Black Rock Lake - childhood cartoon
Black Rock Lake is located between Chau Duc district and Phu My town, is the most important irrigation project of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province (now Ho Chi Minh City). But talking about tourism, this place is still not known by many people, the scenery retains its fresh and peaceful look.
Black Rock Lake Dam, a place to admire the cool green scenery of the lake and the sky
We arrived at the lake on a mild, sunny morning, the sky was clear and the wind was cool. As soon as the wheels rolled on the road leading to the dam by the lake, all the noise seemed to stop on the main road. On the lake surface, the water reflected the clouds and the green trees on the shore. From the small bridge over the canal flowing from the dam, we took in a 360-degree view of the pristine nature: a clear stream under the bridge, a few people fishing leisurely, in the distance were scattered roofs in the middle of the peaceful countryside.
About 200 meters from the dam, the red dirt road led us to a completely different space: grass flowers dyed a patch of green grass pink, mountains loomed in the distance, a few cows leisurely grazing. The gentle scene was like a cartoon I thought I had seen since my childhood.
A patch of pink reed grass among the green of trees, grass and sky
An Nhat - familiar rice fields like home
Leaving Da Den Lake, we continued to An Nhut rice field in Tam An commune, a relatively new place on the tourist map but is gradually gaining attention thanks to its pristine beauty and space imbued with the Southern countryside.
The road across the fields is more than 2 km long, the road surface is flat, both sides are green rice fields stretching to the horizon. In this season, the rice is in its maiden stage, turning a lush green color, rustling in the wind. There are no houses or shops along the road, so the whole scene opens up airy, spacious and peaceful.
An Nhut rice fields in green season
We stopped many times, not only to take pictures but also to breathe in the scent of the rice and listen to the birds chirping in our ears. In the quiet of the fields, people seemed to forget their daily hustle and bustle, leaving only a few light moments.
The Ruong - Rest in a small house by the field
In the afternoon, when the sunlight began to fall on the rice fields, we returned to The Ruong - a small resort located deep in an alley in Xom Ray hamlet, on the outskirts of Xuyen Moc town. Only a few kilometers from the center, but it felt like we had left the noisy world out there.
The hotel is located facing the fields, catching the cool breezes.
The rooms are designed to blend in with nature with large glass doors opening onto vast rice fields. In the early morning, just open the door and you can see the golden sunlight pouring into the room, hear the wind blowing through the trees, and smell the sweet scent of the rice fields in bloom.
We strolled around the garden surrounded by lush green bamboo, admiring the blooming lotus flowers and some flowering trees. After resting and relaxing by the pool, we tried archery, went for a bike ride or simply sat quietly on the porch, listening to the wind and the birdsong of the evening.
The Other Side of the Hill - A small coffee shop in the middle of a green garden
The next morning, before leaving Vung Tau, we stopped by Ben Kia Doi, a coffee shop located in the middle of a garden, just a few minutes drive from The Ruong. The shop has no big sign, no loud music, just an open space with green surroundings and simple wooden furniture.
Garden style coffee shop
Behind the shop is a small corner of rice fields, with rough cloth hanging and swaying in the wind, creating a very "cinematic" background for those who like to take pictures. In front is a lotus pond, next to it is an order counter designed like a simple, warm red-tiled house. The menu is mainly coffee and fruit tea, light enough to start a fresh morning.
In that space, one can sit for a long time without doing much. Looking out at the green countryside, listening to the rustling of leaves and letting time pass slowly.
Surrounding the restaurant is a green space of grass and trees.
This trip had no sound of waves, no white sand beaches or fresh seafood along the road. Vung Tau appeared in a very unique way, gentle, rustic and close. The quiet green spaces, small roads winding through the fields, clear lakes and accommodation space among the rice fields brought us a very different summer.
A summer doesn’t require too many plans, doesn’t require a tight schedule. Just a motorbike, companions and a soul that wants to pause is enough to enjoy Vung Tau in its own way.
