To the sunny and windy land of Phan Rang

(HBĐT) - Having heard a lot about Ninh Thuan, a region considered a highlight in the tourism landscape of Central Vietnam, even though we knew that the summer there was "scorching hot...", we still headed straight for Phan Rang - Thap Cham. We went to see, admire, and experience the "rare and hard-to-find" specialties of this colorful land.

Tourists visit and experience the Rai Cave tourist site in Vinh Hai commune, Ninh Hai district, Ninh Thuan province.

Ninh Thuan is a province located in the South Central coastal region, within the national tourism cluster of the Da Lat - Nha Trang - Phan Rang tourism triangle. Therefore, this land of abundant sunshine and wind is considered by travel agencies to be a unique destination in the chain of tourism products in the South Central region.

Our first destination was Vinh Hy Bay in Ninh Hai District, about 40km from Phan Rang - Thap Cham City. Upon reaching the bay's shores, we were amazed to see that it still retains the pristine, majestic beauty of mountains, forests, and the sea, described by locals as the "end of the road" in Ninh Thuan province. Taking a glass-bottom boat out to Vinh Hy Bay to admire the coral reefs, and then enjoying local dishes made from exotic seafood, many tourists exclaimed: This is truly one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Vietnam!

On our way back to Phan Rang, we visited Hang Rai, a beautiful tourist spot in Vinh Hai commune, Ninh Hai district. Possessing majestic and impressive natural beauty, Hang Rai is considered a rare "paradise." The dreamy turquoise coastline, the long stretches of white sand, and the rock formations that look as if they were stacked by ancient hands create a unique and enchanting scene. Half of Hang Rai is a range of towering rocks, with golden-yellow boulders creating a strangely graceful form. The other half is a jumbled, playful rock formation. Despite the name Hang Rai, we couldn't find any actual cave. Ngo Minh Quoc, an official from Nui Chua National Park, explained: "Previously, many otters lived here, so the locals called it Hang Rai. Originally, Hang Rai was a deep, wide cave; although there were many fish and squid, no one dared to fish there, so the otters considered it their 'inviolable' territory." By the 1980s, due to human impact and geological changes, otters had completely disappeared. Thanks to geological formations in the limestone rocks and erosion by wind and seawater, beautiful coral reefs and beaches have been created. When we arrived, the sun was high in the sky, casting sparkling rays of light on the sea. The entire area seemed to glow, and tourists eagerly captured beautiful moments in this place with its stunning scenery and unique name.

Heading straight to Phan Rang - Thap Cham, we didn't forget to stop by a vineyard to enjoy fresh grapes, grape jam, and rich grape syrup. In the afternoon, we strolled along Ninh Chu beach (locally known as Ninh Chu beach) to immerse ourselves in the turquoise waters, play with the waves, and feel the unusually spacious and relaxing atmosphere. In the evening, we enjoyed an outdoor meal and interacted with artists to learn about the culture of the Cham people.

After a day filled with sunshine, wind, and the soothing sound of the waves, we had a good night's sleep, ready to continue our journey at 7:30 the next morning to visit the special national historical site: Poklong Garai Cham Tower. Poklong Garai Tower is a unique architectural structure built in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. It is dedicated to the god Poklong Garai, a Cham king who reigned from 1151 to 1205.

It is known that on November 29, 2022, the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) inscribed "Cham pottery art" on the list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding. On our journey to explore Cham culture, we visited Bau Truc pottery village, a small village in Phuoc Dan town, Ninh Phuoc district, to admire the diversity of designs and the exquisite craftsmanship of the pottery products bearing the name Bau Truc. Along the same route, we visited My Nghiep village – a traditional Cham brocade weaving village – to shop for and buy beautiful scarves, bags, hats, wallets, and headbands with eye-catching patterns as gifts for loved ones. As evening fell, we continued our journey to admire the rice paddies and sheep returning to their pens, enjoying moments of relaxation.

In the sun-drenched, wind-swept region during the transitional season, we were treated to the most beautiful colors of Ninh Thuan. Despite being a land of abundant sunshine and scarce rain, Phan Rang - Thap Cham city bid us farewell that night with a refreshing downpour. This rare rain was immortalized in the poetry of The Hien: "The first rain of the season rushes/ Bursting in the night/ All the emotions of summer/ Falling excitedly on the doorstep/ The earth stirs with thirst/ As if drinking endlessly/ Trees burst forth with blossoming leaves/ Enchanted and intoxicated." And we were enraptured by the sound of the Paranung drums and the soaring, fiery singing, by the magnificent yet serene beauty of Vinh Hy Bay, and the majestic yet captivating beauty of the Cham Towers… We long to return!

Thuy Hang (Contributor)

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