Beautiful coastal villages: Nam O, river behind, sea in front, mountains on one side

"The scenery is unparalleled..."

This season, standing on the fine sand of Nam O village (formerly Hoa Hiep Nam ward, now Hai Van ward, Da Nang city), visitors can enjoy exploring the vibrant natural landscape in all directions.

In front, the turquoise sea embraces moss-covered rocks. In the distance, the Son Tra peninsula rises amidst the clouds, while in the west, the majestic Hai Van mountain range is shrouded in mist. To the village, though it resembles a town, the simple lifestyle of the fishermen remains intact, preserving the renowned fish sauce that has made this 500-year-old ancient village famous.

Những ngôi làng tuyệt đẹp ven biển: Nam Ô sông sau biển trước, núi kề một bên- Ảnh 1. — The stunning Nam O reef is the soul of this 500-year-old fishing village.

In his writings, researcher Dang Dung, a resident of Nam O known for being "overly concerned" about the village, asserts that along with its "unparalleled picturesque scenery," Nam O also boasts renowned products that are famous throughout Vietnam.

According to Mr. Dung, Nam O is located right on the "central route" of the country. In the old days, when transportation was not convenient, people traveling south and north, and armies fighting in the north and south, could not avoid passing through here...

It is a small village with picturesque scenery, the sea in front and the river behind, the historical Cu De estuary to the north, and rocky mountains, forests, and cliffs that the locals call Hon Quy, Hon Phung, and Mom Hac.

Những ngôi làng tuyệt đẹp ven biển: Nam Ô sông sau biển trước, núi kề một bên- Ảnh 2. — The forest at Nam O reef has been strictly protected for generations and is revered by the local people as a forbidden forest.

The village boasts Cham tower relics, a Cham well preserved in the center of the village, and abundant seafood resources from its fishing industry. Its famous and delicious fish sauce is recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage (October 2019).

Những ngôi làng tuyệt đẹp ven biển: Nam Ô sông sau biển trước, núi kề một bên- Ảnh 3. — The serene beauty of Nam O fishing village remains untouched by the "whirlwind" of urbanization in Da Nang.

"Our villagers are also proud of our fish salad, a delicious dish that appeals to guests from all over the country. For a long time, fish salad has become a culinary brand that is hard to match anywhere else, thanks to the year-round supply of fresh herring and wild vegetables harvested early from Hai Van mountain," Mr. Dang Dung shared.

Những ngôi làng tuyệt đẹp ven biển: Nam Ô sông sau biển trước, núi kề một bên- Ảnh 4. — The annual moss season in Nam O attracts thousands of visitors.

Nam O once had a tradition of making firecrackers and fireworks for the Lunar New Year celebrations, filling the air with joy. The sound of wooden clogs once echoed loudly on the country roads and quiet streets, a testament to the diligence and creativity of generations of skilled craftsmen in this small village.

Nam O possesses a wealth of tourism potential.

On the tourist map, Nam O has long been established as a coastal village with picturesque scenery and a long-standing historical tradition, boasting a unique system of relics: the temple dedicated to Princess Huyen Tran, the whale mausoleum, the village communal house, and the tombs of the village's founding ancestors...

Vo Thanh Dung, a tour guide, commented that with those strengths, Nam O could completely develop into an attractive destination associated with ecotourism and experiential tourism…

Những ngôi làng tuyệt đẹp ven biển: Nam Ô sông sau biển trước, núi kề một bên- Ảnh 5. — The famous rocky beach in Nam O village is a favorable location for tourism development.

"After the Lunar New Year, my friends often ask about visiting the mossy green rock beach. They also look for places where, in addition to sightseeing, they can explore local cuisine, such as fish salad and porridge... Especially with Nam O fish sauce receiving geographical indication protection, the villagers are facing an opportunity to develop community tourism to take the brand further," said Mr. Dung.

Những ngôi làng tuyệt đẹp ven biển: Nam Ô sông sau biển trước, núi kề một bên- Ảnh 6. — Tourists come to visit and experience Nam O village.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Vinh, Chairman of the Nam O Traditional Fish Sauce Village Association, believes the village needs a team of well-trained tour guides to tell tourists about its history, historical sites, and unique products. Along with that, it is necessary to strengthen cooperation with coastal community tourism areas to spread the Nam O fish sauce brand.

"The craft village hopes to have a showroom to display and introduce products for its members right in the village. This would be a place where tourists can both visit and shop, contributing to preserving and promoting this precious heritage," Mr. Vinh said.

Những ngôi làng tuyệt đẹp ven biển: Nam Ô sông sau biển trước, núi kề một bên- Ảnh 7. — The traditional Nam O fish sauce making craft has been famous for hundreds of years.

According to the project "Preserving the Nam O fish sauce craft village in conjunction with the development of tourism in Da Nang City", in the coming time, Da Nang City will accelerate the process of forming tourist destinations and homestay tourism models to attract tourists to visit and experience tourism associated with the Nam O fish sauce craft village.

Những ngôi làng tuyệt đẹp ven biển: Nam Ô sông sau biển trước, núi kề một bên- Ảnh 8. — A peaceful life in Nam O fishing village.

Since 2023, the Da Nang City People's Committee has also issued a project to develop community tourism in Nam O with a total budget of 46 billion VND, aiming to exploit the advantages and potential of local tourism resources to create new tourism products, diversify types of services and amenities for the public interest, and contribute to attracting tourists to visit, have fun, and experience tourism...

Những ngôi làng tuyệt đẹp ven biển: Nam Ô sông sau biển trước, núi kề một bên- Ảnh 9. — With a history spanning 500 years, Nam O village possesses numerous historical sites that can be exploited for tourism.

Notably, the Nam O rocky outcrop and over 3.2 hectares of natural forest have been successfully planned as an ecological park, including walking paths, viewing platforms, rest pavilions, and a nearly 0.25-hectare southern plaza.

With its model combining seascapes, coral reefs, local cuisine, and cultural and historical values, Nam O is a land with great potential to become a unique and sustainably developed community tourism destination.