The beach of Ba Hon Dam (three Dam isles) glitters with pebbles of different colors

Usually, visitors to the province take a boat trip around the place to see a few islands and caves. This takes about an hour.

There are also some who have chosen to stay on the “neglected” islands for a day or a couple of days to get really close to nature.

The 41 isles are given different names, based on their shapes or other characteristics. People can guess what an islet in the group looks like when they hear its name.

Some of their names are Mong Tay (Fingernail), Kien Vang (Red Ant), Da Lua (Flint), Chen (Bowl) and Mam Xoi (Tray of sticky rice).

Visitors have been so enamored that they have described some of these islands as being as beautiful as the UNESCO world heritage sites like Ha Long Bay and the Phong Nha Cave in the north of Vietnam.

The isles are made of limestone, that host a lot of trees, brooks and caves. They have a diverse ecosystem, with some new species of flora and fauna having been discovered recently.

Local authorities have invested in tourism projects on some of the isles in the group, but most of them are still pristine.

Lucky tourists can sometime see some dolphins swim alongside their boats. The local fishermen consider these creatures their friends and try to avoid having them get caught in their nets.

At the Ba Hon Dam (three Dam isles), there are no luxurious facilities, but this is all the better for experiencing life off the beaten track.

There are seven households on the three isles. There is no electricity, no road and no shops; but the inhabitants are very hospitable. Visitors can borrow pots and pans to cook their own meals, put up their tents or hammocks to enjoy their vacation.

Ba Hon Dam is one name for the Gieng, Duoc and Duong isles. The beaches have a lot of pebbles of different colors that shine in the sun. A bit farther off, the sand on the beaches is white and soft; there is no mud, so it is very clean. It feels like walking on a carpet.

When the tide is high, the three isles are separated and surrounded by the blue sea, and when it is low, a path linking the three isles emerges from the water or remains about 70-80cm below the water surface.

Perhaps it is the only place in Vietnam where people can walk or wade from isle to isle in this fashion.

Explaining the name of Ba Hon Dam, locals say that when the French were in Vietnam, officers and their families visited these isles on boats. French women were then called “Dam” by locals because they usually wore long dresses (Dam in Vietnamese).

Another explanation offered is that the three isles were named Dam Duong, Dam Duoc and Dam Gieng, so the natives just grouped them into Ba Hon Dam.

A day or two spent walking on these quiet beaches, picking up pebbles of different colors, and contemplating the deeper mysteries of life is a peaceful experience. And people are likely to carry the peace within them long after they have left the isles.

HOW TO GET THERE

To reach Ba Hon Dam, visitors must get to Chua Hang- Hon Phu Tu first. Take a Rach Gia-Ha Tien bus and get off at Ba Hon (which is 70km from Rach Gia and 20km from Ha Tien). A xe om (motorbike taxi) from there will take you to the wharf, about 13km away, for about VND20,000 (US$1.05). From there a boat ride to the isles costs about VND1 million ($52.5) per boat for 10 people. The boat trips are available from morning till evening.

From Ho Chi Minh City, tourists can take a Vietnam Airlines flight from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to Rach Gia Town, then take a Mai Linh luxury bus or a Rach Gia-Ha Tien bus. If visitors travel by land, they can go to the HCMC Mien Tay Bus Station to buy tickets for a luxury bus to go from HCMC to Rach Gia or from HCMC to Ha Tien.

Foreign tourists should have a Vietnamese interpreter because the locals on the isles are not tour operators and can’t communicate in English.

(dtinews)

Located in Son My Commune, Ha Tien Town in Kien Giang Province, a small town 8km from the Cambodian border in the Gulf of Thailand, Da Dung Mountain is a magnificent masterpiece of nature. The mountain is just 100m in height but has over 14 caves filled with ancient legends.

From Ha Tien Town, 6km along National Road 80 heading to Xa Xia border gate and 2km from Thach Dong Cave, reaching Da Dung Mountain is an adventure. With an admission ticket priced at VND2,000, the adventure starts with a crossing of 1,300m toward the caves.

Each cave has its own private secrets and strange shapes: Than Kim Quy (Golden Turtle) Cave is a large rock in shape of a turtle, Doi (Bat) Cave has a stalactite in the shape of a wine gourd while Bong Lai (Elysium) Cave is filled with fresh air creating a fanciful scene of clouds hanging in mid air.

Kho Qua (bitter melon) Cave has stalactites in shape of giant bitter melons and a monk who is lightly nodding his head thoughtfully towards Sam Hoi (penitence) Cave. Visitors will be overwhelmed with a very cold and stuffy feeling as they descend into Cong Troi (Haven’s Gate) Cave, but as they reach the core they will experience fascinating sensations when they see the shimmering of the cave’s gate.

