Vinh Hy, the pearl of Panduranga

In the heart of Ninh Thuan province, 40km from Phan Rang in the south, 100km from Nha Trang in the north, Vinh Hy Panduranga Pearl is a small fishermen village in its own personal bay. Home to the Nui Chua National Park, it is also one of the most biodiverse places in Vietnam with both thriving marine life and endemic jungle flora.

Vinh Hy Panduranga

The first inhabitants of Vinh Hy were Champa people back when the area was still known as Panduranga, the ancient Champa Kingdom. This village, only accessible by the sea was finally abandoned in the early 1800 as the Kingdom slowly collapsed following the advancement of the Vietnamese Empire. In the late 1800, the first Vietnamese fishermen spotted the village from the sea and settled in this bay providing natural protection from storms and strong winds. When the village was built, there were no roads to get out apart from the sea, and it was only in the early 1900 when the French colonialist discovered the village that the first road was built. This fact can still be seen today with the structure of the village composed of small narrow alleys designed for pedestrians.

Vinh Hys culture is a precious mix of old Cham traditions, Vietnamese traditional beliefs and old rituals related to the sea. The most emblematic belief of Vinh Hy is the worshiping of “Ong Nam Hai” or sea god taking the shape of a whale. The whale protects the bay from predators such as sharks or other dangerous species as well as protects the fishermen who meet trouble at sea. Every few years, whales come to the village to die and it is commonly believed that they do so to give a final farewell and instructions to relatives and loved ones (people from the village). He is then buried following the same rituals held for people. Once in three years is held a big festival honoring “ Ong Nam Hai”, the biggest celebration in the village. Vinh Hy has many other cultural aspects related to fishing, and the best way to discover them is to come to Vinh Hy and see it from your own eyes.

Vinh Hy is the perfect destination for nature lovers with two rich and very different environments. It is one of the best spots in Vietnam for snorkeling with the most diverse coral reef composed of more than 350 species. For those who like to stay above surface, the impressive cliffs and crystal-clear waters will stun the eyes of travelers. The extremely biodiverse jungle with more than 1500 species of trees and plants, a wide system of streams is a marvelous place for travelers looking for adventure and immersion in pristine nature.

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