Quy Nhon

Qui Nhơn is a coastal city in the Binh Dinh Province of central Vietnam. It comprises 16 wards and 5 communes with 284 km² general area. Qui Nhon is the capital of the Binh Dinh province and as of 1999 its population was 240,000. Historically the primary commercial activities of the city had always focused around agriculture and fishing. However, in recent years there has been a significant shift towards service industries and tourism. There is also a substantial manufacturing sector.

Qui Nhon was officially founded more than 100 years ago with its forming and developing history going much further back to the 11th-century Champa culture, Tay Son dynasty and Thị Nại seaport from the 18th century. Nowadays Qui Nhon, itself a seaport, is recognized as a second-grade city with a geo-economic priority and an urbanized infrastructure. The government describes the city as one of the three commercial and tourism centres of the central southern coastal region.

Qui Nhon has a varied topography, its geography being extremely diversified with such landforms as mountains and forests, hills, fields, salt marshes, plains, lagoons, lakes, rivers, shorelines, peninsulas and islands. Qui Nhon's coastline is 42 km long with attractive sandy beaches, abundant seafood resources and many other natural products of high economic worth. The city's key economic activities include industries, mercantile, export-imports, seaport services, aquatic product husbandry and tourism.

Tourist sites

The Quang Trung Museum

Nguyen Hue, a national hero of the 18th century, was one of three brothers who led the Tay Son Insurrection. In 1788, he led a peasant army northwards from Phu Xuan (Hue) to Thang Long (Hanoi) where they defeated the occupying Chinese forces and liberated the royal capital. Nguyen Hue declared himself Emperor Quang Trung, but his dynasty lasted only fourteen years before his forces were crushed by the Nguyen Lords. Despite the brevity of his reign, he is regarded with great affection in Vietnam, hence the museum created in his memory. It’s located in Kien My village in Tay Son District, 45km from Qui Nhon,

The Long Khanh Pagoda

Quin Nhon City is short of attractions, but the Long Khanh pagoda is worth a visit. The 17m high Buddha is impressive, as is the ‘thousand-eyed and thousand handed’ Goddess of Mercy.

The Leper Hospital

Normally, this wouldn’t feature as a place to visit. However, this one is different. Instead of the usual depressing institution, Qui Nhon’s Leper Hospital is a model of good practice. Patients live with their family in comfortable chalets in well maintained gardens, and work on handicrafts. Visitors are always welcomed, and most find it an uplifting experience.

The Beach

Qui Nhon’s beach is quite small, but OK. However, Qui Hoa beach is about eight kilometers away and much better. By coincidence, you get there through the grounds of the Leper Hospital