Some caves are linked together creating a mysterious labyrinth with stalactites in diverse shapes. Echoes can be heard resounding from rock walls as rhythms of drums when tourists slap their chests in Trong Nguc (Chest Drum) Cave, or as the limpid melodies of a bell when tapping on stalactites in Lau Chuong (Bell Tower) Cave.

Da Dung Mountain is also famous for Lady Chua Xu Cave and Coi Hang Da Cave, formerly known as the home of Thach Sanh and, according to legend, where Thach Sanh drew a bow and shot a giant eagle to rescue Princess Quynh Nga.

Da Dung Mountain is also home to many white egrets as this eco-environment is still fresh with clusters of mountain inserting swamps and grass fields and forest. It is a rock castle, with hundreds of natural bastions and bell-towers, and folk tales and legends.

This museum is the result of the profound passion for preservation of a young couple, Huynh Phuoc Hue and Nguyen Thi Phuong Dai. Nestled by a small hill on Tran Hung Dao Street, Dong Duong Toan Commune, Phu Quoc District in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang, five-storey Coi Nguon Phu Quoc Museum is an ideal destination for those who want to learn about the history of the island. The museum is surrounded by a green park with trees, kennels for Phu Quoc dogs, sea eagles and a souvenir shop.

“We worked as guides for tourists visiting the island and suddenly we recognized our passion for the splendid landscapes of our hometown. For more than ten years we have been collecting and storing artifacts involving the island,” said Huynh Phuoc Hue, adding that the museum was called Coi Nguon Phu Quoc (Phu Quoc’s Root) in the hope that tourists will understand more about the island which has more than 300 years of history.

The museum has been designed to tell a story with 540 items presenting the history of Phu Quoc. In one part of the museum visitors can get lost in the woods of dozens of precious timbers hundreds of years old, or in another area see the wooden boat used by national hero Nguyen Trung Truc to gather food from ships sunk by French army in 1868. Also on display are fishing boats, a primitive fishing village which produces fish sauce and grows pepper and displays of 2,645 antiques including ceramics, stone, bronze and fossilized woods. A collection of fossilized wood dating to the 15th century BC that has been analyzed at an archaeological workshop in Hanoi is also on display.

Moreover, visitors will have a chance to contemplate valuable collections including a set of 50 stone axes, 30 pieces of folk art and 300 documents in Vietnamese, English and French about the land and people of Phu Quoc.

The couple have also installed over 100 folk and contemporary paintings about Phu Quoc in the museum.

Ha Tien is situated on the Gulf of Thailand, 8 kilometers from the Cambodian border. The town and its surrounding area are endowed with a cluster of landscapes called the Ten Sights by people in bygone days, including Dong Ho Lake, Binh San Mountain, Thach Dong Grotto, Hon Chong Islet, Mui Nai Beach and Giang Thanh River.

Standing on the peak of Binh San Mountain, Ha Tien Town looks like a painting either at dawn or sunset. Visitors can catch a unique panorama with a magnificent view of Voi Phuc Mountain on one side and the immense crystal waters of the East Sea on the other.

Thach Dong Grotto is like a man-made carving masterpiece, with mysterious stalactites of many shapes and sizes inspiring the imagination of all who see them. Visitors to Ha Tien should be sure to add Hon Chong Islet, also called Phu Tu Islet, to their itineraries. Here on can get lost in the peace and tranquility of nature and hear the sounds of waves crashing onto the shore. Hang Pagoda, an ancient pagoda filled with legends, is near Hon Chong Islet.

Watching the sunset over Mui Nai Beach is another must-do. Mui Nai is one of Vietnam’s most popular beaches with clean water and endless white sand. As the sun sets blazing red rays at the end of the horizon shine on the surface of the ocean harmonious rippling waves.

On weekends Mui Nai is filled with tourists enjoying the immense territorial waters.

For a panoramic view of the sea Nai Vang Hill is an ideal choice. On the top of the hill, passers-by can contemplate the splendid landscape while enjoying a cup of coffee, talking with friends and even dancing as there is a dancing stage here. At night, one may stroll around Ha Tien markets, especially Dong Ho night market, to buy indigenous specialties. Dong Ho night market is always busy and is one of the most popular attractions of Ha Tien Town.

For coffee aficionados, Phuong Thanh Café is the place to appreciate a flavorful cup while enjoying the sweet melodies of swallows in harmony with folk songs. Many nests of swallows live in the roof of the coffee shop.

A tour of Ha Tien should always include the mausoleum of Mac Cuu, the founder of the area. Built 300 years ago, the mausoleum is located on a large hill surrounded by giant old trees, and the tombs of many of Mac Cuu’s family members are near the mausoleum. Carved figures of dragons, phoenixes, lions and guardians decorate all of the tombs.

Location:

Ha Tien is a seaside town in Kien Giang Province in Southern Vietnam, famous for its beautiful and tranquil Ha Tien beach. It is at the western end of the Mekong Delta close to the Cambodian border. This is a tourist which still is untouched due to its remoteness. However, the opening of the border to Cambodia for international travelers recently is likely to change that in the near future.

