Take coracle to oldest lighthouse in Southeast Asia

You are going from Phan Thiet to Ke Ga about 30kms. Its tour destination you should come because this is a place have oldest lighthouse in Southeast Asia and landscape are also wonderful land.

The lighthouse located on a large island wide about 5ha oversea of Ham Thuan Nam District, Binh Thuan Province. Name of Ke Ga is called from " Khe Ga". It derived by ancient legend, This area has very large flocks chicken are often go forest canyons to look feeding beside the spring.

To reach the lighthouse, you can choose a coracle from the mainland, it can wriggle through the water shallow area and have many white rocks, and then transferred to boats to the other side. You will have a little nervous when floating on the waves.

However, The scare feeling will disappear quickly when you were step on island. You will suppirse with a space, it have only water and graint white rocks. This is ideal destination if you and your lover like to take photo.

The path to lighthouse have plumier (hoa sứ) shade trees, it's planted by French. This building was built in 1898 and 02 years later it was completed. Inside of lighthouse high 35m's and 183 spiral stairs to the top. From the top, you can take a look panoramic of open sea area and another side with many houses.

When you arrive to Ke Ga, you can ask people here about Cay Dua ( Coconut tree) shop for rental boat to island. From this shop, you will walk about 300m's to coracle waiting area.

Interesting when you walked on Binh Thuan beaches

It’s not look blue as normally because of the prolonged of heavy rain of September, but at Binh Thuan beaches in autumn season will give you an opportunity to enjoy the pleasures of seafood, or others with very low prices.

Mui Ne Beach
Binh Thuan beach is one of beauty and well-know beaches of Vietnam Tourism, but difference with blue water image, white sand often praised and extolled, coming Autumn season, under the influence of the coast near the estuary, this beach is same a Thi No ( ugliest girl in the Vietnam literature) with muddy water and the sky is overcast.


Be compensate for this defect, it’s time for fish men. Therefore, if "unfortunate" come here, you will compensate by enjoying fresh seafood with lowest prices. Small tip is in Mui Ne have a lot of beaches belong to difference restaurants, resorts, according to evaluation of many tourists, Hon Rom beach area is not only cleaner, more beautiful and more decent than others but also a center of snack area, fresh seafood and cheapest at Mui Ne. this defect, it’s time for fish men. Therefore, if "unfortunate" come here, you will compensate by enjoying fresh seafood with lowest prices. Small tip is in Mui Ne have a lot of beaches belong to difference restaurants, resorts, according to evaluation of many tourists, Hon Rom beach area is not only cleaner, more beautiful and more decent than others but also a center of snack area, fresh seafood and cheapest at Mui Ne.


Suoi O Beach
 

Never had any human invention, Suoi O sea pristine beauties of the two lines of blue water (a river, an ocean) are separated by white sand. However, the main charm of the river parallel to the sea where autumn coming, water colors and level are severely affected than other beaches. It's not in list of any tours, you can enjoy make your schedule come here on other seasons.

However, if you devise to come here on presently time, it have a hot detail you should tried to resolve. from begining of July to half of Aug lunar calendar is a season of fish small shrimp of Binh Chau fishmen ( Ba Ria - Vung Tau) and some of area near by Binh Thuan as Tan Thang, Tan Nghia, Tan An...( Ham Tan District). In this occasion you come there, you will enjoyed fresh fish small shrimps still alive when put it into the pot to steam. Roll rice paper with fish small shrimp handmade, or watching the sun filled courtyard fish small shrimps of fishmen and trucks laden with sacks of frozen fish small shrimps domain.

Cam Binh Beach

Faraway from Lagi 15km and hide in poplar forest, Cam Binh sea pristine beauty of a sleeping princess. But you come Cam Binh in this month, You has just arrived and want coming back imediately when opposited muddy water and powerfull waves release everything to the sea.

One point we can interesting of this beach same as Mui Ne, Cam Binh sea is a where the Cam Binh fishmen living. You will enjoy seafood as fresh as cheap. Specialist is Duc Vang fish, grill or make salad would delicious. Or outside of here, you can discover the beautiful of OX car pulling coracle.

After enjoy seafood, if you still like swimming on the sea, you can walk along to Tam Tan beach - Lagi town.

