Hac Hai Lagoon is a bird nesting area.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Xuan (50 years old) and Ms. Do Thi Hoa (48 years old rice )'s fields in Xuan Hoa village, Hoa Thuy commune, Le Thuy district, Quang Binh province took more than 30 minutes to reach. He smiled at us, his face blackened by the sun and wind.

Mr. Xuan sat on a simple makeshift leaf hut in the vast middle of the lagoon, slowly pouring a cup of water to inviting guests and then telling. His family was granted approximately 10 hectares of rice and aquaculture land on the Hac Hai lagoon in the 2000s. Because birds were flying in the fields at the time, the couple combined rice production with the bird trade as a source of income. Catching wild birds and selling them for a high profit, some days the profit is nearly seven million, but the flock of birds is gradually diminishing, and he feels sorry for the lagoon.

Hac Hai Lagoon is located in Quang Binh province, at the intersection of the districts of Quang Ninh and Le Thuy. This location is rich in historical and cultural significance, as well as shimmering and poetic scenery.

Xuan set sail to look after the bird nests.

"Every night I can't sleep because the storks and cauldrons ring in my ears like a rebuke for my work. I immediately discussed with my wife not trading wild birds anymore, but rather protecting them to make amends for the birds' mistreatment. My wife didn't think much about it and nodded her head in agreement "Xuan stated.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Xuan and Ms. Do Thi Hoa have been protecting birds of prey on the family's rice land in the middle of Hac Hai lagoon since then. He and his wife have always been steadfast in their actions, ignoring the gossip of those around them.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Xuan explained that the act of protecting wild birds stems from the fact that he and his wife feel "indebted" because they once eradicated wild birds to earn a living.

To encourage the birds to return, he and his wife borrowed 100 million VND and traveled to the south to purchase water coconuts to plant. Birds nested in droves during the early years of lush greenery.

However, when a historic flood swept away thousands of water coconuts in 2020, birds were forced to fly to find a new home. Mr. Xuan's family, refusing to give up, is currently preparing to plant fig seedlings and sesame loc.

The final resting place of Mr. Xuan and his wife is the rice field.

According to Mr. Xuan, the investment must also include nearly 200 million VND for the creation of a green belt where many generations of birds can nest. Every nightfall, the sound of birds being trapped has been replaced by the sound of birds flocking to their nests.

On the Hac Hai Lagoon in the afternoon.

Xuan passionately told us how to distinguish each bird through song, and stories about the behavior and habits of each bird, while pointing to the reeds where the birds were flying.

"I hope that everyone will work together to protect the birds of the sky and not aid in actions that endanger the lives of birds in order to protect the ecological balance of the environment, as well as to protect us and our children in the future," Mr. Nguyen Cong Xuan said.

Mr. Xuan and his wife raised mallards in rice fields.

Mr. Xuan's wife, Ms. Do Thi Hoa, revealed, "For the past five years, my wife and I have been working to protect wild birds. The keeping of wild birds has supporters and detractors, but for us, wild birds coming to live on this land are a source of great joy. The sound of storks and birds singing helped me feel secure in my previous actions, and I promised myself that I would protect birds of the sky for the rest of my life."

Mr. Xuan and his wife raised more mallards to increase their income from their rice field, while also cherishing a plan to do ecotourism, experiences for young people, students, and small groups of families in the city on weekends to go to his rice field to watch birds nest; At night, experience the farmer's life with activities such as crabbing, catching snails and sleeping in tents. Mr. Xuan admitted that in order to carry out that plan, he and his wife would have to work even harder.

On the Hac Hai Lagoon in the afternoon.

Both the guests and the owner continued to enjoy each story, oblivious to the fact that the sun had set behind the top of The Head Mountain of the Annamite Mountains. The author believes that with that mindset and humane approach, he and his wife will be successful.

Source: Hoàng Bùi

Nobody knows how many waterfalls there are in this 22,000-hectare forest. Suoi Tien alone has ten large and small waterfalls along its 6km length. Each waterfall varies in height but is stunning amidst the unspoiled mountain scenery.

