Amidst the vast, straight rice paddies of the Long Xuyen Quadrangle, surrounded by canals laden with alluvial soil in one of the most fertile delta regions of the lower Mekong River, the Tra Su Melaleuca Forest emerges like a precious gem nestled quietly within the expansive rice paddies. Tra Su is one of the successful and harmonious models combining ecosystem conservation and sustainable tourism development.
We have visited Tra Su Melaleuca Forest many times at different times. Each season, this forest has a different character, and almost always it is very interesting. The Mekong Delta, especially the rice-growing areas with their vast rice paddies, is usually very beautiful during the flood season, from about September to November each year. When the surrounding fields are submerged in floodwaters, which are also an endless source of silt flowing in from the upper reaches of the Mekong River, Tra Su, seen from afar, looks like a smooth, lush green expanse.
Or, if visitors from afar come to Tra Su around the Lunar New Year, from the twelfth lunar month onwards, they will witness the migratory bird season. Sometimes, if lucky, they will spot flocks of egrets flying back, perching over an area as large as a whole acre of land. Or in the summer, when the heavy rains pour down on the plains, the rice in the fields is in bloom, and the trees are flourishing, Tra Su also dons a new coat, as water hyacinths and clusters of lotus scattered throughout the melaleuca forest suddenly sprout up in unusually lush green.
Regarding Tra Su, we often enjoy leisurely sitting with the forest management staff, sipping tea and sharing drinks, listening to stories about the rare bird and animal species that have been discovered. The diversity and richness of species in the melaleuca forest also attracts biologists to work here regularly. Tra Su currently records more than 70 species of birds, about 15 species of bats, 25 species of frogs and toads, and especially 140 species of fish, including 13 species that only appear during the flood season.
In the Tra Su Melaleuca Forest, the most impressive time is when the sunlight fades, the sunset gently descends upon the melaleuca trees, and flocks of birds excitedly fly back to their nests. They appear in dense swarms, their calls echoing, their wings flapping softly. Then, in the early morning, when frogs frolic under the large lotus leaves and fish gently splash in the water, we are taken on boat trips around the lake, through rows of straight, lush green melaleuca trees, sunlight filtering through the leaves, and the scent of melaleuca flowers wafting around. Hidden in the clear water are aquatic plants and algae. It's an unusually peaceful atmosphere.
Heritage Magazine
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