Known as one of the most crowded tourist sites in Northern Vietnam, Sam Son Beach is such in the first place because of its beautiful and relaxing atmosphere that makes it a favorite destination for local and foreign visitors alike.
Sam Son Beach is located 180 kilometers south of Ha Noi and 16 kilometers from Central Thanh Hoa City. It is a four-hour bus ride from the Giap Bat Station in Southern Ha Noi. First discovered by French colonists more than a century ago, it became a resort in 1906 when the former began building facilities in the area for officials and civil servants. Emperor Bao Dai, the last king of the Nguyen Dynasty, even built his own villa in the area. From then on, Sam Son beach became one of the most famous resorts in Indochina. The 6 kilometer long beach which extends from the estuary of Lach Hoi to the foot of Truong Le Mountain became a construction ground for holiday villas, hotels and restaurant in the last ten years.
But while Sam Son Beach seems to be a picture of sun, sand and all fun, it also reflects the harsh reality of the life of its residents. While tourists enjoy and relax, children of local villagers have to earn a living selling kites along the beach while their parents have to work somewhere else just to make ends meet. Such is the irony of the place and a wake up call to the otherwise easy and convenient life of the city people.
Aside from its beautiful beach, Sam Son is also known for its delectable food. Crab, oyster, prawn, tuna and cuttle fish are just of the local favorites. Its coconut juice is both refreshing and affordable at only VND30,000 (US$1.50). Nem Chua or fermented pork roll is a local delicacy of Thanh Hoa Province every tourist should try out.
Sam Son has gained so much global recognition that in 2011, the beach brought in around 2 million tourists, both local and foreign, a figure equivalent to 70% of tourists in the whole province. This information is based on the official date of the province’s tourism department. In fact, according to Vu Dinh Que, chairman of Sam Son Town’s People’s Committee, the department is even planning of utilizing the area’s sea, river, mountain, sand bank, sunlight, sea wind, and landscape, in order to meet the needs and demands of its ever-growing visitors.
Aside from its beach and food, Sam Son is furthermore a “land of legends.” Many legendary landscapes such as Trong Mai Rocks, Doc Cuoc Temple, and Co Tien Mountain can be found in the locality. Doc Cuoc Temple for one is known as the site of an epic legend about a giant who killed a monster protecting the area.
Trong Mai Rocks is popular because of its hen and rooster-shaped rocks. It’s said to be a symbol of faithful and everlasting love. Legend has it that there was once a strong, diligent and well-loved fisherman named Ngu Phu who lived in Sam Thon Commune of Sam Son Town. During a storm one day, a stork fell down from the sky. Ngu Phu saved it and took it home to take care of it. The stork was actually the daughter of the Jade Emperor who disobeyed her parent and was sent down to Earth as punishment. When her curse was over, she transformed back into a woman but didn’t want to go back to the sky anymore because she fell in love with Phu and actually married him. When the emperor found out about this, he sent a messenger to punish her again. But she used her powers and turned herself and her husband into birds. When the messenger tried to catch them, the couple turned into rocks that stand proud and stubborn where they are now.
Trong Mai Rocks has become so popular that young couples and tourists as a whole visit the place to pray for true and eternal love. And as Sam Son is a symbol of beauty, so it is a reminder of the pain life sometimes brings.
Sam Son Beach is located 180 kilometers south of Ha Noi and 16 kilometers from Central Thanh Hoa City. It is a four-hour bus ride from the Giap Bat Station in Southern Ha Noi. First discovered by French colonists more than a century ago, it became a resort in 1906 when the former began building facilities in the area for officials and civil servants. Emperor Bao Dai, the last king of the Nguyen Dynasty, even built his own villa in the area. From then on, Sam Son beach became one of the most famous resorts in Indochina. The 6 kilometer long beach which extends from the estuary of Lach Hoi to the foot of Truong Le Mountain became a construction ground for holiday villas, hotels and restaurant in the last ten years.
But while Sam Son Beach seems to be a picture of sun, sand and all fun, it also reflects the harsh reality of the life of its residents. While tourists enjoy and relax, children of local villagers have to earn a living selling kites along the beach while their parents have to work somewhere else just to make ends meet. Such is the irony of the place and a wake up call to the otherwise easy and convenient life of the city people.
Aside from its beautiful beach, Sam Son is also known for its delectable food. Crab, oyster, prawn, tuna and cuttle fish are just of the local favorites. Its coconut juice is both refreshing and affordable at only VND30,000 (US$1.50). Nem Chua or fermented pork roll is a local delicacy of Thanh Hoa Province every tourist should try out.
Sam Son has gained so much global recognition that in 2011, the beach brought in around 2 million tourists, both local and foreign, a figure equivalent to 70% of tourists in the whole province. This information is based on the official date of the province’s tourism department. In fact, according to Vu Dinh Que, chairman of Sam Son Town’s People’s Committee, the department is even planning of utilizing the area’s sea, river, mountain, sand bank, sunlight, sea wind, and landscape, in order to meet the needs and demands of its ever-growing visitors.
Aside from its beach and food, Sam Son is furthermore a “land of legends.” Many legendary landscapes such as Trong Mai Rocks, Doc Cuoc Temple, and Co Tien Mountain can be found in the locality. Doc Cuoc Temple for one is known as the site of an epic legend about a giant who killed a monster protecting the area.
Trong Mai Rocks is popular because of its hen and rooster-shaped rocks. It’s said to be a symbol of faithful and everlasting love. Legend has it that there was once a strong, diligent and well-loved fisherman named Ngu Phu who lived in Sam Thon Commune of Sam Son Town. During a storm one day, a stork fell down from the sky. Ngu Phu saved it and took it home to take care of it. The stork was actually the daughter of the Jade Emperor who disobeyed her parent and was sent down to Earth as punishment. When her curse was over, she transformed back into a woman but didn’t want to go back to the sky anymore because she fell in love with Phu and actually married him. When the emperor found out about this, he sent a messenger to punish her again. But she used her powers and turned herself and her husband into birds. When the messenger tried to catch them, the couple turned into rocks that stand proud and stubborn where they are now.
Trong Mai Rocks has become so popular that young couples and tourists as a whole visit the place to pray for true and eternal love. And as Sam Son is a symbol of beauty, so it is a reminder of the pain life sometimes brings.
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