"The blue water blends with the blue sky."
The scenery of Ha Tien is praised by the Mekong River: "Blue water blends with the blue sky / High mountains and the vast, boundless sea." Jacques Le Van Duc was a renowned traveler in Southern Vietnam in the early 20th century, traveling throughout Asia and Europe, and his footsteps had taken him to many places within Vietnam. His travelogue, "Three Days by Car " (1925), clearly shows his extensive maritime experiences. Upon arriving in Ha Tien, Duc meticulously recorded the accommodation amenities. For example, regarding lodging, the restaurant on the hill was suitable for Vietnamese tourists because it had many bedrooms, a large courtyard, parking, and Vietnamese food… "What I liked most was that it was high up and secluded, so when the wind was cool, looking down from the hill, all around was the sea, with the city of Ha Tien on one side and trees on the other. It was truly delightful," Jacques Le Van Duc wrote.
The work Thất Sơn - Hà Tiên by Cửu Long Giang
PHOTO: ARCHIVE
Tien Cave is a natural wonder of Ha Tien. To get there, you have to travel by boat, but even the journey itself, through the eyes of a travel enthusiast like Jacques Le Van Duc, is quite poetic: "The sea is calm, the sky is clear, the wind blows gently, it's so refreshing, you forget the heat, and you forget hunger too, because you're too busy having fun. The boat follows closely behind one mountain after another." The large cave lies on the side of the mountain near the sea, stretching from one end to the other, so the wind blows strongly. "Water drips down gradually, mixed with some kind of salt from the mountain rocks, so it forms clumps, like stone pillars or large stone needles, hanging down from the cave ceiling or piled up at the bottom. The French call it 'sweat of rocks,' that's Stalagmite and Stalactite. Don't believe superstitions and say: 'That's the milk of some fairy dripping down.'" Legend has it that the cave's name is associated with King Gia Long, who took refuge here while on his travels and minted coins for his expenses, hence it is now also known as Gia Long Cave.
Thach Dong scenic spot in Ha Tien
PHOTO: HA TIEN TRADE AND TOURISM PROMOTION CENTER
The beauty of To Chau Mountain was recorded in the "Ten Scenic Views of Ha Tien" by the Tao Dan Chieu Anh Cac during the reign of Mac Thien Tich in the 18th century. In 1934, this scenery was described as follows: "Unexpectedly, To Chau Mountain is even more beautiful: small, low, and gently rising above the clear water; trees grow from top to bottom like a lush, vibrant green brocade; dotted with many colors of ripe leaves; at its base are clusters of stilt houses of fishermen, a mix of gray and pink, with thatched and tiled roofs. The entire mountain peak reflects its image onto the clear water like a bright mirror. Truly a magnificent picture," according to That Son - Ha Tien .
The above are just a few of Ha Tien's famous landmarks; there are many more landscapes like paradise, "The Thach Dong cave is a wondrous place/The rock ceiling hangs low, with stalactites/Mount To Chau is covered in lush green trees/The shimmering colors are magical/The serene beauty inspires poetry and wine/Here is Binh San mountain, there is Mac Cuu temple/Here is Da Dung rock, there is Loi Am drum...", Cuu Long Giang poem. Leaving Ha Tien, if you want to keep souvenirs, there are items made from tortoiseshell "sold everywhere, such as tortoiseshell combs, buttons, betel boxes, toys, fans, tobacco containers, paper cutters, etc.," shared a three-day car tour .
"The Thất Sơn region is a jumble of mythical mountains."
The Mekong River region is impressive, with the provincial capital of Chau Doc situated right beside the Mekong River, and the buildings, hotels, post office , and temples creating a bustling and vibrant scene. "Having explored the mountains, one must climb to the highest point to truly understand/Standing at the summit, one is filled with boundless wonder/Famous mountains and houses are scattered among the landscape/Long Mountain, Elephant Mountain, Ket Mountain, Tra Su/Nam Vi Mountain, Mr. To and Mrs. Doi/All the mountains are lush with trees/Suddenly appearing and disappearing, near and far/Colors of light, blue, red, and purple harmonize/Trees intertwine with rocks, graceful and beautiful/Turning around, one looks down/All the castles and markets remain/How lovely is this beautiful landscape!", the scenery of the Seven Mountains (Chau Doc) has been encapsulated by the Mekong River region in the poem "Scenery of the Seven Mountains" .
As the Cuu Long Giang River still says, "The Thất Sơn region is dotted with mythical mountains/High and low, green and pink displaying their beauty." Mount Cam is the highest mountain in Thất Sơn, its scenery praised as spectacular, "embroidering a wondrous natural painting, both exquisite and beautiful; one can never tire of gazing at it, because the mountain landscape changes color and shape according to the time," according to the travelogue of Thất Sơn - Hà Tiên . Thất Sơn has four notable man-made attractions: Nguyet Minh Dai, the ruins of Ong Bay Do's temple, Ba Dao Pagoda, and Ong Duc Minh Pagoda, as of 1934. As for natural wonders, one must mention Thach Ha Cave, Giang Ha Cave, and Da Dung Cave…
Regarding the scenic Mount Sam in the 1930s, Bui Van Danh, in his work *The Roads in Southern Vietnam* (1936), said It is known that: "Standing at the bus station behind Chau Doc market and looking up, the view of Mount Sam is like a beautiful painting of Chau Doc city." From the foot of the mountain looking up, there are trees and leaves interspersed with rocks, interspersed with temples, pagodas and fortresses, as recorded in That Son - Ha Tien .
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/du-son-ngoan-thuy-mien-an-ha-la-dep-hon-ca-18526051420582043.htm
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