Sacred land of Vung Chua - The resting place of General Vo Nguyen Giap

(Dan Tri) - Not only beautiful landscapes and many historical sites, since welcoming General Vo Nguyen Giap to rest, Vung Chua - Yen Island has become a spiritual tourist destination, attracting millions of people.

Vung Chua - Yen Island is located about 10km southeast of Deo Ngang, in Tho Son village, Quang Dong commune, Quang Trach district, Quang Binh province. This place has Tho mountain, Dragon cape, belonging to Hoanh Son range jutting out to the sea, is the resting place of General Vo Nguyen Giap. The General was a close and excellent student of President Ho Chi Minh, the "eldest brother" of the Vietnam People's Army and an outstanding son of his hometown Quang Binh.

Located at the foot of the Hoanh Son mountain range, Vung Chua - Yen Island is one of the beautiful landscapes in Hon La Bay. It is called Vung Chua because the sea here is as peaceful as a puddle and hundreds of years ago, there was a very sacred temple here, but through the vicissitudes of history, now only a part of the vestige remains.

According to the book "Dai Nam du dia chi uoc bien" by the culturalist Cao Xuan Duc of the Nguyen Dynasty, Vung Chua is a land with a prime location, overlooking the open but wind-sheltered East Sea. This place is surrounded by sturdy mountains like a wall, on the mainland is the Hoanh Son range "like a coiled dragon and a sitting tiger, overlapping and spreading out to the sea" with the Dragon Cape protecting the northwest, in the east there are many small islands.

With a curved terrain shaped like a fan, Vung Chua is surrounded by islands: Hon La, Hon Gio, Hon Nom (also known as Yen Island because there are many swiftlets nesting on the island). Yen Island is about 10 hectares wide, 1km from the shore, its wild beauty is like a screen emerging in the middle of the sea, protecting Vung Chua from big storms and strong winds, so ships and boats often come here to anchor and take shelter.

According to many elders in Quang Dong commune, Quang Trach district, local people consider Vung Chua a sacred land, because according to legend, King Le Thanh Tong led his navy to attack Champa and stopped here to set up an altar to pray for the gods' protection. When he won, the king returned here to set up an altar to thank heaven and earth. Not only does it have a prime location, beautiful landscape and many historical sites, since welcoming General Vo Nguyen Giap to rest, Vung Chua - Yen Island has also become a spiritual tourist destination visited by many people from the country and abroad.

"I have been to Quang Binh many times. Every time I come here, the first thing I think of is to offer incense and visit the tomb of General Vo Nguyen Giap. The resting place of the General is both sacred and romantic with the wild scenery of mountains, forests, and islands. From afar, Yen Island exudes the appearance of a majestic mountain, guarding the mainland and the sea," said Hoang Duy Hung, a tourist from Phu Tho.

A decade has passed since Vung Chua - Yen Island welcomed General Vo Nguyen Giap to rest, this sacred land has never stopped receiving pilgrims. Since then, Quang Dong commune, a poor rural area at the foot of Ngang Pass, has undergone positive changes, becoming known to many people at home and abroad. Coastal roads and roads to General Vo Nguyen Giap's tomb have been upgraded, making it convenient for people and tourists to travel. "Since the General came here, this land has been given more vitality, more and more tourists have come, and the whole poor countryside has become bustling," said Nguyen Tien Yen, a resident of Tho Son village, Quang Dong commune.

Talking to Dan Tri reporter, Mr. Nguyen Duc Hien, Chairman of Quang Dong Commune People's Committee, said that along with the formation of Hon La Economic Zone, choosing Vung Chua - Yen Island as the resting place of General Vo Nguyen Giap has opened up many opportunities and motivations to help Quang Dong change and improve people's lives.

According to Mr. Hien, the economy of Quang Dong commune used to rely on agricultural production and fishing at sea, but in recent years it has shifted strongly to developing tourism and services, creating jobs for thousands of people. Currently, the commune has nearly 100 restaurants and hotels serving tourists.

Dantri.com.vn