Getting to Ha Tien:

In Vietnam territory: The bus terminal is west of the town center. There are buses from Ho Chi Minh City’s Mien Tay terminal (about 8h) as well as from Can Tho and Chau Doc. The connection from Can Tho often requires a change in Rach Soi or Rach Gia from where it is about 1h.

From Cambodia: The Ha Tien border crossing which is about 7km to the north was opened for tourists in 2007. From Kampot you can get a motorbike taxi for -10 or from Kep for to the border on the Cambodian side. The road can vary in condition from paved and bumpy to packed dirt and bumpy.

Ha Tien town:

Ha Tien sits on a corner of land, bordered on two sides by water. To the south is the To Chau River, to the east is the expansive Dong Ho (East Lake), which is actually an inlet of the sea. Approaching from Rach Gia, you’ll cross the To Chau Bridge, and arrive on Vo Van Road, which serves as the town’s western border. Most of the town’s life occurs between Vo Van and Dong Ho, much of it along the riverfront.

The Khmer-style wat located just out of town only helps to emphasize the feeling that you’re not really in Vietnam anymore – a feeling that carries through to Ha Tien’s dusty streets and languid riverfront. In some ways, it feels like other cities located further up the Mekong like Savanakhet in Laos, or Kratie in Cambodia.

Some major tourist spots in the town are Tam Bao pagoda, Giai Thoat pagoda and Ngoc Ho Monastery, Thach Dong stone grotto

Ha Tien Beach:

Ha Tien owns crystal and sandy beach with many beautiful surrounding landscapes. From Ha Tien one can take a boat ride to the Hai Tac islets, a cluster of 16 islets. It sits in between a shallow water body with the surrounding water level of 4 meters. Hon Doc with its beautiful sand beaches is the largest islet.

Ha Tien encloses within its boundaries quite a few exotic beaches. There is the Hon Chong Beach, the Duoc Beach, and the Hon Trem Beach. The Tien Cave is located near the Hon Chong Beach with 2 cave openings. The caves have their western opening on the Duoc Beach. The Hon Trem Beach is famous for its pristine white sands.

General information:

Phu Quoc, the largest island in Vietnam, is also part of an archipelago consisting of 22 islands and islets. The island covers an area of 585 km2 and is 50 km long. The population on the island is approximately 85,000 people (2001). Duong Dong Town in the northwest is the capital of Phu Quoc

Location:

Phu Quoc Island lies in the Gulf of Thailand, Kien Giang Province, 120 km form Rach Gia City, 45 km from Ha Tien and 15 km south of the coast of Cambodia. Phu Quoc is called the island of “99 mountains” because of its many sandstone chains gradually descending from the north to the south. The longest one is Ham Ninh which stretches for 30 km along the eastern edge with its highest peak called Mt. Chua (603 m).

Weather:

Phu Quoc has a monsoon sub-equatorial climate. There are two seasons in the year: the rainy season (October only) and the dry season (November to September). The average annual rainfall is 2,879 m and the average temperature is 27oC. Trips to Phu Quoc can be made all year round, but the best time is dry season when the sky is always sunny, clear and blue, especially in January and February.

Getting to Phu Quoc:

Any visitor who comes Vietnam by tourist cruise will be exempt from visa for a period of 15 days. The compelling condition is their passports must validate at least for 45 days. Tourists coming by other means of transport will need visas to get in Phu Quoc.

It is possible to reach the island by either plane or boat. Phu Quoc airport is located in Duong Dong town. It takes 60 minutes from Ho Chi Minh City, 40 minutes from Rach Gia by plane. It takes 1hour 15 minutes from Ha Tien Town, 2 hour 30 minutes from Rach Gia by tourist boat.

Tourism:

Phu Quoc is also called the Emerald Island because of its natural treasures and infinite tourism potential. The island is well known for its high-quality fish sauce; Phu Quoc fish sauce smells particularly good since it is made from a small fish, ca com, with a high level of protein. The island produces 6 million liters of fish sauce every year.

Phu Quoc Island has many harbors such as An Thoi and Hon Thom where international and domestic ships anchor. Also, there are several historical sites on the island: National Hero Nguyen Trung Truc’s military base, King Gia Long relics from the time he spent on the island, Phu Quoc Prison, Dinh Cau Rock (Cau Temple), Hung Long Tu Pagoda, Sung Hung Pagoda

Phu Quoc has many beautiful natural sites to offer tourists such as Phu Quoc National Park, Phu Quoc beaches (Sao Beach, Dai Beach, Khem Beach, Ganh Dau Beach), Da Ban Stream, Tranh Stream, Mount Chua…

Off the coast of the island emerges a group of 105 islands of all sizes. Some of them are densely inhabited such as Hon Tre and Kien Hai, 25km from Rach Gia. Visitors can spend time on the beach or hike while observing the wild animals.