Beautiful coastal villages: Nam O, river behind, sea in front, mountains on one side

"Nam O is not home/The river behind, the sea in front, the mountain on one side..." is a folk song describing the beautiful scenery with a rare location of Nam O - a fishing village over 500 years old located in the north of Da Nang city, about ten kilometers from the national monument Hai Van Quan.

"The scenery is unparalleled…"

This season, standing on the fine sand of Nam O village (old Hoa Hiep Nam ward, now Hai Van ward, Da Nang city), looking out in all directions, visitors will be delighted to explore the vivid natural picture.

In front is the blue ocean waves embracing the mossy rocks. In the distance is the Son Tra peninsula stretching out into the clouds, and in the background to the west is the majestic Hai Van range surrounded by clouds. In the village, although it has the appearance of a city, the simple lifestyle of the fishermen is still intact, preserving the famous fish sauce flavor that has made this 500-year-old ancient village famous.

The beautiful Nam O rapids are the soul of a 500-year-old fishing village.

PHOTO: HOANG SON

In his notes, researcher Dang Dung, a Nam O resident known as "the one who cares too much" about the village, affirmed that along with the "unparalleled" scenery, Nam O also has products famous in the North and South.

According to Mr. Dung, Nam O is located right in the "middle road" of the country. In the past, transportation was not convenient, people going from South to North, and armies fighting in the North could not help but pass through here...

It is a small village with charming scenery, sea in front and river behind, to the north is the historic Cu De estuary, with rocky mountains, forests, and rocky cliffs that are popularly named Hon Quy, Hon Phung, and Moc Hac.

The forest in Nam O rapids has been strictly protected for generations and is revered by local people as the forbidden forest.

PHOTO: HOANG SON

The village has Cham tower relics, Cham wells preserved in the middle of the village, seafaring occupations providing abundant seafood, and the profession of making delicious fish sauce, recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage (October 2019).

The idyllic beauty of Nam O coastal village seems to have never been affected by the "tornado" of urbanization in Da Nang.

PHOTO: HOANG SON

"Our villagers are also proud of our fish salad, a delicious and tasty dish that is enjoyed by diners all over the country. For a long time, fish salad has become a culinary brand that is hard to match thanks to the year-round source of fresh herring and early-picked wild vegetables from Hai Van mountain," Mr. Dang Dung shared.

The green moss season every year in Nam O attracts thousands of visitors.

PHOTO: HOANG SON

Nam O used to have a profession of making firecrackers and fireworks for the bustling Tet holiday everywhere. The sound of wooden clogs once bustling on the country roads and deserted streets was also due to the hard work and creativity of generations of skilled craftsmen in this small village.

Nam O converges tourism strengths

On the tourist map, Nam O has long been defined as a coastal village with charming scenery, a long-standing historical tradition and a unique system of relics: Huyen Tran Princess Temple, Whale Temple, communal house, ancestors' tombs...

Mr. Vo Thanh Dung, a tour guide, commented that with those strengths, Nam O can completely build an attractive destination associated with eco-tourism, experiential tourism...

The famous stone beach in Nam O village is a favorable location for tourism development.

PHOTO: HOANG SON

"After Tet, my friends often ask to check-in at the green mossy rock beach. They also look for places to visit and explore local cuisine, such as fish salad, porridge... Especially, with Nam O fish sauce being protected by geographical indication, the villagers are facing the opportunity to develop community tourism to bring the brand further," said Mr. Dung.

Tourists come to visit and experience Nam O village

PHOTO: HOANG SON

Mr. Tran Ngoc Vinh, Chairman of the Nam O Traditional Fish Sauce Village Association, said that the village needs a team of well-trained tour guides to tell tourists about its history, relics, and unique products. Along with that, it is necessary to promote cooperation with coastal community tourism areas to spread the Nam O fish sauce brand.

"The craft village hopes to have an exhibition area to introduce products to members located right in the village. That will be a place for tourists to both visit and shop, contributing to preserving and promoting this precious heritage," said Mr. Vinh.

Nam O fish sauce making has been famous for hundreds of years.

PHOTO: HOANG SON

According to the project "Preserving Nam O fish sauce craft village associated with tourism development in Da Nang City", in the coming time, Da Nang City will promote the progress of forming tourist attractions and homestay tourism models to attract tourists to visit and travel associated with Nam O fish sauce craft village.

Simple life in Nam O fishing village

PHOTO: HOANG SON

Since 2023, the People's Committee of Da Nang City has also issued a project to develop Nam O community tourism with a total budget of 46 billion VND to exploit the advantages and potential of local tourism resources to create new tourism products, diversify types of services and utilities serving public interests, contributing to attracting visitors to visit, have fun, entertain, and experience tourism...

With a history of 500 years, Nam O village owns many relics that can be exploited for tourism.

PHOTO: HOANG SON

Notably, Nam O rock rapids and more than 3.2 hectares of natural forest have been planned into an ecological park, including walking paths, viewing platforms, resting huts and a southern square of nearly 0.25 hectares.

With a model combining seascapes, reefs, culinary specialties and cultural and historical values, Nam O is a land with great potential to become a unique and sustainable community tourism destination.

In particular, the Cham cultural imprint in Nam O is evident through a series of ancient wells and archaeological sites...

PHOTO: HOANG SON

The temple to worship Princess Huyen Tran at Nam O rapids is now only a ruin, but the story associated with the temple still retains its appeal today.

PHOTO: HOANG SON

The pristine sandy beach of Nam O attracts tourists

PHOTO: HOANG SON

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhung-ngoi-lang-tuyet-dep-ven-bien-nam-o-song-sau-bien-truoc-nui-ke-mot-ben-185250826103757444.htm