Dong Hoi is a coastal city located in the central region of Vietnam. It is the capital of Quang Binh province and has a population of around 160,000 people. The city is known for its beautiful beaches, natural wondersrich history, and delicious cuisine. Some of the popular attractions in Dong Hoi include the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Quang Phu sand dunes, Nhat Le Beach, Tam Toa Church, and Hoang Phuc Pagoda.

Briefly Itinerary for 2 days in Dong Hoi

Briefly itinerary in Dong Hoi

Day 1

– Visit the Tam Toa Church, one of the oldest churches in Vietnam and an iconic landmark of Dong Hoi. (Free entry)

– Head to the Dong Hoi Market, where you can experience the local life and buy some souvenirs. (Free entry)

– Visit the Quang Phu sand dunes, about 30 minutes away from the city center. You can rent a jeep or a motorbike to explore the area. (Entrance fee: 20,000 VND or 0.9 USD)

– Have lunch at a local restaurant or food stall near the sand dunes.

– Visit the Nhat Le Beach to watch the sunset and enjoy the sea breeze (Free entry)

– Have dinner at a local seafood restaurant near the beach.

Day 2

– Take a boat tour to Phong Nha Cave, one of the most beautiful caves in Vietnam. The tour includes a boat ride on the Son River and a visit to the cave. (Tour price: around 350,000 VND or 15 USD per person)

– Have lunch at a local restaurant near the dock.

– Visit the Dark Cave, a natural cave with a mud bath and zipline adventure. (Tour price: around 450,000 VND or 20 USD per person)

– Head back to Dong Hoi city center and visit the Hoang Phuc Pagoda, a beautiful temple with a giant Buddha statue. (Free entry)

– Have dinner at a local restaurant or street food vendor.

Detailed Itinerary for 2 days in Dong Hoi

Day 1

Morning:

– Start your day with a visit to the Tam Toa Church, which is one of the oldest churches in Vietnam and an iconic landmark of Dong Hoi. (Free entry)

Tam Toa Church

– Head to the Dong Hoi Market, where you can experience the local life and buy some souvenirs. (Free entry)

Afternoon

– Visit the Quang Phu sand dunes, which is about 30 minutes away from the city center. You can rent a jeep or a motorbike to explore the area. (Entrance fee: 20,000 VND or 0.9 USD)

Quang Phu Sand Dunes

– Have lunch at a local restaurant or food stall near the sand dunes. We recommend trying the Banh Trang Tron (mixed rice paper) at Banh Trang Tron Xuan Mai, located at 42 Tran Hung Dao Street. (Price: around 10,000 VND or 0.4 USD)

Evening

– Head to Nhat Le Beach to watch the sunset and enjoy the sea breeze. (Free entry)

Nhat Le Beach

– Have dinner at a local seafood restaurant near the beach. We recommend trying the grilled squid at Quan Hai San Thanh Hung, located at 32 Nguyen Du Street. (Price: around 50,000 VND or 2.2 USD per squid)

seafood

Day 2

 Morning:

– Take a boat tour to Phong Nha Cave, which is one of the most beautiful caves in Vietnam. The tour includes a boat ride on the Son River and a visit to the cave. (Tour price: around 350,000 VND or 15 USD per person)

Phong Nha Cave

– Have lunch at a local restaurant near the dock. We recommend trying the Bun Bo Hue (Hue-style beef noodle soup) at Bun Bo Hue Ba Phung, located at 12 Ly Thuong Kiet Street. (Price: around 30,000 – 40,000 VND or 1.3 – 1.8 USD)

 Afternoon:

– Visit the Dark Cave, which is a natural cave with a mud bath and zipline adventure. (Tour price: around 450,000 VND or 20 USD per person)

Dark Cave

– Head back to Dong Hoi city center and visit the Hoang Phuc Pagoda, which is a beautiful temple with a giant Buddha statue. (Free entry)

 Evening:

– Enjoy a relaxing foot massage at one of the local spas in the city center. We recommend trying the foot massage at My Lan Spa, located at 2 Nguyen Huu Canh Street. (Price: around 150,000 VND or 6.5 USD for a 60-minute massage)

– Have dinner at a local restaurant or street food vendor. We recommend trying the Banh Canh Ca Loc (thick rice noodle soup with snakehead fish) at Banh Canh Ca Loc Tung, located at 8 Nguyen Thi Dinh Street. (Price: around 30,000 – 40,000 VND or 1.3 – 1.8 USD)

How to get to Dong Hoi?

Dong Hoi is a city in the central region of Vietnam and can be reached by various means of transportation. Here are some options to consider:

Dong Hoi Airport

– By air: Dong Hoi has its own airport, Dong Hoi Airport (VDH), which is served by several domestic airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Bamboo Airways. Flights depart from major cities in Vietnam such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang.

– By train: Dong Hoi is also accessible by train. The Reunification Express train, which runs from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, stops at Dong Hoi Railway Station. The train ride takes around 10-12 hours from Hanoi or 12-14 hours from Ho Chi Minh City.

– By bus: There are several bus companies that operate daily routes to Dong Hoi from major cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, and Da Nang. The bus ride takes around 10-12 hours from Hanoi or 12-14 hours from Ho Chi Minh City.

– By car/motorbike: Dong Hoi is also accessible by car or motorbike. It takes around 6-7 hours to drive from Hanoi or 10-12 hours from Ho Chi Minh City. The route is scenic, but it can be challenging to drive for inexperienced drivers

Some tips for first-time tourists in Dong Hoi:

– Wear comfortable shoes and clothing as you may do a lot of walking and exploring.

– Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat to protect yourself from the sun, especially if you plan to visit the beaches or sand dunes.