Footprint Travel - Located in the central part of the country, with the narrowest width, backed by the Truong Son mountain range and facing the East Sea, Quang Tri has been blessed by nature with many mountains and rivers. The natural formations have shaped the rivers and mountains, gathering the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, becoming symbols of each region.
Non Mai, also known as Mai Linh Mountain, is located on the right bank of the upper reaches of the Thach Han River, within the complex of Dong Tran, Dong Chan, north of Dong Che, and south of Dong Che, with an altitude of over 800m above sea level. Mai Linh Mountain is located within the Dakrong Nature Reserve, in the former Mo O commune, now Huong Hiep commune. "The mountain has a rounded, slightly pointed conical shape, sloping more towards the west-east. At the summit there is a flat area of land, currently covered only with reeds and bushes" (excerpt from "Studies on Quang Tri in the Past" by Le Duc Tho).
In early April 2025, the Quang Tri Provincial Special Forest Management Board announced the discovery of an ancient apricot blossom forest with over 300 trees, hundreds of years old, located within the pristine forest of the Non Mai-Song Han area. The existence of this ancient apricot blossom forest further enhances the value and uniqueness of this scenic spot.
The Thach Han River is the largest river in the southern part of the province, originating at an altitude of 700m in the mountainous region of the Western Truong Son Mountains, with a length of approximately 156km. Cua Viet is where the Thach Han River flows into the sea. In 1836, the image of the Thach Han River was carved on the Thuan Dinh in the The Mieu Temple, Hue Imperial Citadel. The Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi (Comprehensive Gazetteer of Dai Nam) records: "Located in the area of Thuan Xuong and Hai Lang districts. The source is in La But, flowing northwest for more than 40 miles, then flowing another 30 miles to Ai Tu district, where the water from Vien Kieu flows in…" The Thach Han River, along with Non Mai, is close and familiar, gradually becoming deeply ingrained in the consciousness of the people and becoming a cultural symbol of the southern region of Quang Tri.
Non Mau - Be Hac
Mount Dau Mau, 783 meters high, is located in Le Ky village, Quang Ninh commune. Its shape resembles the peak of a spearhead, hence its name. The Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi (Comprehensive Gazetteer of Dai Nam) records: "Located 22 miles west of Phong Loc district, within the territory of Le Ky commune. The mountains are numerous and densely forested, majestic and pointed, resembling a spearhead, hence its name. Legend says there is a well beside the mountain, containing a strange fish; the foot of the mountain rests on the Nhat Le River, where there are many stone crabs". In 1631, Lord Nguyen Phuc Nguyen entrusted Dao Duy Tu and Nguyen Huu Dat with the construction of the Dinh Bac Great Wall, stretching from Mount Dau Mau to the Nhat Le estuary. This strong military defense line helped prevent attacks from the Trinh army, allowing the Nguyen lords to expand their territory southward.
Located not far to the east of Dau Mau Mountain lies Hac Hai Lagoon (meaning "shallow sea"). Hac Hai Lagoon is a brackish lagoon in the former Quang Ninh and Le Thuy districts, covering an area of ??over 7,000 hectares. It serves as both a water regulating reservoir and a source of aquatic products and a habitat for various bird species. The brackish water ecosystem here has created a rich source of produce, providing an abundant food supply for the local people. The majestic and imposing mountain range, with Hac Hai Lagoon to the southeast, has led to a folk saying: "Dau Mau Mountain is the pen, Hac Hai Lagoon is the inkstone, Truong Sa is the sheet of paper". This symbolizes a land of culture and learning, with a tradition of academic excellence and examinations.
Len Bang - Gianh River
Len Bang is located near the Gianh River in Tuyen Hoa commune. The book Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi (Comprehensive Gazetteer of Dai Nam) records: "Located more than 70 miles west of the district, in Thanh Thuy village, the rocks are piled up in a square shape like a blackboard, hence the name. To the west is near Kim Linh mountain, and to the south are all rocky mountains ". Before the development of science and technology, fishermen used Len Bang as a "lighthouse" on land to determine direction when going out to sea. Many legends surround Len Bang. It is said that at night, a flickering light shines on the rock, and if the faint sound of children studying is heard, then a talented person will appear.
