My Tet Moment: Slowly Celebrating Tet in Ninh Thuan

Bình minh ở biển Bình Sơn - Ninh Chữ — Dawn at Binh Son beach - Ninh Chu

Binh Son - Ninh Chu beach is still the same as I have known it for many years. But walking slowly in the dawn light, looking closely at the distance, where the fat-colored clouds drift lazily, then slowly watching a few boats returning to the dock, I suddenly felt something a little different that I had never known before...

Although humans have intervened, the wildness remains. The sea curves into a crescent-shaped bay, with mountains and hills looming, boats returning to the dock, and here and there sea spinach still grows on the white sand. The sea slope gradually slopes away from the shore, the waves only ripple, gently pushing the white foam to the shore, caressing the bare feet of the walkers...

Đường hoa giấy, biển Bình Sơn - Ninh Chữ — Paper flower road, Binh Son beach - Ninh Chu

I leisurely counted my steps along the bougainvillea path by the sea, then jogged on the fine white sand, slowly entering the water to let my body get used to the coldness of the morning sea. I leisurely swam about ten strokes and felt a strange feeling: the water above the surface was cool, and a meter down there seemed to be another layer of water that was slightly cool and soothing.

This feeling is most evident when I change my position to standing up. When I swim gently on my back or lie still and relax, watching the swiftlets hovering above, the dawn light caressing my skin, watching the clouds slowly drift by, I feel comfortable and peaceful, like meditating on the sea, all worries and sorrows disappear.

This Tet, my family spent a day experiencing Vinh Hy, because it's been a long time since I visited the bay, I heard there have been many changes there now.

Trên cung đường Vĩnh Hy - Bình Tiên — On the Vinh Hy - Binh Tien route

It is indeed different from before, especially the newly opened Vinh Hy - Binh Tien road; one side is the mountain, the other side is the sea, the steep and winding pass follows the mountainside with layers of large and small rocks piled on top of each other. The scenery here is both majestic and poetic. I know that many couples have chosen this poetic road to film and take photos to commemorate the important occasion in their lives.

Revisiting some places, we saw that the scenery was embellished thanks to the care and addition of tourism products: going to see coral by glass-bottom boat with additional experience service of riding banana float pulled by high-speed canoe; checking in at Rai cave with resting tent, protective iron bridge for climbing mountains to take photos, film...

Hang Rái, Vĩnh Hy, Ninh Thuận — Hang Rai, Vinh Hy, Ninh Thuan

Perhaps the most interesting experience during this visit to Vinh Hy was crossing Lo O stream, climbing mountains to see the scenery from above, next to beautiful rocks on Doai coffee.

I have seen the scenery from above with many different emotions.

Coming to Da Nang, visiting Ba Na, admiring the scenery from the cable car cabin, I felt so small and fragile in the midst of the mountains and forests.

Going to Da Lat, looking at the streets and pine hills from the top of Lang Biang, I found the mountain town in the mist so poetic.

This time, looking at the beautiful landscape from the high, windy height of the mountain top in Vinh Hy, I felt my mind was so calm and life down there was so peaceful and quiet!

After a day of sightseeing, the family members were tired and their stomachs were starting to growl. We chose banh xeo and banh can for dinner, one of the specialties of the coastal region.

The pancakes here are not big, not small, pretty like water hyacinth leaves, made on a clay oven with charcoal fire. In a state of impatience, the stomach rumbles because of the aroma of the pancakes floating in the thin smoke, only then can one feel the longing to enjoy the pancakes soon.

The cake was brought out and looked eye-catching because inside that small circle was a mixture of pork, shrimp, squid, and fresh bean sprouts. When folded, the underside of the cake was dark yellow.

Bánh xèo, bánh căn Ninh Thuận — Ninh Thuan pancakes and rice cakes

Banh Can is a small cake the size of a teapot lid, made from ground rice and cold rice, molded in a clay oven of Bau Truc pottery village. Depending on the taste of the eater, the cake is filled with pork, shrimp, squid, eggs, and sprinkled with chopped green onions when it comes out of the oven. I blew on it and ate this cake, which was crispy and spongy but still had a special chewiness.

The uniqueness is that there are many dipping sauces to choose from: fish sauce, lemon chili fish sauce, peanut fish sauce, fish sauce with onion, served with all kinds of raw vegetables. This dish must be eaten hot, sweet with the taste of fresh shrimp, squid and crispy with slightly burnt edges, then you will see the unique Ninh Thuan banh xeo and banh can!

Tet is a time for family reunions, a time to relax after a busy year of making a living. But being able to slowly live in the cool weather, the poetic and peaceful scenery, and the cheerful people, I feel relaxed, at peace, full of hope for a brighter and happier new year.

4 days left until the end of the contest "My Tet Moment"

My Tet Moments contest is an opportunity for readers to introduce the most beautiful moments and unforgettable experiences during Tet with relatives and friends.

Each article should be a maximum of 1,000 words in Vietnamese, and should include photos, photo albums or videos.

Contest entries share ideal destinations and unique lands . Through your stories, you will help many people have the opportunity to know new lands and places not to be missed when traveling during spring.

It could be an article recording the moments when friends and relatives gather, celebrate Tet and have fun together.

These are notes and recounts of personal experiences from trips and business trips away from home during Tet that you have experienced.

The photo contest highlights the beauty of the landscape, place or land you have visited. This is an opportunity to recount the vibrant colors and beautiful scenery of Vietnam or the countries you have visited.

From January 25 to February 24, readers can send their entries to [email protected].

The award ceremony and summary are expected to take place in March 2024. The prize structure includes 1 first prize (15 million VND in cash and gifts), 2 second prizes (7 million VND and gifts), 3 third prizes (5 million VND and gifts).

The program is sponsored by HDBank.