"Young jackfruit is sent down, flying fish is sent up"...

Therefore, this merger not only connects winding roads but also serves as a starting point for building a bridge of trade where the scent of the forest blends with the taste of the sea.

I have a friend from the old Phu Yen province, known for his generous nature as a coastal resident. He occasionally sends me gifts from his hometown, saying it's "a token of goodwill," but sometimes it's a box of fresh seafood, other times dried fish and shrimp, or various kinds of fish sauce… I also send back durian, avocado, jackfruit… a small token of my hometown's generosity. These gifts from home travel on trucks "to the mountains and to the sea," carrying fruits from the garden, fish, and jars of fish sauce, filling the hearts of the senders with joy. Each shipment carries a wealth of friendship. I know that what each recipient receives is not just the food to "look at and enjoy," but also a sense of pride and honor in the products of their homeland…

Dak Lak and Phu Yen: Connecting the sea and the forest.

Now that Dak Lak and Phu Yen have become one, gifts are no longer just social tokens. All the local products selected for gifting carry not only the "brand" value of delicious local dishes but also the culinary culture and history of the land that has been connected to them, a place everyone wants to cherish.

It's not just "young jackfruit sent down, flying fish sent up," but also trucks traveling down to the sea and back up towards the mountains carrying "durian sent down, tuna sent up...", each delicacy thus carrying the breath of the vast forest, the rich aroma of the land, the sweet taste of each fruit to the coastal city. Conversely, you carry the salty breath of the sea, the heavy heart of the old Phu Yen people, sending it back to your new home.

From stories about durian, coffee, or unripe jackfruit to the exchange of flying fish and tuna, it's clear that the culinary map after the merger is beginning to establish new brands, with a host of renowned specialties that delight people's hearts. With a larger space and a more expansive geographical map, the cuisine has opened up many irresistible and delightful flavors. This richness will create synergistic value, elevating the tourism of the newly formed Dak Lak province and spreading its unique identity together.

From heartfelt gifts to the harmonious blend of cuisines that tell stories of culture through each specialty, I think about the cultural exchange among people in this new context. Old Dak Lak was a place that "held" people from far away. Previously, the province was home to 49 ethnic groups from many regions across the country who chose it as their place of residence and livelihood. In this historic merger, the new Dak Lak province welcomes the long-standing maritime culture of the "people of the Nẫu region," creating a unique cultural resonance that anchors the souls of each individual.

Dak Lak, our beloved homeland, warmly welcomes its sons and daughters to settle and build their lives, blending their culture into the new current and working together to bring glory to their homeland. Certainly, the existing cultural values and profound human connection of the sea and forest will be nurtured and promoted, so that the new Dak Lak will be imbued with even more charm and captivate the hearts of its people.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/xa-hoi/202507/hinh-mit-non-gui-xuong-ca-chuon-gui-len-81d135c/