Gao Giong oasis in Dong Thap
Visiting Gao Giong, tourists will not only hear the birds singing in the trees, but also see fish thrashing underwater and wite storks flying over their heads.
Photo: dongthap.gov
About 17km from Cao Lanh City, Gao Giong is divided into four sections, with over 70km canals and 20 km dikes. To reach Gao Giong, you must go through a canal of 2km stretching through the mangrove forest on a thuyen ba la – a special boat of the Southern people.
Each boat can carry 3-4 people and the rowers are young girls in ao ba ba (the traditional shirt of the southern people) and khan ran (bandanna). The boat will take you through primeval forests. Moving along the green canal, you will not be surprised by the peaceful and charming scenes created by the green of water-ferns and the white of cajuput flowers.
Gao Giong is the most beautiful in the flooding season, when the "oasis" is brilliant in the yellow, purple, pink and green colors of flowers.
Photo: dulichdongthap
As the lungs of Dong Thap Muoi, this 1,700ha mangrove forest is also considered the largest stork garden with an area of 40ha. It should be called bird sanctuary because this is the home to more than 200 species of birds, including tens of thousands of storks. If you go to Gao Giong in the early morning or late afternoon, you will be amazed seeing the spectacular views here, when thousands of birds flying on the top of trees, calling each other.
Gao Giong is also considered the biggest freshwater fish producing site in Dong Thap Muoi. Gao Giong is the right place for you to move away from busy life to find yourself with private moments. Just with a fishing-rod, some baits and a hammock, you will be really sink into the peaceful, southwest characterized life.
Rice packed by lotus leaves. Photo: VNE
You should not miss Gao Giong’s cuisines. One of the specialties is rice packed by lotus leaves. Only VND20,000 ($1) is enough to buy rice for 2-4 people. Also, do not miss the grilled snakehead fish with lotus sprouts, honey wine, lingzhi leaf and dien dien flower soup, etc.
Gao Giong welcomes visitors with not only its landscape, its special cuisines but also its traditional culture. People come here to enjoy Dong Thap chanties, which contain burning dreams. Dong Thap chanties are listed as Vietnam’s intangible cultural heritage in need of conservation.
Gao Giong also takes visitors back to childhood to folk games such as tug of war, walking on stilts, jumping in sacks and others, which are suitable to groups.
One time in Gao Giong, you will be lovesick with an unspoiled, peaceful and vital land of the southern Vietnam.
