Binh Phuoc is a culturally diverse destination with many pristine natural landscapes, preserved ecosystems, and convenient travel.
About 120 km from Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Phuoc is located in the transitional area from the South Central Highlands to the Mekong Delta, with the capital city of Dong Xoai. Life here is gentle and simple with many cultural characteristics. Binh Phuoc also attracts tourists by the natural landscape and ecosystem of Bu Gia Map National Park which is preserved intact.
Journey to explore Binh Phuoc as suggested by Ms. Pham Kha, specialist of Tourism Management Department of Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Binh Phuoc province and a group of tourists from Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 1
Morning
Breakfast in Dong Xoai city with dishes from many regions such as Cay Xoai snakehead fish noodle soup, Phuong Linh Hue beef noodle soup, Huong Que Quang noodles, eel porridge, Nang Kieu squid noodles, Lucky beef. These breakfast spots are located on major roads in the city center such as Hung Vuong, Nguyen Hue, Phu Rieng Do. The price of each dish ranges from 30,000 VND to 60,000 VND.
Snakehead fish noodle soup. Photo: Nguyen Nam
After breakfast, depart for Vinh Phuc garden eco-tourism area (Dong Tam commune, Dong Phu district), about 18 km from Dong Xoai city. Here, you can immerse yourself in nature and experience fruit picking, check-in the tiled wooden bridge with a beam (the structure that supports the entire bridge) made of solid wood 15.3 m long, 1.26 m in diameter. From the 33 m high Son Dang tower, you can see the whole view of the typical Southeast regenerated forest in the 300 ha area.
After that, visitors move to the Standing Waterfall (Doan Ket Commune, Bu Dang District), about 70 km from Dong Xoai City. The waterfall is about 6 m high, 15 m wide, with many large stone columns forming a wall, the stone blocks are naturally joined together to create a unique feature. According to Ms. Kha, in the rainy season, the flow of the waterfall has the typical yellow color of the red basalt land. At the end of the rainy season, the beginning of the dry season, the waterfall is clear blue.
Above the waterfall there are many trees, a resting place, you can camp for the day.
The tiled wooden bridge has a beam made of solid wood. Photo: Nguyen Nam
Noon
After a period of exploring and experiencing nature, you should go to the S'tieng ethnic cultural reserve in Bom Bo (Binh Minh commune, Bu Dang district) for lunch and rest. Lunch includes typical dishes such as grilled meat, bamboo rice, thut soup, and bep vegetables.
"If you come to Binh Phuoc without visiting Bom Bo village, famous in the song "The sound of pestles on Bom Bo village", it would be a mistake", said Ms. Kha. Coming here, you will learn more about the life of the Stieng people, with traditional long houses and a restored village area. The simple but sturdy rice pounding pestle, spike traps or water-filled gourds are handmade products that create the material culture of the Stieng community.
Inside the Stieng ethnic cultural reserve in Bom Bo. Photo: Minh An
Afternoon
After lunch break, the next destination is Bu Gia Map National Park on DT760 road. The first experience is trekking, with a travel time of about 90 minutes. This is the time for you to enjoy the wild natural scenery, explore the flora and fauna on the special list of Vietnam. You can also watch the sunset through the leaves of the forest.
Dinner in the Garden with many local specialties, each serving from 60,000 VND. Cultural exchange with gong people of Stieng and M'nong. Overnight in the Garden.
According to Mr. Le Quang Hoi, Director of the Center for Propaganda, Tourism and Rescue Conservation of Bu Gia Map National Park, the center has 8 rooms and a longhouse, each room can accommodate 6 people, the maximum number of guests that the center can serve at the same time is about 90 people. The price for accommodation is 100,000 VND per person per night. You can also camp in the middle of the forest. You should consult the Center to find a suitable location.
Also according to Mr. Hoi's suggestion, after dinner, there is an experience to try: hunting for night animals in the forest. "This is a quite interesting night experience. However, for safety, visitors should not go on their own but must have guidance from the center's staff," Mr. Hoi said.
Day 2
Morning
Have breakfast and move to ranger station number 2. This is the highest point of Bu Gia Map National Park so you can see the whole park. Standing on high, you can see the green of the forest mixed with the white of the clouds in the blue sky.
View from the highest point of Bu Gia Map National Park. Photo: Nguyen Nam
On the trekking journey to the National Park, you will visit the relic of the end of the North-South oil pipeline and rest on the grass in the middle of the pine forest, which is considered as a "miniature Da Lat" of the Southeast. On the journey, there is also Dak Mai waterfall, about 50 m wide and about 12 m high.
Noon
Return to Phuoc Long town for lunch at My Le restaurant with specialties such as cashew sticky rice, catfish (grilled or hotpot) before going to Ba Ra mountain spiritual cultural complex, the 3rd highest mountain in the South (723 m). Here the air is fresh and the scenery is beautiful.
Standing on the top of Ba Ra mountain, you can see the center of Phuoc Long town, Thac Mo town and the 12,000-hectare Thac Mo hydropower plant, immerse yourself in the natural atmosphere, and feel the cool breeze from Thac Mo lake.
On the top of the mountain is the 48 m high antenna of Binh Phuoc Radio and Television Station. There is also a temple to worship Thien Hau Thanh Mau and Ba Chua Xu (Ba Ra Mountain), a Buddhist spiritual area.
Evening
On the way back to Dong Xoai city, stop by My Le Forest tourist area to visit the tea hills, Lagerstroemia, Indian laurel, and jackfruit gardens, and participate in thrilling games such as roller coasters, flying saucers, bumper cars, or swim in the pool and go fishing.
"If you have time in Dong Xoai city, visit Quang Minh pagoda. The pagoda has a unique architecture with alternating main doors and windows," said Ms. Kha.
Quang Minh Pagoda. Photo: Huynh Tan
On top of the Quang Minh pagoda tower hangs a large bell with the idea that the bell's sound brings peace to everyone. Inside the pagoda is solemnly decorated, in the middle is the shrine of Sakyamuni Buddha and the statue of the Thousand-eyed and Thousand-armed Buddha.
Some addresses for dinner: Anh Em claypot rice, Chinh seafood restaurant, Sau Bang restaurant, Minh Tuan club with rustic, diverse dishes such as hot pot, grilled dishes or soup with prices ranging from a few tens of thousands to a few hundred thousand dong.
Nguyen Nam
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