Every weekend, hundreds of people flock to the U Minh Thuong NationalPark in the southern province of Kien Giang to fish as a leisureactivity. Here there are different kinds of huge fish far beyond theirwildest dreams.
That's why it's not rare to find a longline of cars queuing up along the road that leads to the park. Most ofthe vehicles have travelled from HCM City , 365km away.
For many people, fishing in this remote area is a way to escape fromthe bustle of city life and enjoy the primitive cajuput forest, wherethey are greeted by bird songs and insect chirps.
Proclaimed a National Park in 2002, U Minh Thuong covers a 22,918ha areaof freshwater wetlands, peat forest, seasonally inundated grassland andswamp. The core zone of the park is surrounded by a canal and dykesystem, creating an ideal environment for aquatic species.
One of the last significant peat forests remaining in Vietnam , thepark has also been recognised as one of the three highest priority sitesfor wetland conservation in the Cuu Long ( Mekong ) Delta.
U Minh Thuong is home to more than 250 and 500 species of plants andanimals, respectively. Nine species of bird living in the park have beenlisted in the Red Book: the oriental darter, spot-billed pelican,painted stork, lesser adjutant, black-headed ibis, glossy ibis, greaterspotted eagle, grey-headed fish eagle, and the Asian golden weaver. Inaddition, at least eight species of economically valuable fish have beenfound at this park.
In order to maintain the naturalenvironment, tourists are allowed to travel only within a 500ha area ofthe park's central zone.
When fishing, most of thetourists use the humble cajuput-wooden tents scattered by Hoa MaiLake . The lake is considered to be the "tourist centre" of the parkbecause it is the only place in the area offering catering and otherbasic services.
Visitors pay 40,000 VND for admission to the fishing grounds, with a rod and bait included in the price.
Professional fishermen prefer to hire a wooden motor boat for 30,000VND per person to go deeper into the forest, where they can catch muchbigger fish.
However, due to the limited number of serviceboats, tourists have been encouraged to book them in advance throughthe park's management board.
While the boats glide alongthe water, visitors may have surprise encounters with the thousands ofbats that hang themselves on tree branches. If they are lucky they mayeven see monkeys, who then quickly flee deep into the jungle at thefirst sign of humans.
"I often spend my weekends goingfishing here together with my family and friends. The feeling of beingin nature is amazing. More importantly, that feeling can help refresh meafter a long, hard week of working," said HCM City visitor LeCong Thanh.
Nguyen Van Minh, another regular visitor ofthe park, equips himself with all the necessary items whenever he goesfishing: a modern rod, different kinds of bait for various species offish, a palm-leave conical hat, a raincoat, plastic boots and food.
According to him, the swamp is a perfect place for fishing because the aquatic plants are home to many fish.
For many tourists, it is ideal to have a meal prepared with fresh fishand other local indigenous vegetables right on the spot, and then liedown on a hammock to enjoy the forest's tranquillity.
Non-fishing tourists can climb to one of the several watchtowers andenjoy a panoramic view of the reserve. An immense green zone stretchesas far as the eye can see, and the harmonic melody created by the soundof the wind blowing and birds singing can purify the spirit of anyvisitor.
Unlike Minh, who goes fishing alone, Anh Nguyen and his friends gather into an eight-member group.
"We share a rental car from HCM City to the park. It's much morefun when you have companions, who also have the same hobby," heexplained.
His group has travelled to different regions inthe south to fish but he said they've never seen so many fish as in UMinh Thuong. "Each one of us catches at least 6-7kg of snakefishwhenever we go fishing at the park."
According to thepark's chief tourist manager, Nguyen Van Nhien, since the park opened totourists in 2004, the number of visitors has increased every year.
Now, an average of 2,000 tourists visit the park every month, promoting the eco-friendly development of the region. /.
That's why it's not rare to find a longline of cars queuing up along the road that leads to the park. Most ofthe vehicles have travelled from HCM City , 365km away.
For many people, fishing in this remote area is a way to escape fromthe bustle of city life and enjoy the primitive cajuput forest, wherethey are greeted by bird songs and insect chirps.
Proclaimed a National Park in 2002, U Minh Thuong covers a 22,918ha areaof freshwater wetlands, peat forest, seasonally inundated grassland andswamp. The core zone of the park is surrounded by a canal and dykesystem, creating an ideal environment for aquatic species.
One of the last significant peat forests remaining in Vietnam , thepark has also been recognised as one of the three highest priority sitesfor wetland conservation in the Cuu Long ( Mekong ) Delta.
U Minh Thuong is home to more than 250 and 500 species of plants andanimals, respectively. Nine species of bird living in the park have beenlisted in the Red Book: the oriental darter, spot-billed pelican,painted stork, lesser adjutant, black-headed ibis, glossy ibis, greaterspotted eagle, grey-headed fish eagle, and the Asian golden weaver. Inaddition, at least eight species of economically valuable fish have beenfound at this park.
In order to maintain the naturalenvironment, tourists are allowed to travel only within a 500ha area ofthe park's central zone.
When fishing, most of thetourists use the humble cajuput-wooden tents scattered by Hoa MaiLake . The lake is considered to be the "tourist centre" of the parkbecause it is the only place in the area offering catering and otherbasic services.
Visitors pay 40,000 VND for admission to the fishing grounds, with a rod and bait included in the price.
Professional fishermen prefer to hire a wooden motor boat for 30,000VND per person to go deeper into the forest, where they can catch muchbigger fish.
However, due to the limited number of serviceboats, tourists have been encouraged to book them in advance throughthe park's management board.
While the boats glide alongthe water, visitors may have surprise encounters with the thousands ofbats that hang themselves on tree branches. If they are lucky they mayeven see monkeys, who then quickly flee deep into the jungle at thefirst sign of humans.
"I often spend my weekends goingfishing here together with my family and friends. The feeling of beingin nature is amazing. More importantly, that feeling can help refresh meafter a long, hard week of working," said HCM City visitor LeCong Thanh.
Nguyen Van Minh, another regular visitor ofthe park, equips himself with all the necessary items whenever he goesfishing: a modern rod, different kinds of bait for various species offish, a palm-leave conical hat, a raincoat, plastic boots and food.
According to him, the swamp is a perfect place for fishing because the aquatic plants are home to many fish.
For many tourists, it is ideal to have a meal prepared with fresh fishand other local indigenous vegetables right on the spot, and then liedown on a hammock to enjoy the forest's tranquillity.
Non-fishing tourists can climb to one of the several watchtowers andenjoy a panoramic view of the reserve. An immense green zone stretchesas far as the eye can see, and the harmonic melody created by the soundof the wind blowing and birds singing can purify the spirit of anyvisitor.
Unlike Minh, who goes fishing alone, Anh Nguyen and his friends gather into an eight-member group.
"We share a rental car from HCM City to the park. It's much morefun when you have companions, who also have the same hobby," heexplained.
His group has travelled to different regions inthe south to fish but he said they've never seen so many fish as in UMinh Thuong. "Each one of us catches at least 6-7kg of snakefishwhenever we go fishing at the park."
According to thepark's chief tourist manager, Nguyen Van Nhien, since the park opened totourists in 2004, the number of visitors has increased every year.
Now, an average of 2,000 tourists visit the park every month, promoting the eco-friendly development of the region. /.
