Buzz
World-famous landmarks must be explored thoroughly. Once missed, it's a loss, but once visited, one realizes there are many places yet to discover. My recent trip to Oleron was precisely such a journey.
Excitedly ventured to Oleron in France – An island yet to be explored by any Vietnamese tour
People often think that visiting France means going to Paris, Nice, or Provence to truly experience its charm, but in reality, France has more destinations that only locals know. While visiting relatives in France during the early months of the year, I set out to explore this tranquil island.
To reach Oleron, I flew from Vietnam to Nantes for 22,000,000 VND for a round-trip ticket. This was a fare I managed to snag during a promotion. Typically, less popular routes tend to have cheaper fares compared to flights to other famous destinations during the same period.
Because I was visiting relatives in Poitiers, I took a Flix Bus for only 9 Euros from Nantes to Poitiers, and then the whole family traveled by car to Oleron for a vacation. If you're heading straight to Oleron, you can simply go to Nantes, then take the Train Line for a ticket price of 20 Euros and enjoy the scenery for about 3 hours to reach this island.
Thanks to my uncle's introduction, I just found out that there's currently no Vietnam tour that explores Oleron. This island seems to attract mainly French tourists during vacation times; rarely do foreigners visit, and even less so people from neighboring European countries.
Therefore, Oleron greeted me with an unprecedented sense of tranquility. The population here mainly relies on salt production, farming, and fishing. I used to think Westerners always had a glamorous lifestyle like in Hollywood movies, but upon arriving at Oleron, I realized that people everywhere are just the same, with their own stories and struggles.
I've heard that the French aren't always the friendliest, but during my stay in Oleron, everything felt surprisingly harmonious. While strolling around the fishermen's cottages, I was even invited for tea and conversation.
The houses here are closely packed, small, and colorful. Almost every house is painted in a different eye-catching color, and the decorations from the exterior to the interior resemble scenes from Grimm's fairy tales. You can't imagine how the feelings you only experience in stories are brought to life here.
I spent the night at Le Coureau hotel, where the room rate is approximately 1,500,000 VND per night for the whole family of four—a steal for an overseas trip. There's no shortage of hotels in Oleron, with average prices ranging from 2,500,000 to 3,500,000 VND. Finding an affordable place to stay made my family thrilled, and we were even happier when the room window offered a beautiful view of the night-time ferry crossing the sea.
Oleron boasts a grand lighthouse, a popular spot for film crews, and a majestic medieval castle right in the heart of the island, which attracts many tourists. As for dining, a seafood platter with a variety of fresh options like lobster, river shrimp, oysters, clams, and fish costs around 17 Euros—served fresh with lemon and authentic European-style mustard sauce.
The shores of Oleron are a picturesque haven, where one can still indulge in bathing albeit amidst scarce company. Most visitors come here to bask in the tranquil seaside atmosphere, leisurely stroll with their dogs along the sandy shores, and momentarily escape the hustle and bustle of life. If you're unsure of where to start your year, embark on an adventure to Oleron; you'll undoubtedly be captivated by its breathtaking vistas.
By Minh Thái/Emdep.vn
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Reference: Travel guide by Mytour
MytourJanuary 21, 2019
