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Nghe An
Area: 16,498.5 sq. km.
Population: 3,064.3 thousand habitants (2006)
Capital: Vinh City
Administrative divisions:
Town: Cua Lo
Districts: Dien Chau, Quynh Luu, Yen Thanh, Do Luong, Nghi Loc, Hung Nguyen, Nam Dan, Thanh Chuong, Tan Ky, Anh Son, Con Cuong, Nghia Dan, Quy Hop, Quy Chau, Que Phong, Tuong Duong, Ky Son.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Kho Mu, Tho, Thai, H'Mong...
Introduction: Geography, Tourism, Transportation.
Attraction:
- Historical & Cultural Vestiges: Cuong Temple, The native land of President Ho Chi Minh, Tomb of Mrs. Hoang Thi Loan.
- Scenic Landscapes: Cua Lo Beach.
- Cultural Travel: Bua Cave Festival, Con Temple Festival, Cuong Temple Festival, Hau Luat Festival, Nguyen Su Hoi Temple Festival, Qua Son Temple Festival, Quynh Festival, Thanh Dam Festival (Mussels Procession Festival), Tram Festival.
Geography
 Nghe An is a large province in the central part of Vietnam that connects the North to the South. Nghe An shares its border with Thanh Hoa in the north, East Sea in the east, Laos in the west, and Ha Tinh in the south.
Nghe An is located on the North East of Truong Son range, with complicated topography, divided by hills, mountains, rivers and streams slanting from North-West to South-East, the highest peak is Pulaileng (2,711m) in Ky Son district, the low areas are Quynh Luu, Dien Chau, Yen Thanh districts and the lowest one is Quynh Thanh commune in Quynh Luu district with the altitude of 0,2m above the sea level. Mountainous and hilly lands cover 83% natural area of the whole province.
Climate: The province is located in the tropical monsoon area, directly affected by the South West hot dry seasonal winds (during April- August) and the North East wet and cold seasonal winds (during November- March). The annual average temperature varies between 23ºC and 24ºC.
Tourism
 Nghe An has enjoyed favourable conditions in terms of geographical location. The province has the national highways and railway, as well as the Cua Lo International Port and Vinh Airport. Nghe An marks the starting point of the Heritage route in the central part, and the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail. In addition, it is also the starting point of the tourist route following the east-west corridor, connecting Vinh - Laos - Thailand through Highway No. 8.
Two thirds of its area is forested. Nature has endowed Nghe An with beautiful landscapes for tourism development. Among them include its long seaside with pristine beaches, especially Cua Lo which is considered one of the best in Vietnam, and Pu Mat National Park, which is home to diverse flora and fauna, apart from breath-taking landscapes.
Nghe An takes pride in its tradition in the building and defence of the nation. One hundred and thirty-one historical-cultural sites have been recognized as national treasures. The Kim Lien historical-cultural site, the native village of President Ho Chi Minh, World Cultural Celebrity and National Liberation Hero, is one among those.
Nghe An people have won kudos for their intelligence, diligence, eagerness to study and their hospitality, cultural traditional imbued with national identity. Nghe An is fast changing with every passing days. It will be a highlighted destination for tourists near and far.
Transportation
Nghe An is one of the important clue of transportation throughout the country. It has diversified and developed  transportation, including land road, railway, river road, air port and sea port which are formed and scattered quite reasonably by residential zone, economic and administration centre.
-Road: highway 7, highway 48, highway 46, highway 15... Vinh is 14km from Kim Lien Village, 16km from Cua Lo Beach, 139km from Thanh Hoa, 197km from Dong Hoi, 291km from Hanoi, 368km from Hue, and 468km from Danang.
- Railway: 124km (of which 94km North - South line, with 7 stations, Vinh station is the main station.
- Airway: Vinh airport, Vinh - Danang - Tan Son Nhat flight (and reverse direction).
- Seaport: Cua Lo port now for the 10,000 toned ship. It will be convenience for being the international clue.
- Border gate: Nam Can.
Attraction
1) Historical & Cultural Vestiges
 Location: Cuong Temple is situated on Mo Da Mountain, Dien An Village, Dien Trung Commune, Dien Chau District, Nghe An Province; near National Highway 1; 30km north of Vinh City.
Characteristics: The temple was built to worship Thuc An Duong Vuong.