Tien Thanh Beach

Mom Da Chim Beach

Diversified tourism forms attracting visitors

According to Binh Thuan Department of Culture - Sports and Tourism, Phan Thiet has welcomed more than 42,000 visitors on the occasion of 30th April and May Day holidays, including 25% foreign tourists, an increase of 12% compared to the same period last year. Rooms of all resorts, hotels and guest houses were filled. This year, Binh Thuan authorities has opened more amusement locations such as Po sha Inu tower, Hong sand hill ... Especially, the public beaches such as Hon Rom, Da Ong Dia, Doi Duong... have been crowded with visitors. At the same time, travel accommodations in Phan Thiet have also organized the programe “Enjoying the holidays and welcoming the summer”. Through the programe, tourists have visited Phan Thiet market, enjoyed the Cham art at the Po Sha Inu tower and other traditional art programmes, enjoyed seafood buffets parties, taken part in the games, watched the sports on the sea and on the sand hills, as well as the traditional festivals of Phan Thiet people...



                              Visiting the Duc Thanh Vestige

                                    An excursion on Ca Ty river


                                   Tourists enjoying the ceramic art

                                 ...And mixing the Cham dances

                                                                                            Phuong Lan (Source: Binh Thuan Newspaper)

Da Dung dam – one-time famousness

Someone who has lived and had a strong attachment to La Gi can’t forget Da Dung landscape. A charming landscape is located in the center of Binh Tuy township (now, the center of La Gi town).


Formerly, when we were high school students, we often played truant to come to Da Dung dam. We swam in the river and took pictures. We sometimes daydreamed about courting couples on the moon nights. When winter came, Da Dung dam was very beautiful with violet cherry-blossom in the afternoon. One-pillar pagoda looks ancient next to a stone lion with its serious face during the time, which makes people nostalgic. The wooden bridge connected the stone banks was little curved. Dazzling white spumes was picturesque.

                                             Da Dung dam


Da Dung dam was built in 1959 to supply water source for people and be a landscape. Initially, the dam was 80 meters in width with two exit ports. The depth is 6 – 7 meters. The floating pavilion imitated one-pillar pagoda in Hanoi was built on a pillar. Each side of the pillar is 2.5 meters in length. Under the dam, besides the lion statue, there were trees and vines in different stone island rising in the midle of the river. Visitors could enjoy the scenery when walking on the little curved bridge. Following a few dozen stairs, there is a statue of carp turning into dragon. The Dinh bank had cherry-blossom gardens shading all year round. It was ideal to hold some collective activities such as camping, picnic…

In the 60s – 70s, watershed forest had not be destroyed. Water source of Dinh river run all year around and it was thinly populated. Therefore, for water source, people were not compeled. Nowadays, there are some deep parts in the area of Da Dung dam. The whirl pools are dangerous for children to swim there. They will be risk of drowning death. It is rumoured that there are crocodiles. One can’t tell fact and fiction in the rumour. Someone wants to bathe in the river, but looks at the shrine and thinks crocodiles. He/she doesn’t dare to swim .

After the liberation, people advocated to change Da Dung dam into the irrigation dam with the slogan of “All for production”. People’s money, material and effort invested in this work very much. Finally, there has been nothing. The diessel engines were used to pump water for irrigation. Fortunately, there is water source from Suoi Do dam running into the canals.

Deforestation is exponential every year. Dinh river is dry in the sunny season and flooded in the rainy season. The dam has not been preserved. So, its bank is eroded. Da Dung dam is likely to topple after several floods. In the years: 1990 – 1995, there was a rapid population growth with 40,000 people in the center region of La Gi. Da Dung dam managed and exploited by Ham Tan water supply plant met 1,600 households (9,000 people) with its humble norm of 0.1 cubic metre/person/day. It was compelling. The government invested to rebuild Da Dung dam in 1996. Its dimension is 90 meters in length, 2.4 meters in height and 4 meters in width. The dam has supplied about 15,000 cubic metre per day. This water volume has not been enough to meet the demands of the population growth. The water supply plant must get more water from Nui Dat lake, Dua stream and Do stream.

Because of water shortage for daily activities and production, nobody pays attention to restoring Da Dung landscape. The iron brigde crossed Dinh river was made by the sapper force in July, 1999 after the frightening flood. This bumpy bridge is existing in the center of La Gi town with two signs of “16-seater minibuses prohibited”. Nasty dust-heaps have laid in the river basin towards two bridgeheads. Brushwoods are luxuriant in the bank from Da Dung dam to the iron bridge. Most of land parts around the bank are possessed by some people. It is difficult to find a cherry-blossom.


It can be said that this is an uncommon sight. There are a dam and a stone isle with beautiful and romantic features in the center of La Gi town. Da Dung restoration is essential to serve people’s demands such as recreation and entertainment.

