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Tra Vinh has attracted tourists from other regions thanks to the
ancient beauty of its Khmer pagodas, special festivals and charming scenery. It
is also home to Ba Dong Beach, which is famous for its well-preserved primitive
beauty, sand dunes, tranquil sea and fresh air.
Ba Dong Beach in Truong Long Hoa Commune, Duyen Hai District, Tra Vinh Province,
is famous for its sand dunes shaped by the sea breezes. Along the sand dunes are
interesting casuarina forests, which are protective forests acting as buffers
against sand erosion. Sweet potato fields are behind the sand dunes, where
tourists can harvest the potato with local farmers.
Sweet potatoes in Ba Dong Beach come in many varieties, but khoai bí bin is the
most favorite thanks to its sweetness and fragrance. Many kinds of Japanese
sweet potatoes have been grown in Duyen Hai. Along the sand dunes are green
spinach fields with purple flowers swaying in the breeze.
In the early 20th century, French people built a tourist area in this commune.
Nowadays, Nha Trang-Duyen Hai Resort in Ba Dong covers some seven hectares with
a food court in the middle of the beach surrounded by shallow water. The sea is
shallow enough for tourists to go as far as 500 meters from shore. In the dry
season, from December to June, the seawater is as clear as an emerald.
In Ba Dong, tourists will see the glorious sunrise in the early morning and a
beautiful sunset with beams of light painting the sand dunes and peaceful
villages in rosy hues. There is also a temple where people worship Lady Trieu
Thi Trinh, a heroine who recruited troops to revolt against Chinese invaders in
the early history of Vietnam. Every year, pilgrims from other regions attend a
festival worshiping this lady. Not far from Trinh’s temple is the temple of her
brother, Trieu Minh Cong.
Some 200 meters from Lady Trinh’s temple is an ancient tomb amidst wild
overgrowth. It is said that this is the resting place of a princess who was a
sister of Nguyen Anh (King Gia Long), and followed him to escape from Tay Son
troops. When crowned, the king had her tomb rebuilt.
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