Camping among the magnificent caves is something that no tourist wants to miss when visiting Phong Nha – Kẻ Bàng. — Photo tcdulichtphcm.vn

By Thanh Nga

Located on the sunny and windy central strip of the country, Quảng Bình Province is favoured thanks to its charming scenery and many unique tourist and camping destinations. The province should be a top destination on your bucket list to explore with friends.

Phong Nha – Kẻ Bàng National Park

You can’t ignore the Phong Nha – Kẻ Bàng National Park when visiting to Quảng Bình.

Located in Bố Trạch District, this place has some great spots for overnight camping. From vast grasslands and romantic lakeshores to mysterious caves, many places in the park can bring you and your loved ones unforgettable memories.

The park is located about 45km from the centre of Đồng Hới City. With the two main sections, Phong Nha Cave and the majestic Kẻ Bàng limestone mountain range, the park gives the feeling of being lost in wild nature.

The park covers in an area of 200,000ha, with a vast system of caves, and a variety of rare wildlife and plants. This led to the park being recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage site in 2003.

Notably, the park is lies next to the Hin Namno nature reserve in Khammouan Province, Laos. Besides camping and exploring the primaeval ecosystem, many tourists also choose Phong Nha – Kẻ Bàng as a trekking route.

Nhật Lệ Beach. — Photo quangbinhbooking.com

Nhật Lệ Beach

Nhật Lệ is considered the most beautiful beach in Quảng Bình with smooth white sands embraced by the gentle sea. The beach is like a fairy embracing the city's heart, waiting for the waves to caress it.

The beach is located in Đồng Hới City, right at the mouth of the Nhật Lệ River flowing into the East Sea. Nhật Lệ possesses the quintessential, poetic, and unique beauty of a beach worth exploring.

The weather is ideal for a visit with mild temperatures. The sea is generally calm this time of year, making it ideal for a dip. 

The sandy beach is appropriate for beach games like football, volleyball and handball. In addition, there are also watersports such as paragliding, surfing and canoeing on the sea.

When lying back on the hammock overlooking the vast sea, you feel like the colour mixes with the clear blue sky. The beach is gentle with a depth that is safe enough for children who want to splash around in the cool water.

And if you have the opportunity to come here, don't miss your chance to watch the sunrise over the sea, or to catch a sunset over the city lights. You can also see dozens of fishing boats lit up in the sea at night, like a floating city in the middle of the vast ocean.

Fresh and delicious seafood available at Nhật Lệ Beach. — Photo quangbinhtrip.com

Bãi Đá Nhảy (Jumping Rock Beach)

Đá Nhảy Beach lies along National Highway 1A, making it easy to find if you arrive in Quảng Bình for the first time. With such a convenient location, you don't need to spend much time for preparing food and renting tents.

Đá Nhảy is another wild and enchanting place to visit when you arrive here.

In Vietnamese, Đá Nhảy means "jumping rock". It refers to the topographical feature of this beach which sees thousands of rocks reaching out of the sea, surrounding small soft sand beaches great for sunbathing.  

Đá Nhảy Beach. — Photo ivivu.com

This beach is clean with white sand and rocks jumping out of the sand. The giant rocks come in various shapes and sizes, with some resembling toads, buffalo, kneeling tigers, and elephants.

Đá Nhảy Beach has the Toad Well, a natural well covered with a large rock in a toad shape. The water in the well is clean and warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The fishermen take the water to use as an offering in a nearby temple.  

Visitors will enjoy the unforgettable experience of camping at night. There are many local services to rent tents, most of which have set up shop next to the beach. You can also organize team-building activities such as campfires, dancing, singing and enjoying delicious seafood such as shrimp, fish and crab.

Đá Nhảy is an ideal spot for picnics on the beach. 

Love Valley

The Love Valley in Còi Đá Village in Ngân Thủy Commune, Lệ Thủy District is an emerging camping spot in the province.

Isolated from the outside world, it still maintains its natural features and is likened to a mini Đà Lạt in Quảng Bình.

Coming here, you will be surrounded by mountains, immersed in nature. In the vast grasslands, herds of cows and goats graze on the grass.

Camping in Còi Đá Village in Ngân Thủy Commune, Lệ Thủy District. — Photo netintravel.com

The lovely, small stilt houses of the ethnic Bru-Vân Kiều people sit between blue streams and beautifully constructed rock formations.

The area can sustain team-building activities and would make a great option for something a little different from the usual Hạ Long day trips companies offer. 

As the sun sets, you can prepare your tents for the night ahead. 

After setting up the tent, a BBQ party with pork, chicken, potatoes and maize on a flaming charcoal stove is indispensable.

An evening full of stories, all distance seems to have disappeared, everything is brought together for a peaceful night in the Love Valley. VNS