About Vung Ro to hear the legend on the water

Nestled at the foot of Ca Pass, Vung Ro Bay appears like a picturesque landscape painting in the middle of the vast sea and sky. Not only is it a famous scenic spot, it is also a historical relic, associated with Vung Ro Wharf - the place that once welcomed the No-numbered ships carrying weapons to support the Southern battlefield during the resistance war against the US. The combination of natural beauty and historical spirit has created a special attraction for the bay in the East of Dak Lak province.

We arrived at Vung Ro (Hoa Xuan commune) in the early autumn days, when the weather was milder after the hot summer days. Vung Ro is a beautiful bay, surrounded by majestic mountain ranges such as Deo Ca, Da Bia, Hon Ba in the North, East, and West; in the South is Mui Dien - the place to welcome the first sunrise on the mainland of Vietnam with a lighthouse towering among the clouds.

From the center of Tuy Hoa ward, we drove our motorbikes along Highway 1 south for about 30 km. Halfway up Ca Pass, a small road appeared, leading down to the bay. The whole group turned in, following the winding slopes between the vast green mountains and forests. Along the way, the cool sea breeze blew by, making the space more fresh. Amidst the green nature, we seemed to blend into the vastness of the sky and earth, temporarily putting aside the daily hustle and bustle.

The beauty of mountains, water, clouds and sky in Vung Ro Bay at the foot of Ca Pass and majestic Da Bia Mountain. Photo : DTXuan

Then suddenly, Vung Ro appeared wide open in the middle of the vast space, like a giant jade mirror. The long stretches of fine white sand embraced the poetic blue water. Vung Ro was also blessed by nature with hundreds of species of seafood and brilliant coral reefs under the sea - a beauty that captivated anyone who witnessed it. It is no coincidence that this place was once recognized by the World Tourism Organization as one of the most beautiful landscapes in Asia.

Vung Ro today is not only a poetic destination but also a “red address” to pay tribute, remind and continue. Amidst the emerald green of the sea and sky, the echoes of history seem to blend into the rhythm of modern life, making Vung Ro both a poetic ink painting and an immortal epic of the nation.

While exploring , we met Mr. Dang Van Thanh - a simple and friendly local. He shared: "If you want to fully enjoy Vung Ro, you should stay overnight to feel the tranquility at night and wake up early to watch the sunrise. During the day, you can rent a boat to explore the small islands, dive to see the coral, enjoy lobsters and fresh grouper caught right in the bay." Through his words, we learned more stories about the fishing village, the rough sea days and the pride when Vung Ro is known to more and more tourists...

Amidst the peaceful, clear scenery of Vung Ro today, we suddenly thought about the tragic past of this land. This poetic bay has seen the footprints of many generations of people entering history, associated with the No-numbered ships on the legendary Ho Chi Minh trail at sea. Not only charming by its wild natural scenery, Vung Ro is also a sacred land, where every wave and wind still whispers to remind us of the days of fire and smoke, when the sea and sky here turned into a golden page of history for the nation.

With its deep, sheltered bay terrain and rugged mountains, this place is a safe anchorage for ships, and has many caves and natural rock formations that are convenient for hiding weapons. Vung Ro also has secret corridors connecting Hoa Hiep and Hoa Xuan to resistance bases such as Phu Yen Provincial Party Committee, Inter-Provincial Party Committee 3 and the Southern Central Highlands provinces. The rugged but discreet terrain has turned this place into a port to receive weapons from the North to support the Southern - Central Highlands battlefield. From November 1964 to February 1965, this place received 4 No-numbered ships, carrying nearly 200 tons of weapons to the provinces of Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, and Dak Lak (old). The loading and transporting work was organized carefully, intelligently and steadfastly by the local army and people. At Vung Ro wharf, there is still a touching story about a female worker named Nguyen Thi Tang (from Hoa Hiep) who gave Captain Ho Dac Thanh a handful of her hometown soil wrapped in a handkerchief when the ship was about to leave the wharf as a message of love between the army and people of Phu Yen to the North, becoming a beautiful symbol in the resistance war.

People's Armed Forces Hero Ho Dac Thanh tells the story of the ship No Number transporting weapons at Vung Ro wharf to the younger generation. Photo : DTXuan

Three trips reached port safely, but the fourth trip - ship 143 was discovered by the enemy. During those fierce days, many naval soldiers heroically sacrificed their lives, their blood mixed with the ocean, turning into immense waves.

Deeply attached to those historic voyages is People's Armed Forces Hero Ho Dac Thanh, former Captain of Ship 41 - who commanded three ships to safely dock at Vung Ro. Every time he returns to the old dock, where so many life-and-death moments were marked, his eyes well up with tears. In his voice, pride mingles with sobs when he mentions his fallen comrades, the dark nights of struggling to overcome storms, the hasty handshakes between the army and civilians, and the silent, sacred sacrifices...

Leaving the story of the old captain, we walked along Vung Ro wharf in the afternoon with the hazy sunlight. Vung Ro was recognized as a national historical relic on June 18, 1997. Here, the Navy built the Vung Ro wharf monument and the Memorial House for the martyrs of the Unnumbered Ships to remember and pay tribute to the sacrifices of the officers and soldiers, contributing to the victory of the resistance war against the US and the unification of the country. Among the stream of visitors, we met Nguyen Hoang Nam - a student from Ho Chi Minh City standing silently for a long time in front of the memorial stele. Nam confided: "Reading in the book was already emotional, but coming here and hearing about the Unnumbered Ships and the sacrifices, I appreciate even more the patriotism, courage and silent sacrifice of many generations of predecessors."

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/xa-hoi/202509/ve-vung-ro-nghe-huyen-thoai-tren-song-nuoc-4031153/