Panoramic view of the Hai Minh fishing village (Photo: VNA)The fishermen of HaiMinh village are at sea spreading their nets to catch fish and other creatures.In a corner of the village, elderly women carry stuff to sell in the market.Children prepare to go to school.
The peaceful life in thevillage is a far cry from the bustle of Quy Nhon city, although it takes just10 minutes of travelling by sea to get there.
Settled on the PhuongMai peninsula, Hai Minh is still unknown to many people who visit Quy Nhon, butit is an ideal destination for those who enjoy the simplicity and beauty ofrural life.
A boat from the Ham TuWharf in Quy Nhon city will take about 10 minutes to reach the Hai Minh fishingvillage. Their little houses are so close to the sea that you can walk directlyinto one of them from the boat.
The small alleys in thevillage are lined by lush greenery and lots of fishing nets, coracles, andfishing boats.
As they see us in thedistance, the villagers wave and smile at us. Striking up a conversation withthem is very easy. They are eager to talk.
“Just a few days ago, wemet another group of tourists coming here from Hanoi. Just imagine, they even camehere by airplane, paying 1.5 million VND (66 USD) just for the ticket!”exclaimed Nguyen Van Hong, excited about these facts, as he sat on a chair infront of his house, breathing in fresh air from the sea.
An air trip is tooluxurious for someone who earns a living catching and selling fish in the localmarket.
His hard, frugal lifehas not robbed him of the innocence and sincerity that are writ large in thesmiles that light up his face.
“I met them by chance onmy way back home after I’d caught a lot of fish. They were happy to see mycatch. They wanted me to cook some for them, and I did. We had a lot of fun,”he said, laughing.
Hong doesn’t go to thecity very often. Like other villagers, he finds everything he and his familyneeds in the village itself: market, pagoda, and schools.
But children can onlyattend primary school in the village. For any “higher education” – secondaryschool and high school, they would take the boat everyday to the city and back.
Apart from the sincereand welcoming residents, another big attraction of Hai Minh is its beautifulscenery that every nature lover will thoroughly enjoy.
After walking on asinuous pathway on a mountainside for about 20 minutes, we reached an oversizedstatue of 13th century national hero Tran Hung Dao, which can be seen in thedistance from the city centre.
This 17m high statue hasbeen erected on a promontory, 40m above sea level, whichoverlooks the village.
The statue, built in1972, has been recognised as a historical heritage. It honours the exploits ofTran Hung Dao, who successfully defeated Mongol invaders in Vietnam.He is frequently mentioned as one of the top ten generals in the world’smilitary history.
Standing at the foot ofthe imposing statue, we enjoyed the magnificient, panoramic view of the coast,along with the Thi Nai Bridge, the longest sea-crossing bridge in the country,a source of pride for local residents.
Watching the sea dottedwith ships close to Hai Minh village, listening to the melodious songs of wind,sea waves, and seagulls landing and flying in apparent abandon, one can easilylose track of time.
Behind the statue, apathway leads to a beach hidden at the foot of a mountain. The Ran Beach isstill unspoilt now, and we can only hope it remains that way.
The Phuoc MaiLighthouse, built by the French 100 years ago, and the Hang Doi Cave thathosted thousands of bats before 1975 are places worth visiting in the village.
Whenever you visit QuyNhon, do not hesitate to spend a few hours to visit Hai Minh Village.Experience the friendliness and warmth with which the locals welcome you, andadmire Quy Nhon city from another angle.
The best time to visitis from February to August. No risks of storms, just sunshine.-VNA
VNA
