A cool day in Dong Thap Muoi

Dong Thap Muoi Ecological Reserve is an ideal summer destination for those who love nature and enjoy the freedom to leisurely explore the land and sky.

I left Ho Chi Minh City early, passing through the sun-drenched roads to find the vast flooded forest area in Thanh Tan commune, Tan Phuoc district, Tien Giang province - a place known by the familiar name: Dong Thap Muoi Ecological Reserve. My car drove through green rice fields stretching as far as the eye could see, along the cool shaded canals of cajuput trees.

The deeper I went, the bluer the sky and the gentler the wind. When I got there, what caught my eye was a vast forest land - where the lung lay in the middle, surrounded by a main river and small streams, like a watercolor painting that no one had time to paint. There was no sound of car horns, no dust, only the chirping of birds, the rustling of forest leaves and the pungent smell of wild grass mixed with the strong smell of water. The nature here was not noisy, but quietly gentle like an old friend.

Dong Thap Muoi Ecological Reserve was established in 2000, with an area of ​​106.8 hectares, of which 36 hectares of cajuput is the central area, the surrounding buffer zone is about 1,800 hectares, mainly cajuput forest.

We started our exploration in a small boat. The boatman was Ms. Tu - a local who has lived here for nearly 40 years, her hands were agile, her eyes still following every movement of the forest. The boat glided past the canopy of cajuput trees, through the water lily bushes, past the bird nests perched precariously on the branches. Occasionally, a stork would suddenly fly up, leaving behind a clanging sound of its wings in the silent sky.

The boat cut through the water, weaving through each small canal, we bowed low to let the boat pass through the wrist-sized vines that hung across the path. This season, water fern was in full bloom, covering the entire water surface, creating a green carpet that filled the sky. Arriving at a wide stretch of the river, Ms. Tu stopped the boat, pointed up into the distance: “Afternoon is when the storks fly back to their nests, watching the flock of white storks flying across the sky, so beautiful! And don’t just look up, looking down at the water is also good. The water here is like a mirror reflecting the entire sky.”

It is estimated that there are 156 plant species, 147 species of genus, 34 species of fish, 8 species of amphibians, and 30 species of insects living and developing here.

Tourists sit on a boat and explore the diverse ecosystem.

At noon, we stopped by the hut and ate some rustic dishes. Braised snakehead fish in a clay pot, fried catfish with ginger and fish sauce, steamed apple snails with gourd,... a simple meal but in the open natural space, everything suddenly became strangely delicious. Each dish seemed to carry the flavor and character of this land, rich, rustic and full of human affection.

In the late afternoon, we switched to cycling through the forest. The red dirt trail was flanked by vast cajuput forests with countless species of trees and precious medicinal herbs. I felt like I was lost in a land without age. At one point, a long-tailed monkey jumped over my head, leaving a moment of surprise before disappearing like the wind. I climbed the observation tower, the highest point of the reserve. From here, I could see the entire cajuput forest stretching to the horizon, like an undulating green carpet, with flocks of white storks flying across the sky. In the distance, the rice fields during the flood season, the houses nestled by the river - all blended into a space so peaceful that it was breathtaking.

Strict protection policies, favorable, peaceful and safe living environment are factors attracting more and more water birds to live in Dong Thap Muoi Ecological Reserve, especially storks.

If one day you feel tired, if you need a place to refresh your soul, then try coming to Dong Thap Muoi. Not only to escape the hot summer, but also to find the original breath, to live slowly in the midst of nature humming wordless music. There, just sitting on a small boat, letting your heart drift along the gentle river branches, is enough to see how gentle this life is.

Source: https://vtv.vn/mot-ngay-xanh-mat-o-dong-thap-muoi-100250629122214283.htm