Binh Dinh, land of martial arts, heaven of literature

Sources: vietnamtourism.org.vn | binhdinh.gov.vn

Binh Dinh is rich in cultural and historical traditions. It used to be the ancient capital of the ancient Champa Kingdom; hometown of the outstanding hero Quang TrungNguyen Hue. This place has long been known as the «land of martial arts, heaven of literature» with many unique art forms, such as Boi classical drama, Bai Choi folk art, traditional martial arts, Tay Son martial music... Simultaneously, it is also the birthplace. nurtured and become a stop for cultural celebrities, many famous poets and artists, who have entered the history of poetry and music of the country, such as: Dao Tan, Xuan Dieu, Han Mac Tu, Che Lan Vien, Yen Lan, Trinh Cong Son... The people of Binh Dinh are brave and resilient in their struggle to defend the Fatherland and are diligent, intelligent and creative in their homeland construction.

Binh Dinh is also known as the place with charming scenery with beautiful spots along the 134 km coastal line throughout the province such as Quy Nhon beach, Ghenh Rang Tien sa, Eo Gio, Ky Co, Hon Seo, Hon Kho, Trung Luong, Thi Nai lagoon, Cu Lao Xanh, Ham Ho, Mui Vi Rong, etc. In recent years, Binh Dinh has been considered as “upcoming star” on the central region tourist map. The long coast with many coves and lochs makes many beautiful spots and beaches such as Phuong Mai Peninsula, Queen, Quy Hoa and Ghenh Rang beaches. Besides these, Ham Ho Valley is a beautiful fresh water spot as a change for visitors who prefer tramping in the bush and a swim in the fresh water stream.

Binh Dinh is famous for its Sa Huynh Culture. It used to be established as one of the capital cities of the former Cham Kingdom for a long period. The popular Cham towers are Banh It, Duong Long, Canh Tien and Doi. Binh Dinh has special products such as silk, swallow nest, shrimp, fish, precious wood, vegetable oil, rice, marble, titanium, and handicraft articles.

Quang Trung Museum

Many valuable items are now displayed at Quang Trung Museum. They are not only historical but educational features. Therefore Quang Trung Museum is a well-known destination for visitors coming to Binh Dinh.

Tay Son movement began in late XVIII century. Three brothers Nguyen Nhac, Nguyen Hue, and Nguyen Lu, particularly Nguyen Hue (also known as Quang Trung) led Tay Son insurgent army to defeat the enemy, uniting the country. After the Southern Liberation Day, Quang Trung Museum was built to preserve valuable and historical items originated from Tay Son movement. It locates in Kien My Hamlet, Binh Thanh Commune, Tay Son District.

QuangTrung Museum has left a good impression on scores of people visiting here. They can understand the cultural and historical values of a period in Vietnam’s history, specially Tay Son Farmers movement. To Local people are always proud of living in the hometown of the hero. Many relics have been carefully preserved, such as: well, tamarind tree, and other valuable items.

A lot of items in the museum such as: coins or royal seal have their origins in Tay Son dynasty. Annually, thousands of domestic and foreign tourists have visited Quang Trung Museum to experience historical features of Tay Son Dynasty. Also, they will be able to enjoy folk performances, such as Tay Son military music, and Cong and Chieng (Gong). On the occasion of Dong Da victory celebration, various activities are held, including martial arts and wresting competition, singing competition, and other folk games.

Thanks to such festivals and other celebrations, local people can have many benefits. Also, the construction and restoration of QuangTrung Museum and the collection of Tay Son culture will last forever. It is hoped that all items relating to Tay Son Dynasty will be displayed in Quang Trung Museum, contributing to the preservation of spiritual values in Vietnam’s history.

Duong Long Cham Towers

These Towers are located at Go Dang, Binh Hoa Commune, Tay Son District, Binh Dinh Province. The temple comprises of three big towers. It was built in the XII century with very beautiful architecture. Duong Long Cham Tower, also called Thap Nga meaning “Ivory Tower” is located about 40km from Quy Nhon and 270km from Danang City. The highest tower, 35m high, is in the middle, and the two others are 22m.

Built of bricks, its corners have got motifs with stone carvings of sacred animals such as Garuda birds, elephants, and eagles. Its gate faces the east and is rather high (about 1.5m) and the gates frame is made of big stones. Its upper part is built of big stones, which are skilfully superimposed on each other. Many big, body leaf-shaped bas embossments describing monks, dancers and singers are found on the walls.

These figures with rather big heads wear corner hats. Particularly, the top of the tower looks like a great lotus with its rising petals. All the decorative motifs of the tower are very big and carved on sandstone. This tower complex is one of the most beautiful in Central Vietnam.

All Cham towers are built of brick with varying degrees of stone accents. At Duong Long, the stonework is particularly abundant, suggesting this was an important ritual site. While these accents display a variety of animal, vegetal, and human forms, no specific iconography definitively links the towers to a particular deity. Anne-Valérie Schweyer suggests that the heavy stonework was an influence from the nearby Khmer Empire, which was known to have regular contact with the Chams.

As part of this cultural exchange some Cham princes practiced Mahayana Tantric Buddhism (similar to the Khmer King Jayavarman VII); hence, it remains possible that Duong Long was a Tantric Buddhist site, but the argument cannot be definitively settled without future archeological discoveries, as none of the original statuary once housed in the towers survives today.

(orientalarchitecture.com by Timothy M. Ciccone)

Eo Gio Cliffs

Because of its terrain characteristics look like a saddle, lying between two high mountains beside the sea – so indigenous people have named Eo Gio, meaning «The strait of the wind».

