Vinh
Hurriedly rebuilt after its wartime devastation, Vinh is only now lifting off the mantle of concrete ugliness that has been its reputation over the last 30 years. Trees have been planted along its wide boulevards, new parks opened and the lakesides landscaped – injecting a much needed splash of green among the grey Stalinist patina. There’s still not a lot to detain a tourist for more than a day, but it’s becoming a more attractive option for breaking up the long journey between Hanoi and Hué. The capital of Nghe An province, it has a few almost-attractions nearby, including Ho Chi Minh’s birthplace Kim Lien and the beach resort of Cua Lo.

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Getting there & away
Contents
Land
Bus
The chaotic bus station (833 997; Ð Le Loi) is easy to locate right in the centre of town. Regular buses head to Danang (116, 000d, 8½ hours), stopping at Dong Hoi (four hours) and Dong Ha (5½ hours) on the way. Minibuses cruise the main street looking for additional fares. All the open-tour buses pass through town en route between Hanoi and Hué, and while it’s easy to ask to jump off here, it’s harder to arrange a pick up. Buses also head to Tay Son on Hwy 8, near the Lao border, and there are also services through to Phonsavan on Hwy 7. Be aware that Tay Son was formerly called Trung Tam, and this is usually what you’ll see written on the bus.

Car & motorbike
From Vinh it’s 96km to the Lao border, 197km to Dong Hoi and 292km to Hanoi.

Train
The Vinh train station (Ga Vinh; 853 158; Ð Le Ninh) is on the northwestern edge of town. The Reunification Express heads to destinations including Hanoi (113, 000d, 5½ to eight hours, seven daily), Ninh Binh (73, 000d, 3½ to 4½ hours, four daily), Thanh Hoa (50, 000d, 2½ to 3½ hours, six daily), Dong Hoi (80, 000d, 3½ to 9½ hours, eight daily) and Hué (143, 000d, 6½ to 10 hours, seven daily).

Air
Vietnam Airlines (595 777; 2 Ð Le Hong Phong) connects Vinh with HCMC (US$72) twice a week. There’s another booking office in the foyer of the Saigon Kimlien Hotel. The airport is about 20km north of the city.

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See more Viet Nam

About Hanoi Vietnam | Around Ho Chi Minh City | About Halong Bay Vietnam | Ba Be National Park | Ba Vi National Park | Bac Lieu | Bai Tu Long Bay  | Bo Nau Cave (Pelican cave) |  Beaches North of Nha Trang |  Ben Tre | Buon Ma Thuot | Ca Mau  | Dien Bien Phu | Dong Hoi | Ha Giang | Haiphong | Halong City | Ho Coc Beach | Dong Hoi | Kon Tum | Kim Quy Grotto | Lang Son | Lao Cai | Long Hai | Luon Grotto | Long Xuyen | Mai Chau | Mekong Delta | Mui Ne Beach | My Tho | Phan Rang & Thap Cham | Phan Thiet | Phat Diem | Phong Nha Cave | Phu Quoc Island | Pleiku | Quang Ngai | Rach Gia | Soc Trang | Song Cau | Tam Coc | Tam Dao  | Tay Ninh | Thay & Tay Phuong Pagodas | Tra Co Beach | Tra Vinh | Tuy Hoa  | Van Don Island  | Vinh Long | Vung Tau