Rang Coconut in the memories of tourists

The sea in Rang area (Ham Tien, Phan Thiet) is like a small bay, with calm waters, protected from waves and wind by the Mui Ne strip of land jutting out into the sea.

With that advantage, 28 years after the total solar eclipse, the Ham Tien area has seen the emergence of over 100 resorts stretching along the pristine coastline. The rows of coconut trees from Rang Island provide shade and protection from the wind along the former coastal road (now DT 706), a sight everyone admires. Especially the rows of coconut trees right by the sea, with their ancient trunks leaning towards the ocean, their resilient bodies firmly anchored to the roots against storms. Elderly fishermen in Ham Tien even say, "Thanks to these ancient coconut trees, the coastline is less prone to erosion. Previously, Ham Tien had about 150 hectares of scattered coconut trees. From Phan Thiet to Ham Tien, the coconut trees provided abundant shade. Ham Tien coconuts are famous in Central Vietnam, not only for their beauty but also for their versatility: making coconut oil, coconut rice paper, coconut fiber, and timber for house construction and roofing. The girls of Ham Tien back then had fair, rosy skin because they didn't have to endure the harsh sun all day long…" Then, as tourism projects expanded, pathways were paved with concrete, and high-rise buildings were constructed over the years, almost all of the old coconut groves were encroached upon. Only a few tourist areas still retain ancient coconut trees, and even those are not many. Many resort developers, during construction, have utilized most of the remaining ancient coconut trees to create environmentally friendly resorts. Furthermore, they have purchased additional coconut trees to plant within the resorts to create a picturesque landscape. What delights visitors is that within these fairly spacious resorts, a large portion of the area is dedicated to green gardens with coconut trees that have been growing for nearly 100 years. Under the lush coconut trees are outdoor amenities, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the natural environment of Rang Island. Perhaps these resorts are among the few tourist establishments in Ham Tien that still preserve a large and beautiful area of ancient coconut trees.

The coastal road, once a scenic route, has now been widened and paved, becoming clean and beautiful. On both sides of the road are rows of resorts, their concrete surfaces replacing the old coconut groves. However, when granting tourism projects to investors, Binh Thuan province stipulated that "no more than 30% of the area should be concreted." But resort owners, driven by profit, have cut down too many coconut trees, shrinking the coconut grove area and obscuring the space with high-rise buildings. The once romantic and captivating coconut groves of Rang Island are now only recalled in the memories of tourists when they gaze upon the hundreds of towering, ancient coconut trees swaying in the wind at resorts like Ca Ty Mui Ne, Saigon Mui Ne, or Hoang Ngoc Resort.

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