%%Ð?ng H?i, the provincial capital of Qu?ng Bình, is located along National Highway 1A. Ð?ng H?i town is on the mouth of the Nh?t L? River. The name of the river is famous thanks to the contributions to the resistance war of an old mother called Su?t who rowed boat across the river under US bombings to transport resistance troops to the battlefields. The entrance gate of Qu?ng Bình is one of three entrance gates to Luy Tr?n (Defence Rampart). The rampart was the brainchild of Ðào Duy T?, a primary teacher and a military strategist. Ðào Duy T? single-handedly designed the earth work structure and directed the construction of the rampart in 1630. At the same time, he also directed the construction of another rampart which was named Luy Th?y. 1630 was the year when the country was annexed into two parts by two rivalling lords, Tr?nh and Nguy?n. Qu?ng Bình Quan (Quang Binh Gate) was regarded as the northern outpost, a key component in Luy Th?y rampart defensive line, which was located on the north-south route to defend Phú Xuân imperial capital city (now Hu? City) down south. With 7,729 metres in length, Phong Nha Grotto (made up of various stalactites and stalagmites) offers spectators some imagination to see several stalactites and stalagmites resembling a woman dancer, an elephant, a tiger and other animals and birds. The most convenient time to explore the grotto is between January and August. Bird Island, or Hòn Ông, is an isolated place home to different kinds of seagulls the number of which can be by the million. Ðá Nh?y Beach is frequented by many tourists, thanks to its long strip of white sand ideal for sun bath and the sea water is gentle and clear-cut blue. Nh?t L? Beach is two kilometres northeast of Ð?ng H?i town and located closely to the Nh?t L? River mouth.%%* LŒ THžY BOAT RACE Along the banks of the Kiên Giang River of Qu?ng Bình province, lie the villages of Phú Th?, Th?ch Bàn, An Xá, Tuy L?c, Ð?i Phong, in the district of L? Th?y. This is an area rich in cultural and sporting traditions typical of Vietnamese villages. They have various specialities in the area, the best known being the "hò khoan," a type of folklore and boat-racing, called "Ðua ghe", "Ðua tr?i". Since these villages were established in the dim and distant past ,they have been associated with boat-racing. Today, no one can think of them without thinking about boat-racing. Everyone, from the youngest to the oldest, look forward to the annual races between the villages. Dressed in brand-new clothes, they assemble before dawn, crowding the shops along the river, waiting to support their team. A story which illustrates the dedication of the people to the boat race tells of an 80-year-old woman who had no other possession except for a pig to pay for her funeral. Then one year, the harvest failed and everyone faced starvation ,survival became the number one priority. The village team decide not to participate in the race. However, on hearing the news, the old woman donated her pig so that their team could enter the competition. Another tale relates the dedication of Mu Lo, a native of An Xá village. So keen was she to see her village team win the race that she decided to watch from a raised islet midstream of the river. The islet also marked the turning point of the race. As the teams approached the turn, Lo stood spread-legged and shouting wildly with excitement. Unfortunately, her pants dropped but she seemed not to notice and carried on shouting. Sportsmen in the opposing teams could not help laughing to such an extent that their boats capsized. Only the An Xá team ignored the distraction and completed the race. From that day forth Lo was considered a heroine of the village. When she died, villagers paid their respects by building a small temple. Nowadays, she is worshipped not only by villagers in An Xá but by all who participate in the races. Traditionally, the sixth Lunar Month was considered the most auspicious time to organise boat-races and to pray for rain during the hot and dry season. Since the August Revolution, they have been organised at the time when the river is higher and the harvest is ripe. Interestingly, the womenfolk also participate in an event of their own using smaller boats with a crew of 12. The sportsmen and sportswomen are well looked after by their fellow villagers so that they have the best chance of winning the race and bringing glory to the village. They also have to obey strict rules for at least 10 days before the race to maximise their chances. (VNS) %%*THE WONDERS OF PHONG NHA GROTTO : Leaving Ð?ng H?i town, you drive northward along Highway 1A. At kilometre 16, you arrive at Hoan Lao crossroads (district town of B? Tr?ch). Turn left and drive westwards along provincial road No 2, and you meet the Xuân Son landing stage. Go upstream for about half an hour and you will arrive at the entrance to Phong Nha Grotto, a wonderful tourist spot in Qu?ng Bình province. The Son river with its blue and limpid water meanders through the cliffs covered by reed and thatch bushes. The boat suddenly stops as water from inside the grotto flushes out. From the grotto strange sounds come. At times they are like the roar of strong waves, at other times the howling of monsters. When finally the boat manages to get into the grotto, you can see stalagtites from the roof some ten metres high. They resemble large teeth of a monster. Hence the name Phong nha, or teeth of the wind. The grotto is the habitat of many kinds of birds, mostly swallows. They make their nests on the roof and fly freely without fear. There are also a few peacocks which coquettishly show their beautiful wings. To get deep into the grotto, you must use canoes or sampans. At the entrance of the inner grotto , you can see a Cham statue. This must be the vestige of the Cham Pa civilization at its earliest stage. To the right of the entrance, there are altars to worship the genie of the grotto. The grotto widens as you go deeper. But if you go farther, the grotto narrows down and it is pitch dark there. The roof is now only 2 metres high. A stone lion is standing there as if to guard the entrance. In the light of a torch, you can see two lines of beautiful columns like lines of yellow bamboo trees. From the roof, echoes are resounding as if from heaven. Go another 400 metres farther, you will see that the grotto is only 20 metres wide, but the roof is over 20 metres high. If you turn right you will see a branch of the cave and an altar of the Cham installed between two beautiful columns. This place is called the Grotto Pagoda. Go some 400 metres deeper, and you will arrive at the Hall Grotto with thousand boulders like the seats in conference hall. Return to the entrance and climb upwards. After one hour's walk, you will find a new grotto. It was discovered in 1935, and is called Dry Grotto. There is no water here as the altitude is some 200 metres. Inside, there are many abysses connecting it with the lower grotto. Hence they are called the roads to Hell. But for the lower grotto, they are the roads to Heaven. Specialists have recognized Phong Nha Grotto as one of Vietnam's wonders. It can compare with the Patirac Grotto in France and the Spanish Cueva Del Drac. The British Cave Research Association has sent three teams to Vietnam to conduct surveys. They were fully equipped to go 13,969 metres inside the cave. As a result, they conclude that Phong Nha Grotto is qualified to be one of the best in the world. It has the longest underground stream; it has the highest and widest entrance; it has the largest and most beautiful beach; its stalactites are the most wonderful ones. The report by BCRA has been announced in 14 Asian colleges and universities and has been carried in the CAVE magazine. The best time for tourists to visit Phong Nha grotto is summer. The weather is cool and the water is shallow. However, tourists can go by boat to contemplate the beautiful landscape of Phong Nha Grotto (VNS)