Buzz
Chay Hang Toi River is a famous landmark in Quang Binh, located about 30km east of Dong Hoi city center. Known for its unique landscape, Chay Hang Toi River is one of the attractive destinations for travelers who want to discover the natural beauty of the Central region. It is renowned for its caves and especially its crystal-clear emerald green water that will leave you in awe. Besides the natural beauty, visitors can also participate in activities such as swimming, waterfall sliding, mountain climbing, adventurous ziplining, or simply enjoy the scenery and savor local cuisine. Let's embark on a day of fun in Quang's land together!
The first feeling when arriving at Chay Hang Toi River is definitely the tranquility and serenity of the natural surroundings. In the summer, you can cool off in the clear and vividly green water that resembles an emerald.
From February to August every year, Chay River captivates the attention of many tourists with its mysteriously emerald green water. According to scientists, this unique color may be created by the presence of minerals in the limestone sediment layer.
Especially, visitors cannot miss the experience of exploring the caves here. The caves cater to various levels of exploration, from leisurely walks inside the caves to full-day expeditions filled with challenges. During these explorations, visitors will marvel at the stunning images of the caves, with their unique limestone and stalactite formations.
In addition to cave exploration activities, one exciting game I experienced when visiting Chay Hang Toi River is ziplining. Ziplining is an adventurous game with a steel cable suspended between two high points, where visitors are strapped in with safety harnesses and zip down from a high point to a lower one. At Chay Hang Toi River, ziplining is organized over the river, allowing visitors to experience the sensation of flying through the air and enjoy the natural beauty of Quang Binh. Ziplining at Chay Hang Toi River has two lines, each 200m and 300m long, designed to ensure the safety of visitors. Before participating in ziplining, visitors will be instructed on how to use safety equipment and control the speed of movement on the cable. With extremely fast speeds and the sensation of soaring through the air, ziplining is not only an exciting experience but also a highly challenging one. Visitors will have to overcome their fear of heights and speed while enjoying the exhilarating feeling of crossing the steel cable.
I absolutely love ziplining at Chay Hang Toi River because it not only gives me the thrill of adventure and helps me conquer my fears, but also provides me with an opportunity to admire the beauty of Quang Binh's nature from above.
The most popular and frequently ordered combo here is a hot platter of rustic dishes, including: grilled village chicken, crispy stream fish, sticky rice with sesame salt, and boiled vegetables. It sounds simple, doesn't it? But imagine yourself having fun and exerting energy with various water activities, then immediately refreshing with a hearty meal, isn't that just perfect?
Fresh village chicken awaits eagerly for orders to come in. The tender grilled chicken meat is juicy without the need for excessive marination, simply delicious with a side of sticky rice and roasted peanuts. The crispy stream fish is a must-try delicacy when visiting Chay Hang Toi River. The fresh stream fish is thoroughly cleaned, eliminating any fishy smell, coated in a thin layer of flour with spices such as salt, pepper, minced garlic, and fragrant herbs like sawtooth herb to enhance the flavor, then deep-fried until golden brown and aromatic. The crispy stream fish paired with betel leaves and sweet and sour dipping sauce is simply irresistible. Despite being a simple dish, crispy stream fish is considered a specialty for drinking occasions. Here, amidst picturesque scenery, cool breezes, raising a toast and enjoying delicious bites with friends is truly delightful!
A hearty meal provides extra energy for the journey of exploring the natural landscapes of Quang Binh.
Quang Binh flat cake is a simple yet strangely delicious dish. This cake is made from high-quality rice flour, pork, shrimp, and mushrooms, cleverly wrapped in banana leaves. To create the best flat cake, the ingredients are carefully selected, with rice flour soaked in water for a long time, then finely ground to create a sticky mixture. Pork and shrimp are stir-fried until fragrant and minced, then mixed evenly with the rice flour mixture. Mushrooms are finely sliced and soaked in flavorful broth or aromatic snail water to enhance the taste of the cake. Mệ Xuân Cake shop is a familiar spot for locals to stop by in the evening for some tasty treats.
Mệ Xuân eatery may seem simple but it holds a 'culinary childhood sky' within
The specialty Mệ Xuân flat cake has a delicious, rich flavor served with a dipping sauce made from fish sauce, garlic, chili, and sugar, creating a harmonious blend of salty, sweet, and spicy; add a bit of pickled carrot for the perfect balance, truly 'delightful.' Besides the renowned flat cake, Mệ Xuân eatery also serves various types of leaf cake, transparent cake, and fried cake, all equally delicious. Mệ Xuân cake is always an excellent choice for family dinners, small gatherings of close friends, or a casual and enjoyable dating spot.
The small leaf flat cake, soft and moist dough blended with meaty broth, fragrant with the scent of fat and scallions.
Address: 15 Le Thanh Dong, Dong Hoi City, Quang Binh Province
Price: From 15,000 VND/portion
Crispy pork soup is a specialty of Quang Binh that everyone should try at least once. This dish is not only popular for its delicious flavor but also for its high nutritional value. Quang Binh crispy pork soup is made from pork and broth from simmered fish bones for hours combined with seasonal vegetables, creating a rich, refreshing, and sweet flavor.
The special feature of Quang Binh crispy pork soup is the carefully selected fine rice flour and transparent flour used to create each round and soft noodle. These noodles are dropped into the hot crispy pork soup pot, allowing the noodles to absorb the bone broth, making them even more mouthwatering.
A special feature of Quang Binh crispy pork soup is always served with succulent shrimp and pork rolls. This dish is similar to northern-style spring rolls but firmer in texture, richer in flavor, and especially with a hint of pepper. Taking a crunchy bite of the roll dipped in the sweet and savory crispy pork soup, it's a taste sensation!
Crispy pork soup also offers various toppings for food enthusiasts to choose from: ribs, fish cakes, or fresh fish fillets... all equally fresh and delicious.
The Crispy Pork Soup eatery at 34 Tran Nhan Tong is a local favorite, so the quality speaks for itself!
Address: 34 Tran Nhan Tong, Dong Hoi City, Quang Binh Province
Price: From 30,000 VND/portion
Chay Hang Toi River is an exciting tourist destination in Quang Binh, where you can admire breathtaking landscapes, enjoy relaxing moments in the serene nature, and savor exquisite cuisine. Chay Hang Toi River is currently at its greenest season of the year, so mark your travel itinerary and visit this masterpiece of Quang Binh!
Author: Vo Linh Chi
*This article participates in the Mytour Golocal program
Mytour Golocal is a blogging program introducing beautiful destinations across Vietnam under the framework of the Mytour Go & Share program. This is a great opportunity to promote local tourism to everyone. For each qualified article, you will receive 800,000 VND and the chance to become a Contributor with Mytour. For detailed information about the program, visit: https://trv.lk/golocal
