Nghe An, Vietnam, about 291 kilometers south of Hanoi, appeals to tourists with various tourism styles that meet their needs, such as spiritual tourism and exploration tourism... Tourists visiting Nghe An can immerse themselves with nature in ecological tourist areas, enjoy beautiful beaches, or visit historical relics, ecological regions, and zoos with many rare animals.
1. Where is Nghe An, Vietnam?
1.1. Overview
Nghe An is the country's largest province on the North Central Coast of Vietnam. Vinh city, about 291 kilometers south of Hanoi, serves as the province's executive center.
This province is known for its lush vegetation. It also has many famous landscapes, such as Pu Mat National Park and the Pu Hoat primitive forest preservation zone, and many beautiful beaches in Cua Lo, Cua Hoi, and Quynh Bang...
- Area: 16,490.25 square kilometers
- City: Vinh city
- Districts: Cua Lo, Hoang Mai, Thai Hoa, Anh Son, Con Cuong, Dien Chau, Do Luong, Hung Nguyen, Ky Son, Nam Dan, Nghi Loc, Nghia Dan, Que Phong, Quy Chau, Quy Hop, Quynh Luu, Tan Ky, Thanh Chuong, Tuong Duong, Yen Thanh
1.2. How to get to Nghe An
There are a lot of ways to get you to Nghe An, Vietnam. You can choose from different means of transportation: plane, bus, train, and motorcycle.
- Plane
Traveling by plane is the quickest way to get to Nghe An, Vietnam from Hanoi. Flights from Hanoi to Vinh take only 50 minutes. An economy class ticket costs only about 31 USD (or about 720,000 VND).
If you are in Ho Chi Minh City, you can travel to Vinh in about 1 hour and 50 minutes by plane. A one-way trip in economy class costs nearly the same as with a flight from Hanoi.
- Bus
Taking the bus from Ha Noi to Nghe An, Vietnam is less expensive than flying. A long-distance bus is frequently the most cost-effective means of transportation. However, the travel time is almost 6 hours. The buses leave Hanoi every hour, so it would be easy to catch one.
You can take a bus to Vinh from any bus station: My Dinh, Giap Bat, and Nuoc Ngam. You need to purchase a ticket to get on the bus. The cost ranges from 11 USD to 17 USD (250,000 to 400,000 VND) per ticket.
- Train
Some people prefer to travel by train because they can admire the scenery on the way. Ride a train if you are one of them. Furthermore, some tourists prefer trains because they have soft seat cabins and sleep cabins where they can recharge their energy. There are many cabin classes available, with prices ranging from 10 to 20 USD (230,000 to 470,000 VND) for a trip from Hanoi to Vinh. Travel time is roughly 7 hours.
- Motorcycle
All backpackers should choose this option because Nghe An has many attractive tourist destinations. You can ride a motorcycle along the route: Thang Long Avenue – Xuan Mai – Ho Chi Minh Road – Thai Hoa – turn left of Highway 48, continue on for 28 kilometers to reach No.1 Yen Ly street. Then turn right onto Highway 1A to get to Vinh city.
2. The weather in Nghe An, Vietnam
The climate in Nghe An, Vietnam is classified as tropical monsoon. This means that there are two types of weather each year: wet and dry. The wet season may bring rain or snow to some parts of the province because of temperature drops. Nonetheless, the wet season is when most people avoid visiting Nghe An, Vietnam.
It is the hottest in the summer months, so Nghe An is least crowded with tourists from June to August. While in the winter, the temperatures can drop dramatically with less rain and low humidity.
Many visitors find that Nghe An weather is ideal from December to April for tourists to visit during the dry season and that outdoor activities are unlikely to be hampered by rain. This is also the time of the year when flowers bloom throughout the province.
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3. Top-rated tourist attractions you should visit in Nghe An Province
In the heart of this sunny and windy region, Nghe An, Vietnam is constantly attracting tourists with various tourist attractions. Come to Nghe An, Vietnam and visit the seven famous tourist destinations listed below!
3.1. Cua Lo Beach
Cua Lo, a bustling town with a beautiful beach, is located east of Vinh city. Many tourists want to visit this destination at least once.
This location becomes a major tourist attraction in Nghe An, Vietnam during the summer, especially for visitors from northern provinces such as Hanoi, Ninh Binh. It is also the location for many outstanding events such as bikini shows, kite flying festivals... which add to the allure of this beach.
Nowadays, the town is a romantic getaway where visitors can relax. Aside from swimming, tourists in Cua Lo enjoy seafood, fishing, and tasting "muc nhat".
3.2. Kim Lien Village - President Ho Chi Minh's family hometown
The Kim Lien Relic, also known as the Kim Lien Museum, is in Nam Dan District and was Ho Chi Minh's childhood home. The museum serves as a memorial to the former president, and the house has been converted into a museum. Many domestic and international tourists will come to learn more about this historical figure.
The home is simple, but villagers keep it clean because it has become a tourist attraction and because they have great respect and devotion for the former president. It holds a lot of historical significance for the Vietnamese people, especially the people of Vinh city. Around the area, there is a reconstructed village, a museum containing the revolutionist leader's old belongings, and a shrine on a hill. The surroundings are also fascinating, with lush vegetation and clean air.
3.3. Hoang Tru Village – Uncle Ho’s hometown
Hoang Tru village is about 2 kilometers away from Kim Lien village in Nam Dan district, about 15 kilometers west of Vinh City. There is a cluster of Hoang Tru relics, including the birthplace of President Ho Chi Minh. This is also linked to the intriguing story of Uncle Ho's childhood and the moving stories of his parents.
