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Like a Cinderella story, the impoverished rural village of Trung Thanh instantly transforms into an elegant beauty, attracting 'princes and princesses' to admire the lively murals that adorn its streets and alleys...
Travel to Quang Nam to admire the murals in Trung Thanh fishing village
Tam Thanh is a coastal commune, part of Tam Ky city, Quang Nam province. The commune comprises 7 hamlets, among which Trung Thanh retains the traditional charm of a fishing village through its architecture and local culture. Most houses in the hamlet are small and charming, with narrow plots and walls made of cement pillars...
The commune stretches along the coastal concrete road, bordered by the Truong Giang River and shrimp and rice fields. Facing it is the vast and stunning East Sea with its stretch of white sandy beaches. The beauty of the sea is astonishing. Small boats and coracles gather along the beach to rest after days of fishing. The rustic countryside scenery matches the down-to-earth nature of the locals from Quang region.
It's been a long time since encountering such a simple and poetic rural village.
Tam Thanh commune primarily relies on the sea, the livelihood of its male population. A few engage in shrimp farming and rice cultivation, but due to the arid land, the income is not substantial. Trung Thanh, in particular, lacks agricultural land. Passing through Tam Thanh, everyone admires the beautiful sea but merely skims it without stopping for a swim.
There isn't much information about Tam Thanh on Google; it remains a relatively unfamiliar place for many. But that's a tale of the past, as locals would say. The 'past' being just a few months ago. Tam Thanh, specifically Trung Thanh, has undergone astonishing transformations.
Tourists are always bustling with activity. On weekends, it's as crowded as a festival, especially with young people and backpackers from all over the country. Like a village girl, innocent and beautiful, dolled up for a beauty pageant, unexpectedly charming.
The entire hamlet has nearly 190 houses, with over 100 newly painted and 70 adorned with murals. The souls of the artists and residents are conveyed through the authentic paint colors and creative strokes. Depending on the location and architecture of the houses, the occupation of the owners, and family compositions, the colors and murals vary accordingly.
From portraits of tailors, hairdressers, schoolgirls, village girls, mischievous children playing ball, pulling fishing nets, docking at grocery stores, carrying loads, to still life of plants, livestock, water birds; especially various types of seafood... Everything is incredibly vibrant and familiar.
The rural village remains simple, with men and village boys still fishing. Women and children, once confined to household chores, now have additional side jobs such as parking attendants, selling tea, souvenirs, food and beverages, renting hats...
Mrs. Le Thi Nuoi, 65, who sells bean porridge by the roadside, shared: 'Before, I did odd jobs around the house, but for the past 2 months, I've been selling porridge. During peak hours, I earn nearly a hundred thousand in profit per day.'
'The whole village is very excited. Every house has been freshly painted and adorned with beautiful murals. A beautiful village, beautiful houses, everyone is happy. It also creates more jobs and income. Every household, every person is conscious of keeping the village cleaner and more beautiful than before,' said 70-year-old Ms. Tran Thi Xoa.
Mr. Duong Minh Binh, Director of the Vietnam Community Tourism Consultancy and Development Company, jokingly remarked: 'Visitors to Trung Thanh are like attending a festival, every day is the same. The entire village organizes beverage stalls and parking attendants.'
Prices are very affordable, motorcycle parking costs 3,000 dong, car parking costs 10-15,000 dong. Bean porridge, sweet soup costs 5,000 dong, and renting a palm-leaf hat costs 3,000 dong. Lunch options vary according to budget...
Even first-time visitors are warmly welcomed. Everyone is amazed and gets to relive their childhood memories, even if only through the stories of their parents or grandparents.
The surprising thing is that the entire village opens its doors to guests. Every house does the same. Whether it's morning, noon, afternoon, or evening, even during meal times. Guests can freely explore and take pictures without worry. It seems that having guests visit is the joy of every family.
The most fascinating time to visit Trung Thanh is early in the morning or at dusk. Witnessing the sunrise and waiting for sunset is truly ideal. Trung Thanh doesn't have accommodation services yet. You can stay in homestays, camp overnight, and rely on locals for bathing and hygiene facilities.
I enjoy wandering around under the moonlight, listening to each mural tell stories of the village, the water, the years of hard work building the hamlet and preserving the village. The narrow alleys shimmer under the moonlight, with the distant sound of the waves lapping against the shore.
Travelers wander amidst the night breeze, immersed in the rich atmosphere reminiscent of the people of Quang region. I envy the fishermen and greedily wish to take Trung Thanh back to Saigon…
Join us in exploring Trung Thanh fishing village through the photo collection below:
As reported by Tuoi Tre Newspaper
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Check out: Travel guide on Mytour
MytourSeptember 21, 2016