Trang Hieu (Source: Binh Thuan newspaper)

Dragon fruit comes to America early in the year.

On the first days of Tan Mao lunar year, Binh Thuan dragon fruit has had many prospects. The price of dragon fruit has been very high in the days before and after Tet, in the time before Tet, especially before Tet, the price reached more than VND 20,000 per kilogram. Now the price at dragon fruit farms is stable at VND 13,000 per kilogram. The number of customers’ orders for this fruits has increased. The first shipments have come to America.


Mr. Bui Dang Hung – Chairman of Binh Thuan Dragon fruit Association said, With the output of more than 300,000 tonnes in 2010, Binh Thuan dragon fruits have been mainly exported to China under the form of cross-border trade.

Particularly, dragon fruits are also exported to other 20 countries, but with small volume. According to Mr. Hung, Binh Thuan dragon fruits exported to China have been sold at the price of USD 19 per kilo in Chinese market.
For many years, the main market share of Binh Thuan dragon fruit is only China. But now, many promising signs have proved that Binh Thuan dragon fruits can penetrate into difficult markets such as America, Japan, South Korea, Chile, Australia... In 2010, Vietnam has exported 1,276 tonnes of dragon fruits to America and Japan including 856 tonnes exported to America, an increase of 8.5 times in comparison with 2009. Inherently, Japanese market is an extremely difficult market for fruits. Last year, 420 tonnes of Binh Thuan dragon fruits were exported to the Land of the Rising Sun, which shows many satisfactory signs.

In 2011, the expected volume of dragon fruit exported to America will be 1,500 tonnes including 1,000 tonnes of An Phu irradiation plant and 500 tonnes of other companies. Yasaka Fruit Processing Co., Ltd with the vapour heat treatment system will export 600 tonnes of dragon fruits to Japan. Although dragon fruits have been made an offer in South Korean market in 2010, South Korean authority has officially informed that dragon fruits throught the vapour heat treatment system are entered into the market, said Mr. Hung.
And 2011 will be the first year of dragon fruit export to South Korea with the amount of 500 tonnes from the contract of Yasaka vapour heat treament plant with Korean companies.

There will be at least 2,600 tonnes of dragon fruits exported to America, Japan and South Korea in 2011. According to statistics, Vietnam has exported 56 tonnes of dragon fruits to America within only 4 days (from January, 1st to 4th, 2011). When dragon fruits are exported under the form of cross-border trade, dragon fruit farms will have high price and stable market.

Phuong Lan (Source: Binh Thuan Newspaper)

Features of sand hill

Coastal dunes occur almost everywhere. Sand hill in Mui Ne –Phan Thiet has features. Grains of sand are not white, but pink and smooth. Tiny grains of  sand chase each other in north-easterly wind, which makes its shape change everyday. Therefore, it is called “flying sand hill”. It is a unique feature that photographers inside and outside the country always seek new and unique photos at the Mui Ne sand hill. There have been hundreds of photos winning international prizes. To Mui Ne sand hill, visitors not only are immersed in the natural beauty but also enjoy special sports such as sliding sand hill, competition of overcoming sand dunes. Sliding sand is very attractive, especially the youth. There is a sand slide service with sliding boards for rent. Tourists will be guided to slide down from the peaks of sand dunes when sitting on thin plastic boards. Mui Ne sand hill is a place where the youth compete to overcome the sand hill on the first days of spring.

Visitors are attracted by special features of sand hill. It is joked that “if someone comes to Binh Thuan without going to the sand hill and sliding on it, it is considered that he/she has not been to Binh Thuan”. Today, the trade name “Mui Ne dunes” has been spreaded.

Why do dragon fruits popular on the world?

Journal of Science (AJAS) U.S. issued earlier this month 8 / 2010 published an extensive research and long-term experts in the Department of Biotechnology, University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur (UKLM) shows that Dragon Fruit is truly delicious, nutrient storage you, just have the effect of beauty has healing effects.

