Quynh Lap Beach - a pristine beauty

(Baonghean) - Quynh Lap beach welcomed us on a sunny day. This northern Nghe An region is still pristine: only sunshine, wind, golden sand, and rocky outcrops with many beautiful shapes. It is this unspoiled beauty that makes anyone who has visited once remember it forever...

If you're coming from Vinh, Quynh Lap is the last place in Nghe An province. If you're coming from Hanoi, after passing Thanh Hoa, you'll reach Quynh Lap (part of Hoang Mai town). To get to Quynh Lap, you have to follow the Dong Hoi - Quynh Lap asphalt road, constructed by the Nghe An Department of Transport and the 36th Investment, Construction and Trade Company of the Ministry of National Defense, and opened to traffic in 2010.

Quynh Lap Beach - Hoang Mai Town.

Welcoming us, Mr. Vuong Dai Tuong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Quynh Lap commune, expressed his pride in knowing that this was our first time traveling on this strategically important road for socio-economic development in the South Thanh Hoa - North Nghe An region. He enthusiastically shared: "This road, with a total length of 12.1 km, is designed to the standards of a Class 3 road in the plains, comprising two lanes for motorized vehicles and two lanes for non-motorized vehicles. The maximum speed for vehicles is 80 km/h. The total cost was 255.9 billion VND, funded by the government's economic stimulus program. This project is part of the development plan of Nghe An province, approved by the Prime Minister. The most encouraging thing is that since the road was built, Quynh Lap has developed significantly: trade and the transportation of seafood by the local people is much faster."

In particular, in recent years, although not yet bustling, Quynh Lap beach has become known to many tourists. The goals of the commune's Party Congress for the 2015-2020 term have also been identified: Promoting the exploitation and attracting investment for the development of beach tourism is the long-term direction of the commune. Besides its beach tourism potential, Quynh Lap also has very sacred relics such as the Lower Temple, Upper Temple, and Moc Thong Pagoda located right on this strategic road. Along with the beach, Quynh Lap also has vast pine forests that remain green all year round. Especially, the "forest planter" Le Duy Nguyen has invested in building roads and planting trees with the desire to plan and build an eco-tourism area "back to nature" with vast lakes and rustling pine forests where tourists can befriend the animals he has released and will release there... To exploit its tourism potential, Quynh Lap will immediately begin promoting and advertising...

The footprints of Ông Đùng on the rocky cliff.

Mr. Tuong's voice was steady along the smooth road, flanked by endless stretches of lush green pine forests, the fresh air creating a relaxing atmosphere... Suddenly, Mr. Tuong reminded: "Slow down, we're about to turn onto the dirt road leading to Quynh Lap beach... Luckily, the journalist was in a 4-seater car; tourists in 24-seater buses couldn't possibly reach Quynh Lap beach. And to attract tourists, investing in roads is the top priority."

I found Mr. Tuong's words reasonable; transportation is a crucial factor for socio-economic development, including tourism. To fully appreciate the charm of each region, you have to explore. For now, since we don't have money to build roads, let's invest in a few electric cars or establish a fleet of hybrid vehicles. These vehicles have their own unique appeal; you can enjoy the scenery along the way and stop wherever you like. The early morning market is right next to the road leading to the commune headquarters, with lots of fresh seafood. Afterwards, we can visit the anchovy processing village, tour the facilities, and buy dried anchovies as souvenirs... Hearing my suggestion, Mr. Tuong was delighted: "Investing in a few electric cars for passenger transport like that is simple; Quynh Lap is ready right away."

In the middle of our conversation, the sea appeared before our eyes. The wind was incredibly strong, blowing fiercely from all directions, the sea a deep blue stretching as far as the eye could see. We rushed down to the sand. A shimmering golden color, like amber, stretched for 14 kilometers. The vast beach, bathed in the midday summer sun, had golden sand, clear water, and the gentle sound of waves lapping against strangely shaped rocks. Mr. Tuong enthusiastically pointed out: there were rocks shaped like a giant turtle, a lion's head facing the sea as if protecting the small fishing village, and sails symbolizing the sails full of wind, representing the fishermen's boats that daily protect the skies of our beloved homeland...

Particularly noteworthy here is the mysterious footprint of Ông Đùng. Legend says that since the formation of heaven and earth, there appeared a giant (known as Ông Đùng) who specialized in carrying stones and mending the sky. Due to his immense size, wherever he went, he left footprints. In Hoàng Mai, there are still two of his footprints: the left footprint at Cờn Ngoài Temple and the right footprint at Quỳnh Lập beach. In the vast, murmuring expanse of the sea, in the quiet midday sun and wind, seeing Ông Đùng's footprints prominently displayed amidst the undulating rocks makes the space even more mysterious.

On the sandy shore, purple flowers with thin petals and thick leaves grow abundantly, creating a vast expanse of purple. Unlike the sea daisies of Cua Lo, the sea cypress flowers of Quynh Lap beach have a distinctive, light fragrance, like the smell of candy. Mr. Tuong said: "Only Quynh Lap beach has this type of flower; it blooms all year round despite the scorching Lao wind." Along with the sea cypress, growing on the barren rocks, there are also tiny clusters of sea cucumber flowers with pure white petals...

While we were still trying to find the best spot to photograph the flowers, we heard the owner of the restaurant, Mr. Ho Sy Luyen, calling out: "Hurry in, the food is ready!" The man, whose dark complexion and booming voice reflected his lifelong connection to the sea, said that today was a special occasion for guests, and he would personally prepare two "specialties" of Quynh Lap: the smaller, larger-bodied, and firm-fleshed rock crab, with its rich, savory, and authentic taste of the sea, requiring no added seasoning; and the agar-agar dessert, also made by his wife. This agar-agar is a type of aquatic plant that the locals harvest, wash, and boil like water spinach. The liquid is then strained and poured into small bowls. When cool, it solidifies into light brown, jelly-like sheets, which are very fragrant and refreshing. On a hot day like this, enjoying a bowl of agar-agar dessert would be incredibly cooling...

Sitting in a breezy thatched-roof restaurant surrounded by the sea breeze, I saw a plate of steamed prawns with a vibrant red lemongrass, a characteristic and tempting sight, alongside bowls of glistening jelly dessert. I asked the owner why he didn't arrange things more simply, to make it more visually appealing; how could anyone finish it all if it was too much? The owner chuckled: "That's how it is in the countryside; it looks bad if you only put out a little." Then he quickly poured beer for the customers, filling the bowls to the brim.

The people of Quynh Lap beach do tourism in this way, welcoming guests warmly and genuinely... and perhaps it is this very rustic and simple nature that creates a unique characteristic for Quynh Lap beach tourism, setting it apart from any other region. If only Quynh Lap beach were more well-known to tourists; if only a few investors would come to develop this beach, considered the most beautiful in the North... then Quynh Lap beach would be more vibrant, giving Mr. Luyen, the owner of the restaurant, more competition. Then he could expand his restaurant, build guesthouses, create a more beautiful layout, and hire more staff to serve...

Text and photos:Thanh Thủy - Thu Hương