The Gianh River is 160km long, originating from the 2,017m-high Co Pi mountain range, from Giang Man mountain in the Truong Son mountain range, and converging from three sources: Rao Nay, Rao Nan, and Son at La Ha village before flowing into the East Sea. Characterized by its wide channel and deep riverbed, the river is sometimes calm but becomes fierce and dangerous during the rainy season. Located near the sea, with its banks far apart and strong winds, the Gianh River's strategic location has formed a natural defensive line separating the interior from the outside world.
Throughout history, the Gianh River has had various names such as Dai Linh Giang and Linh Giang. The book Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi describes it as: "Located three miles south of Binh Chinh district, north of Binh Chinh district, and south of Bo Trach district, it is also called Thanh Ha ". The river's water remains clear year-round, hence its name Thanh Ha. During the Trinh-Nguyen conflict, the Gianh River served as the boundary separating Dang Trong and Dang Ngoai. In the 17th year of Minh Mang's reign (1836), when casting the Nine Dynastic Urns, the image of the Gianh River was engraved on the Chuong urn. In the 4th year of Thieu Tri's reign (1844), the king ordered the erection of a stone stele on the southern bank of the river. The sacredness and mystique of the Gianh River attracted many communities to settle there, forming prosperous and cultured villages along its banks, as the saying goes: "Mountains, Rivers, Scenery, and Land".
Phoenix Mountain - Loan River
The Hoanh Son mountain range is called Phoenix Mountain by the people of Roon region. The mountain is over 50km long, running in a northwest-southeast direction; from the west to the East Sea at Ngang Pass. In the past, Hoanh Son served as a natural border between Dai Viet and Champa. Currently, the ruins of the ramparts of Lam Ap, built by King Pham Van in the 4th century, still remain on the Hoanh Son range. A section of this rampart stretches through the mountains and forests in Phu Trach commune. When Nguyen Hoang sent someone to inquire about Nguyen Binh Khiem's plans for refuge, he received a prophecy that Hoanh Son, a single stretch, can provide refuge for generations. Hoanh Son mountain is also depicted on the Huyen dinh (Mysterious Peak) in the Nine Tripods. The majestic and captivating beauty of the Hoanh Son landscape has been immortalized in the works of famous figures and poets, most notably the poem "Crossing Ngang Pass" by Ba Huyen Thanh Quan.
The Roon River is called the Loan River by the people in the northern Quang Trach area. During the Northern domination period, this river was called the Do Le River. The river has two tributaries: the Thai River and the Can River. The Can River, the main tributary, originates in Thuong Tho in the Hoanh Son mountain range and is about 30km long. The Thai River originates from streams in the Da Bac cave at the foot of Phoenix Mountain. The lower part of the Thai River runs southeast and merges with the Thai River at the Thai Bridge area. From here, the river flows through the communes of Phu Trach and Hoa Trach before emptying into the sea through the Roon estuary. The Loan River and Phoenix Mountain were once described by ancient poets in a captivating way: " Loan River is long, Phoenix Mountain is majestic / Rabbits run, birds fly, the sun and moon are long".
The Loan River not only provides water for daily life and production but also brings abundant aquatic resources. The Phoenix Mountain and the Loan River here are likened to a loving couple, creating a beautiful landscape.
Of the nine major mountains and nine major rivers depicted on the Nine Dynastic Urns, Quang Tri province has two mountains, Dau Mau and Hoanh Son, and two rivers, Thach Han and Gianh. These place names are not only associated with the history of the Nguyen dynasty, but also bear special historical imprints from the glorious and turbulent years of the nation.
The harmonious blend of sky and earth, mountains and rivers, creates the majestic beauty of our homeland. The masterpieces of nature's mountains and waters have shaped this land into a sacred place, embodying the unique character of each region. The mountain-river pairings of nature – Non Mai Mountain and Han River, Dau Mau Mountain and Hac Hai Lagoon, Bang Cliff and Gianh River, Phuong Mountain and Loan River – further enhance the beauty of Quang Tri's landscape.
