(TITC) - Whenever we mention Quang Ninh, majority of visitors would definitely remember the charming Ha Long Bay - World Natural Heritage. However, the land also embraces an emerald gem with majestic natural landscape and unique national cultural colours in the border regions of the country. Binh Lieu would be your next stop on the journey exploring Quang Ninh Province in Northeast of Vietnam.
Sunset on terraced fields in Cao Thang village, Binh Lieu (Photo: Nguyen Thanh Trung)
Binh Lieu is a mountainous district located in the northeast of Quang Ninh Province, about 270 km from Ha Noi. To reach Binh Lieu, visitors can board private cars via the direction of Ha Noi - Hai Phong - Ha Long - Van Don highway, continuing on Highway 18 and 18C.
Binh Lieu District is a relatively pristine destination yet is an ideal place for tourists to enjoy all the features of mountain and forest nature, a place covered by majestic mountains and poetic waterfalls, above are dreaming and floating clouds. This place has a mild year-round climate, diverse topographic structures and beautiful natural scenery, promising to become a new 'muse' for those who love to travel.
No matter when you arrive in Binh Lieu, you can enjoy and experience the characteristics of this border district. Spring is the time for spiritual tourism, an opportunity to participate in special festivals such as the Luc Na communal house festival and the Soong Co singing festival. Summer with rolling waterfalls and lush green terraced fields, and to witness a "muse" Binh Lieu blushing in the sun and rain, sometimes is too sour and scornful with clear sky in here and unexpected light shower in there. In the fall and winter, reeds cover a vast border area, with the harvest season and the So flower festival - the typical flower of Binh Lieu and the only flower that blooms in winter, along with the new rice celebration, enjoy the scent of red maple leaves.
Dao ethnic people at Binh Lieu So Flower Festival (Photo: Bui Bich Thuy)
Attractions in Binh Lieu
Luc Na Communal House
Luc Na Communal House (Photo: TITC)
Luc Na Communal House is named after the name of Luc Na Village in Luc Hon Commune, Binh Lieu District. The communal house was ranked as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic on 18 July 2005. Luc Na Communal House is the place to worship the village's tutelary god, Mr. Hoang Can, a general and a national hero who made great contributions in the fight to defeat foreign invaders and protect the country. This is also a place for cultural and religious activities of the local community. Coming here to learn about the revolutionary historical milestones of Binh Lieu District.
Terraced fields in ripe rice season
Terraced fields in Binh Lieu (Photo: Hoang Duc Bang)
October every year is the time when Binh Lieu becomes poetic with the sweet scent of rice, the yellow colour spreading across the terraced fields. Tourists who want to enjoy the scenery of Binh Lieu in the ripe rice season should not miss the following places: Khe O, Cao Thang, Ngan Pat villages (Luc Hon Commune), located on the western slope of Cao Xiem mountain, about over 3km from National Highway 18C. In addition, Song Mooc and Khe Tien villages (Dong Van Commune), Ngan Cam, Cao Son and Hoanh Mo communes are ideal places to admire Binh Lieu during the golden rice season.
Khe Van Waterfall
Khe Van Waterfall (Photo: Bui Vinh Thuan)
Khe Van Waterfall originates from the Khe Van - Thong Chau mountain range with a terrain altitude of about 330m, in Binh Lieu District. Khe Van Waterfall is nestled in the middle of majestic mountains and forests, appearing like a watercolour painting. The waterfall with 3 levels of water flows at a height of about 100m, pouring down in the middle of the forest, below are large rocks, on both sides are moss-covered cliffs. Surrounding Khe Van Waterfall is pristine protective forest and rich vegetation, a destination to visit and enjoy the natural scenery of mountains and cool streams.
Hoanh Mon Border Gate
Photo: TITC
Milestone 1317 (Photo: TITC)
Hoanh Mo Border Gate, one of the border gates between Vietnam and China. Visitors can combine visiting landmark 1317 located on the Vietnamese side in Hoanh Mo border gate.
Landmark 1305 and Dinosaur spine
Binh Lieu border patrol road (Photo: Bui Vinh Thuan)
Dinosaur spine taken from Milestone 1305 (Photo: Nam Hoang)
Milestone 1305 is located on the Binh Lieu border patrol road, and is one of two boundary markers located at the highest position in Quang Ninh. The road to Milestone 1305 is winding, hugging the mountain. This is also the most beautiful part of the road to the milestone. Dinosaur Spine is the phrase to refer to the ridge on the way to Milestone 1305. Dinosaur Spine is an ideal trekking route with more than 2,000 steps and slopes, and 3 rest stops. Going over the Dinosaur Spine for about 2 hours, visitors will reach the milestone.
Besides, milestones 1300, 1302, 1317 and 1327 are beautiful and sacred landmarks that cannot be missed when coming to Binh Lieu.
Cao Ly mountain
Sea of clouds in Cao Ly (Photo: Can Dinh Loan)
Cao Ly is a high mountain range stretching over an area of over 40 km² with 8 peaks over 1,000 m high in the border district of Binh Lieu. This is a camping and picnic spot suitable for groups of young people or families. From July to the end of October, visitors will enjoy the purple colour of late blooming Mua flowers, stretching to cover the hillsides and hunting clouds.
Learn about ethnic minority culture
Dao ethnic people in red shirts with typical floral embroideries at the highland market (Photo: Pham Long)
Market in the town centre of Binh Lieu District (Photo: Hoang Duc Bang)
Binh Lieu has over 96% of the population that are ethnic minorities, most of whom are Tay, Dao, San Chi, Kinh, Hoa… Visitors to Binh Lieu will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the cultural identity of the people here, wearing outstanding ethnic costumes with many bright patterns and colours. On weekends, visiting Binh Lieu, visitors have the opportunity to stroll through the market in the town centre or Dong Van commune market. The market opens every Saturday and Sunday. People from all over the village from neighbouring communes and districts also bring goods and agricultural and forestry products to the market to trade. Bathing leaves, medicinal herbs of ethnic minorities, wild honey, wild bamboo shoots... are typical items at this highland market.
Binh Lieu specialties
Visitors to Binh Lieu should not miss the typical delicacies of this border mountainous region such as Binh Lieu vermicelli, grilled stream fish, tree root wine, bao thai wine, porridge cooked from bao thai rice, Meo beans, stir-fried bamboo shoots, and so oil…
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