A 48-hour itinerary experienced by VnExpress reporters, with advice from Mr. Nam Dung, who just returned from a trip from the 7th to the 9th of June, and a local from Nghe An province.
Day 1
Traveling from Hanoi
Departing in the morning from Hanoi, follow the CT01 expressway through Phap Van – Cau Gie – Ninh Binh – Cao Bo – Mai Son – QL45 – Nghi Son – Dien Chau, and stop in Vinh city, Nghe An province. This expressway also extends to Bai Vot in Ha Tinh province, but the last section is not yet completed. The road is scenic, and the travel time is approximately 4 hours.
The road has a maximum speed limit of 90 km/h and only 1-2 temporary rest stops, “there are no gas stations, so passengers need to prepare carefully for the journey,” said Mr. Nam Dung.
Nghe An-style eel soup is usually served with French bread or steamed rice rolls. Photo: Nam Dung
Stop for lunch in Vinh city. A must-try dish in Vinh is eel, including soup, porridge, vermicelli, braised eel with banana and tofu, grilled eel, etc. Some famous addresses: Hong Son eel restaurant (on Mai Hac De street), Ba Ngo eel restaurant (on Doc Thiet street), eel soup (on Phuong Hoang street), Cuong Thuy eel (on Hoang Thi Loan street), Cong Thanh spicy eel (on Tran Hung Dao street).
Visit Sen Village, the hometown of President Ho Chi Minh
About 15 km from Vinh city and 25 km from Cua Lo beach, Sen Village belongs to Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district. This is the birthplace and childhood home of President Ho Chi Minh. The historical house still preserves many relics and mementos of the President’s childhood, such as the black-painted wooden tray, the standing cabinet, and two wooden beds… In Nam Dan district, there is also the tomb of Mrs. Hoang Thi Loan, the mother of President Ho Chi Minh.
Sen Village is free to enter, and opening hours are from 7 am to 11:30 am and from 1:30 pm to 5 pm daily.
The house where President Ho Chi Minh lived during his childhood in Sen Village. Photo: Huu Khoa
Stay overnight in Cua Lo or Cua Hoi
Cua Lo is about 20 km from Vinh city. It is one of the famous seaside resorts in Central Vietnam. Cua Lo offers a full range of dining and accommodation services but can be quite crowded. Some hotel suggestions include Mường Thanh, Kingdom, Thái An, Sai Gon – Kim Lien, Sammy, Hải Đăng, and Viễn Đông…
Cua Hoi is about 4 km from Cua Lo, located at the mouth of the Lam River flowing into the sea. It is less crowded and has fewer accommodations, but there is a new amusement park suitable for families with young children. Suggested hotels: Melia Vinpearl Cua Hoi Beach Resort and Đông Dương.
Dinner with seafood
Have dinner at the seafood restaurants along Binh Minh road, which is more than 8 km long, from Nghe An Port to Cua Hoi. The restaurants here offer a range of seafood dishes with prices starting from 200,000 VND per person, depending on your choices.
“The area near Cua Hoi is less crowded, so the service is better than in Cua Lo,” said Mr. Nam Dung.
Day 2
Relax and unwind
Spend the second day relaxing and enjoying the facilities in the Cua Lo area, including swimming at the beach, visiting amusement parks like Cua Hoi, Dao Ngu, and the East Sea fish farm, ostrich, monkey, goat, and wild boar enclosures… You can also go to the fish market early in the morning to buy fresh seafood and have it cooked at a restaurant.
Cua Lo Beach. Photo: Nam Dung
If you want to explore more places and prefer a more cultural experience, you can visit the following two places, which are quite close to Vinh city and Cua Lo beach.
Visit the Temple of Mr. Hoang Muoi
The Temple of Mr. Hoang Muoi is located in Hung Nguyen district, about 7 km from Vinh city and 22 km from Cua Lo beach. It is considered one of the cultural and spiritual destinations in Nghe province.
The temple, which is over 400 years old, worships Mr. Hoang Muoi, as well as other deities such as Saint Mother Lieu Hanh, Mau Tu Phu, Song Dong Ngoc Nu, Le Khoi, and Quan Cong Trinh Trung. The temple is busiest during the spring, and in the summer, there are fewer visitors, making it a perfect time to visit and explore the peaceful surroundings.
Temple of Mr. Hoang Muoi. Photo: Di Vy
Visit the National Relic Site of Great Poet Nguyen Du
The Nguyen Du House is located in Tien Dien commune, Nghi Xuan district, Ha Tinh province, but it is quite close to Cua Lo beach, just 18 km away, and 8 km from Vinh city. Here, visitors can learn more about the life and career of Nguyen Du, the famous author of “The Tale of Kieu,” and also about the Nguyen family in Tien Dien.
If you visit during the first days of spring, you will have the opportunity to enjoy poetry nights dedicated to Nguyen Du, held at the house’s garden house.
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