Stroll along the most beautiful mangrove forest path in Vietnam.

Tan Lap Melaleuca Forest, also known as Tan Lap Floating Village, is located in Moc Hoa District, Long An Province, about 120 km from Ho Chi Minh City. It's an ideal destination for tourists wanting to escape the crowded and suffocating city on weekends.

To get to Tan Lap, simply follow National Highway 62 from Tan An city towards Moc Hoa. Note that if you feel the journey is long and need to ask for directions, ask for directions to Tan Hoa instead of Tan Lap Melaleuca Forest, as many locals are unaware of this location.

Upon arrival, you'll find Tan Lap floating village, where the Vam Co River flows through, boasting the beauty of the countryside with its vast melaleuca forests, spacious and refreshing riverside atmosphere. In the evening, the rice fields peeking out from behind the melaleuca forest are covered in a white haze from the smoke of burning rice, creating a mesmerizing and captivating scene.

With an area of ​​135 hectares and a buffer zone of 500 hectares, Tan Lap floating village is being developed to become a distinctive tourist destination of Long An and the Dong Thap Muoi lowlands.

You can choose to travel deep into the mangrove forest by rowboat or motorboat (a type of rhombus-shaped boat).

Tan Lap Melaleuca Forest is famous for its ancient melaleuca trees, lotus and water lily ponds, and relatively rich ecosystem of flora and fauna.

Of particular note is the approximately 5-kilometer-long artificial forest road that winds through the melaleuca forest. This road is dubbed "the most beautiful and longest melaleuca forest road in Vietnam."

To complete the trip, you need to be in good health. Otherwise, you can take a short stroll to admire the wild nature and capture memorable moments amidst the waterways of Long An.

During the dry season, the melaleuca leaves fall all over this concrete road. Walking through the melaleuca forest, the only sounds are the rustling of leaves and the crunching of feet on dry leaves. It's an incredibly peaceful and relaxing experience.

The tall, lush green melaleuca trees cast a refreshing shade over the road. Even though there's no breeze, you always feel cool and comfortable.

There are also forks in the road that lead further inside. It's best not to take these turns without a guide, as it's easy to get lost.

Don't forget to climb the watchtower along the way to admire the entire mangrove forest landscape. The observation tower is 38 meters high and serves as a watchtower to prevent forest fires or quickly pinpoint fire locations for security personnel.

From the observation tower, visitors can see the melaleuca forest stretching as far as the eye can see. In the early morning or late afternoon, visitors will witness flocks of pure white egrets and jet-black herons flying across one side of the forest. This is when they disperse to find food or return after a hard day's work.

The entire mangrove forest has two watchtowers; from one tower, you can clearly see the other.

After sightseeing, visitors can enjoy local specialties at restaurants in the floating village. You can also buy some souvenirs, especially pure honey from the mangrove forest, which is very good for your health.

The Tan Lap floating village eco-tourism area is becoming increasingly attractive and is a must-visit destination for nature lovers.

Bo Di