Buzz
Nestled alongside Hoa Minh islet, Con Chim resembles a little bird poised to swoop down for prey when seen from above. This land, saturated with the sun and wind of Tra Vinh province, is increasingly known for its community-based tourism model, where rural folks get to express their warmth to travelers.
On a day in early March, the saltwater intrusion pushes deep into the rivers of the Western region. The intense sun beats down, causing the brackish waters to shimmer. The wind blows gently. The Co Chien River appears greener and clearer, no longer murky brown like during the rainy season. The ferry from Hoa Loi commune (Ben Tre) takes me to Hoa Minh islet in Tra Vinh province.
Ferry Ride from Ben Tre to Tra Vinh
Crossing the Hòa Minh land about 8km, I arrived at a small ferry dock to Cồn Chim after some inquiries. The turn into the ferry dock had a sign, but Google Maps didn't have a specific location yet. Right at the ferry dock, a bamboo hut was set up, with welcoming words to Cồn Chim. The bamboo hut overlooks the Cồn Chim river, which is a small branch of the Cổ Chiên river flowing through the Cồn Chim section with the Hòa Minh islet. Unlike the bustling appearance of the large river, this small river section is strangely peaceful.
The welcoming hut at Cồn Chim
A day at Tư Pha homestay
In just about ten minutes, I crossed to Cồn Chim. The first thing that caught my eye was the simple design of the Cồn Chim welcome gate. At that time, I hadn't researched much about the services here, so I rode straight to the nearest local house, mainly to inquire and chat first. The house I stopped by belonged to Mrs. Tư Pha, specializing in crab catching and homestays within the community tourism ecosystem here.
Cồn Chim tourism signage
Key tourist spots on Cồn Chim
Guidance to households offering services
This form of community tourism is very similar to what is happening on Thiềng Liềng Island (Cần Giờ). And just like in Thiềng Liềng, everything here is still in its infancy. However, the people of Cồn Chim do not produce salt but instead raise shrimp and crabs and grow rice alternately, known as the 'shrimp hugging rice tree' model.
Regulations on fishing for aquatic products on the Cồn Chim river
Of course, Aunt and Uncle Tư Pha's house also farms shrimp and crabs. They also have 2 dormitories, one small room for 1-2 people, and one large room for 3-4 people, built by Uncle Tư in the style of a stilt house, with a shrimp and crab pond underneath, with a corridor surrounding it that looks very chill. The garden space and the river fascinated me. Aunt and Uncle also have two small huts on the riverbank, where guests can have meals or relax. When I arrived, there was a group of older ladies eating and singing folk songs outside the hut. Aunt Tư said they often come here, and their gatherings are even livelier than those of the younger crowd.
The garden space at Aunt and Uncle Tư Pha's house
Accommodation with a design that embraces nature
Overlooking the shrimp and crab ponds
Simplified interior design in the bathroom
The crab fishing activity at Aunt and Uncle's house is also very interesting. First, tie the bait to the fishing rod, then temporarily attach it to a stone on the shore. When you feel the fishing rod tug, slowly lift it up with one hand, while the other hand gently lowers the net below. The most important thing is to lift the rod slowly so that the crab doesn't let go of the bait, and once it's lifted out of the water, quickly put the net in to catch it. In short, it's a combination of two hands, exciting and fun.
Setting up the fishing rod and waiting
I stayed overnight and was assigned to a small room. The interior was minimalist, with a bed, wardrobe, table, and chairs, two windows for ventilation, and even a fire extinguisher. The room didn't have air conditioning or hot water. Those who seek comfort might not appreciate it, but for me, it was sufficient. Diệu, Aunt and Uncle's daughter, told me they wanted to create a space as close to nature as possible.
I had lunch with Aunt and Uncle's family. The meal included fried fish, braised pork with eggs, a basket of fresh vegetables, and a huge plate of watermelon for dessert. Aunt Tư and Diệu were busy serving the group, while only Uncle and I ate. He ate with gusto, even mixing watermelon with rice, saying he's used to it, as it's also a kind of vegetable. I particularly enjoyed the braised pork dish. The tender, fragrant meat paired with the flavorful eggs was absolutely delicious.