We arrived at Suoi Tien after more than 30 minutes of walking, weaving under the canopy of the ancient forest, and listening to birds singing, leaves ringing, and strange animal sounds. The stream is unremarkable without a white, silky waterfall that loosens its hair. According to legend, the villagers used to call the waterfall "Silver Hair," but later changed it to "Fairy Hair." The first visitors to this location are always "Fairy hair," not necessarily "Mr. Fairy's hair."Fairy Hair Waterfall is located on a cliff and is surrounded by two "arms" trees, making it romantic and poetic. The lake beneath Fairy Hair Waterfall is so clear that pebbles of various sizes and colors, as well as small schools of fish, can be seen.

We were told by Fairy Hair that we would continue our journey by following the stream bank. People are only allowed to bring a smartphone to take photos, in addition to quick-drying suits, helmets, gloves, and slippers. Porters will transport all luggage to its final destination.The phone was the only thing bothering me as I passed through the third waterfall. To overcome the rocky slopes when standing up, when slippery, when sharp, you must employ all defense education postures: rolling, dragging, crawling, clinging, clinging, pulling... The slips are also too "spectacular": when the waves are in the stream and being thrown up and down, the buttocks and back continue to kick unexpectedly and painfully. However, everyone is excited because the journey ahead promises many exciting things.

Wading through the stream, feeling like the rain had just passed, I stopped and looked up. From the rocky shore, thousands of jets of water weave magically in the sun. A rain screen is never seen before. Under the rain was a perfectly arranged miniature: Trees with rocks whispering in the rain, streams flowing around and cheering with the wind. I stood there for a long time, letting the magical rain of cool rock seep into my flesh, my heart rising with joy like the day she showered on my porch.

We arrived at the most talked-about waterfall on the trip after wading a few more sections of the stream. From above, the waterfall appears to be a piano with white keys and a flowing sound. Duong Piano Waterfall, which is 50m high and slopes about 70 degrees, is one of Chau-Khe Nuoc Trong Cave's most beautiful waterfalls.

To pass this waterfall, the experiencer must wear a protective belt that connects two ropes, one supported by two winch operators from the top of the waterfall and one rope that the passer must grasp and actively climb using strong pulling force with both hands.

After only a few stone steps, I noticed that the water from the waterfall was becoming increasingly powerful, the rocks were slippery, and it was difficult to find a place to cling. That is why Netin Travel Company's guides are true artists. Their orange-robed silhouettes moved flexibly and gracefully over the white foaming waterfall without the ropes.

We arrived at the campsite after crossing Thác Dương Cầm (The Piano Falls) and wading a short distance. It was a tall and relatively flat rock near the edge of the forest, next to the stream.

The afternoon sun added a few puffs of smoke from the newly rekindled fire to the forest scene, making it more peaceful and cozy. Birds, frogs, and streams could be heard from afar. Dinner in the middle of the forest includes snails, rub (stone crab) caught under the slot, and a bowl of begonia leaves soup cooked with sweet and sour spring fish.

We heard the forest guards tell stories of the monkeys and langurs who used to tease the dogs at the Monkey Bridge Forest Protection station at night, in the moonlight through the sky, by the fire from the boiling pot of water; the placement of photo traps to detect animals recorded in the Red Book of Vietnam and the World such as saola, gaur, Truong Son gill, pheasant, pheasant...

There are also numerous medicinal plants and valuable trees in the forest, including honey mahogany, mop mahogany, lim xanh, and incense. The forest here is an evergreen rainforest, a rare type of forest still found in Vietnam, and it is rich in flora and fauna.

From the time of the war until now, generations of Quang Binh people have protected this forest. Cultural and historical values such as Bai Bullet, Bru-Van Kieu villages such as The Regiment village, and the legendary Truong Son road through the forest attract visitors when they come here...

The sensation of waking up in the mountains and forests for the first time is indescribable. The stream was calm and rattling, not rumbling like it had been yesterday afternoon; the sound of birds and leaves was also quieter. Sitting quietly, feeling like many melancholy, my heart's sorrows melted with the wind, and my breath merged with nature.

The Heaven's Gate waterfall was the final challenge on our journey. This is Tien Stream's longest and tallest waterfall (about 120m). Looking up from the waterfall's base, Heaven's Gate is tall.

To get to the top of the waterfall, you must climb steep rocky slopes. There are sections that require crossing the forest and climbing the cliffs. The Sky Gate Waterfall is magnificent; the water from above cascades down white like a silk strip, winding among the green mountains and forests. There are a lot of old trees in this forest. The presence of an entire forest of woody ferns attests to the long-standing formation of this pristine, ancient beauty.

