Beautiful coastal villages: Unique ancient fishing village on Xuan Dai bay

Nestled in the blue Xuan Dai Bay, the fishing village of Ganh Do (An Thanh Hamlet, Xuan Dai Ward, Dak Lak; Xuan Dai Ward, Song Cau Town, old Phu Yen) is one of the ancient villages with the most unique beauty in the South Central Coast.

Named the village after the cliff.

The name of the village Ganh Do has been around for so long that no one can remember. They just stick with the name Ganh for easy calling and remembering. Many elders in the village said that during the war, the village was called An Do, and later changed its name to Ganh Do.

Ganh Do fishing village

PHOTO: HUU TU

Ms. Le Thi Kim Chau (94 years old, living in An Thanh Ward), who has been attached to the village all her life, said: "The red cape in front of the village is called Ganh Do for easy remembering. Previously, the village's name was An Do, few people still remember it."

The village elders say that Ganh Do rock once saved the village through many big storms, thanks to that cliff the waves did not flood deep into the land.

PHOTO: HUU TU

Ganh Do appears like a rough cut when in front of the village is a low reddish-brown rocky beach stretching like a natural wall to block the waves, in the distance is Lao and Lo (the locals' way of calling the island), where rafts and cages are anchored when storms come.

The road in Ganh Do village is narrow and winding.

PHOTO: HUU TU

Ganh Do village is not too large, with about 664 households living there, each house facing the sea, with its back leaning against a low rocky mountainside. The village road is winding and narrow, with old houses on both sides, close together, some of which are built directly on the rocky foundation of the cliff, creating a living space that is both rugged and poetic, where people can almost touch the sea every morning.

Red Cape jutting out into the sea seen from above

PHOTO: HUU TU

The rocks at Ganh Do are not as sharp as those at Ganh Da Dia, nor as vast as Hon Yen, but have a very unique gentleness. The round, reddish-brown rocks jut out close to the sea. The village elders say that Ganh Do rocks have saved the village through many big storms, thanks to that cliff that the waves did not flood deep into the land. That is why the villagers believe the rocks are sacred.

The village name is associated with the name Ganh Do for easy calling and easy remembering.

PHOTO: HUU TU

Want to build Ganh Do into a destination

Not only does it have a unique landscape, Ganh Do village is also famous throughout the region for its traditional fish sauce making. The fish sauce making profession here has existed for generations, associated with the anchovy season from January to around March of the lunar calendar.

Previously the village was named An Do, later the village name was changed to Ganh Do.

PHOTO: HUU TU

Ganh Do people choose small, firm anchovies, caught right in the sea in front of the village where the salinity is typical. This is the factor that gives the fish sauce here its shimmering brown color, salty taste, sweet aftertaste and unique, unmistakable mild aroma. Many families still keep the habit of fermenting fish sauce in earthenware jars, drying them in the stone yard, catching the full sun and sea breeze as a way to preserve the flavor of their ancestors.

Many houses of the people in Ganh Do village are built on rocks close to the sea, making tourists excited.

PHOTO: HUU TU

However, over time, the traditional craft village has gradually faded away as the young generation leaves the village to work far away, many households no longer make fish sauce but instead turn to fishing or small-scale trading. However, the local government is making efforts to restore the identity of Ganh Do in the context of ecotourism development.

Back beach of Ganh Do village

PHOTO: HUU TU

Mr. Pham Van Nguyen, Chairman of the People's Committee of Xuan Dai Ward, said that the locality is adjusting the planning to revive Ganh Do village. Some high-end resort projects are being implemented in the area adjacent to the village. "In the future, we want to build Ganh Do into a resort destination, a cultural experience, where visitors not only relax but also understand the value of a traditional fishing village on the shore of Xuan Dai Bay," Mr. Nguyen said.

Many people use rocks from the cliff to build walls and create walkways.

PHOTO: HUU TU

Ganh Do stands between two rhythms of time, both preserving the ancient beauty of a red-stone fishing village and looking towards a new future. The small roofs on the rocky shore, the dark brick fish sauce jars, and the stories told by Mr. Chau - all are vivid materials for a sustainable revival journey. That fishing village is still bright red in people's memories like the color of the rocky shore in the past. (to be continued)

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhung-ngoi-lang-tuyet-dep-ven-bien-lang-chai-co-doc-dao-ben-vinh-xuan-dai-185250805231209378.htm