Cua Hien - where the ocean is a shared gift
The sea has no barriers, the waves do not divide, and neither do people's hearts - let's love and preserve Cua Hien together as if it were a sacred gift that nature bestowed upon everyone.
Common sea, common love
I arrived at Cua Hien on an April morning, the weather was not too sunny, the sea was not too rough. From the center of Vinh city, following Highway 46C, then turning onto the winding inter-commune road between rice fields and rows of casuarinas, I soon arrived.
Cua Hien Beach is located in the administrative territory of Nghi Loc and Dien Chau districts. For a long time, this sea has been familiar and closely connected to the people of both districts. In the morning, when the sun is still hidden behind the rows of casuarinas, the bamboo boats of Dien Trung fishermen have already cut through the waves to go out to sea. In the late afternoon, when the waves begin to calm down, on the shore appears the familiar figures of the people of Nghi Yen fishing village, diligently cleaning up trash, picking up shells and pieces of nets left after each tide. The sea has no barriers, the waves do not divide, and neither do people's hearts.
"InletHien Doorin Dien Trung (Dien Chau district) is associated with the legend of An Duong Vuong - the king who lost his country to Trieu Da due to the betrayal of his son-in-law Trong Thuy. After being scolded by the Kim Quy god, the king drew his sword and killed his daughter My Chau and then threw himself into the sea. The water where he later reincarnated, according to folklore, is Cua Hien beach. Not only this legend, our beach also has a tall, large and flat rock called "the fairy chessboard". Since ancient times, the elderly here have told stories about the fairies who came down to earth to have fun, often landing there to rest, play chess, and enjoy wine. No local people dare to climb there - they think that doing so would violate the sacredness of the rock" - said Mr. Cao Van Dung, a cultural officer of Dien Trung commune.
And with the pride of a Cua Hien coastal resident, Mr. Dung showed us the smooth, polished surface of the top of the rock, the unique patterns on the rock body, the rough shells at the foot of the rock - traces of the times the tide rose... Near that beach is Cuong Temple - an ancient temple located on Mo Da mountain, built to commemorate An Duong Vuong.
“The sound of the waves is the belated repentance, the rock is where the heartbroken father knelt down and cried to see his son off” - an old fisherman I happened to meet on the trip said so. Immersed in ancient legends, the seascape evokes both sacredness and sadness. History and legend blend into a sacred flow, preserved with the respect of the local people.
About 1km to the South, next to the rocky beach is a gently sloping beach with white sand and gentle waves, located in Nghi Yen commune (Nghi Loc district) - known as an ideal place to check-in and enjoy seafood.
For Nghi Yen people, Cua Hien is not just about waves, but also a place that anchors the love and memories of many generations. Mr. Tran Cong Le (born in 1991) - the owner of a small restaurant by the sea - shared: "Even though I look at the sea every day, I still cannot help but be moved by its beauty. The red dawn, the purple afternoon, the boats going out to sea, the children fishing... Those images nourish the souls of the people here".
According to Mr. Le, thanks to the rocky beach, Cua Hien has become an ideal beach for fishing. For generations, there has been no child in Cua Hien who does not know how to fish on the rocky beach. Those who are good at fishing can earn 100-200 thousand VND a day to help their parents. They wade in the water, playing among the rocky outcrops as if it were their own playground as children. Saying that, Mr. Le showed me one of the many clips he had saved on his camera: Two men quietly drop their fishing rods in the afternoon glow. The sound of waves lapping against the rocks, the patience of the fisherman, the sunlight gradually spreading on the water surface - all paint a picture of peace that touches the heart. Also to protect such pictures, young people in Nghi Yen regularly organize to clean up the sandbank, collect trash along the rocky beach as if caring for a treasure of the village.
Dien Chau and Nghi Loc people, no one has more to contend with in the story of Cua Hien. For them, the sea is not only a place to make a living, but also a place of memories, a common pride. And so, the love for the homeland here is also abundant, overflowing like the sea itself, singing day and night.
The "gems"
Cua Hien is as rustic as its name - gentle, pristine, no crowded shops, no modern resorts. That is why it possesses "precious gems" that are rarely found anywhere else: long white sand beaches, impressive natural rocks, peace in the midst of bustling life...
Ngu Hai Rock Beach – the name that locals give to Cua Hien Rock Beach – is truly like an abstract painting of nature. Each rock has its own shape, one looks like a turtle, another looks like it is holding a lotus bud, one looks like someone’s hand waving, and another is intentionally shaped by an “artificial” hand into the shape of a person facing the sea…
When the tide is low, visitors can walk far away, along the rocks, feeling the magic of standing in the middle of the sea without getting their feet wet. The sea here is shallow and clear, so visitors can clearly see schools of small fish swimming around their feet, and crabs hiding in the crevices of the rocks. Each step is a small surprise, making people feel light-hearted and young again.
On the shore, the pace of life of the people in Cua Hien area is equally tranquil. Along the coastal roads are rows of casuarina trees rustling in the wind all year round, lush green vegetable fields, concentrated shrimp ponds, simple, hard-working people... That very silence has its own appeal - something that can only be felt when you set foot there, listen to the sea breeze and the stories passed down from generation to generation by the people.
Because Cua Hien beach is still very wild, this is a favorite place for young people who often come to organize camping and picnics on weekends. “Visitors to Cua Hien are often not in a hurry. They walk, sit and watch the sea, or simply choose a flat rock to fish and chat. Many groups of young people bring small tents, spread out tarps to camp right by the beach, light a campfire in the evening, and welcome the sunrise in the morning. I believe that camping on the sea with the sound of waves will be a wonderful experience for anyone. Not long ago, Cua Hien was also chosen as a place to organize a fishing competition with the participation of hundreds of famous anglers” – Mr. Cao Van Dung shared.
Not only famous for beauty, becausepeaceful, Cua Hien is also famous for its fresh and cheap seafood, imbued with the atmosphere of a fishing village. Crabs, squid, mackerel, scad… are caught by locals during the day, processed simply while retaining their natural sweetness. A meal right on the sand, under the coconut trees, the cool sea breeze blowing through - enough to make visitors remember forever.
Although still retaining its pristine beauty, Cua Hien is gradually receiving more investment in tourism infrastructure. The road from Cuong Temple to the sea has been expanded, and the coastal lighting system has begun to be deployed. Some small and pretty homestays have begun to spring up around the beach area, enough to serve tourists who want to stay overnight while still maintaining a quiet space close to nature. Along the national defense road, young people have quickly grasped the need, opening small sidewalk cafes to serve guests who want to watch the sea...
In every trip, people not only look for places to go, but also look for things to remember. And Cua Hien - with its rustic beauty, its profound legend, and its healing peace - is such a destination.
