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A traditional martial arts festival in the central province of Binh Dinh. The province is famous for its martial arts and will stage a demonstration during this year’s Tay Son-Binh Dinh festival in August. |
With a rich history and a host of splendid sights to see, central Binh Dinh Province boasts untapped tourism potential.
Situated atop a gentle hill in central Binh Dinh Province, Canh Tien (Fairy Wing) tower is carved with hundreds of intricate and ornate images of idols.
The province is home to many such architectural works and towers of days past.
The ancient Banh It (glutinous rice cake) tower received its name for resembling the cone-shaped cake.
The Banh It, is considered one of the most magnificent religious works built by the early Cham people in Vietnam.
Nearby is the Nguyen Thieu monastery which houses a large Buddhist statue overlooking the scenic Tan An River.
Century-old pagodas are also great stopovers for tourists.
Built in 1665, Thap Thap Pagoda is the province’s oldest.
The pagoda boasts several interesting features such as an elaborately decorated 2.5 meter scroll written by Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu, predecessor of the Nguyen Dynasty, in 1701.
Set amidst stunning scenery with enormous trees, boulders and springs, the 275-year-old Linh Phong Pagoda is a serene sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of everyday city life.
The pagoda, recognized as a national cultural heritage site, was renovated in 2004.
Binh Dinh, a brief history
The province is also home to resplendent royal palaces built by the Cham people who moved from central Quang Nam Province to Binh Dinh around the year 982.
The Cham, formerly from the Champa or Chiem Thanh Kingdom, once spanned from Vietnam’s northern Quang Binh Province into what is now southern Vietnam.
Their territory disappeared, however, as the Nguyen kings moved southward and established Vietnamese sovereignty in the region.
In 1773, three brothers – Nguyen Nhac, Nguyen trained to move quickly and continually while Hue and Nguyen Lu – led a peasant revolution from Tay Son District.
The revolution overthrew Vietnam’s feudal lords and unified north and south Vietnam for the first time in the nation’s history.
In 1776, Emperor Thai Duc (Nguyen Nhac) built the Hoang De (Emperor) Citadel 20 kilometers from Quy Nhon Town, on the ruins of its Do Ban predecessor.
The Tay Son Dynasty was overthrown in 1802 and the Nguyen Dynasty was established in its place from 1802-1945.
Time-honored appeal
Visitors to Binh Dinh often marvel at the elegant beauty of the Cham people’s Go Sanh pottery and sandstone sculptures.
The Cham practiced pottery-making between the 11th – 14th centuries and the Vietnamese continued to perfect it until the 18th century.
Tourists can also visit traditional craft villages to see how the products are made.
Visitors can shop at countryside markets like Dap Da, An Thai and Go Gang, where some of the country’s best non la (conical hats) are sold.
Specialty Bau Da wine, one of the country's top wines, can also be sampled here. It is said that the drink tastes better if stored in ceramic Go Sanh containers.
Binh Dinh Province is also famous for Vo Tay Son, also known as Vivodo or Vo Binh Dinh, an ancient martial art.
Vo Binh Dinh martial artists, who are known for their skillful elbow and staff techniques, are trained to move quickly and continually while taking on much larger opponents.
Nowadays, this type of martial art is practiced not only in Vietnam but as far away as France, Switzerland and Italy.
This year’s Tay Son – Binh Dinh festival, due to run from August 1-3, will center on the theme Hoi tu va phat trien (Converging and Developing), aiming to highlight the recent economic development of the province and showcasing its terrific tourism potential.
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