Van Phong Bay in the central province of Khanh Hoa pleases visitors with its diverse scenery. Son Dung, a small village in the area, is among the spots that tourists often visit. On the boat trip to Son Dung, tourists can see natural rocks shaped like animals and mountain cliffs covered in greenery. Son Dung is a quiet village, with only 14 houses, nestled between a rocky outcrop, sand dunes, a mountain and the sea. At low tide, the beach is smooth, white and clean. The village has no roads, so no bicycles or motorbikes are used here. The paths to the villagers’ homes are made of sand and coral. Villagers traditionally make a living by raising lobsters, fishing, collecting firewood in the forest and growing cashews and fruit trees. Now, they also sell goods to tourists. The first point of call for most visitors to Son Dung is the beach. Fresh water can be found by digging not very deep into the sand. Local children can skillfully dig a “well” for tourists to see. Many tourists also bring home a bottle of this water to use. The locals protect their beach well, aware of its tourism potential. According to a village legend, King Gia Long and his troops arrived on the beach in the early 1800s, on the run from the Tay Son army. King Gia Long, who became the first emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), ordered his men to search for water by digging down in the sand. Miraculously, they found fresh water. This wonder has remained until today. To commemorate the king, the locals have built a temple to honor him. At Son Dung, tourists can visit the villagers’ houses and talk with them. They can also bathe by the rocks, explore the forest on the sandy hills or buy local seafood to make simple dishes to enjoy with wine or beer.

 Reported by Phan Huy Tram

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