Lunch by the riverside
For dinner, Aunt Tư treated me to a 'specialty' of the house: water lily stem salad. In front of their house, there's a large water lily plant, which usually blooms early. Typically, the water lily blooms during the rainy season, from the second to the eighth lunar month each year, but this plant started blooming in February-March. In the evening, Diệu invited me to climb up the water lily plant to pick the flowers. She climbed skillfully, using a long stick to pluck each bud and put them in her pocket. Standing on the giant stem, with the clear water of the Cồn Chim river below and the bright blue sky above, I felt like I was a child again.
The tranquility everywhere
A complete sky
After being plucked, water lily buds will bloom after the sunset, revealing the pure white pistil, mixed with purple hues at the stem. Before separating the pistil, the top part must be cleaned to avoid bitterness. The separated pistil is then soaked in saltwater, drained, and mixed with lime fish sauce, a bit of fresh chili. The salad has a slightly bitter, refreshing taste, the crispy texture of the water lily pistil combined with the sweet and sour taste of the fish sauce, awakened all my taste buds. This is a 'must-try' dish if you visit Aunt and Uncle Tư's house.
Water lily buds waiting to bloom
Around 7-8 PM it will be like this
This dish goes well with either shrimp or chicken
In the evening, after finishing the meal, I sat chatting with Aunt Tư for a while. Aunt and Uncle usually go to bed early, but in the middle of the night, they get up to check the crab ponds. Every day, in the late afternoon, they have to spread nets around the ponds, then tie them tightly to prevent any curious crabs from wandering off. The wind still blows gently, swaying the coconut trees along the riverbank. A swarm of fireflies is putting on a light show on the trees, sparkling across the area.
The moment when the evening slowly falls
Exploring the attractions on Cồn Chim
The next morning, I woke up early, had pho for breakfast, then took a stroll around the tourist households on Cồn Chim. The sun was gentle, not scorching, the quiet country roads murmured with the rustle of trees and grass. Cồn Chim is livelier on weekends, but during the week, there are hardly any visitors around this time.
The road lined with two rows of flowers
This spot is popular for check-ins
Visiting Aunt Vân's Southern Vintage Kitchen, I was treated to 2 cups of sương sâm, poured with sweet coconut milk, refreshing and cool. Then I got to taste the fragrant and sweet hoa đậu biếc tea. Aunt Vân also offers homestay accommodation, with more rooms than Aunt and Uncle Tư's, providing another option for you to consider.
Sương sâm and coconut milk
Hoa đậu biếc flower
Right near Aunt Vân's house is Aunt Ba Sữa's place, specializing in bánh cuốn lá mơ (rice crepe with banana leaf). Aunt's house has a very unique ground, rising up in small mounds, hence called Dragon Scale House. Aunt makes the cakes in large batches, but since there are no large groups this time, she suggested I come back another time to enjoy them.
Aunt Ba Sữa's House, specializing in making rice crepes wrapped in banana leaves
Bamboo huts serving food and drinks for guests
Strolling along the main road, I rested at a small stall selling coconut jelly with crushed peanuts. The stall was tiny but had a very unique gourd-shaped pumpkin hanging in front of it. The owner said there was nothing distinctive about the house for people to recognize, so they hung this gourd pumpkin as their brand. The coconut jelly with crushed peanuts was fragrant and delicious, the more I ate, the more addictive it became.
The unique pumpkin of the host
Crunchy and delicious coconut water, absolutely tasty
The 'arena' for crab racing in the traditional games area
Wandering around, the morning has passed. I returned to Aunt and Uncle Tư's house for lunch, rested for a bit, and then hit the road. From now on, I have another familiar place to retreat to. Don't expect anything grand when visiting Cồn Chim. Breathing in the scent of the breeze, having a home-cooked meal, sharing simple stories, and admiring the vast sky might just be enough.
Some notes
Mytour Golocal is a blogging program introducing beautiful destinations across Vietnam, under the Mytour Go & Share initiative. This is a wonderful opportunity to promote local tourism to everyone. For each qualifying article, you will receive 800,000 VND and a chance to become a contributor with Mytour. For more details about the program, visit: https://trv.lk/golocal
