The Cuu Long ${attraction_Mekong_Delta:"(Mekong) Delta"} province of Bac Lieu is home to rice paddies, shrimp ponds and elegant orchards. The whole area is a green heaven accentuated with the earthly smell of rice and soil and the natural sweetness of fruits. On Cao Van Lau Road, about 6 kilometers east of BacLieu City, on the right side, is one of the biggest bird sanctuaries in the delta, with over 60,000 birds and more than 40 species calling the place their home. The 100-year old longan garden rests on the left side of the area, displaying natural beauty, perfect for picnics and relaxation.

The longan garden is 200 hectares in size covering the areas across the communes of Hiep Thanh and Vinh Trach Dong. According to history, a local resident named Truong Hung brought longan seeds from China a century ago. The seeds adapted well into the area, establishing the garden. Even up to this day, the giant longan tree is still standing strong and being cared for, by no less than Hung’s great grandson Truong Kiet, in a family garden in Chom Xoai Hamlet.

Longans from Bac Lieu are especially known for their big fruit, thick and fleshy pulp, small seeds, as well as their sweet taste and scent. An average longan tree can produce 300-400 kilograms of fruits annually. This is a big help to local growers in hastening their business and income. And since the garden is a livelihood asset, farmers have taken extra care into it by making the roads easily accessible to visitors and adding a lighting system to keep bats away from the fruits. The latter has made the garden even more attractive, making it a favorite among visitors.

In fact, the garden is targeted to become a tourist spot, according to the head of the provincial Culture, Sports and Tourism Development Vu Duc Tho. According to him, historical features related to the development of the Kinh, Hoa and Khmer ethnic groups will be introduced in 2015 as part of its eco-tourism development plan to connect the villa of Cong Tu Bac Lieu (the playboy son of a local rich landlord from the early 20th century and known for his lavish lifestyle), Nha Mat – Hiep Thanh Beach, the longan garden, and a coastal mangrove forest.

On the other hand, in Vin Trach Dong Commune, one can find a 300-year old, 20 meter-high mango tree. According to local folklore, the ancestral tree possesses mythical powers and is home to a ghost. Legend has it that when people first settled into the area, a vicious tiger was terrorizing the area. It got caught in a trap but chewed off its own leg in order to escape. The people placed offerings under the “magical” tree for the tiger to come back, but the beast disappeared forever.

Vin Hung Town in Vinh Loi District is another historically significant site in Vietnam. The Vin Hung Tower, established in 1911, is the only remnant in the Mekong Delta which includes the Angkor-style architecture of the Khmer. Also known as Luc Hien or Bhah Dhat, the 8.9 meter tower was built on a low hill with a simple structure including a rectangle basin and an arching rooftop. Inside, one will find hand-made copper Buddhas, the lower body part of a goddess, a statue of a goddess made from green stone, a statue of Brahma, a copper Buddha head, among others. Archaeologists found a stele dating back from AD 892 engraved with Sanskrit script in a pagoda next to the tower.

Everyday at 4am and 4pm, one can hear monks chanting at the pagoda. Every year, local residents organize an anniversary at the tower on the 15th day of the first lunar month. Buddhists inside and outside Bac Lieu Province go on a pilgrimage to the pagoda to pray.

People find comfort and peace in the holiness the tower exudes. And while time has obviously left its mark on the old structure, life continues to thrive in the delta province among the rice fields and orchards for the last thousands of years.