Ca Mau Cape: Southern Beauty

Ca Mau Cape: Southern Beauty

Ca Mau Cape is in the southern portion of Vietnam. In fact, it has become an attraction in the country for a very long time now because of such, being the southernmost point of Vietnam. It was also recognized as a global biosphere reserve in 2009. But along side with this tourism success is the feeling of vulnerability and perhaps insecurity among its people because of being remote and cut off from the rest of Vietnam.
 
There are several ways to reach Ca Mau Cape. One is by taking a speedboat from Nam Can Town, 60 kilometers from the province’s capital of Ca Mau. The ride costs about VND1.5 million (US$72) for each 10 people which is the minimum number of passengers before the trip starts. Another 60-kilometer or an hour’s ride from the town is needed to be traveled before one can finally reach the cape. Another way is by taking a boat directly from Ca Mau. For those who don’t mind long hour drives, Ca Mau can also be reached through road travel, right up to the tip of the cape.
 
There are several sights and activities that visitors can engage in and enjoy at Ca Mau Cape. For one, there is an observation station wherein guests can marvel at the tip of the cape and the ocean. If you’re hungry or simply want to taste the area’s local delicacies, Cape Hamlet offers sumptuous seafood dishes in a very cozy atmosphere of low roofs and greenery. Of course, one of the tourists’ most favorite activities is taking pictures by a large milestone marked with the cape’s name.
 
However, the biosphere in Ca Mau Cape is still the most popular destination in the area with its land area covering 371,000 hectares. There are two national parks inside the establishment, the Ca Mau Cape and U Minh Ha. The cape also has a unique ecosystem composing of two currents colliding, the north-south and west-east. This is according to studies conducted by the provincial Department of Science and Technology.
 
Ca Mau Cape National Park has 87 animal species under its care, including such endangered species as the long-tailed monkey and the silver langur. U Minh Ha National Park as well has a number of endangered species under its wing, animals that are endangered not only in Vietnam but all over the world.
 
Ca Mau Cape has over 6,000 hectares of peat bog, as well as an alluvial area composing of tens of thousands of hectares produced by the meeting of the two currents mentioned earlier. Local residents in the cape say that dozens of meters are being added to the cape’s length annually. This means that the mangrove forests in the west area of the cape will keep growing to become Vietnam’s biggest.
 
A popular local saying goes that “the land gets bigger and forests move (further)” in Ca Mau Cape. However, this may no longer be the case soon since construction plans in the area will in fact lessen the land area of the cape. Logging, erosion, inefficient dikes and other construction activities are hurting the natural system of the cape.
 
As a result, the tourism activity, the life of the residents and the natural beauty of Ca Mau Cape as a whole will suffer due to selfish and inconsiderate human intentions. Unless something is to be done. And soon.