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Vinh Travel Guide
Vinh is located in the southern part of North Vietnam, and is the capital of Nghe An Province. It is an important transportation hub between the north and the south of Vietnam, and also has a sizeable port facility. It is also a major transit point with Laos, being close to the border crossing.
History At various times in history, Vinh has had military and political importance. The nation of Vietnam began in the north, and then gradually expanded southward. As a result, Vinh was seen as the gateway to the south. The Tây Son dynasty (1788 - 1802) considered Vinh as a possible capital of Vietnam, but this was never realized. However, the Tây Son interest in the city resulted in considerable construction and development there. Under French Colonial rule, Vinh was further developed as an industrial center, and became a factory center.
Vinh once had a number of significant historic sites, and in particular an ancient citadel. However, over the years, Vinh was extensively damaged in several wars, and in the 1950s, fighting between the French and the Viet Minh resistance forces destroyed much of the city. Further damage was done by United States bombing in the Vietnam War, and little of the original city remains today. Unfortunately, after the war, the reconstruction of Vinh followed the Soviet and East German models of town planning, and the city now has wide streets and rows of concrete apartment blocks.
Vinh and the surrounding area were important centers of rebellion and revolutionary activity, and in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the city was the scene of several uprisings against the French. In addition, a number of prominent revolutionary figures were born in or near the city of Vinh. Ho Chí Minh's birthplace is some 14-km west of Vinh, and is a significant tourist attraction for many Vietnamese.
What To Do
Hong Son Temple is one of the few large temples to escape being closed by the communist authorities after the war, and is the site of an important festival on the 20th day of the 8th lunar month. Quyet Mountain, on the edge of Vinh, is a serene retreat from the city. Visitors climb the four hundred steps to the summit, from which a sweeping vista of Vinh can be seen, including the river and surrounding farmland. The mountain is covered with a pine forest, but it still has not completely recovered from the destruction caused by the bombing of the war.
Other places of interest include the Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum, which commemorates the Nghe Tinh uprising against the French in the 1930s. Cua Lo Beach is a popular resort destination for people from Hanoi, but has very few foreign tourists. It has one of the longest stretches of beautiful white beach, and has great seafood specialties.
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