Conquering Tam Lu Waterfall brings tourists moments of excitement that will last a lifetime. (Photo: nhandan.vn)

Quang Binh Province is home to five major river systems, all originating from the majestic Truong Son Range, quietly flowing downstream to nourish fertile fields before merging into the sea. Each river in this land seems to echo ancient tales, connecting past and present while opening a new future for the area widely known as the “kingdom of caves”.

On these green waterways, Quang Binh is gradually unlocking its tourism potential, offering unique and impressive experiences for visitors.

Impressive river journeys

While the headwater of the Gianh River — considered the “mother river” — is the Son River, winding endlessly through the Phong Nha-Ke Bang World Natural Heritage Site with its complex underground network yet to be fully explored, the source of the Nhat Le River is the Long Dai River, home to cascading rapids and rocky shoals such as Tam Lu Waterfall. Following these rivers upstream, visitors can expect a blend of striking scenery, thrilling adventure, and unforgettable moments.

The Long Dai River rises in the western of the Truong Son Range, cutting through dozens of waterfalls with high gradients and swirling currents, before meandering through the Quang Ninh District lowlands to meet the Kien Giang River at Tran Xa Junction, eventually forming the Nhat Le River.

On a fine day, we travelled upstream on the Long Dai in an aluminium motorboat, passing Tam Lu Waterfall to reach Truong Son Commune. After navigating the stretch of river through Truong Xuan Commune, we occasionally encountered small fishing boats. Some river bends were overhung with dense foliage, creating shady canopies that became resting spots for local fishermen. Our boatman explained that under those trees, many native fish species dwell among the tangled roots — making these areas ideal fishing grounds for locals who have spent their lives on the river. Further along, rugged rock formations loomed, inviting visitors to let their imagination roam free.

The highlight of the Long Dai River tour is crossing Tam Lu Waterfall. Our young but seasoned boatman instructed us to sit still with legs spread wider than shoulder width for stability, gripping the sides or middle bar of the boat tightly. As he manoeuvred the tiller, he would at times speed up to shoot past rocks or slow down to find deeper channels for the boat to pass.

For first timers, the experience can be nerve-wracking. A moment's error in judgement or careless handling by the boatman could result in the boat striking a rock — a serious hazard for both passengers and vessel. However, thanks to our boatman’s skilled steering, we passed the rapids spectacularly, accompanied by whoops of excitement and admiration from everyone on board.

“Going up the Long Dai River and passing Tam Lu Waterfall is a true eco-adventure tour. It would be even more appealing to both domestic and international visitors if it combined adventure tourism with the cultural exploration of ethnic minority villages along the riverbanks. With this approach, the Long Dai River — especially Tam Lu Waterfall — would surely become a standout destination on Quang Binh’s tourism map,” Luong Thanh, a visitor from Dong Hoi City (Quang Binh Province), shared.

Leaving behind the venture of Tam Lu Waterfall, tourists can opt for a more tranquil journey along the Son and Chay rivers, engaging in river-based adventurous sports and activities. While the Son River flows underground through the Phong Nha Cave, carrying many mysteries, the Chay River runs past the cave’s entrance, surrounded by scenic limestone mountains. A unique feature of this river is the limestone formations that rise like miniature mountains in midstream, shaped by centuries of geological sediment and water erosion into surreal, bonsai-like forms.

Unlocking Waterway Tourism Potential

Quang Binh’s river systems offer vast potential for waterway tourism development, catering to travellers seeking peaceful river experiences paired with natural beauty and local cuisine. In recent years, several businesses in the province have started offering river tours. Among them, Oxalis Company has launched a product called “Đi đi thôi” (“Let’s go!”), which explores the Chay and Son rivers and visits scenic sites and traditional craft villages along the Gianh River.

Exploring the Son River and discovering traditional crafts and cultural features along the rivers. (Photo: nhandan.vn)

On the Nhat Le River in Dong Hoi City, Nhat Le Travel Company has trialled sightseeing boat tours in combination with visiting famous landscapes and historical sites. Departing from the mouth of Nhat Le and heading to Quan Hau Bridge, tourists can enjoy the stunning sunset views, feel the breeze of the south wind, and hear stories about the people and land of Dong Hoi — tales woven into national history through figures such as Mother Suot and Heroine Tran Thi Ly. The tour also includes visits to wartime relics like Tam Toa Church and hands-on experiences with traditional fishing methods in Bao Ninh Commune, such as spinning nets, casting nets, as well as enjoying specialties of Quang Binh.

Earlier this year, Phong Nha-Ke Bang Tourism Centre launched a 10km river tour, connecting three destinations of Phong Nha, Chay River and Dark Cave. With this journey, visitors will travel upstream on the Son River for about 5km, immersing themselves in the peaceful scenery with majestic limestone mountains, then stopping to visit Phong Nha Cave, which has a beautiful stalactite system created by nature over hundreds of millions of years.

Continuing with the tour on Chay River to enjoy the charming scenery of the river, the boat glides gently on the water surface, taking visitors to experience adventurous activities such as 400m long zipline, kayaking, water skiing or adventurous bridge jumping on Chay River. According to Director of Phong Nha-Ke Bang Tourism Centre Hoang Minh Thang, compared to the road route, traveling by river to explore nature and experience adventure sports creates a unique attraction for the tour.

The Phong Nha-Chay River-Dark Cave tour is not only new and attractive with its uniqueness and quality, it also aims to develop green tourism when passenger boats use electric energy and outdoor activities do not harm nature and the environment.

However, in addition to the outstanding product of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang Tourism Centre, other river tours in Quang Binh have not yet attracted the expected number of visitors because of the harsh weather, the prolonged rainy season, the limited scale and methods, and a lack of synchronous investment.

Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Binh Province Dang Dong Ha said that the Quang Binh Provincial Party Committee’s action programme on tourism development in the period of 2021-2025 identifies and exploits sightseeing and experience tourism products on inland waterways, such as Gianh River, Nhat Le River, Long Dai River, and Son River, as the key direction to create new tourism products.

On that basis, through the tourism infrastructure development project to support comprehensive growth in the Greater Mekong Sub-region, the province invests in upgrading the road tourism infrastructure system associated with the Nhat Le-Long Dai inland waterway route. The main items such as the construction of Nhat Le tourism boat wharf, Quan Hau ferry water tourism centre, construction of the Long Dai boat wharf and Than Dinh Mountain boat wharf are being completed to create synchronous technical infrastructure, attracting investment and developing tourism products on the Nhat Le and Long Dai rivers.

On the other hand, the tourism development plans of districts and cities also prioritise the development of tourism products on both banks of rivers and riverside spaces associated with visiting historical and cultural sites and performing folk songs. According to Le Ngoc Huan, Vice Chairman of the Quang Ninh District People's Committee, the locality has proactively coordinated with relevant sectors to survey tourism products on both banks of Long Dai River and Kien Giang River to build, promote, and organise the exploitation of waterway tourism and adventure eco-tourism products, such as exploring Long Dai River, Tam Lu Waterfall, Nuoc Lanh Stream, Cha Rao Stream, Hac Hai Lagoon, and Trang Islet.

Recently, the Management Board of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park has issued a list of investment attraction to create new tourism products, including waterway tourism, eco-tourism resorts on both banks of Son River and Chay River.

The rivers of Quang Binh Province are not only like green silk ribbons running through mountains, forests, villages and fields, but are also the source of new journeys of experience, helping develop the local tourism in harmony with its magical nature.