Stretching for 6km along National Highway No 1, far from the noisycity, Sa Huynh in the central province of Quang Ngai offers a quietescape along the central coast.
The area was a majorsalt production centre during the Nguyen Dynasty; its name means"golden sand". Today, tourists can visit the Sa Huynh salt field, wherefarmers still do the job.
In the early years of the20th century, French archaeologists discovered many tombs containingjars and other artifacts there. They revealed that the Sa Huynhcivilisation spread over a vast area, from Ngang Pass in thecentral province of Ha Tinh to Dong Nai and the CentralHighlands . At Ma Vuong Hill, visitors can see many of these ancientrelics.
"Tourists have many options for day trips.From Sa Huynh beach resort, you can take a half or full day to see thebeach, travel in a boat or trek in the forest on Monkey Island ,"said Sa Huynh resort tour operator Thuy Kieu.
Hometo 500 wild monkeys, the island offers adventurers a challenge. "Youhave to climb up a mountain to land on the island, although you can alsorent a boat from local fishermen to explore the island by sea," Kieusaid.
Visit on the 16th day of the third lunar monthto see the annual fish-worshipping festival.. Even on an ordinary day,there are plenty of watery activities. Kieu recommended huntingfreshwater crabs in Sa Huynh lagoon with a local guide or visiting ThachTru hot springs , 30km northeast of Sa Huynh.
Discovered in 1837, the spring always has temperatures between 60 and80oC; local people believe that bathing in it is good for health.
"I visited Sa Huynh with my family last summer. We did athree-day-and-two-night stay and loved the ocean air and pristine beach.My children and I will never forget joining local fishermen to catchfish and enjoying grilled seafood over a campfire," said Vu Hong Thanh, atourist from Ha Nam province. "We hope to come again to relax andexplore the culture and lifestyle of local people."
Sea urchin is one of Sa Huynh's specialties. Salted urchin was afrequent offering to King Minh Mang during the Nguyen Dynasty. Today,divers hunt deep in the sea for this local delicacy, which can begrilled with onion and oil or placed in hot broth to make soup.
"Sea urchin is a very special food. It revives you after hard work or along journey," said Nguyen Hoang Khanh, a self-described "gourmet" fromHanoi. "My friends say it can even treat Alzheimer's!"
The red frog crab or spanner crab is another specialty. "Binh Dinh andSa Huynh have the best spanner crab," Khanh said. "I like it eithersteamed or grilled."
Sa Huynh's three restaurants can host around 1,000 visitors. There are also two hotels and nine bungalows.
Sa Huynh is easily accessible by car, train or plane. You can book atour from travel agencies or go there on your own. Fly to Chu LaiAirport in Quang Nam province, 90km away from Sa Huynh, or Phu CatAirport in Binh Dinh Province. Or take a train to Quang Ngai, followedby an hour-long bus ride.
Sa Huynh is often crowdedon summer holidays and weekends. The tourism site attracts 15,000visitors each year, 20 percent of them foreigners.-VNA
The area was a majorsalt production centre during the Nguyen Dynasty; its name means"golden sand". Today, tourists can visit the Sa Huynh salt field, wherefarmers still do the job.
In the early years of the20th century, French archaeologists discovered many tombs containingjars and other artifacts there. They revealed that the Sa Huynhcivilisation spread over a vast area, from Ngang Pass in thecentral province of Ha Tinh to Dong Nai and the CentralHighlands . At Ma Vuong Hill, visitors can see many of these ancientrelics.
"Tourists have many options for day trips.From Sa Huynh beach resort, you can take a half or full day to see thebeach, travel in a boat or trek in the forest on Monkey Island ,"said Sa Huynh resort tour operator Thuy Kieu.
Hometo 500 wild monkeys, the island offers adventurers a challenge. "Youhave to climb up a mountain to land on the island, although you can alsorent a boat from local fishermen to explore the island by sea," Kieusaid.
Visit on the 16th day of the third lunar monthto see the annual fish-worshipping festival.. Even on an ordinary day,there are plenty of watery activities. Kieu recommended huntingfreshwater crabs in Sa Huynh lagoon with a local guide or visiting ThachTru hot springs , 30km northeast of Sa Huynh.
Discovered in 1837, the spring always has temperatures between 60 and80oC; local people believe that bathing in it is good for health.
"I visited Sa Huynh with my family last summer. We did athree-day-and-two-night stay and loved the ocean air and pristine beach.My children and I will never forget joining local fishermen to catchfish and enjoying grilled seafood over a campfire," said Vu Hong Thanh, atourist from Ha Nam province. "We hope to come again to relax andexplore the culture and lifestyle of local people."
Sea urchin is one of Sa Huynh's specialties. Salted urchin was afrequent offering to King Minh Mang during the Nguyen Dynasty. Today,divers hunt deep in the sea for this local delicacy, which can begrilled with onion and oil or placed in hot broth to make soup.
"Sea urchin is a very special food. It revives you after hard work or along journey," said Nguyen Hoang Khanh, a self-described "gourmet" fromHanoi. "My friends say it can even treat Alzheimer's!"
The red frog crab or spanner crab is another specialty. "Binh Dinh andSa Huynh have the best spanner crab," Khanh said. "I like it eithersteamed or grilled."
Sa Huynh's three restaurants can host around 1,000 visitors. There are also two hotels and nine bungalows.
Sa Huynh is easily accessible by car, train or plane. You can book atour from travel agencies or go there on your own. Fly to Chu LaiAirport in Quang Nam province, 90km away from Sa Huynh, or Phu CatAirport in Binh Dinh Province. Or take a train to Quang Ngai, followedby an hour-long bus ride.
Sa Huynh is often crowdedon summer holidays and weekends. The tourism site attracts 15,000visitors each year, 20 percent of them foreigners.-VNA
