Buzz
Explore the wild, pristine U Minh Ha that will make your summer more adventurous.
Escape the heat in U Minh Ha, the filming location 'Southern Land' at the southernmost point of the country
From May to October, the Mekong Delta enters the rainy season, with some days of heavy rain making many people hesitant to visit the watery region. However, just by carefully monitoring the weather before setting off, traveling during this season also has its own fascinating charm, especially exploring the lush, cool U Minh forest in the far-off Cà Mau, which is intriguing for adventure enthusiasts.
If you've ever watched 'Southern Land,' one of the successful television series in Vietnamese cinematic history, the image of the wild, vast U Minh forest is no stranger. Even through the low-quality film footage of that time, not as sharp as HD, everyone could see the harshness of the ancient forest, leaving a deep impression on viewers. Today, the animal population here has been significantly affected by hunting, but U Minh Ha forest remains an ideal place for camping or organizing summer extracurricular activities for students.
U Minh Ha National Park is divided into 3 zones: the zone for conserving the ecosystem of forests on peatlands; the zone for restoring and sustainably using the ecosystem of flooded forests; and the administrative service area. Entrance fee is 10,000 VND/person. Visitors can drive straight into the forest on an asphalt road just wide enough for a car. Wild vegetables and water mimosa grow densely on both sides of the road. This season, the trees are lush green, making you feel like you are lost in the scene of a dinosaur park movie. There is a variety of birds and animals, including very cheeky wild monkeys, always blocking the path of tourists asking for food. When you meet them, you have to hold onto your belongings tightly to avoid being robbed. It's best to have a snack pack ready to 'bribe' them for peace.
During the rainy season, the canals winding through the cajuput forest are covered with a thick, cool green layer of water ferns, and the river is stained red with silt. Climbing up the seven-story observation tower, you can overlook the entire captivating green forest. There is always a guard stationed on the top floor to assist tourists when needed, and this is also the final stop in the forest exploration itinerary. Tourists are not allowed to go further into the forest. Inside the forest, there is a stall selling rustic dishes of the Mekong Delta such as field mice, water snakes, and steamed eel with banana flowers... Although selective in who eats them, if you know how to enjoy them, they can be addictive.
Transportation
It takes about 45 minutes to fly from Saigon to Ca Mau, with ticket prices around 1.8 million VND/one way, fluctuating depending on the time. There is only 1 flight per day in the morning.
To save more, you can choose to take a sleeper bus, which takes about 8 hours from the Mien Tay bus station (Saigon). The ticket price is around 200,000 VND. It's best to choose a night bus, so you can sleep and arrive more conveniently.
From the center of Ca Mau, you have to travel about 30 km to reach U Minh Ha. The road is narrow, sandwiched between two waterways, with twists and turns, so driving requires caution. It's best to hire a local driver if you're driving a car. If riding a motorbike, make sure to bring all necessary tools in case the bike breaks down in the middle of a deserted road, and travel in a group for safety.
By Cao Trinh - Vi Yen/Ngoi Sao
***
Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourJune 15, 2018
