Qui Nhon Travel Guide

Qui Nhon (or Quy Nhon) is the capital of Binh Dinh Province and one of Vietnam's more active second-string seaports. The beaches in the immediate vicinity of the city are nothing special, however Qui Nhon is a convenient though somewhat disappointing place to break the long journey from Nha Trang to Danang. The town used to be more prosperous a few years ago, when smuggling imported goods by sea was the chief industry that business has now moved up north to the Chinese border. There are some Cham towers along National Highway I about 10km north of the Qui Nhon turn-off.

During the American War, there was considerable South Vietnamese, American, VC and South Korean military activity in the Qui Nhon area. Refugees dislocated by the fighting and counter-insurgency programs built whole slums of tin and thatch shacks around the city. During this period, the mayor of Qui Nhon hoping to cash in on the presence of American troops turned his official residence into a large massage par lour.

Some of the popular places of interest in Quy Nhon are:

Long Khanh Pagoda
Long Khanh Pagoda, Qui Nhon's main pagoda, is down an alley opposite 62 D Tran Cao Van and next to 143 D Tran Cao Van. A 17m-high Buddha (built in 1972) is visible from the street, and presides over a lily pond strongly defended (against surprise attack?) by barbed wire. To the left of the main building is a low tower sheltering a giant drum; to the right, its twin contains an enormous bell, which was cast in 1970.

The main sanctuary was completed in 1946 but was damaged during the Franco-Viet Minh War; repairs were completed in 1957. In front of the large copper Thich Ca Buddha (with its multicoloured neon halo) is a drawing of multiarmed and multieyed Chuan De (the Goddess of Mercy); the numerous arms and eyes mean she call touch and see all. There is a colourfully painted Buddha at the edge of the raised platform. In the corridor that passes behind the main altar is a bronze bell that dates from 1805, and has Chinese inscriptions on it.

Lon Market
Lon Market (Cho Lon), Qui Nhon's central market, is a large modern building enclosing a courtyard in which fruits and vegetables are sold.

Beaches
Qui Nhon Municipal Beach, which extends along the southern side or the anteater's nose, consists or a few hundred metres of sand shaded by a coconut grove. The nicest section of beach is across from the Quy Nhon Hotel, but it has become increasingly dirty. Farther west, the shore is lined with the boats and shacks or fishing families.

A longer, quieter bathing beach begins about 2km south-west of the Municipal Beach. To get there follow D Nguyen Hue away from the tip or the peninsula westward. Part of the seafront near here is lined with industrial plants, some or which belong to the military.
 

Vietnam Travel Guide

Vietnam the country has immense geographical and cultural diversity. Its varied climate and landscape range from the four seasons of the mountains north to the year round tropical temperatures of the lush south. Vietnam's cultural diversity stems from its intriguing history dating back more than 4000 years...

• Vietnam Attractions
• Vietnam Travel Map
• Vietnam Photo Gallery
• Vietnam Culture Guide

• Vietnam Center Highland
• Vietnamese Martial Art
• Facts About Vietnam
• Vietnam Travel News

• Vietnam City Guide
• Vietnamese Food
• Vietnam Folk Paintings
• Vietnam Water Puppetry