Eo Gio has unspoiled and majestic beauty which is comparable to other beaches in the Central of Vietnam. It is like a miracle between rocky mountains, which you have to discover to get it. When you get there, you will suprise with the extremely blue water, the rocky cliffs with strange shapes embrace the whole sea, and the feeling of lying on the rocks to listen to the sea breeze blowing in the ear, the peaceful feeling cannot be described.
(Source: dulichquynhon.binhdinh.gov.vn)

Ky Co Beach

This is untouch beach, clean, charming with very pure water. this is the appropriate place for camping, picnic, swim, diving to explore the coral reef. Enjoy local seafood with nice local fisherman. Ky Co beach is one of the most beautiful and wild beaches in Vietnam with long white sand and blue water and spectacular landscapes that around the beach.

Ky Co beach is located in Phuong Mai mountains foothill in Nhon Ly Peninsula–Quy Nhon city, which is beautiful like a poetic picture but with magnificent allure. Tourists are attracted not only by its beauty but also other amazing things, especially for those who like adventure tourism.

Where does the name Ky Co come from? A question that everyone seems to want to know. According to the history and stories of the elders here, the name Ky Co originates from the Cham Pa language, because in the past this land was where the Cham people lived, and its original pronunciation was Kai Co, meaning "a small strait" in Vietnamese — a small, clear and beautiful beach. As time went by, the pronunciation of Kai Co briefly had been changed and skipped, and the name Ky Co was born together with the history flows.

Ky Co is a beautiful peninsula, located at the foot of Phuong Mai mountain, in Nhon Ly island commune, about 25 km from Quy Nhon. The most special feature of Ky Co is definitely the two distinct shades of green-blue water, prominent against its white sand.
Source: kycobeach.vn

Ghenh Rang Tien Sa

The hectic life always makes you tired and you want to find a peaceful place to relax, Ghenh Rang will be a perfect choice for you. You are here able to enjoy everything, visit the poet Han Mac Tu’s tomb and Quy Hoa leper camp with pleasure.

Ghenh Rang located around two kilometers from the heart of Quy Nhon City, the tourist spot is like a beautiful garden lying along the sea.There is a Queen Beach, a unique beach with numerous smooth stones as eggs with different sizes together, so it called Bai Trung (Egg site).

It is called Queen’s Beach, where once Nam Phuong Empress bathed. The site also offers a panorama of the city which is located along a beautiful prolonged coast. Above the Queen beach is the resting place of famous poet Han Mac Tu. There is a shop nearby, where you could read his typical poems and know more about his life. The shop owner called Dzu Kha often carves the poems on fir-made pieces with his «fire» pen.

The tomb of Han Mac Tu is at a high and solemn place surrounded by flowers and stone statues. Poetry lovers should not miss a chance to visit a special house near the tomb, where all poems of Han Mac Tu have been preserved.

(Nguồn: quynhonme.vn)

Trung Luong Beach

Trung Luong is one of the most popular and famous beach in Binh Dinh. The beach is located in Cat Tien commune, Phu Cat district, about 30 km from downtown Quy Nhon. The sea is blue, the waves flutter the shore gently, the coast stretches out the eye with smooth white sand along with beautiful way around Ba mountain, the stone with many strange shapes, overlapping make up the poetic and gentle sea paintings, leaving plenty of emotion for visitors. Visitors can travel by various means from motorbike, car, train to the plane to Binh Dinh and make the journey to discover Trung Luong.

From Quy Nhon, tourists can travel through Nhon Hoi Bridge and take provincial road 640 to reach one of the most beautiful beaches of «Martial Arts Area» or can also go from airport along provincial road 635 to the provincial road 640. Visitors can leisurely walk along the sea, take wedding photos, enjoy seafood or simply enjoy the cool water in Trung Luong.

Also when coming to Trung Luong beach, visitors shall not forget to visit the historical, ecological and spiritual area of Linh Phong, Nui Ba Victory Monument and Trung Luong Cat Tien picnic area. This tour will give visitors an enjoyable experience that is nowhere to be found
(Content source: Binh Dinh Tourism Department)

Lang Song Minor Seminary

Lang Song Minor Seminary is located in Sanh Phuong village, Phuoc Son Commune, Tuy Phuoc district, about 20km northeast of Quy Nhon. It is told that church was formerly known as Long Song, because it was surrounded by paddle fields and rivers. Over time, as the name sign at the entrance of the church has been faded, the sign has been repainted and corrected to “làng” instead of “lòng” in accordance to local pronunciation. The name is kept until nowadays.

Lang Song Minor Seminary was built in Gothic style – the typical architectural style of Europeans in church and palace construction. This can be easily recognized as the main hall of the minor seminary is decorated with symmetrical frames, wind flower decorations, patterns and pointed archway typically of minor seminary architecture. At first glance, the facade of Lang Song Minor Seminary is very similar to ancient Saint Paul Cathedral built by the Portuguese in Macao. While it is not as epic and massive as Saint Paul Cathedral, Lang Song Minor Seminary somehow still preserves its ancient architecture.

Others Top Attractions in Binh Dinh Province

Bai Xep Beach, Ong Nui Temple, Thap Doi (Twin Towers), Cu Lao Xanh Island, Quy Hoa Beach, Banh It Towers (Bac Towers), Hon Kho Island, Nui Vung Chua Mountain, Thien Hung Pagoda...
(Nguồn binhdinh.gov.vn)

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