According to legend, it was erected on the exact location where he took his own life.
The temple was built as the Chinese character tam (three) and consists of three parallel residences. On the roofs, there are running lions and two dragons looking at the moon. Cuong Temple is an interesting site to visit.
Location: The native land of President Ho Chi Minh is located in Kim Lien Commune, Nam Dan District, Nghe An Province.
Characteristics: This is the place where President Ho Chi Minh was born and spent his childhood time here.
Sen Village (the homeland of Ho Chi Minh’s father)
 Starting from Vinh City, take Road No. 49 until the 13th km, then turn into a red earth path lined with eucalyptus and casuarinas trees. The path will lead you to Sen, also known as Kim Lien (Golden Lotus), village where there are many lotus ponds. The thatched cottage where President Ho Chi Minh used to live during his childhood is built from bamboo and wood. It has five compartments. The interior furniture is similar to that of other farmers’ houses: a wooden bed, a bamboo chong (a bamboo bed without raised walls at the two ends), a hammock made from hemp, and an altar. It was built in 1901 with the help and donations of the villagers as a present to Nguyen Sinh Sac, President Ho Chi Minh’s father, when he gained the doctoral title at the court exam, which glorified his village.
Chua Village (the homeland of Ho Chi Minh’s mother)
Located two kilometers from Sen Village, Chua Village is just as peaceful as any other Vietnamese villages. But it is famous, both domestically and internationally, as President Ho Chi Minh’s maternal homeland and the place where he was born and brought up by his mother.
Walking through a bamboo gate and a path lined with low plums; visitors will see two simple thatched cottages, Ho Chi Minh’s house.
The Worship House - Mr. Hoang Duong’s House
Mr. Hoang Duong, President Ho Chi Minh’s maternal grandfather, built this simple cottage in 1882 to make it a place for worshipping his paternal  grand grandfather, grandfather, and father. The altar is decorated in a simple but solemn fashion. Attractive to visitors is the pair of parallel sentences hung in the front of the house, which praise the family clan’s fame.
The house has five compartments and two lean-tos. Three outer compartments adjoin with the worship house; so it is well ventilated. Mr. Hoang Duong used to teach his students while sitting on the wooden bed placed in the first compartment.
In the second compartment, there is a bamboo sofa and a table where he placed his pen-brushes and ink-slab. He and his students would take a rest on the bed put in the third compartment.
The remaining two compartments were used as his wife’s bedroom and the family’s living room.
Location: Tomb of Mrs. Hoang Thi Loan is located on Mount Dong Tranh, Nam Dan District, Nghe An Province.
Characteristics: The tomb was built in 1985, on the occasion of President Ho Chi Minh’s 95th birthday anniversary.
Mrs. Hoang Thi Loan (1868-1901) was the mother of many patriotic children, including Nguyen Sinh Cung, who later became President Ho Chi Minh.
From the mount foot, visitors will have to climb nearly 300 stone steps leading to the tomb. Above it is a concrete roof stylised as the loom with which Mrs. Hoang Thi Loan used to weave cloth to earn a living and feed her children.
2) Scenic Landscapes
Location: Cua Lo Beach is situated in Cua Lo Town, Nghe An Province.
Characteristics: Cua Lo Beach is one of the nicest beaches in North Vietnam with its white sand and clear blue water.
 Cua Lo Beach is located 18km from Vinh. This 10km sandy beach is outlined by pine forests. Not far from the beach are 3 islands: Hon Ngu, Hon Chu, and Hon Mat with natural and primitive landscape which is attractive visitors.
Once in Cua Lo, tourists can visit the islands by boat, climb the mountains, dive, and visit historical and literary sites such as the temple in honor of Nguyen Xi in Nghi Hop Commune, the Trung Kien Pagoda in Nghi Thiet Commune, and the Hoang Van family altar in Cua Lo.
Nowadays in Cua Lo, a number of rest houses and hotels, and the modern services system is constructed to meet the need of the travelers.
3) Cultural Travel
Time: 21st to the 23rd day of the first lunar month.
Place: Chau Tien Commune, Quy Chau District, Nghe An Province.
Characteristics: Spring festival of the ethnic minority.
