To slide, visitors sit on the board and pull a rope to create a curve at the front, which aids in navigating and maintaining speed.

Located on Truong Phap street, about 8 km northeast of Quang Tri's provincial center in Dong Thuan ward, the Quang Phu dunes sit close to the sea and are often referred to as a mini desert.

Access to the dunes is free, with services offered by local residents and businesses catering to visitors.

The boards are made of plastic, almost 1 meter long and 40 cm wide, with a rope attached to the front.

Strong winds frequently whip across the dune's summit. On hot days, blowing sand can create low visibility, so visitors are advised to wear protective eyewear.

Many visitors enjoy sandboarding down the steep slopes. While boards may occasionally dislodge at high speeds, injuries are rare due to the soft sand. "You get covered in sand," said Hung, from Hanoi, "but then you can just head down to the beach next door for a swim."

During the scorching summer months, visitors are advised to avoid the dunes between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

From the nearly 100-meter-high summit, visitors can enjoy panoramic views: to the east lies the sea, while the west reveals a patchwork of villages and rice paddies, with the Truong Son mountain range in the distance.

Visitors can reach the top via a 500-meter ATV ride. The combined cost of the ride and board rental is 100,000 VND per person. Board rental for those walking up is 30,000 VND.

Sunset is the ideal time to visit Quang Phu dunes.

Two visitors are engrossed in capturing the sunset atop the dunes. All activities cease at 7 p.m. The Quang Tri People's Committee (UBND) has granted a business temporary permission to operate sandboarding services on the Quang Phu dunes.

By Dac Thanh