Nutrient composition

Dragon fruit has a very high fiber content, averaging 100 grams contains 0.7 to 0.9 grams of fiber, the effect is very good for the body, especially cholesterol, good for digestion, constipation limited and detoxify the body. Each day a person should consume between 20-30 grams of fiber, this is the optimum level can help prevent a variety of incurable diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes ... In addition to fiber, rich in beta carotene dragon, this is a matter for the body to metabolize providing to vitamin, helps eliminate cells without leading to infection. Here are the main nutrient components from 100 grams dragon fruit (half dragon fruit): Water (g) 82.5 to 83.0 g, protein (g) 0.16 to 0.23; fat (g ) from 0.21 to 0.61; fiber (g) 0.7 to 0.9, beta carotene (mg) 0.005 to 0.012; calcium (mg) 6.3 to 8.8, phosphorus (mg ) 30.2 to 36.1; iron (mg) 0.55 to 0.65, vitamin B1 (mg) 0.28 to 0.30, vitamin B2 (mg) 0.043 to 0.045, vitamin C (mg) 8 - 9 and niasin (mg) 1.297 to 1.300.

Vitamin C
100 g dragon fruit is 8-9 mg vitamin C, this is the leading source of food USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised Americans to eat every day. It works to strengthen the health of the immune system, preventing the risk of colds, flu season, at delivery, especially in cold weather. Dragon fruit also contains other vitamins such as B1 (0.3 mg/100g). Dragon Fruit especially rich in potassium, iron, protein, calcium, good for the blood circulation, enhance vision health and prevent hypertension.

Fat and cholesterol

Dragon fruit has many tiny seeds like black sesame seeds, this is the place to keep fat and cholesterol, especially saturated fats may be single and is considered one of the good fats, helps reduce bad cholesterol in the blood and increases good cholesterol. A dragon fruit production (equivalent to a medium sized dragon fruit) containing up to 60 calories, 14 calories of this is unsaturated fat, 9 grams carbohydrate, plus there is a dragon fruit contains 60 mg of sodium and 2 grams protein.

Many products from dragon fruit

Currently Malaysia has been manufacturing a variety of products from dragon fruit, dragon fruit and flowers from the dragon lines, sold worldwide, most of which sold in the U.S. market. Malaysia characteristics are not many fresh dragon fruit sold. Large amount of dragon fruit for processing, so this country to avoid severe market situation dragon fruit, or dragon fruit fell. There have been many doctors advice: Every day from 1-2 to eat dragon fruit, you will repel many diseases.

NAM GIANG (According AJAS / AB)


(According to Binh Thuan)

Dragon fruit price showing signs of recovery.

The story of dragon fruit was a problem which Binh Thuan farmers have been concerned about. After more than one week, the price dropped down, only VND 300 – 2,500 per kilogram. At the present, the price is showing signs of inching.Number of dragon fruits in the gardens of Ham Thuan Nam district have been much although the ripening period went by. Mr. Tran Van Cot (at Phu Sum village, in Ham Cuong commune) said that “The dragon fruit price has rapidly dropped in the main crop, with the lowest price in the last period. From the previous years’ experience, dragon fruits are hung on trees to wait for an increase of price. This affects quality. And the price has been lower and lower. Therefore, Mr. Cot has sold for VND 300 – 2,500 per kilogram. Many growers can’t manage on money to refund banks while their terms is coming”. Mrs Thanh (Ham Kiem commune) complained “Nearly 1 hectare of dragon fruit is harvested in the second year. As expected, the yield will achieve about 10 tons. I will clear my debt. However, with the current price, I don’t have much profit after deducting expenses”. According to growers, there has been a lot of other fruits in the main crop and the high yield of dragon fruit, which leads the low cost of dragon fruit. Like other gardeners, Mr. Cot and Mrs Thanh believe that price will increase as the previous time. Therefore, they continuously enlarge area.

Traders’ purchasing activities have been “disturbed” by the price. Mrs Le Thi Hien – a trader (Phu Hung village, Ham My commune) said that “last week, a large number of ripening dragon fruit in the main crop make domestic consumption difficult. So, product selection must be done carefully. Since July 12th , number of which have not been much, the price is showing signs of inching slowly, VND 700 – 3,500 per kilogram. Buying and selling are easier.

According to dragon fruit export enterprises in Binh Thuan province, although the dragon fruit cost reduced strongly, but export under the form of cross-border trade or trade agreement has not been affected. Clearly, foreign markets open the door for dragon fruit. Mr. Vo Tin – head of planning division of Binh Thuan fruit and vegetable company said that “The company still exports 40 – 60 tons to Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Hongkong… under the form of trade agreement. The company has not kept dragon fruit in reserve to wait for prices to increase as a stir in public opinion. Products are exported after purchasing and preserving in the cold storage within 1 – 2 days.

The total area of dragon fruit in Binh Thuan is 13,500 hectares, including 12,000 hectares of dragon fruit being harvested. An rapid increase of dragon fruit area creates great pressure on consumption.

Trang Hieu (Source: Binh Thuan newpape)