Bua Cave is a natural landscape, situated in the range of limestone mountains with many unique forms that are related to historical legends. On the the day of the beginning spring, Bua Cave Festival is held to thank gods of Earth, Mountain. People of many other ethnic groups in the region in color ethnic dresses attend the festival. Sap dance, con throwing, pan-pipe playing, shooting cross-bow... are attractive many people. Every year, beauty contest of mountainous region is held at Bua Cave.
Time: The 19th to the 21st day of the first lunar month.
Place: Phuong Can Village, Quynh Phuong Commune, Quynh Luu District, Nghe An Province.
Objects of worship: Duc Thanh Mau, the Holy Mother - one of four goddesses (she protects and supports for villagers to have prosperous life, helping the armies cross the ocean safe and sound).
Characteristics: Game of mimic navy battle.
Con Temple is one of the most sacred temples in Nghe An. It was built in 1235 under Tran Dynasty and situated near by sea gate of Lach Con, among a charming mountains and water area. Con Temple Festival opens with boats decorated with flags, flowers, the sounds of drums and gongs. The game of mimic navy battle is related to the legend of building temple. The game includes blue and red troops which are fought on an obstacles and difficult of access range of mountain from Oi Village to Con Temple. Mimic battle is held every 3-year. Among which, the custom of oi running is unique feature of Con Temple Festival. It involves many traditional games: fairy swinging, wrestling, human chess playing, dragon boat racing, Vietnamese opera (tuong), popular opera (cheo), chau van songs... At the end of the festival are the ceremonies of praying for peaceful life, good fortune, thanksgiving, consult a fortuneteller...
Time: The 15th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Dien Trung Commune, Dien Chau District, Nghe An Province.
Objects of worship: King Thuc An Duong Vuong.
Characteristics: Palanquin procession, swinging, fireworks burning.
The ceremony of placarding at the temple, a procession of God's palanquin from Cuong Temple to Cao Ai Communal House for King Thuc enjoys the festival, then returns to the temple. From other neighboring communal houses, also having processions of the village's tutelary god to Cuong Temple to attend the festival.
Traditional games: swinging, wrestling, cock fighting, human chess, contests of volleyball, badminton, mountain climbing. In the evening, ca tru, tuong, cheo singing, fireworks burning.
Time: 5th to the 6th day of the first lunar month.
Place: Yen Thanh District, Nghe An Province.
Objects of worship: Trieu Co who expanded a new cultivate land.
Characteristics: Opening new land festival in the beginning of the year.
Time: The 15th day of the first lunar month.
Place: Van Loc Village, Nghi Tan Ward, Cua Lo Town, Nghe An Province.
Objects of worship: Nguyen Su Hoi (Thai Uy Quan Cong, a high-ranking mandarin in old dynasties who had great merit of expanding the wasteland of the east of Nghi Loc District).
Characteristics: Palanquin procession of god, boat racing.
The temple is situated on the left bank of Cam River, 500m from Cua Lo Town. Every year, villagers open festival for remembering on his death's day. Re-perform the navy battle on the sea which is commanded by Nguyen Su Hoi; boat racing; a palanquin procession of god from Nguyen Su Hoi Temple goes around the village.
Time: 19th to the 21st day of the first lunar month.
Place: Boi Son Commune, Do Luong District, Nghe An Province.
Objects of worship: Ly Nhat Quang (Uy Minh Royal Highest Ly Hoang).
Characteristics: Worshipping ceremony, a procession of 12 dragon boats, boat racing.
Time: The 27th day of the twelfth lunar month.
Place: Quynh Doi Commune, Quynh Luu District, Nghe An Province.
Objects of worship: The ancestors of families: Ho, Nguyen, Hoang, Duong, Phan, Pham who had merit of setting up the village.
Characteristics: Procession of god to communal house, sacrifice - offering ceremony, vying for cau gio, wrestling, swinging.
Time: the 15th day to the 18th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Thanh Dam Village, Nam Tan Commune, Nam Dan District, Nghe An Province.
Objects of worship: Water-nymph.
Characteristics: Mussels procession and releasing mussels.
Time: 1st to the 3rd day of the first lunar month.
Place: Dong Liet Hamlet, Nam Thai Commune, Nam Dan District, Nghe An Province.
Characteristics: Rice cooking contest. Each couple are both walking and cooking rice.
(Source: Vietnam National Administration of Tourism) |
