MapEmbed SkyDoorMobile versionFacebook pageFeedbackEntries
Exploring Minh Dam base in Ba Ria-Vung Tau
During a two-day stay in the city of Vung
Tau, my friend and I decided to journey by motorbike to Minh Dam base
in Long Dat District along the beautiful coastal road from Baria - Vung
Tau Province to Binh Thuan Province.
Hiring
a motorbike in Vung Tau is quite easy. As we disembarked the hydrofoil,
a man offered to lend us his motorbike for two days for VND200,000.
After some bargaining, the price dropped to VND120,000.
We started the journey early the following day. We left Vung Tau behind
as we crossed the Cua Lap Bridge toward Phuoc Tinh Commune in Long Dien
District. Previously, when tourists traveled from Vung Tau to Minh Dam
base or Long Hai, they had to take a roundabout route through Ba Ria.
However, the journey today was only half the distance due to newly
built roads.
Riding along the coastal road to Minh Dam, we were thrilled by the
beautiful scenery, especially the sections of road straddled by
mountains and beaches. The road is planted with white and pink cherry
blossoms. According to locals, the road is most beautiful in the
springtime when the trees are in bloom.
Minh Dam is located in the Chau Long-Chau Vien Mountains on the
southeast side of Long Dat District. Minh Dam reaches 355 meters and
extends eight kilometers. The mountains were renamed in 1948 after Minh
and Dam, two revolutionary martyrs in the liberation troops.
The mountain is bordered on three sides by the sea and has many natural
caves and fresh spring water. The mountain served as the military base
for the liberation troop against the French and the Americans.
The base is comprised of four main sections—Da Che (split rock), Gieng
Gach Pagoda, Chau Vien and Da Giang. Da Che is where important troops
were stationed during the war. Gieng Gach Pagoda is located on the
north side of the mountain. It is named after an ancient pagoda that
was completely destroyed. Chau Vien, the west side of the mountain
provided shelter for the army medical corps and security units, while
Da Giang is located on the foot of the mountain. Da Giang no longer
exists today.
During the two wars, Minh Dam suffered from intense bombing. In fact, bullet holes still remain on the mountain.
We also visited Bach Van Cavern and Bach Van Temple, remnants of Cao
Dai religion. We spent two hours exploring the base’s caves and
climbing to the cavern and the temple where we were able to see a view
of the beaches of Long Hai and the coastal road. While we explored the
sites, we caught glimpses of wild squirrels and monkeys.
Without enough time to visit nearby sites like Monkey Pagoda, we left
the base with regret. On our ride back to Vung Tau, we passed by
temples, resorts, crescent-shaped beaches and the Co Temple.
Source vietnamtourism.com.vn
Post to FacebookPost to Twitter
Related Entries Minh Dam Mountain
| Exploring Minh Dam base in Ba Ria-Vung Tau |
