Binh Dinh

Binh Dinh is the best place in Vietnam for taking an off-the-beaten path beach holiday and discovering impressive Cham towers that were built by Khmer people thousand year ago.

Binh Dinh is located on the coast of Central Vietnam. It is surrounded by Quang Ngai in the north, Phu Yen in the south, Gia Lai in the west, and the East Sea in the east with the coastline of 100km and some island offshore. The provincial capital is Quy Nhon. Other administrative divisions include An Lao, Hoai An, Hoai Nhon, Phu My, Phu Cat, Vinh Thanh, Tay Son, Van Canh, Tuy Phuoc.

The majority of Binh Dinh Province is covered by mountains or hills. Elevations range from 0 at the coast to around 1200 meters above sea level in An Lao District in the north-west of the province.

Binh Dinh was probably one of the places where the Cham first arrived in what is now Vietnam. Its favourable geography led to the rise of the Cham Port of Thi Nai where Quy Nhon is now located. The city-state of Vijaya was located around this port and the main city, which was further inland. Its centre was in the southern lowland of Binh Dinh. However, its architecture implies that it did not become important until the eleventh or twelfth century.

Binh Dinh is 1,065km from Hanoi and is accessible either by car, train, or plane. Quy Nhon City is 174km from Quang Ngai, 186km from Pleiku, 223km from Buon Ma Thuot, 238km from Nha Trang, 288km from Da Nang and 677km from Ho Chi Minh City. There are National Road N°. 1 and 19.

Phu Cat Airport is 36km north of Quy Nhon City. There are flights from Quy Nhon to Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City.

The Reunification Express trains between Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City stop at Dieu Tri Railway Station (11km from Quy Nhon).

Binh Dinh Weather

The average annual temperature varies between 26 and 28°C. It is hottest in August and coldest in January. The average annual rainfall is 1,700mm - 1,800mm. The rainy season lasts from August to December.

Binh Dinh things to see

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.

Quy Nhon Beach

Located in the city centre, Quy Nhon Beach attracts visitors by gently sloping sand bank stretching 5km from Tan Cape to Rang Cliff. In particular, the beach is nearly Xuan Dieu Cuisine Street, so visitors have the opportunity to sea bath and also enjoy a variety of fresh seafood.

Quy Hoa Beach

About 3km to the south of Quy Nhon City’s centre following the National Road 1D, Quy Hoa Beach owns the peaceful beauty with small waves, clear seawater and casuarina rows. Coming here, visitors can visit Doctor Statue Garden, tomb and memorial site of Poet Han Mac Tu, etc. or take motorboats to visit the offshore islands.

Dai Beach & Xep Beach

Continuing going about 5km to the south, visitors arrive in Dai Beach and Xep Beach. The highlights of these beaches are blue seawater, smooth sand, and green coconut rows. In addition to sea bathing, rowing coracle with fishermen, visitors don’t forget to enjoy the specialties such as Cau River’s crabs, slipper lobsters, king crabs, steamed fishes, etc.

Eo Gio

Eo Gio is known as a spectacular arc shaped strait, surrounded by cliffy mountain ranges with amazing shapes. There are plenty of bird nest caves on the Eo Gio’s cliffs called fun names such as Ky Co, Ba Nghe, Doi. At the mountain foot, Da De Beach stretches out with multi-size, colorful, smooth and round stones looking like eggs. Eo Gio is endowed with rippled mounds shaping as terrace fields in Northwestern provinces. It also has a well with clear water and a meadow which is an ideal place for camping.

Quang Trung Museum

Quang Trung museum is dedicated to Nguyen Hue (Quang Trung), a national hero of the 18th century.

Nguyen Hue was one of the three brothers who led the Tay Son Insurrection. In 1788, he led his troops from Phu Xuan (Hue) to the north. It took them 35 days and nights to reach Thang Long (Hanoi), where they defeated 290,000 Chinese invaders, thereby liberating the royal capital. He declared himself Emperor Quang Trung the same year.

Do Ban Citadel

Do Ban citadel or Hoang De citadel (Emperor citadel) was built at the end of the 10th century, during the reign of Emperor Yangpuku Vijaaya. Hoang De Citadel was the last capital of the Champa Kingdom where the Cham Kings lived between the 11th and the 15th centuries.

Binh Dinh is famous as the centre of the old 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.

Twin Tower (Hung Thanh Tower)

Doi Tower site was built in the late 12th century and early 13th. Here, there are 2 towers of 18m and 20m in height respectively. Both of them have got a special structure different from traditional, multi-storey towers. They are composed of two main parts: the square-shaped body and the similarly curved roof.

Canh Tien Tower

Canh Tien Tower worships the Goddess Thien Y Ana. The 20m-high tower has got a square base and several stories built of bricks. In the distance, it looks like two wings of a fairy flying (canh tien) up to the sky. This is one of the towers of typical Binh Dinh architectural style (dating back to the 12th century). Its structure is composed of the front hall and shrine (now, the front hall had collapsed). The outer walls are decorated with pilasters and vertical, protruding frames. Different from other Cham towers, the pilasters and edges of the roofs of Canh Tien Tower are built of sandstone. At the four corners of each tower's storey are stone motifs of phoenix tail.

Banh It Tower

Banh It Tower site now includes 4 towers: Main Tower, Nam (South) Tower, Cong (Gate) Tower, and Dong (East) Tower. The Main Tower is 22m in height. The architecture of Banh It Towers bears the Binh Dinh sculptural style of 12th century with small, embossed lines on the walls. Leaf- and flower-shaped motifs are only found on edges of the roofs, and dancing senses are found on false gates.

Duong Long Tower

Duong Long towner is a group of 3 biggest towers. It was built in the 12nd century with very beautiful architecture.

Duong Long Cham Tower, also called Thap Nga meaning "ivory tower," is located 40km from Quy Nhon and 270km from Danang City. It is a group of 3 towers; the highest tower, 35m high, is in the middle, and the two others are 22m.

Ham Ho Lake

This is the 2km-long complex of spring, falls, lake, river, canal along Kut River's lower section.

Legend has it that thousands of years ago, Kon River and Kut River's lower section was in terrible drought. Witnessing that disaster, Rain God created river and spring to save people here. The two river's lower section was believed to be created at that time and links the imposing Central Highlands with the East Sea. Thence this region is called Ham Ho (Ho means call) because of cult of genii (wind call) to pray for rain.

Long Khanh Pagoda

Long Khanh Pagoda was founded by Most Ven. Duc Son, a Chinese. This pagoda was restored in the times of Patriarchs Tich Tho, Thien Khanh, Chanh Nguyen and Chanh Nhon. The bronze gong was cast in 1739 (Ky Mui year) in term of Most Ven. Duc Son. Up to 1954, the pagoda was seriously damaged by the war. In 1957, Most Ven. Hue Long made a great restoration of the pagoda during 20 years.

Binh Dinh Map