One of the best-known buildings in the region is the mansion of ’Cong tu Bac Lieu’ (Bac Lieu ’Playboy’) (Photo: VNA)Bac Lieu (VNA) - Bac Lieu is aMekong Delta province that has the normal tropical attractions and more, includinga bird sanctuary, a monument to ostentatious living, Khmer culture, boat trips,popular places of worship, orchards and flower gardens.
Nguyen Long from Ho Chi Minh City thoughtone day would be enough to explore the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu, butwhen he arrived, he realised he was wrong.
So he booked into a hotel and decided toexperience the unique cuisine, beautiful landscapes and the culture of theprovince.
“I had believed that the Mansion of the BacLieu ’Playboy’ was the only place to visit and that the sea in the province wasmuddied by rivers,” said Long. “But the facts proved that I was wrong.”
Bac Lieu is located to the south of theMekong’s main outflow. The province shares borders with Hau Giang in the north,Soc Trang in the northeast, Kien Giang in the northwest -- and Ca Mau in thewest and southwest. The sea is on the southeast.
Bac Lieu has more than 5,500ha of forests,mostly mangroves, and offers boat tours along canals and rivers, swimming inthe sea, tours to learn about the diversified culture of different ethnicgroups and extraordinary food with local specialities.
In the past, Bac Lieu was known for itsrich landlords, whose sons extravagantly spent money and time enjoyingthemselves. They built luxurious homes that tourists still gape at today, eventhough they are 100 or more years old.
One of the best known buildings in theregion is the mansion of "Cong tu Bac Lieu’, who was a famous playboy ofhis time.
“If you don’t visit the mansion, youhaven’t been to Bac Lieu,” said Long.
“Those who visit the province generallylike to stop at the mansion, now Bac Lieu Dude Hotel, either for an overnightstay or a quick look. The residence, located at 13 Dien Bien Phu Street, wasbuilt in 1919 and designed by a French architect with many materials andfurniture imported from France. Many valuable objects are still housed in thebuilding."
It is a two-storey building with spaciousbedrooms and splendid halls. The mansion belonged to Tran Trinh Huy(1900-1973).
In 2003 the mansion became a hotel and atourist site.
Tourists also visit the Bird Reservecovering 160ha. It is home to more than 40 bird species. Many endanged specieshave been born and bred there.
Fledglings at the Bac Lieu Birds Reserve which is home to more than 40 bird species (Photo: VNA) Located at Hiep Thanh commune, thesanctuary is considered one of the most attractive eco-tourism spots in theMekong Delta. It was recognised as a Nature Reserve in 1984.
Tourists can also see rich flora and fauna.In August and September, flocks of birds gather at the sanctuary to build nestsand breed. The forest comes alive with their songs and trees overflow withhundreds of birds’ nests.
The best time for tourists to visit theBird Sanctuary is in the early morning, when most birds leave their nests tobegin a day of feeding. Alternatively, at sunset the birds can be seen easilyflock after flock returning to their nests.
“This is the most spectacular sight at thesanctuary,” said tourist Long. “Photographers wait to capture breathtakinglybeautiful birds.”
Long and his friends also spent a day on anecological tour to longan orchards covering 230ha.
The orchards were planted 200 years ago bythe first migrants to wild land along the coast. Their age and unique locationlends the fruit a distinctive sweetness.
The gardens sit atop an underground stream.Local people say the water source has kept the trees alive for centuriesdespite encroaching saltwater.
Locals dry the fruit and also brew thefresh fruit into wine. Producing dried fruit and wine to sell for tourists andexport has become a good job for many.
Other cultural and religious destinationsare worth a visit, such as Phuoc Duc Pagoda built in the 18th century byChinese immigrants, Xiem Can Pagoda built in the 19th century by the ethnicKhmer people inspired by Angkor architecture.
Pilgrims flock to the festival dedicated to the Bodhisattva of Limitless Compassion (Photo: VNA)There is also the ancient Vinh Hung Templewhich houses many items belonging to Oc Eo Culture (from the first to seventhcenturies), the conical hat-shaped Cao Van Lau Theatre and Nha Mat ecotourismand cultural site with 11m-high statue of the Bodhisattva of Mercy.
In recent years, tourists can visit a windfarm with hundreds of turbines. The long bridge leading to the wind turbines inthe sea is an ideal place to enjoy spectacular views and brisk wind.
The provincial People’s Committee andrelated agencies have strived to make tourism a key economic sector.
Before 2016, Bac Lieu welcomed600,000-650,000 tourists a year, according to Thai Quoc Luu, vice director ofthe provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. But when authoritiesbegan to promote the attractions, numbers increased rapidly.
“We plan to attract 1.4 million tourists tothe province this year,” he said.
“There are now about 50 hotels and guesthouses with a total of 1,200 rooms. We are calling for investment to upgradethe infrastructure and services to meet increasing demand.”
“We also focus on preserving traditionalperforming arts, such as don ca tai tu (southern music and songs), and Khmerethnic drama and dance.”
Duong Minh Binh, director of the CBT TravelCompany, said Bac Lieu tourism potential and advantages had not been exploitedeffectively.
“There are various types of tourismproducts in Bac Lieu, such as eco-tourism, religious tourism (visiting templesand pagodas), culinary trips and cultural tourism (exploring the culture ofdifferent ethnic groups),” said Binh.
Binh said he would carry out a project tolink destinations in Bac Lieu to Soc Trang and Ca Mau through Quan Lo – Phung HiepNational Road. He spent many months surveying the area by motorbike.
“This is a very special route which naturefavours with beautiful sights,” he said. “Local people preserve unique culturalactivities, religious practices and traditional handicrafts. Their culturerepresents a southern identity that tourists are eager to discover.”
“As I know from field trips, people livingalong the route are aware of protecting the environment, however, they need tobe given more knowledge to work in the tourism industry professionally.” - VNA
VNA
