its tourism potential, promising to bring visitors unique and impressive experiences.

Cruise on impressive rivers

If the source of the mother river - Gianh river is Son river, flowing through Phong Nha-Ke Bang natural heritage with a dense underground river system that will probably not be fully explored in many years, then the source of Nhat Le is Long Dai river with Tam Lu waterfall, many waterfalls and rapids. Going upstream on these rivers, visitors will have impressive, unique experiences and unforgettable excitement.

Long Dai River originates from the west of Truong Son mountain range, through dozens of large and small waterfalls, with high slopes, turbulent water, winding flow to the plain of Quang Ninh district, then joins Kien Giang river at Tran Xa junction before becoming Nhat Le river.

Choosing a nice day, we went upstream to Long Dai, crossed Tam Lu waterfall to Truong Son commune by an aluminum boat with an engine. After passing the river section of Truong Xuan commune, we occasionally met a small fishing boat of the local people. There were sections of the river where trees stretched out to cover the water surface, forming cool clumps, providing a place for fishermen to take shelter at noon. Our boatman said that under those clumps of trees, there were many species of special fish living in the tree roots, so this was also the "fishing ground" of fishermen who had attached their lives to the river. Another section of the river brought us to rocky mountains with countless shapes, and visitors could freely imagine and compare.

The highlight of the Long Dai River discovery tour is crossing Tam Lu waterfall. The boat driver is young but has been on this river route for many years, telling us to sit still in the boat, with our legs spread wider than our shoulders for safety, and our hands holding on to the sides or the crossbar in the middle of the boat. He holds the steering wheel so that when he accelerates, he can rush over the rocks, and when he releases the throttle, he can search for a channel deep enough for the boat to slide through.

Many people who cross Tam Lu rapids for the first time are scared to death because if the boatman is careless or misjudges the situation, the boat can crash into the rocks, which is very dangerous for both people and vehicles. However, with the skillful steering of the young man, the boat crossed the rapids spectacularly, to the cheers and admiration of the people on the boat.

Mr. Luong Thanh, a tourist in Dong Hoi city (Quang Binh) shared: Going upstream on Long Dai river and crossing Tam Lu waterfall is truly an adventurous eco-tour and will be more attractive to domestic and international tourists when combining adventure tourism and exploring the cultural sediments of ethnic minority villages along the river. If we can do so, Long Dai river with the highlight of crossing Tam Lu waterfall will certainly be a very impressive new address on the Quang Binh tourism map.

Temporarily forgetting the adventure at Tam Lu waterfall, visitors can leisurely cruise by boat and experience adventurous sports on Son River and Chay River. If Son River flows underground through Phong Nha Cave, carrying many mysteries, Chay River flows through the cave entrance with very charming scenery and mountains. The special feature of this river is many limestone mountains that seem to grow in the middle of the river, through the sediment of time and flow, they have created "rockery" with countless strange shapes.

Exploiting the potential of waterway tourism

The river system in Quang Binh offers great potential for developing waterway tourism, meeting the needs of tourists who want to experience the feeling of relaxation in the middle of the river, combined with exploring the landscape and local cuisine. Recently, a number of businesses in Quang Binh have opened river exploration tours, of which, Chua me dat Company (Oxalis) has a tourism product called "Let's Go" to explore Chay River, Son River combined with visiting the complex of scenic spots and traditional craft villages along Gianh River.

Explore Son River, experience traditional crafts and culture of the riverside land.

On the Nhat Le River, Dong Hoi City, Nhat Le Travel Company also tested the tourism product of sightseeing boat trips on the Nhat Le River combined with visiting famous landscapes and historical sites. Experiencing this tourism product, visitors board a boat from Nhat Le estuary to Quan Hau Bridge to watch the Nhat Le River in the beautiful sunset with the endless south wind blowing, hear stories about the people and the beloved land of Dong Hoi that has gone down in history such as Mother Suot, Hero Tran Thi Ly, visit the war relics of Tam Toa Church and experience the traditional fishing professions of the people of Bao Ninh commune such as spinning nets, casting nets as well as enjoying the specialties of Quang Binh.

Earlier this year, Phong Nha-Ke Bang Tourism Center launched a 10km river tour, connecting three destinations: Phong Nha, Chay River and Dark Cave. With this journey, visitors will travel upstream on the Son River for about 5km, immerse themselves in the peaceful scenery with majestic limestone mountains, then stop to visit Phong Nha Cave, which has a beautiful stalactite system created by nature over hundreds of millions of years.

Continuing with the tour on the Chay River to enjoy the charming scenery of the river, the boat glides gently on the water surface, taking visitors to experience adventurous activities here such as 400m long zipline, kayaking, water skiing or adventurous bridge jumping on the Chay River. According to Director of Phong Nha-Ke Bang Tourism Center Hoang Minh Thang, compared to the road route, traveling by river to explore nature and experience adventure sports creates a unique attraction for the tourist route.

Phong Nha-Chay River-Dark Cave Not only is it new and attractive with its uniqueness and quality of tourism products, the river experience tour also aims to develop green tourism when passenger boats use electric energy and outdoor activities do not harm nature and the environment.

However, apart from the outstanding product of Phong Nha-Ke Bang Tourism Center, other river tours in Quang Binh have not yet attracted the expected number of visitors. Partly due to the harsh weather - prolonged rainy season, partly due to limited scale, methods of operation, and lack of synchronous investment.

The Action Program of the Quang Binh Provincial Party Committee on tourism development for the period 2021-2025 identifies the exploitation of sightseeing and river tourism products on inland waterways, such as Gianh River, Nhat Le River, Long Dai River, and Son River, as a key direction to create new tourism products.

Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Binh province Dang Dong Ha

Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Binh province Dang Dong Ha said that the action program of the Quang Binh Provincial Party Committee on tourism development for the period 2021-2025 identifies and exploits sightseeing and river tourism products on inland waterways, such as Gianh River, Nhat Le River, Long Dai River, Son River as the key direction to create new tourism products.

On that basis, through the project of developing tourism infrastructure to support comprehensive growth in the Greater Mekong Sub-region, the province has invested in upgrading the road tourism infrastructure system associated with the Nhat Le-Long Dai inland waterway route. The main items such as the construction of Nhat Le tourist boat wharf, Quan Hau ferry water tourism center, Long Dai boat wharf, Than Dinh mountain boat wharf are being completed to create a synchronous technical infrastructure, attract investment and develop tourism products on the Nhat Le and Long Dai rivers.

On the other hand, the tourism development plans of districts and cities also prioritize the development of tourism products on both banks of rivers and riverside spaces associated with visiting historical and cultural sites and performing folk songs. According to Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Ninh district Le Ngoc Huan, the locality proactively coordinates with relevant sectors to survey tourism products on both banks of Long Dai river and Kien Giang river to build, promote and organize the exploitation of river tourism products and adventure eco-tourism, such as exploring Long Dai river, Tam Lu waterfall, Nuoc Lanh stream, Cha Rao stream, Hac Hai lagoon, and Trang island.

Recently, the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Management Board has issued a list of investment attraction to create new tourism products, including waterway tourism and eco-tourism resorts on both banks of the Son and Chay rivers.

The rivers of Quang Binh are not only like green silk ribbons running through mountains, forests, villages and fields, but are also the source of new journeys of experience, bringing local tourism up with the magical nature.

Huong Giang

Source: https://nhandan.vn/quang-binh-khai-thac-du-lich-duong-song-post885331.html