The unique beauty of Ganh Do fishing village

VHO - Nestled in Xuan Dai Bay, Ganh Do fishing village is one of the ancient villages possessing a unique beauty, as well as the salty flavor of a land stretching along the coastal sand dunes of Central Vietnam.

Ganh Do fishing village is one of the ancient villages with a unique beauty (PHOTO: BICH NGAN)

The intriguing story behind the name Gành Đỏ (Red Cliff).

The Gành Đỏ fishing village, formerly part of Xuân Đài ward, Sông Cầu town (old Phú Yên province), is now An Thạnh neighborhood, Xuân Đài ward (Đắk Lắk province). Gành Đỏ is also the name of a small fishing village nestled in Xuân Đài Bay, a very peaceful and pristine place. It is called Gành Đỏ because of the many small rocky outcrops scattered throughout the bay, featuring distinctive reddish-brown rocks.

However, no one can remember the exact origin of the name Gành Đỏ village; they only know it's associated with the name of the cliff for ease of calling and remembering. Many elderly people here say that during the war, the village was called An Đô, and only later was it renamed Gành Đỏ.

Mr. Le Van Thanh, a long-time resident of Ganh Do, said: "The cliff in front of the village is red, so people call it Ganh Do for easy remembrance. Previously, the village's name was An Do, which few people remember."

The rocks at Gành Đỏ are not as sharp as those at Gành Đá Đĩa, nor as vast as Hòn Yến, but possess a unique, gentle beauty (PHOTO: BÍCH NGÂN).

In the village, people still tell stories about Gành Đỏ mountain, and how at the far end of Ông Xá islet there is a strip of land that resembles a barrier across the bay.

At that time, a giant bass from the open sea wandered into the area. Its path was obstructed, and the bass, enraged, thrashed its tail, sending water splashing high into the air and creating a roaring wave. The embankment was almost completely eroded, leaving only two rocky outcrops. People called this the Bass Barrier. From there, the bass returned to the East Sea and never came back to this bay again.

Gành Đỏ appears as a rustic cross-section, with a low, reddish-brown rocky beach stretching out in front of the village like a natural wave-blocking wall, and in the distance, the islands of Lao and Lỡ (the locals' names for the islands), where fish cages are anchored whenever a storm approaches.

The ancient fishing village of Gành Đỏ is not very large, with about 664 households living there, all houses facing the sea and their backs against the low rocky slopes.

The village roads are winding and narrow, lined on both sides with old, closely spaced houses, some built directly on the rocky cliffs, creating a living space that is both rugged and picturesque, where people can almost touch the sea every morning.

The rocks at Gành Đỏ are not as sharp as those at Gành Đá Đĩa, nor as vast as those at Hòn Yến, but possess a unique, gentle beauty.

The houses in Ganh Do are very winding and narrow, with old houses built close together on both sides of the road (PHOTO: BICH NGAN).

The round, reddish-brown rocks jut out right into the sea. The elders in the village say that the Red Cliff rocks have saved the village through many great storms, and it is thanks to these cliffs that the waves haven't flooded the land. Because of this, the villagers believe the rocks are sacred.

...Up to the renowned fish sauce making industry.

Besides its beautiful scenery, Gành Đỏ is also famous for its traditional fish sauce making village, associated with the peak anchovy fishing season from January to around March of the lunar calendar each year. This can be said to be a wonderful specialty for any tourist who wants to buy it as a gift.

The name "Ganh Do Fish Sauce" has been passed down orally among fishermen for hundreds of years. Over time, fish sauce has become the soul of the local people in the village. Previously, although the fish sauce production facilities were quite well-known, they did not have an official brand.

Many families still maintain the tradition of fermenting fish sauce in earthenware jars.

Since 1975, the Gành Đỏ fish sauce brand has officially appeared on the Vietnamese market. The people of Gành Đỏ select small, firm-fleshed anchovies caught right in the sea off the village, where the salinity is characteristic.

This factor gives the fish sauce from this region its unique amber color, rich salty taste, sweet aftertaste, and subtle aroma that is unlike any other.

Many families still maintain the tradition of fermenting fish sauce in earthenware jars, drying them in the open air on the stone patio, exposed to the sun and sea breeze, as a way of preserving the flavors of their ancestors.

However, over time, the traditional craft village has gradually declined as young people leave to work elsewhere, and many households no longer make fish sauce but switch to fishing or small-scale trading. Nevertheless, the local government is making efforts to restore the savory flavor of Gành Đỏ in the context of developing ecotourism .

Besides its beautiful scenery, Gành Đỏ is also famous for its traditional fish sauce making village.

According to Pham Van Nguyen, Chairman of the People's Committee of Xuan Dai Ward, the locality is adjusting the planning to revitalize the Ganh Do fishing village. Several high-end resort projects are being implemented in the area adjacent to the village.

In the future, the local authorities aim to develop Gành Đỏ into a resort and cultural experience destination, where visitors can not only relax but also understand the value of a traditional fishing village on the shores of Xuân Đài Bay.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/du-lich/net-dep-doc-dao-cua-lang-chai-ganh-do-163326.html