Sacred Land
There will be 10 elite athletes selected to participate in the THACO Marathon for Traffic Safety in Dien Bien Phu 2024, starting at 11:00 on April 10 from the tomb of General Vo Nguyen Giap in Vung Chua - Yen Island (Quang Binh province), carrying a version of the "Determination to Fight - Determination to Win" flag to the Command Center in Dien Bien Phu (Dien Bien province).
A corner of Quang Dong commune, Quang Trach district, where the site Vung Chua - Yen Island attracts spiritual tourists to visit the tomb of General Vo Nguyen Giap.
This is a race organized by the National Traffic Safety Committee in coordination with Giao Thong Newspaper and Dien Bien Provincial People's Committee from April 10 to 14, 2024 to pay tribute, respect and gratitude to the heroic martyrs and those who sacrificed and participated in the campaign to make the Dien Bien Phu victory, contributing greatly to the country's national independence.
Eleven years have passed in a flash since the sacred land of Vung Chua - Yen Island in Quang Dong commune, Quang Trach welcomed the coffin of General Vo Nguyen Giap to rest in eternal peace.
Over the past decade, Vung Chua - Yen Island has become a sacred place for people from all over the country to turn to.
According to "Dai Nam Du Dia Chi Uoc Bien", 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 with the shape of "coiling dragon and sitting tiger, overlapping and spreading out to the sea" with the Dragon Cape protecting the northwest.
The straight asphalt concrete road leads to the resting place of General Vo Nguyen Giap.
Vung Chua is hidden at the foot of Hoanh Son mountain range, about 10km southeast of Ngang Pass, Vung Chua - Yen Island is one of the beautiful landscapes in Hon La Bay.
Vung Chua is surrounded by the islands of Hon La, Hon Gio, Hon Nom (also known as Yen Island because there are many swiftlets coming to nest on the island).
Yen Island is about 10 hectares wide, 1km from shore, with a wild beauty 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.
Previously, this sacred land was still very wild, strange and little known. Only when General Vo Nguyen Giap chose it as his eternal resting place, this sacred land became a "red address" for tens of thousands of Vietnamese people to come to offer incense, visit the tomb of the talented general and admire the landscape.
Along with that, Vung Chua is located in Hon La Economic Zone, so Quang Binh province has invested in synchronous and modern infrastructure. Many projects and factories have sprung up, especially the Quang Trach I and II Thermal Power Plant project which is under construction. This place is really transforming and growing strongly.
Red address for spiritual tourism
More than a decade has passed since the day Vung Chua - Yen Island welcomed General Vo Nguyen Giap to rest, this sacred land has never stopped receiving pilgrims.
The stone-paved path leading to the General's tomb is always kept clean and ready to welcome visitors to offer incense and enjoy the scenery.
Since then, Quang Dong commune, from a poor rural area at the foot of Ngang Pass, has had positive changes and is known to domestic and foreign tourists.
Coastal roads and roads leading to General Vo Nguyen Giap's tomb have been upgraded, making it convenient for traffic and travel.
Still busy with cleaning and taking care of the trees at the tomb, Mr. Nguyen Tien Binh (Quang Kim commune, Quang Trach district) said that since the General chose this place to "rest in peace", there has not been a day when people have not come to visit. Especially, on holidays, Tet or major national holidays, the number of visitors is even higher.
The General's tomb always has visitors coming to offer incense and visit the scenery.
"There are relatively few visitors at this time, but we estimate there will be about 500 to 600 visitors," said Mr. Binh.
Joining the crowd in quietly moving forward, Mr. Nguyen Tien Hung (Nghe An) said: I have been to Quang Dong commune many times. Every time I come here, the first thing I do 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.
According to the leader of the People's Committee of Quang Dong commune, the management and protection of the General's tomb has been handed over to the family by the border guards.
After 4 years of closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic and many renovations, from the beginning of November 2023, the tomb of General Vo Nguyen Giap has reopened so that people and tourists can visit and offer incense.
Respectfully burn incense at the General's tomb.
According to records, although the number of visitors coming to visit and offer incense is quite large, the management, protection and guidance work is done very well, creating a solemn, polite and orderly atmosphere.
Before the Lunar New Year of Giap Thin, General Vo Nguyen Giap's family returned to Vung Chua - Yen Island to prepare the altar, clean the grave, wrap Chung cakes, and offer incense. On this occasion, the General's descendants also brought back many types of trees to plant in the graveyard.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh (who sells offerings to tourists) said that she and many people in Quang Dong commune earn extra income from selling goods to serve people who come to burn incense to pay their respects to the General.
"Every day we sell incense and flowers here and earn a decent amount of money, enough to cover our living expenses. Since welcoming the General back, this land has never stopped being filled with pilgrims," said Ms. Thanh.
Mr. Nguyen Duc Hien, Chairman of Quang Dong Commune People's Committee, informed that the economy of Quang Dong Commune is based only on agricultural production and fishing at sea.
However, in recent years, the commune has shifted strongly to developing tourism and services, creating jobs for thousands of people.
Currently, in the commune there are nearly 100 restaurants and hotels capable of serving a large number of tourists when coming to Guangdong.
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