Sky Gate Waterfall has a cool, pleasant midsummer climate with temperatures ranging from 22 to 240 degrees Celsius. Quang Binh is aiming for an ideal location for the ecotourism and resort tourism industries.

Dong Chau-Khe Nuoc Trong Forest also serves as the source of two major rivers, Dai Giang (Long Dai) and Kien Giang, both of which are tributaries of the Nhat Le River. Hundreds of streams pouring in from this location have nourished the rich rivers and villages downstream.

We completed the journey by swimming through a fairly deep lake and down a steep slope to the other side of the mountain. A return journey.

The sensation of "landing" is satisfaction from conquering oneself, not the waterfalls.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) identified Dong Chau-Khe Nuoc Trong as one of 200 centers with high biodiversity worldwide, and BirdLife International identified it as one of Vietnam's 62 important and endemic bird regions.

Dong Chau-Khe Nuoc Trong has a forest cover of more than 98%, with more than 50% of the protected evergreen closed forest (more than 14 thousand hectares) remaining almost intact. This type of forest has high biodiversity and is extremely rare in Vietnam.

Source: Trần Hồng Hiếu (Photo: Netin Travel)

Rum Ho village, just starting to travel from the most pristine things, has its first homestay, no electricity, no phone waves. However, this is an opportunity for many neighboring households to learn and create an "ecosystem" of sustainable tourism products.

Rum Ho village is a small village in Kim Thuy commune, Le Thuy district, located approximately 2 hours by car from the center of Dong Hoi, Quang Binh province. With only 109 households in the Bru - Van Kieu ethnic group, the village currently lacks access to the power grid system, and people's lives are still extremely simple, focusing primarily on forest product exploitation and some small forms of animal husbandry.

Aside from the beautiful scenery of the mountains and forests with clear streams as "specialties" around Rum Ho village, there is also The Piano Waterfall of Dong Chau Nature Reserve - Khe Nuoc Trong, which has an attractive beauty for anyone who loves nature.

The VFBC project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has collaborated with VCTC to assist households in Quang Binh in renovating their homes into lovely homestays in preparation for the first tourists to experience. Vietnam Community Tourism Association Photo (VCTC)

The Biodiversity Conservation Component, a VFBC project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is assisting people in this region in developing sustainable livelihoods, conserving forests, and protecting forest ecosystem diversity. Helvetas, the unit in charge of the component's livelihood activities, has organized training classes to help people become acquainted with the concept of ecotourism, learn cooking skills, serve tourists, and basic photography and videography with phones, as well as use social networks to promote tourism images.

People with new skills can begin operating tourism services in order to stabilize income through the ecotourism model, which builds on existing strengths.

A stilt house in Rum Ho village, Kim Thuy commune, Le Thuy district, Quang Binh. Photo: Mai Hanh

Some households took the initiative to redecorate their landscapes and campuses in mid-August, after participating in detailed training on how to renovate houses into homestays using available materials at no cost and in close proximity to nature.

To prepare for the first tourists to experience the majestic and clear mountain life at Dong Chau - Khe Nuoc Trong, the first house in Rum Ho small village has been supported to be converted and decorated into a lovely homestay.

The lovely homestay of Rum Ho village in Kim Thuy commune, Le Thuy district, Quang Binh is ready to welcome the first tourists to experience it. Photo: Mai Hanh

The spacious stilt house and front yard have been transformed extremely vividly using readily available, easily regenerable materials such as bamboo, grass, stone gravel...

Furthermore, the project lecturers enthusiastically instructed students on how to prepare and arrange a green "far away" banquet table. "Xa la" means "leaf" in Vân Kiều. The decorations and food containers on the "far away" banquet table are made from a variety of safe, easily accessible garden leaves, limiting non-recyclable waste. Not only that, but this party provides an opportunity to showcase the beauty of local cuisine and culture.

Ms. Ho Thi Son is practicing with her teacher to prepare for the "xa la" party. Photo: Mai Hanh

Ms. Ho Thi Son and Mr. Ho Van Huynh, along with their three children, make their living primarily through small-scale forest exploitation such as picking clouds, bamboo shoots, vegetables, and so on. Ms. Son had a very touching sharing after participating in the homestay renovation course "My family thanked you profusely. He began to assist as well as teach. I'll try to be optimistic so that my income returns and my wife and I no longer need to go to the forest. Hopefully, the project will continue to help people in this area."

