2024 Festival for Peace: Coming to Quang Tri for experiences and gratitude

The 2024 Festival for Peace took place in early July in Quang Tri Province, promoting Quang Tri as a charming destination for tourists and international friends.

According to the organiser of the event, the main locations of the even featured the special national relic of Two Sides of Ben Hai River - Hien Luong Bridge, Dong Ha City, Cua Tung Beach, Cua Viet Beach, Quang Tri Ancient Citadel and related places, Truong Son Cemetery and Road 9 National Martyrs' Cemetery. With the festival’s national and international scale, large crowds of domestic and foreign tourists are expected to flock to Quang Tri.

The ‘bomb house’, built next to the Truong Son Cemetery, is attracting many tourists with war memorabilia. Photo: Dan Tam

In addition to the constant theme and diverse events, the festival is also an opportunity to introduce and promote Quang Tri as a charming destination for tourists and international friends, thereby stimulating tourism demand and socio-economic development.

According to travel entrepreneurs, running a grand Festival for Peace to boost local tourism is the right direction and reflects sharp and open thinking, a completely new approach to tourism, and the eternal aspirations of humanity: to live in peace, prosperity, and cooperative communities.

It’s worth recalling the great role of revolutionary festivals held in the province in luring visitors and popularizing the epic history and identity-rich culture of Quang Tri.

Moreover, the impact of the Festival for Peace on the local tourism will also positively spread the image of Quang Tri Province as Vietnam in miniature: a land that has experienced the severity of war with countless losses and sacrifices, so peace is always a burning desire.

As a traveler, you should come, experience and feel, and you will find your own answer as to why Quang Tri deserves to host the Festival for Peace more than any other place in Vietnam, and to be honored as a land for peace.

Located at the narrowest part of Central Vietnam, Quang Tri Province is a very special land. This is where Lord Nguyen Hoang established his rule with the first stronghold in Ai Tu (Trieu Phong District today). The province has also twice been entrusted by history with the mission of being the ‘resistance war capital’.

As a miniature Vietnam, Quang Tri boasts mountains, forests, rivers, beaches, mainland territory as well as Con Co Island, which was a base for North Vietnamese military forces during the Vietnam War. From 1954 to 1976, the country was partitioned into two at the 17th Parallel, which bisected Hien Luong Bridge over Ben Hai River in Quang Tri. Of the over 600 relic sites in the province, there are 442 historical sites - with 85% being revolutionary sites.

Notably, the Two Sides of Ben Hai River - Hien Luong Bridge relic cluster, Quang Tri Ancient Citadel relic cluster and 81-day defense memorial sites, Vinh Moc Tunnel and Vinh Linh tunnel village system have been recognized as special national relics. Quang Tri is also home to 72 martyrs“cemeteries, including two national martyrs” cemeteries, namely Truong Son and Road 9. These are the eternal resting place of tens of thousands of outstanding children from all over the country, who sacrificed themselves for the Fatherland’s freedom and independence. The system of war relics in Quang Tri has an unrivaled diversity and significance that no other in the country has.

In addition, Quang Tri is the land of typical folk festivals such as boat racing festival, ball robbing festival, Bich La communal house market. There are also religious and ethnic festivals, like the Buddha’s Birthday, the La Vang palanquin of Christianity, Arieu Ping or New Rice Festival of ethnic minorities in Western Quang Tri. Besides, Binh Tri Thien folk melodies, Cheo Can shanty, Nhu Le shanty, spirit farewell shanty, as well as scenic spots of Quang Tri have long attracted travelers.

Tourists visit the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel Museum. Photo by: Dan Tam

Visiting Quang Tri on the occasion of this Festival for Peace, if you are keen on vast views of the sea, you will have fascinating experiences on Con Co Island, pristine Vinh Thai Beach, Cua Tung Beach - once known as the “Queen of Beaches”, Gio Hai Beach, bustling Cua Viet Beach, poetic Trieu Lang Beach, or My Thuy Beach with smooth white sand.

If you prefer adventure and are passionate about exploring the majestic and wild nature in Western Quang Tri, head to Brai Cave, Ta Puong Cave, Ta Puong Waterfall, Sa Mu Pass, Chenh Venh Waterfall, Huong Hoa’s wind farms or Dakrong’s scenic spots.

Returning to the plains, after enjoying Phuong Lang steamed rice rolls, My Chanh steamed tapioca dumplings, Hai Lang rice noodle soup with fish, Vinh Linh jumping shrimp salad or Mai Xa vermicelli soup with clams, don’t forget to visit Nhi Ha golden sand hill and Gio An ancient well system to calm down amid peaceful villages and prosperous fields.

Souvenirs for tourists to bring home can be Khe Sanh coffee - a celebrated brand with such export markets as the US, the UK, Germany and Japan, Cua pepper - which won the Century International Gold Quality Era Award in Switzerland, or Quang Tri organic rice - well received by domestic and international consumers.

Coming to Quang Tri during this Festival for Peace, visitors will witness the rise of a province with proud achievements 35 years after its re-foundation. In particular, you can interact with war veterans who are diligently cultivating a better life day by day, as well as tour a place that was once war-torn, but now full of blooming flowers of peace.

Quang Tri people once fought and sacrificed with the whole country for the independence and freedom of their Fatherland, and also for human dignity and humanity’s noble desire for peace. The first Festival for Peace here is an occasion for that desire to be multiplied and spread from heroic land.

Dan Tam- Jenna Duong