A transient peace in a fishing village near Ham Ninh Mountain’s foothill

Amidst the bustle of the noisy city, there cannot be a peaceful place where you can see the murmuring waves crawling onto the shore and even simple, rustic fishing village surrounded by beautiful scenery like a painting. So why not leaving the busy city’s life for a while? You can head to Ham Ninh fishing village which still has the pristine and untouched scenes. You will be enclosed by the sound of the waves through all day long, the slight cracking sound of the coconut trees which dispel all your worries.

The first impression when stepping feet on the Ham Ninh fishing village is not the immense and turquoise sea. It is the steep, mighty and 300 – meter high Ham Ninh mountain covered with green moss, which supports the village facing the sea. Admiring the high and green mountain in the middle of the sky, the lush green rocks stacked onto each other and harmonized to the sky and sea of the pristine scenery in the southernmost of Vietnam, many tourists cannot resist marveling at the bewitching natural scenes.

(The gentle, calm and alluring sea)

Ham Ninh fishing village is situated in the region of Ham Ninh Commune, Phu Quoc District, Kien Giang Province. The village nestles in the Ham Ninh mountain foothill. It is the ancient fishing village which appeared a really long time ago. The fishermen settling here live in the simple thatched houses with bamboo walls. They work hard from early morning to late night, fish the fisheries resource that are bestowed by the Marine. In particular, they are specialized in catching pearls, sea cucumbers and netting.

(Simple and bucolic)

No one knows when people established this fishing village. When the Phu Quoc island was still an deserted island, there were some people came here, fished seafood for living and they created Ham Ninh fishing village. The village is also renowned for its astonishing and romantic Bai Vong wharf, which is safe and serene place for fishermen visiting here with sailing boats or wooden barges to anchor, deliver goods and transport seafood. After several times that Ha Tien Province’s regions were divided, the village used to belong to Kien Giang Province, then Rach Gia and back to Ha Tien during Thieu Tri Emperor’s period, Tu Duc Emperor’s period and the beginning of French colony in Vietnam. Finally, when the country was unified after 30/04/1975 the Ham Ninh fishing village officially belongs to the region of the island Phu Quoc District, Kien Giang Province up till now.

(The tranquil Ham Ninh fishing village)

Ham Ninh fishing village is located in the east shore of Phu Quoc Island. The back side of the village leans on the lush green Ham Ninh Mountain. The front side faces the immense and turquoise sea. Ham Ninh sea is special because the water is still shallow even you go far from the shore for several meters. When there is low tide, you will see the vast and far-reaching sand. But when the tide is high, the water flows over the beach and even the forest.

(The boat and the sea)

Until now, the Ham Ninh fishing village still keeps telling a folk tale about Mr. Dao Dun. It said that once upon a time, on the Ham Ninh Mountain, there was one old man who lived in a stone cave. He took cultivation and banana farming as earning for living. However, the man loved to do charity, he usually brought the ripe bunch of bananas down to the mountain, hung at the junction near the foothill for the pedestrians so they had something to eat when they felt hungry after a long journey. People who crossed this place and if they wanted to give him back something, they could hang their presents right at this junction. After a long time, people did not see the old man brought his bananas down the mountain or pick up gifts from the fishermen. They started to look for him on the mountain but they found that he had died long ago. They saw him lying straight with his long white beard neatly putting together so they assumed that Mr. Dao Dun had become God and he already knew the time he would leave for the fairyland.

(The crystal clear seawater that you can even see the starfish in the bottom)

Even life in Ham Ninh fishing village is tough and poor throughout the year, the people always live happily and be optimistic. They has been overcoming all the ups and downs and still cling on the land that their ancestors lived.

(Afternoon-a peaceful afternoon at Ham Ninh fishing village)

Coming to Ham Ninh village, people realize that the concept of time seems not be intact anymore. The wild and rustic life makes people apparently forget all the troubles, every worry of daily life. The feeling of being immersed in the blue, crystal clear seawater, listening to the fishermen’s voices when they are trawling together is truly wonderful.

(The dogs in Phu Quoc are hunting in the afternoon)

The afternoon’s sunlight gild a whole area of the vast sea. Standing on the Ham Ninh fishing village and watch the Hai Tac island (Pirates Island), Nghe Islet is an interesting experiences when traveling here. What is more amazing than watching the sun goes down gradually, listening to the murmuring waves at Ham Ninh village while both hands holding the boiled thick crab’s pincers then digging into the lemon, pepper and salt sauce and enjoying?

(Sunset on Bai Vong wharf)

Visiting Ham Ninh fishing village and watching sunrise or sunset, you will see life is so mazing, stunning and beautiful. Looking at the sun or the moon floating on the waves, you will feel your souls are being patting slightly, no more troubles or worries haunting you anymore.