'Touching' the green summer in Tay Ninh

Unlike the bustling and vibrant coastal cities of summer, Tay Ninh welcomes visitors with a completely different pace of life – slower, greener, and more tranquil, allowing them to immerse themselves in nature. The series of experiences immersing themselves in the clouds, rivers, and vegetation here is a "spiritual treat" that helps visitors rediscover a sense of peace and serenity amidst the southern landscape.

Against the green mountains, down the cool stream.

Known as a pilgrimage destination for Buddhist worshippers from all over, Mount Ba Den becomes even more captivating during the rainy season. When the first rains of the season fall, the sacred mountain begins to enter a season of mystical clouds, beckoning travelers to explore.

According to local experience, clouds appear most abundantly and beautifully on clear, calm mornings, right after a night of rain. At this time, the high humidity combined with a large temperature difference creates thick, fluffy layers of mist, like a thousand clouds. Standing on the mountaintop and looking down, visitors will feel as if the entire Tay Ninh province is immersed in a sea of ​​white clouds.

The dry season at Dau Tieng Lake

Leaving the sacred mountain peak, Dau Tieng Lake appears as a cool, refreshing "green oasis." Just over a month ago, visitors would have seen Dau Tieng Lake with its gray-brown, barren bottom, depleted of water needed to irrigate the winter-spring rice fields. But with the arrival of summer, the first rains of the season nourish the soil, awakening the sprouting green grass.

A whole new life has emerged here. Tiny, delicate flowers blanket the vast expanse of land like a fairytale meadow. Deeper inside are exposed rock formations bearing the colors of sediment, and in the distance, the deep green of Cau Mountain makes you feel as if you've drifted to a distant coastal region.

Huu Long, a photojournalist for Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Magazine, was surprised by the pristine and romantic beauty of Dau Tieng Lake during its first visit to the lake during the dry season.

He shared: “I’ve passed by Dau Tieng Lake many times, but this is the first time I’ve been here during the dry season. I never thought it would be possible to drive smoothly along the bottom of the lake like this. The lush green meadows, the herds of buffalo grazing, and the protruding rocks make this place truly captivating. Dau Tieng Lake is so beautiful during the dry season!”

Wild mangosteen - a summer specialty in Lo Go - Xa Mat National Park

Another captivating destination for those who want to fully immerse themselves in pristine nature is Lo Go - Xa Mat National Park. In summer, this place is likened to a "stage" of magical transformations in both color and sound.

In early summer, the forest dons a dry, golden cloak of falling leaves; the oilseed and starflower blossoms flutter and spin in the wind like childhood windmills. Against the vast sky, the white blossoms of the Chinese quills enchant the footsteps of dreamers.

Then, when the first rains of the season arrive, the entire forest seems to awaken from its long slumber. The vegetation quickly turns a vibrant green, and wildflowers like the wild turmeric, goldenrod, and red ginseng bloom in profusion. Standing atop the towering watchtower in Lo Go early in the morning, watching the sunrise, listening to the rustling of thousands of trees welcoming the sun, and hearing the chirping of birds leaving their nests, one truly appreciates the wonder of life.

In their journey to escape the summer heat, tourists can also head southwest, traveling through the Dong Thap Muoi region to Moc Hoa to rediscover the slower pace of life amidst the natural beauty of the riverine landscape.

At Tan Lap Floating Village Ecotourism Area, small boats glide gently through the lush green mangrove forest, creating a cool and peaceful atmosphere. Summer is also the season when lotus flowers bloom. Clusters of lotus blossoms on either side of the small canal seem to soothe the southern sun.

Here, visitors can experience activities such as picking lotus flowers in the early morning, making lotus tea, or enjoying rustic country dishes like golden apple snails and grilled corn.

Tourists learn how to make lotus tea at Tan Lap Floating Village.

Leaving Tan Lap Floating Village, the journey continues, taking visitors deeper into the pristine beauty of Dong Thap Muoi at the Endless Fields Tourist Area. This place was once chosen as a filming location for the movie "Endless Fields ," adapted from the novel of the same name by writer Nguyen Ngoc Tu.

Here, tourists have many options for their summer vacation with activities such as "forest bathing," "checking in at the endless fields," or soaking their feet in medicinal herbs... These are experiences that the Dong Thap Muoi Medicinal Herb Research, Conservation and Development Joint Stock Company hopes to offer, "bringing the values ​​of nature into life"; helping to preserve the pristine value of nature while combining health care for the people using medicinal herbs readily available in the garden.

Returning to the countryside, you can recharge your energy in peaceful tranquility.

Besides trekking through the forest and surfing in pristine wilderness, the trend of clean agricultural tourism and high-tech agriculture in Tay Ninh is also creating a great attraction, becoming a peaceful "recharge station" for families on weekends.

At Ba Phong Mulberry Garden, the joyful laughter of children and their families fills the peaceful countryside with vibrant sounds. Here, visitors can not only pick ripe mulberries themselves and enjoy a refreshing glass of mulberry juice, but also leisurely stroll under the canopy of durian and coconut trees cultivated naturally, completely free of chemicals.

Driven by a desire to provide consumers with clean agricultural products, Mr. Tuan Anh boldly applied high technology to growing Nova tomatoes in Binh Minh ward. Alongside this, he also sells tickets to tourists who want to visit, take photos, and learn more about the tomato's growth process. From young children to parents, everyone is delighted to stroll through the clean Nova tomato garden, admiring the rows of ripe tomatoes that look like they've stepped right out of a painting.

Tourists experience picking Nova tomatoes in the garden.

Commenting on this shift in tourism trends, Ms. Pham Thi Thuong, Director of AMI Tourism and Trade Company Limited, which organizes weekend tours to Tay Ninh, said: “The type of tourism focusing on orchards and clean agriculture, although relatively new in Tay Ninh, is being very positively received by customers. The current trend is that people want to know exactly how the food they eat is grown. Tourists are very excited to be able to harvest and buy organic fruit directly from the orchards as souvenirs.”

If you want to relive the old days, immerse yourself in a nostalgic atmosphere, and learn about traditional crafts, you can visit Liathia Home - a rustic homestay in Dong Thanh commune, reflecting the simple charm of the people of Tay Ninh.

Here, children will have a memorable summer with afternoons spent climbing trees to pick wild berries, learning to cook rice over a wood fire, and appreciating the hard work of rural people through baskets and sieves woven from bamboo... Or simply, just lying back in a hammock, listening to excerpts of traditional Vietnamese opera drifting from the neighboring house on a summer afternoon is enough to bring a strange sense of peace and tranquility.

The fruit is ripening on the branches, the lake is vast and covered with fresh grass, and the ancient forests still rustle and beckon. This summer, if you long for a touch of nature, a peaceful retreat, pack your bags and come to my hometown, Tay Ninh!

This summer, if you long for the touch of nature, for a peaceful retreat, I invite you to pack your bags and come back to my hometown of Tay Ninh!

Khai Tuong

Source: https://baotayninh.vn/cham-vao-mua-he-xanh-o-tay-ninh-148046.html