Hoang Tru relic complex includes the house of Uncle Ho's grandparents (Hoang Duong and Nguyen Thi Kep), Hoang Xuan ancestral temple, the house of Uncle Ho's parents (Nguyen Sinh Sac and Hoang Thi Loan). The complex is about 3,500 square meters in area and has the spirit of Vietnamese villages.
A small three-room house in Hoang Tru relic complex is where the late President Ho Chi Minh was born. This house had seen the beautiful memories of his childhood with his grandparents, parents, brothers, and sisters.
3.4. Thanh Chuong Tea Hill
Thanh Chuong Tea Hill is in Thanh Chuong District, about 50 kilometers away from Vinh City. This is a stunning location in central Nghe An Province, close to the border with Laos. Unlike other tea hills in Moc Chau or Da Lat, which are easily accessible on foot, Thanh Chuong Tea Hill is on a small peninsula that can only be approached by boat in around 20 minutes.
In addition to its unique geographical location, Thanh Chuong Tea Hill was formed only a few years ago, therefore it attracts visitors with its untouched, verdant beauty and pure atmosphere. Green tea trees surround each tiny tea island.
Take advantage of this great opportunity to photograph the breathtaking scenery, smell the freshly grown tea leaves, and try picking the leaves like a local. Traditional clothing rental is also available, allowing you to dress like a local and take the best photos of the natural scenery in the yellow sunshine.
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3.5. Tham Om Cave
Tham On cave is in Chau Thuan commune, Quy Nhon district. This magnificent cave is 15 meters high and faces northeast.
It was identified as an archaeological excavation site in 1975. Three human teeth and several fossils of animal teeth were discovered along with a tool made of quartz. Today, the relics are almost 200,000 years old. This implies that the humans of Tham Om cave were the first people in history to dwell in Vietnam.
3.6. Pu Mat National Park
Pu Mat National Park is about 120 kilometers southwest of Vinh City. This enormous forest in North Central Vietnam is also a world biosphere reserve. With its beautiful natural landscape, Pu Mat is an appealing ecological tourist destination that attracts domestic and foreign visitors.
This national park encompasses 194,000 hectares of natural forest, with the core area covering 94,804 hectares and the buffer zone covering 86,000 hectares. The Pu Mat peak is 1,840 meters high and cloudy.
Pu Mat is one of Vietnam's largest biological reserves, with over 2,500 plant species, 37 of which are listed in the Vietnam Red Book, and 20 are listed on the Red List. The white-cheeked gibbons, which have only been found in this part of the world, are Pu Mat's unique residents. Visitors to the park can book a tour to hike through the green hills, searching for these rare animal species.
3.7. Muong Long Sky Gate
Muong Long Sky Gate is in Muong Long Commune, a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains that reach up to 1500 meters high near Truong Son range. Because of the high mountainous terrain, the air here is cool and comfortable year round, with temperatures never exceeding 25 degrees. Some people compare Muong Long to the two foggy towns: Sapa and Da Lat.
This land has majestic mountains and wild scenery, making it ideal for those who enjoy conquering and exploring the beauty of nature. Muong Long does not provide relaxation experiences, but it brings you closer to the beauty of Nghe An's forests.
Apart from exploring beautiful roads and hunting clouds at Muong Long sky gate, visitors can also learn about the life and culture of the Mong people who live in the villages.
4. Must-try foods in Nghe An, Vietnam
Nghe An, Vietnam attracts tourists with appealing amusement spots, but it also keeps diners interested with specialties that have fascinating rustic flavors.
4.1. Muot cake
Muot cake is like the steamed rice roll in the north of Vietnam and the wet cake in the south of Vietnam. Gastronomes should visit the coastal district of Dien Chau, where many families have been making muot cake for generations, to enjoy it at its best. It is a breakfast staple for the locals.
To make muot cake’s dipping sauce, the locals usually combine lime juice with fish sauce. As the side dish, vegetables and banana stems are served. Muot cake can also be served with duck or chicken meat, or beef stew and stewed pig offal.
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4.2. Water fern cake
Unlike the water fern cake in Hue which is made from rice flour, Nghe An water fern cake is made from tapioca starch. The baker must knead the dough thoroughly and stuff the shrimp in quickly while the water is still hot to make a delicious batch. The deep-fried shrimps are infused with spices, flavor, and deliciousness.
To meet Nghe An flavor standards, the water fern cake must have a strong flavor of pork and a sweet flavor of shrimp. You can add some toppings like onion, garlic, and put them in a little spicy, sour or sweet sauce. A dish of water fern cake Nghe An, Vietnam will undoubtedly captivate any foreigner who tries it for the first time.
4.3. Eel porridge
Eel porridge is a must-try specialty in Nghe An. This is considered the pride of Nghe An because the porridge has a distinct Nghe An flavor thanks to the skillful hands of the chef.
To avoid the fishy smell of eel and to make a perfect bowl of eel porridge, a chief with extensive experience and talent is required. Before being added to the porridge, the eel is fried with lemongrass, chili and garlic. As a result, the dish is tastier, more fragrant and more visually appealing. To make it more savory, add some minced chili and pepper when enjoying this dish.
Ranked among the most attractive destinations in Asia, Vietnam offers numerous beautiful natural wonders, unique architectural works, and detectable cuisine. Don't forget to visit Ha Long, Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc to explore the best that Vietnam has to offer.
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Nghe An, Vietnam has a mix of urban and rural landscapes and destinations so visitors can expect a plethora of adventures. Nghe An province is the place to go if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city life.