The unique beauty of Ganh Do fishing village

VHO - Nestled in Xuan Dai Bay, Ganh Do fishing village is one of the ancient villages with unique beauty, as well as the salty taste of a land running along the sandy strip of the Central coast.

Ganh Do fishing village is one of the ancient villages with unique beauty (PHOTO: BICH NGAN)

The mystery of the name Ganh Do

Ganh Do fishing village used to belong to Xuan Dai ward, Song Cau town (formerly Phu Yen province), now An Thanh quarter, Xuan Dai ward (Dak Lak province). Ganh Do is also the name of a small fishing village, nestled in the heart of Xuan Dai bay, a very peaceful and primitive place. The reason for its name is Ganh Do because of the many small rocky reefs scattered in the bay with characteristic reddish-brown rocks.

However, no one can remember how long the village name Ganh Do has existed, they just stick with the name Ganh for easy calling and remembering. Many elderly people here said that during the war, the village was called An Do, and later changed its name to Ganh Do.

Mr. Le Van Thanh, a long-time resident of Ganh Do, said: The Ganh in front of the village is red, so people call it Ganh Do for easy remembering. Previously, the village's name was An Do, but few people remember it.

The rocks at Ganh Do are not as sharp as those at Ganh Da Dia, nor as vast as Hon Yen, but have a very unique gentle look (PHOTO: BICH NGAN)

In the village, people still pass on the story of Ganh Do mountain, at the tail tip of Ong Xa island there is a strip of land like a bank across the lagoon.

At that time, a giant sea bass from the open sea got lost there, its path was blocked, the sea bass angrily flapped its tail, water splashed high into the air, the waves roared loudly, the barrier was almost completely eroded, only two mountain peaks remained, people called it the Sea Bass Barrier. From then on, the fish turned back to the East Sea, never to return to this lagoon again.

Ganh Do appears like a rough cut when in front of the village is a low reddish-brown rocky beach stretching like a natural wall to block the waves, in the distance is Lao and Lo (the locals' way of calling the island), where rafts and cages are anchored when storms come.

The ancient fishing village of Ganh Do is not too large, with about 664 households living there. Every house faces the sea, its back leaning against a low rocky mountainside.

The village road is winding and narrow, with old houses on both sides, close together, some of which are built directly on the rocky foundation, creating a living space that is both rugged and poetic, where people can almost touch the sea every morning.

The rocks at Ganh Do are not as sharp as those at Ganh Da Dia, nor as vast as Hon Yen, but have their own gentle appearance.

The houses in Ganh Do are very winding and narrow, with old houses on both sides of the road, close together (PHOTO: BICH NGAN)

The round, reddish-brown rocks jut out into the sea. The village elders say that Ganh Do rock once saved the village from many storms, thanks to that cliff that prevented waves from flooding deep into the land. That is why the villagers believe the rock is sacred.

…To the famous fish sauce industry

Not only does it have beautiful scenery, Ganh Do is also famous for its traditional fish sauce village, associated with the anchovy season from January to around March of the lunar calendar every year. This can be said to be a great specialty for any tourist who wants to buy it as a gift.

The name “Ganh Do Fish Sauce” has been passed down by word of mouth among fishermen for hundreds of years. Over time, fish sauce has become the soul of the local people in the village. Previously, although fish sauce production facilities were known to many people, they did not have an official brand.

Many families still keep the habit of fermenting fish sauce in earthenware jars.

It was not until 1975 that the Ganh Do fish sauce brand officially appeared on the Vietnamese market. Ganh Do people choose small, firm anchovies, caught right in the sea in front of the village where the salinity is typical.

Because this factor helps the fish sauce here have a shimmering cockroach-wing color, salty taste, sweet aftertaste and a very unique, unmistakable mild aroma.

Many families still keep the habit of fermenting fish sauce in earthenware jars, drying them in the stone yard, catching the full sun and sea breeze as a way to preserve the flavor of their ancestors.

However, over time, the traditional craft village has gradually faded away as the young generation left the village to work far away, many households no longer make fish sauce but instead turn to fishing or small-scale trading. However, the local government is making efforts to restore the salty taste of Ganh Do in the context of eco-tourism development.

Not only has beautiful scenery, but Ganh Do is also famous for its traditional fish sauce village.

According to Chairman of Xuan Dai Ward People’s Committee Pham Van Nguyen, the locality is adjusting the planning to revive the fishing village of Ganh Do. A number of high-end resort projects are being implemented in the area adjacent to the village.

In the future, the locality wants to build Ganh Do into a resort and cultural experience destination, where visitors can not only relax but also understand the value of a traditional fishing village on the banks of Xuan Dai Bay.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/du-lich/net-dep-doc-dao-cua-lang-chai-ganh-do-163326.html