Buzz
Located over 100 km southeast of Hanoi, Diem Dien (Thai Binh) is far enough to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life, yet close enough to take your kids on a journey.
Seeking a piece of land in the verses of the song “the wind sings on the bamboo forest,” even if you don't make it to “admire the sea at Dong Chau beach,” you can still have a weekend as you wish.
In the salt fields of Tam Dong village
Traveling along the enchanting coastline of North Central Vietnam, it's not difficult to access a salt field. Besides various professions such as river transportation, deep-sea fishing, craftsmanship, agriculture, and trade, 'salt farming,' despite its modest income, remains an indispensable livelihood for the coastal residents.
From the town of Diem Dien, we drove along the embankment and passed through the village to reach Tam Dong village, Thuy Hai commune, Thai Thuy district.
In the fields, beneath the conical hats, faces veiled with scarves, long-sleeved áo dài, and feet clad in rubber boots, the diligent women engaged in salt field work respond cheerfully to curious visitors, guiding and explaining the salt production process to the intrigued onlookers.
The sky is exceptionally blue, and the grass sparkles in the sunlight. Not flawlessly picturesque like the salt fields at sunrise or sunset, adorned with high, abundant salt mounds, on the land of Tam Đồng village, the simplest stories and images of life straighten their path into the heart.
Tan Son Fishing Port
Our friend from Thai Binh, working in Diem Dien, guided us to Tan Son Fishing Port. The road runs along the Diem Ho River, leaving the town at Don Pier, where boats gather under several monkey bridges, water hyacinths covering the surface.
Towards the sea, the Tan Son lighthouse is humble and small, silently guiding boats into the harbor day and night. Some people at the fish market are unaware of the lighthouse at the end of the road; they simply refer to it as the 'sea light tree.'
We paused at the fish market for a while. Some people gathered under bamboo awnings, playing cards while waiting for the fishing boats to return, others cleaned and washed the floor, and some loaded goods onto refrigerated trucks.
Beneath the river, boats are moored closely, lining along the embankment, red flags fluttering against the deep blue sky creating a vibrant scene that excites everyone.
I stand by the water's edge, waving to the kids casting nets on the river in the shimmering sunlight. Some large boats are in motion, engines roaring along the river, seemingly pulling me towards the open sea.
The foam buoy bobs along the water, guided by a pusher and two pullers, the net returns full, not knowing how many shrimp and fish will be caught today.
The lengthy embankment stretches alluringly in the afternoon sun. Rows of dried shrimp are arranged along the road from Thuy Hai village to the fishing port. Careful children walk along the embankment, joyous in the spacious and salty seaside atmosphere.
You suggest visiting the early market tomorrow, around 4-5 am, to witness boats entering the port, filled with shrimp and fish, a lively seafood market with fresh catches. Genuine seafood at reasonable prices, a luxury not easily found in the city even if you have the money.
The Path to Black Islet
The slow evening glides by as we turn the car towards the other side of the Diem Ho River, heading towards Black Islet. Past the once bustling Diem Dien port, now deserted and lonely, wild grass grows tall at the feet of pedestrians.
The mark of the old Diem Dien Bridge, broken by a thousand-ton ship in the storm of 2012, still stands alongside the new Diem Dien Bridge.
Accompanied by a non-professional local guide originally from Thai Binh, the journey becomes truly fascinating. He shares new plans for the Diem Dien port, as water transportation has shifted towards Hai Phong and Quang Ninh. On this side, the river serves as a large petroleum depot, resembling the future of Diem Dien port.
From the embankment, looking towards Thai Thuong, Tan Son Fishing Port is visible in the evening, with boats resting at this hour.
An islet refers to a strip of land formed in a river through sedimentation and accumulation of alluvium carried by tidal currents. Black Islet, located in Thái Đô commune, Thái Thụy district, Thai Binh, is formed by the sedimentation of silt and sand from the Tra Ly River.
At first, I thought reaching the islet would require a boat. However, my friend insisted that we could drive directly to Black Islet by car.
It turns out that the investor of the Black Islet eco-tourism area has opened a wide road leading directly to the sea, planning a resort with a beach, recreational area, and accommodation.
Along the sandy islet, there's a lush pine forest, and within it, a diverse and unique coastal wetland ecosystem is exploited for high economic value through aquaculture.
As the wind sweeps across Black Islet in the evening, we stroll along the wave-breaking embankment. The high tide covers the entire sandy beach, and in the distance, small oyster farming huts glisten in the fading light. The children insist on getting on a boat to row into the mangrove forest area for exploration.
The sunset gradually descends over the Tan Son lighthouse, a serene conclusion to the sunny day in Diem Dien, full of excitement and tranquility.
According to Tuoi Tre Newspaper
***
Reference: Travel Guide on Mytour
MytourNovember 11, 2015
