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Bay in central Vietnam, a must for eco-tourists and divers
50 kilometres from central Nha Trang resort city in Khanh Hoa province lies one of the world's deepest bay - Van Phong Bay, an ideal spot for scuba diving and eco-tourism.
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Surrounded by Hon Gom Island, it lies snugly within a diverse ecological
system replete with rain and mangrove forests, islets, peninsulas,
deep waters, coastlines, beaches and sand dunes or almost anything
tourists would ever crave for in a bay.
The bay is often viewed as one of the most beautiful sea eco-tourism
sites in Vietnam thanks to a diverse and sometimes rare ecosystem
there.
Boasting grandiose mountains, virgin forests and lovely beaches,
the bay is home to hundreds of species of fauna and flora, some
of them rare.
Beaches are imposing and picturesque, boasting smooth white sand
and blue seawater.
The weather is warm throughout the year with nature almost intact,
uncontaminated and untouched by industrialization.
United Nations tourism experts have once recognised it as one of
Asia's most perfect sites for eco-tourism, and the bay has been
rated as an ideal place for scuba diving. Its blue crystal-like
water and coral reefs will surely take tourists off their feet to
indulge in exploring this miraculous gift of nature.
The bay covers 15,000 hectares, including 8,000 hectares of water.
Once here, you could not but visit famed sites like Hon Ong, Dam
Mon and Bai Nhau.
These places remain relatively deserted save small fishing villages.
Hon Ong (Whale Island) is great for you to rest and contemplate
grandiose sceneries on all fronts.
You can talk to local fisherman and learn about their lifestyle
and customs there.
Water sports, such as catamaran, windsurfing, scuba diving and snorkelling,
are also on offer.
After getting tired of the ocean, you can walk along the white sandy
beach, climb up mountains or observe animals in their natural habitat.
As night falls, you can stay in bungalows along the beach or enjoy
seafood with the locals.
Dam Mon Peninsula, covering 128 square kilometres, is also worth
a visit here. It boasts casuarina forests and primitive Tuan Le
wetland forest.
You can rest in hammocks under shady coconut trees along the beach
or talk with children from fishing villages.
Scuba diving, exploring coral reefs, rowing boats and fishing for
squid or cuttle-fish are other activities at Dam Mon. From Dam Mon,
you can hire a motorboat around.
If you have more time, you should see other islands as well as fishing
villages, lobster-breeding pens and places where numerous oysters
are raised for pearls.
In 1999, the Vietnamese government allowed local authorities to
draw up a plan to develop the bay into an international deep-sea
port and a tourism venue.
Called Port Dayot by French people, the bay is located in Van Ninh
and Ninh Hoa districts.
Compiled by Hoang Bao
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