Penang Travel Tips Homepage

Đồng Hới, Vietnam




Đồng Hới is a city in Central Vietnam. It is located at the narrowest part of the country, between Laos and the South China Sea. Đồng Hới covers 155.71 sq km (60.12 sq mi) and has a population of 72,000 people (2011 estimate). The city is 486 km (302 mi) from Hanoi and 1,238 km (769 mi) from Ho Chi Minh City.

The Đồng Hới area has been inhabited since the Stone Age period. Archaeologists have discovered ceramic shards and stone tools used by prehistoric people here. Excavation was first carried out under the French archaeologist Madeleine Colani in 1926. It provided a glimpse of the Hòa Bình culture that appeared in the region over 10,000 years ago.

Ruins of Tam Toa Church in Dong HoiRuins of Tam Toa Church in Dong Hoi
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TamToa.jpg
Author: Toanvungtau
photo licensing


Đồng Hới was also an area contested by the Champa and the Dai Viet kingdoms. It eventually fell under the rule of the Dai Viet in the 11th century. Later the marriage of a Dai Viet princess to the Champa king, Jaya Sinhavarman III, sealed the union between between the two political powers.

Đồng Hới experiences four distinct seasons. Hottest months are June and July, when the average high temperature reaches 34°C. Coldest month is January, when average low temperature drops to just 17°C.

Quang Binh Gate, Dong Hoi CitadelQuang Binh Gate, Dong Hoi Citadel
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:QuangBinhGate.jpg
Author: Toanvungtau
photo licensing


Blessed with beautiful beaches, ancient heritage and nature sights, Đồng Hới is gradually developing into a tourist destination.

Visiting Đồng Hới

Đồng Hới has a new airport. There are now flights there from Hanoi and Ho Chi Ming City. Due to its proximity to Laos, you can also take a bus there from Savannakhet.

Places of Interest in Đồng Hới

  1. Bang Spa
    Hot mineral spring in Đồng Hới provides an opportunity of a spa experience in Vietnam.

  2. Dong Hoi Citadel
    Citadel in the center of Dong Hoi. It was first constructed by the first king of the Nguyen Dynasty, Gia Long (1802-1819) in 1812 with earth, and later rebuilt with bricks by his son King Minh Mang. It was severely damaged during the First Indochina War and later destroyed by American bombings in the Vietnam War. The gate was later restored rather unsympathetically to the original appearance.

  3. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
    A World Heritage Site noted for being one of the world's largest karst region.

 Latest updates on Penang Travel Tips

Map of Roads in Penang

Looking for information on Penang? Use this Map of Roads in Penang to zoom in on information about Penang, brought to you road by road.



Timothy Tye
Copyright © 2003-2025 Timothy Tye. All Rights Reserved.