Welcome to The Long Wall of Quang Ngai, Vietnam

Left: Mountain Valleys of Quang Ngai Province. Center: Ruins of a 500 year old stone fortress along the Long Wall. Right: Hre people at the Long Wall Inauguration Ceremony.

The Long Wall of Quang Ngai is Vietnam's newest National Heritage Monument, built by the Vietnamese and the Hre ethnic minority. It was discovered in 2005 by Dr. Andrew Hardy, associate professor and head of the Hanoi branch of École Française d'Extrême-Orient (French School of Asian Studies). The Long Wall was built under the Nguyen Dynasty to provide mutual security for the the Kinh Vietnamese to the east and the Hre and other minorities to the west. It was also a means to regulate trade and administer taxes at market towns and trade routes passing through the wall.

The Long Wall of Quang Ngai presents a remarkable opportunity for a new kind of tourism in Vietnam: Historical Ecotourism. The combination of unique historical context and the monument itself, together with a breathtaking landscape and diverse ethnic population has incredible potential for sustainable tourism.

We'll be posting more information about Vietnam's own "Great Wall" soon. For now, please also see stories about The Long Wall of Quang Ngai on CNN, CNNGo, BBC and East-West Traveler Magazine. Also find more photos and information at the Vietnam travel blog, www.fisheggtree.com.

Quick Facts About The Long Wall: The wall is 127.4km (79.2 miles) long. Construction of the wall began in 1819. The wall reaches heights of 4m (13ft). Some sections of the wall are composed of sand, and others of stone. It is believed that the wall was built by both the Kinh (ethnic Vietnamese) and the Hre (Cham re). Other Sites of Interest in Quang Ngai: Chau Sa, an ancient Cham citadel Son My Memorial Museum (My Lai Massacre) Sa Huynh Beach Resort (namesake of the ancient burial grounds found there) Ly Son Island Several ancient Cham temple ruins Numerous waterfalls, lakes and hot springs Hilltribe villages of the Hre, Ca Dong & Cor

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Left: An overgrown section of The Long Wall. Center: Hre villager crosses a river without benefit of a bridge. Right: Children sit on a ruined stone fort guarding the wall.

Quang Ngai Hotels Avoid Vietnam's government-owned hotels. Profits tend to go to corrupt government officials rather than benefiting local residents. Government hotels may also have bed bugs. The following hotels are recommended for a comfortable and convenient stay in Quang Ngai.
Central Hotel 784 Quang Trung Tel: 055 382-9999 www.CentralHotel.com.vn The Central Hotel is not exactly centrally located but not too far out. This nice hotel has friendly, English-speaking staff, although it’s beginning to show signs of its 13-year age. There is a roof-top swimming pool and tennis court. There’s a nice restaurant, but please don’t order the wild-animal dishes. (85 rooms). Book a room online.	Hung Vuong Hotel 45 Hung Vuong Tel: 055 371-0477 www.HungVuong-Hotel.com.vn This high-rise hotel is the larger of the two hotels around the town square that bear the same name. The conference rooms and restaurant on the top floors offer beautiful views of the city. The central post office and water tower are directly across the street. Rooms include all the basics, plus wifi and a large bathtub. (61 rooms). Book a room online.	Kim Thanh Hotel 19 Hung Vuong Tel: 055 382-3471 This small, family-run hotel is right across from the town square. Although the building is a little old and no-frills, the large rooms here are the best value in town, with hot water, air-conditioning, a refrigerator, satellite TV and wifi. The service is both helpful and friendly, and English is spoken. (15 rooms) $10/night	My Tra Hotel Km1045 QL1A, Tinh Phong, Son Tinh Tel: 055 384-1734 Ks_mytra@dng.vnn.vn This large hotel is located just outside of town on the north side of the Tra Khuc Bridge. Facilities include a swimming pool, small spa, and wifi throughout. Suites include an extra family room, sitting room and office. Book a room online. (50 rooms)	Vinh Hotel Highway 1A, Sa Huynh Beach Tel: 055 386-0385 This simple, quiet hotel is located on the south end of town on a pristine strip of golden-sand beach. The tidy rooms have air-conditioning or fan, hot water, and TVs. A nice restaurant is attached. You probably won’t find English spoken here, or anywhere else in Sa Huynh for that matter, but the staff is friendly and will do their best to meet your needs. (30 rooms).  $10/night

Sights along the drive from Kontum to Quang Ngai. Left: Hre stilt-house village. Center: Ca Dong store-house. Right: Bahnar rong house.
Getting to Quang Ngai

From Danang and Hoi An: Fly into Danang International airport and take a bus south (either from Danang or Hoi An) for about 3hr. Alternatively, catch the train from the Danang station for the 2.5hr trip south to the train station in downtown Quang Ngai City. The trip goes past Tam Ky, where two ancient Cham towers are located.

From Nha Trang or Quy Nhon: The train from Quy Nhon to Quang Ngai is about 5hrs. Further south, the train from Nha Trang is approximately 9hrs. Busses are also available. The trip passes Sa Huynh, a popular new beach resort area.

From Kontum: Highway 24 goes northeast from Kontom, with two routes that can be followed to Quang Ngai City. This stretch of road is one of the most ethnically diverse trails in Vietnam, where many minorities still live a relatively traditional lifestyle. Early in the drive pass villages of Bahnar, Jarai and Sedang. Their enormous rong houses with their towering thatched roofs can easily be seen from the road. Then branch north on Route 669 and then east on Route 623 to Quang Ngai City. This is a new road under construction and can be more difficult in rainy season. Along the way are beautiful stilt-house villages of the Hre, Ca Dong and Cor peoples. Alternatively, take the older Highway 24 all the way to the coast and then turn north on Highway 1A to Quang Ngai City. Along the wayto Highway 1A are beautiful stilt-house villages of the Hre and M'nong. The part along the highway is not as much fun. This trip is best done by motorbike with one of these great guides below. See some photos from the drive here.

Recommended Local Tour Guides
Contact: River Company: Vietnam Easyrider Tel: 098 925-3394 Website: www.vietnameasyrider.com	Contact: Long Company: Vietnam Easyriders Tel: 090 920-1075 Website: www.vietnam-easyriders.com	Contact: Binh Company: Mr. Binh Sahara Tour Tel: 098 929-7648 Website: www.muine-adventures.com	Contact: Hung Company: Fish Egg Tree Tours Tel: 090 443-4895 Website: www.muinebeach.net

Quang Ngai Notes

A bizarre skin disease in a remote Quang Ngai village is infecting hundreds and killing dozens (Read More). The Communist government of Quang Ngai agressively persecutes Protestant communities (particulalry ethnic minorities). Discretion should be used when visiting remote, rural areas or attending religious gatherings, as they are closely monitored by police.

Copyright 2012 Adam Bray. This site was created by Mui Ne based Adam Bray, the first journalist (or tourist for that matter) to visit The Long Wall of Quang Ngai. Adam Bray was invited by the government of Quang Ngai to attend meetings on the development of tourism for the wall and the official inauguration ceremony of The Long Wall as a National Heritage Monument in May 2011. This site has been created as an effort to help the people of Quang Ngai get local tourism off the ground, as well as help foreign and domestic tourists have a more fruitful visit.