Published with permission to promote tourism and travel to Bac Lieu, this article written by Minh Thuy was originally published in the March/April edition of Heritage magazine for Vietnam Airlines.
Known for its natural beauty, Bac Lieu has become a resort destination for those seeking adventure off the beaten path. In addition to its outdoors highlights, Bac Lieu is a land where ethnicities live together and cultures converge.
Bac Lieu’s main ethnicities are Kinh, Hoa and Khmer people. The particular culture of Bac Lieu and the region’s unique characteristics come from its layered composite of culture. Bac Lieu folk songs and chants, for example, reveal typical characteristics of Bac Lieu people. As their traditional music illustrates, Bac Lieu natives are known for being straightforward and hospitable, for speaking simply and gracefully. Musical lyrics also describe Khmer people’s enthusiastic approach to work.
As many legends, classical dreams, and films depict, Bac Lieu is known for its nobles’ extravagance. One noble, Tran Trinh Huy, was a notorious playboy and free spirit, known particularly for his tendency to burn money to boil eggs. Common behaviour in Bac Lieu is of course far from this infamous noble’s. In fact, Bac Lieu natives are hard to classify generally, as they are composed of diverse ethnic, religious, and socio-economic groups. Many men from northern and central Vietnam come here to get married, while local Bac Lieu men are also known for seducing urban lasses.
There is an inherent sense of community in Bac Lieu which takes form in local spirituality. Although Bac Lieu houses are low-roofed, all the villagers collectively contribute to the village’s pagoda, which is majestic and splendid. Notable pagodas are Xiem Can Pagoda (Vinh Trach Dong, Bac Lieu Town) and Cai Gia Pagoda (Hung Hoi Township, Vinh Loi District).
Visitors and tourists often come to Bac Lieu in search of outdoors activities. Tourists frequent the ecological longan garden to try the unique longan fruit. At the garden, singers serenade with tradition songs as visitors eat banh xeo (rice pancake folded in half, filled with savory meats and vegetables). The Lap Dien Bird Sanctuary, known for its rare species, is also a popular destination. Phat Ba Nam Hai, reputed for its supernatural power, welcome thousands of tourists every year. The South Chine Sea, past the Kinh Tu salt marsh, offers cuttle-fishing expeditions. Finally, Bac Lieu’s countryside is home to traditional craft villages. Phuoc Long and Hon Dan districts have villages specializing in plaiting, mat weaving and hat making.
Bac Lieu’s people, history and natural beauty distinguish the area. Visitors come from the breathtaking landscapes and stay for the hospitable people.
Bac Lieu Province
Bac Lieu is a province that lies along the Cuu Long River’s delta, in Southern Vietnam. Bac Lieu is 280 kilometers away from Ho Chi Minh City.
Geography: 2,520.6 square km. Bac Lieu is a relatively young region
Population: around 800,000 people
People: Bac Lieu has 20 ethnicities: Kinh (90.0%); Cambodian (7.9%); Hoa (3.1%); mixed descent
Culture: in the past, Bac Lieu was very famous for its hedonism. At the end of the 19th century and early 20th century, the open-minded nature of Bac Lieu attracted aristocratic people from the other surrounding provinces in the south. All the wealthy men attracted to Bac Lieu used their money to build palaces that were different from palaces in Hanoi, Saigon and Dalat. The intent was to build palaces that were architecturally reminiscent of Paris.