Culture-tourism week spotlights Binh Lieu’s unique beauty

Themed "Binh Lieu in festive season", it aimed to promote tourism of Binh Lieu, popularising the image of the destinations to visitors.

This year’s event opened with special performances spotlighting cultural values, tourism products, and unique cuisine of Binh Lieu, as well as festive, cultural and sports activities of local ethnic minority groups such as Tay, Dao, and San Chi.

Particularly, this was the first time that Binh Lieu district had recreated a royal decree procession in the Luc Na communal house festival on the opening stage. This special performance was a blend of sacred cultural and religious elements with the steadfast and heroic qualities of the people in the border land of Binh Lieu.

The week has become an annual event over the recent years, providing a chance for visitors and locals to meet and join entertainment and sports activities, creating a vibrant and energetic atmosphere of solidarity.

Within the event’s framework, many festive activities will be held, including a mountain climbing competition and a paragliding festival themed "Flying over the golden season".

As a border mountainous district in the north of Quang Ninh, just 120km from Ha Long City, Binh Lieu shares 43km of border with China. It is greatly endowed by nature with moderate climate and cool weather and fresh air all year round.

Compared to other more famous tourist destinations in Quang Ninh such as Ha Long Bay, Co To, or Quan Lan, Binh Lieu is just an obscure name. But this cannot hide the attractiveness of the region, especially to younger tourists.

Binh Lieu boasts high mountainous terrains with stunning waterfalls such as Khe Van, Khe Tien, and Song Mooc. The terraced fields here are dubbed as "golden carpets" as rice ripens in July and August. Meanwhile in March and April, "trau flowers" (Vernicia Montana) bloom, which are only found in Binh Lieu, and the whole region bursts in an array of stunning colours.

Though it is beautiful in every season, many will like it best in autumn as the hills of Binh Lieu are covered with white reeds, creating spectacular romantic views for travellers. That is why the area is known as the 'Reed Kingdom'.

These white reed hills can be found on border patrol road at an altitude of 700m, just west of Binh Lieu. To get there, tourists have to travel from Binh Lieu town to Hoanh Mo, and then to Ngan Chuong village in Luc Hon commune.

From here, tourists can start their journey to visit the border route, which is about 16km long. Many majestic landmarks prove to be popular places for young travellers to take photos.

With 96% of the population being ethnic minorities, Binh Lieu district is now developing models of preserving cultural values of ethnic groups such as a Tay culture village in Dong Thanh (Hoanh Mo commune), cultural villages of the Dao people in Na Nhai (Vo Ngai commune), Song Mooc (Dong Van commune). Also, a range of unique accommodation establishments and community- based tourist attractions have been constructed.

This year, Binh Lieu expects 250,000 visitors.