An attractive dish in the "xa la" party of people in Rum Ho village, Kim Thuy commune, Le Thuy district, Quang Binh. Photo: Vietnam Community Tourism Association (VCTC)

The first homestay in Rum Ho village, a village without electricity or phone service, was gradually completed with project funding and the cooperation and assistance of the Vietnam Community Tourism Association (VCTC) and surrounding neighbors. This is also an opportunity for many nearby households to learn and form an "ecosystem" of sustainable tourism products.

The "xa la" party is decorated very attractively and beautifully. Photo: Vietnam Community Tourism Association (VCTC)

Hopefully, with the upcoming series of timely project training and the support of related organizations, Ms. Son and Mr. Huynh's family and relatives in Rum Ho village will have the opportunity to promote the available potential, provide unique experiential tourism services, not only to promote the image of local green tourism to tourists but also to develop a more stable life, contributing to forest protection and biodiversity conservation in Vietnam.

Source: Đinh Nam

In keeping with the global tourism trend, Quang Binh has many experience areas with camping and glamping models. The tents located under the trees are harmonious in the breath of the jungle, helping visitors gently catch up and slow down for a few moments of life, thanks to the advantage of owning pristine nature and green forests in the landscape of mountains, and harmonious rivers.

Nature's Dating

Choose comfortable areas on high hills and mountains, near underground rivers and cool green streams, so that the atmosphere at the campgrounds is always cool and airy.

The ivory white tents blend in with the green of the plants and are raised above the ground, creating space and ensuring the dryness of the visitors' rest area.

Not only does it have a relaxing atmosphere, but young people who "leave the street to the countryside" can also enjoy enjoyable fun activities in the heart of nature such as swimming in underground rivers, exploring caves, boating, trekking, climbing... Tired of returning to the shack like the roof to rest and drifting with the wind, waiting for rice time to enjoy delicious BBQ meals in the mountains and forests.

Visitors can actively choose the level of difficulty for their advocacy activities and family, friends, and relatives. With a basic level of movement, not only do young groups of people love new experiences, inspiring daily city life, but small families can let children come to play, closer to natural life.The campsites are scattered along the Phong Nha forest route and have different characteristics and stories, so they offer different products and experiences. Moc Nam Camplux has high-class Mongolian tents on the groundwater, so visitors can feel comfortable and escape during the night in the valley or the morning awakening on the hillside.

Blue Diamond, another campground that does not offer glamping in the sky, also has fun activities and overnight camping for the family. Visitors to Bitter Cloud Hill on Ho Chi Minh Street, which is closer to Dong Hoi city center, can also enjoy a night by the hill as well as a relaxing vacation with their families. Netin Travel also has exciting star-studded camping packages available.

Your job is uncomplicated

What are the requirements for going camping in Quang Binh? Nothing is more important than a heart in need of love, and the body enjoys relaxing. Your job is simply relaxing.

Camping tours are frequently fully planned and provide visitors with a complete and rich place to rest and have meals. You will not have to spend a lot of time and worry about the details of the trip if you have a well-planned itinerary from travel to dinner. As a result, visitors' minds will be devoted to "dating" nature and enjoying the present in novel ways."After swimming as much as you want, the entire group will enjoy a BBQ featuring Quang Binh specialties. When night falls, you will be able to see the starry sky and hear the sounds of the mountains and forests. No electricity, no Internet, no surfing, no social media... just a flashlight charged, a cup of tea, and soft music; tell three stories to new friends "Ms. Hien (from Hanoi) had a camping experience at Moc Nam Camplux.

Aside from pristine nature, inspired by nature, the cuisine is a distinct feature that visitors will never forget. Baked goods made from forest products, as well as snacks such as lead cakes, donuts, and so on, brought up from the plains, make tourists miss the taste.The campsites, as well as the accompanying expeditions and picnics, have contributed to the enhancement of tourism activities in Quang Binh. Visitors now have more options for experiences while also opting for a more relaxed lifestyle in keeping with the green nature.

Source: Khánh Trinh