QUẢNG BÌNH — The central province of Quảng Bình is offering boat tours to craft villages along local rivers in an attempt to add tourism options in an area known for caving tours to famous karst grottoes.

Tourists will depart from a station on the Chày River and will visit a floating community that raises fish in cages. This method of fish farming is a tradition of Xuân Tiến Village in Sơn Trạch Commune. The type of fish raised by the community is found only in Son River, and they are a must-try specialty dish in Quảng Bình.

With almost 600 floating cages, the community is a lively one full of trade.

Gia Hưng Village is on the next stop. The village is home to a unique, multi-story Catholic church made of wood. Gia Hưng is also a centre of the traditional craft of producing alcohol from rice.

Visitors will have the chance to sample Vietnamese rice wine.

During the trip, visitors will enjoy the beauty of Son River and unique vies of communities along its banks.

The tour will continue along Gianh River to its final stop, Ba Đồn Township, home to nine traditional craft villages. Thổ Ngoa, known for making conical hats, and Nhân Hòa, home to blacksmiths, are the top choices for visitors looking to observe true craftsmanship and enjoy a peaceful ambiance.

On the way back, visitors can go for a bike ride to enjoy the nature of Khương Hà Village in Hưng Trạch Commune.

The Quảng Bình People’s Committee has approved a proposal by local company Oxalis Holiday to run the river tour programme to diversity tourism offerings in the province.

Quảng Bình is home to many karst caves, the most famous of which is Sơn Đoòng, the world’s largest grotto. The province also has beautiful nature and landscapes, including the Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, a UNESCO heritage site. — VNS