Do Son Peninsula: Beach and History

Do Son Peninsula: Beach and History

Hai Phong has been given the task of planning the activities for the National Tourism Year for 2013. This means even more visitors are expected to come and explore the place. One tourist attraction in the province is Do Son, a small but breathtaking peninsula located between the Lach Tray and Van Uc rivers.

According to local history, Do Son was built into a summer resort town by the French colonialists who arrived to the place and transformed it to suit the needs of their officers and “upper class” Vietnamese. To this day, some of those villas still remain standing.

Do Son Peninsula is divided into three areas. Perhaps its pride and joy, Zone 1 has three huge beaches, big enough to accommodate up to tens of thousands of guests, and quite a number of large hotels and good quality restaurants. The beaches of Zone 2 are smaller but smoother. A villa formerly owned by the last king of Vietnam, Bao Dai, can be found in this area, making it a perfect venue for romantic and other private moments. For those in the upper class income bracket, they prefer to stay in Zone 3 which is the most peaceful of all zones. It’s also where the elegant and expensive hotels are situated, including the recently-built Hon Dau Resort and Van Hoa Villa.

Hon Dau Island is one of the most beautiful spots in Do Son. The Nam Hai Dai Than Vuong Temple stands right at the wharf of the peninsula. It was built in the 13th century in honor of the Tran Dynasty military leader Lord Nam Hai. He was honored as the god of the island after his body was found floating near the said island after waging a war against the Chinese invaders. Local legend goes that Lord Nam Hai guarded the island fiercely that no one even attempted to take anything from the place. Those who did were said to suffer a terrible fate. And though the stories may be merely as they are, a story, it has contributed to the preservation of the beauty of the place.

Perhaps because of its majestic mountains and dense forests, Hon Dau Island is a great venue for bird-watching and even fishing. The old, large banyan trees provide a peaceful, mysterious and even romantic atmosphere to anyone visiting the place. Do Son Peninsula is shaped like a dragon. Hon Dau Island is said to be the gem the dragon is looking for. And with the building of a passenger jetty and opening of a port, more visitors are even expected to come.
Bao Dai Villa was built in 1928 by Pafquiere, then governor-general of Indochina. It is located at the peak of Vung Hill which is 36 meters high. It was made as an offering to the king in 1949. He used it every time he visited Hai Phong and has since been named Bao Dai Villa. 

After the declaration of independence in 1955, the villa was handed over to the Ministry of Defense and then transferred to the Haiphong Tourism Company. In 1999, it underwent renovation and then opened to the public wherein visitors get a breathtaking view of Do son Peninsula and the ocean. Moreover, guests get to learn about the life and history of the royals, have a taste of their traditional food, and even buy souvenirs for remembrance.

Ben tau khong so (wharf for unnumbered ships) is a historical wharf at the foot of Van Hoa Hill which is a must-see for tourists. Here, visitors can learn about the Ho Chi Minh Road on the Sea. The wharf got its name after the Vietnam War wherein weapons were sent aboard ships without numbers to the battlefields in the South, the vessels leaving the port and taking the Ho Chi Minh Road on the Sea.