In
the central province of Phu Yen, tourists rarely ignore Xuan Dai Bay with its
unique islet – Nhat Tu Son – which is shaped like the old calligraphy style
word for one.
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An
overview of Xuan Dai Bay - Photo: VNA
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With a total area of 6ha,
the two-kilometre-long islet and its hills act like a feng-shui screen
preventing waves and wind from reaching the nearby fishing villages of My Hai
and My Thanh.
Another unique feature of
the little isle is that it is linked to the mainland less than one kilometre
away by a gravel road just beneath the surface of the sea on which locals and
tourists can walk. The hidden pathway only emerges at certain low tides.
Nguyen Hai Son, a local
fisherman, said that in the first half of each lunar month, the water was lower
in the afternoon while in the rest of lunar month, the tide was low in the
morning.
From the islet, one can see
villages on poles that raise lobsters. Together with nearby Song Cau town and
Cu Mong Lagoon, the bay offers the best seafood in the province.
Though the islet is not as
spectacular as Diep Son Island in central Khanh Hoa province, its beautiful
natural landscape and kind-hearted people are another attraction.
Phu Yen province has many
small bays running along the coast. It has a complicated geographical outline
that creates lagoons mingling with the land, making it difficult for road
traffic. This forces locals to make temporary bridges for daily use.
Ong Cop Bridge (or Binh
Thanh Bridge) is one among hundreds of such bridges in the area. It is the
longest in Vietnam made of wood and bamboo.
The bridge links villages in
the north of An Ninh Tay commune (Tuy An district) with Song Cau town.
From National Road 1A, turn
right and keep going about 100m towards the sea. There, one will find a thin
400-metre-long bridge spanning the Binh Ba River, which flows to Tien Chau
Port. The fragile bridge is an important route crossing over immense waters
that flow to O Loan Lagoon.
To save time, many
backpackers choose to drive motorbikes across the bridge to reach Ghenh Da Dia
and other localities in the province instead of going along the National Road.
A local villager told me
that the bridge is destroyed every year by flood water but is soon re-built.
The slim bridge in the
middle of an immense water area is an idyllic scene very important to local
traffic.
Cu Mong is the name of a
mountain range in the northeast of Phu Yen province. It is also the name of a
pass through the mountain and a lagoon at its foot. The lagoon is famous for
its fish and other seafood. An old saying goes:
Good fish are from Cu Mong
Lagoon,
Good rice is from Phu Duong
Field
Phu Duong field is at the
foot of Cu Mong Mountain range, 12km north of Song Cau town.
Cu Mong is actually a small sea
bay with a total square of 26sq.km. It is bordered by Cu Mong Mountain, which
runs into the sea.
Driving along the lagoon,
tourists will find floating cages raising lobsters, sea horses and oysters,
which all bring high profits.
Taking a meal at a floating
restaurant in the area is relaxing. While enjoying local fresh sea food cooked
in traditional way, tourists can admire the serene beauty of a peaceful village
under the shadow of coconut trees.
Source:
VNA