During May as well as the summer months, lots of tourist groups travel to the origin, offering incense sticks, achievement reporting at the Uncle Ho’s worshipping house

Coolness amid the sunny summer noons

Van Hoa plateau comprises the communes of Son Long, Son Dinh, Son Xuan of Son Hoa district and a part of Tuy An district. Here, the red bazal land was formed during the process of volcanic eruption. The climate here is cool all year round, the mountain ranges are majestic, there are also lots of lakes, streams, waterfalls and mosaics…, forming a diversified eco-system. In just one day, tourists can feel the climates of 4 seasons, lots of people even consider this like Da Lat or Ba Na.

Taking advantage of the climate and the system of plentiful historical relics, here in Van Hoa plateau, we have witnessed the formation of the tourism gardens, the farms planting vegetables, industrial trees to serve production in combination with tourism.

Especially, the red trees in the inhabitants’ gardens have become the places that provoke and satisfy tourists’ curiosity. The red trees’ flowers blossom every January lunar month, until May-August, the fruits ripen, turning either dark purple or bright red. The red fruits are numerous and packed, forming a bright red color from the barks to right on the roots, up to the branches, and this really excites tourists.

Mr Nguyen Quoc Hoi, owner of Bon Binh red plant garden, let known, “the cool climate and the red trees have created the unique features for tourism in the locality. There have been some years when the red trees did not have fruits, nevertheless, tourists could still come to the gardens to see the natural red trees, together with other fruit trees like jackfruit, avocado, mango and macadam”.

According to Mr Do Hoang Viet, Director of Nghinh Phong tourism and service company Ltd. (Phu Yen province), besides the attraction from the sea and islands in the summer, Van Hoa plateau is also one exciting destination for tourists once coming to Phu Yen province, and this has formed the tours offering plenty of diversified experiences. Mr Viet asserted, “tourists are delighted at arriving in this plateau”.

The red address for tourism to the origin

The destination on Van Hoa plateau itinerary does not only comprise the red tree gardens, the farms combining tourism but also the cluster of Phu Yen province’s revolutionary base during the anti-American war. Here, there is Uncle Ho worshipping house (Son Dinh commune) and Thi Thung mound tunnel (An Xuan commune, Tuy An district), the two national level historical relics, are the two special striking features of the route.

The base relics of Phu Yen province during the two wars of resistance against America were spread in the three communes of: Son Long, Son Dinh, Son Xuan, with uninterrupted mountain topography. Here, apart from the office of the provincial Party committee, the Revolutionary people’s committee, the committee of the liberation national fatherland, the propagating board of the provincial Party committee, the provincial youth union, the security board of Phu Yen province, there are also the Party educational institution, the army firm 200, Truc Bach infirmary, Medical school, the spring hall…

Also along the tourism route of Van Hoa plateau, there is one particular historical relic, namely Thi Thung mound (An Xuan commune, Tuy An district).

This mound system has contributed to numerous feats with renowned glory made by Phu Yen inhabitants and soldiers during the years combating against America to liberate the country. Thi Thung mound has the total length oft 1,948m with the system of commanding tunnel, tunnel for storing food, artilleries, drinking water. The tunnel is 4.5m deep, 0.8m wide. The entire mound has 486 wells. There is observatory inside the mound, the surrounding parts are an interconnected traffic grid running vertically and horizontally… 

These days, the mound is no longer intact but this is the relics, the sightseeing spot to learn about history in a very meaningful manner. Together with Cu Chi tunnel (HCMC), Vinh Moc tunnel (Quang Tri), Thi Thung mound (Phu Yen) are among the remaining major mounds in the country during the resistance against America, this is precious when it comes to educating the younger generations.

 Translated by Hai Loan