THE WIND IN NINH THUAN

LTHE DANCE OF THE SUN AND WIND

anding at Cam Ranh airport, I took the bus to Phan Rang - Thap Cham, the only city in Ninh Thuan province, which is about 70 km away. The land in the end of the Central region welcomed me with a light rain and a cool climate. I wondered, “Where is the sun and the wind?”

Early in the morning, my local friend took me to eat fish porridge and then I began the journey to explore the sunny and windy land. The road of 40 km from Phan Rang City to Vinh Hy Bay surprised me with its smoothness, width and length. If viewed from above, the coastal road would wind along with Nui Chua on one side and the blue bay as the Mediterranean on the other.

Although it was just 7 or 8 in the morning, the sun was intense. Crossing over Ninh Chu bridge you come to salt fields. Hundreds of salt farmers, covered with their sun protective gear, were quietly raking the salt into large salt mountains sparkling in the sunlight. Along the way, there were fruitful vineyards and anchovy barns where fish sauce is made, but most of the land is just sand.

In this land, every place is sunny. And the wind is always intense. The wind comes from the sea, though the gorges, then slaps people’s faces and ears. As a compensation for it, the vast Vinh Hy sea is beautiful with strangely blue and clear water, making everyone desire to indulge in it. Not far from the sea surface, there is a vivid, soft and colorful coral ecosystem. The coral reefs are considered to be Vinh Hy’s treasure that needs to be protected - anyone who takes the coral to the shore will be fined 50 million VND/KG.

Vinh Hy is not only famous as a fishing village with a strong fleet but also for its aquaculture. There are many kinds of seafood but perhaps the best is lobster. You can choose fresh lobster and fish and ask the fishermen to prepare it, then lie on the hammock and enjoy the feeling of happiness on the beach.