Masterpiece of nature in the central coastal region

The central coastal region of Vietnam boasts stunning and breathtakingly pristine rocky outcrops. These include Ráng Reef in Quy Nhơn, Bàng Reef in Đà Nẵng, Bàn Than Reef in Quảng Nam … but the most famous and captivating sight in Phú Yên is undoubtedly Đá Đĩa Reef.

Passing through peaceful coastal fields and villages, and following the path leading to the sea, the Ghenh Da Dia (Disk Rock Reef) appears breathtakingly, a masterpiece amidst the deep blue sea and sky.

This is precisely a masterpiece of geological processes that occurred millions of years ago when volcanic eruptions, lava flows into the sea, and the sudden temperature changes upon contact with cold seawater formed solidified rock formations.

Parallel to this is the phenomenon of compressive forces, causing these rock masses to crack along vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines, creating the unique topography of the Ghenh Da Dia (Disk Rock Reef). Covering an area of ​​approximately 2 square kilometers, it is estimated that there are up to 35,000 hexagonal or pentagonal cylindrical rock columns packed tightly together, leading many to suspect a mysterious binding agent deep beneath the base of the columns.

Time is the clearest answer, because over millions of years, these stone pillars have remained firmly together without any binding material.

Some people liken this rocky outcrop to a giant beehive when viewed from a high vantage point.

Many locals refer to the rocky disc formations by associating them with a legendary story about the creation of this masterpiece: that in ancient times, this area of ​​mountains, water, and sky was like a paradise, and therefore, fairies from heaven often descended to admire the scenery and compose poetry.

To serve the banquets, hundreds of thousands of gold cups and jade plates were brought down here, but when the fairies traveled to other places, they forgot about these cups and plates, and over time they turned into stone pillars that, upon closer inspection, resemble neatly arranged stacks of dishes. Even more frequently mentioned is the heartwarming story of a wealthy merchant whose wife unfortunately died young.

Being a loyal and faithful man, he sought enlightenment after distributing his wealth to the people of the region. He also hid a treasure by the sea, intending to build a temple and offer it to a wise and capable ruler to care for the people's lives after achieving enlightenment. However, his noble intentions were thwarted when many villains, knowing of the treasure by the sea, came to plunder and burn it. In the end, the treasure never fell into anyone's hands, but instead transformed into hundreds of thousands of stone pillars that have stood for eternity alongside the sea and sky of Phu Yen .

Heritage Magazine