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About 100km away from Saigon, Long Son is an island commune in Vung Tau city, gaining recent recognition as an intriguing eco-tourism destination.
Unveil the hidden path to Long Son Island, meandering through fascinating salt farms.
While Long Son might still be an unfamiliar name to many, it has earned fame for its high-quality oyster farming. Additionally, this region is known for its floating fishing villages along the river. When you visit, you can savor delicious seafood and enjoy the sea breeze near the coastal area—a truly delightful experience.
Long Son covers an area of approximately 92 square kilometers, with 54 square kilometers being mainland and the rest being saline soil. Originally a small island, Long Son is renowned for preserving its natural beauty, with the locals being friendly and hospitable, making a living primarily through fishing, salt production, and aquaculture.
Previously, to reach Long Son from Vung Tau, you would follow National Highway 51 through Ba Ria, heading in the opposite direction towards Ho Chi Minh City, then take a turn into Long Son. However, now there's a shortcut to the island, saving time and offering you the opportunity to admire the breathtaking scenery along the way. Follow National Highway 51 from Vung Tau, turn left at Go Gang Bridge, and proceed straight to your destination. The bridge and road were recently completed, with very few vehicles, ensuring a comfortable and impressive journey on both sides of the road.
Embark on a journey through the salt fields of Long Son residents. Though not as grandiose as the salt fields in the Central region, for city dwellers, this place will undoubtedly be an intriguing highlight for exploration. The landscape here is rugged yet uniquely beautiful, largely untouched by modern architecture. If you've watched the movie 'Blood Diamond,' you'll notice a resemblance between the scenery here and in the film. Particularly, you can experience the salt-making profession, understanding the toil of the local workers who endure sun and wind to produce salt for everyone's use.
For those in Ho Chi Minh City, there are two routes from Saigon. The first route follows National Highway 51, which, being a national highway, is crowded with vehicles and lacks scenic beauty along the road. Please pay attention to traffic safety. The second option is to go through Thủ Thiêm, then take the Cat Lai ferry directly to Bà Rịa city. Long Son is approximately 35km from Bà Rịa, so after passing the toll station on National Highway 51 and reaching a brief intersection, turn right to reach Long Son.
Upon reaching Long Son, make sure to visit the Big House, also known as the Ong Tran Temple. This is a nationally recognized architectural relic since 1991. To get there, cross Bà Nanh Bridge, drive to the intersection, turn left for about 2km, and you'll arrive. The place preserves many antique furniture pieces from the North, Central, and South regions, left behind by Mr. Tran, the builder of the Big House.
After exploring the Big House, tourists can head to the homestays in the Ben Da area to savor local cuisine. Just travel about 2km further, reach an intersection with a sign indicating a left turn towards the mountain and a right turn towards Ben Da. The attraction here is the opportunity to enjoy fresh and delicious seafood while basking by the river. Long Son is known for its seafood, especially renowned for oysters. Other seafood varieties include blood cockles, finger snails, and a unique species called 'vọp' (a type of shellfish).
You can combine a trip to Long Son and Vung Tau to experience many new things in these two regions. In recent years, Long Son has become a newly developed tourist destination. After tiring days, if you seek a quiet yet unique place to rest that is not too crowded, this is an ideal destination for you.
By Yan
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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourMarch 1, 2016
