A couple set out to explore the Tri An Lake on their own

The two islets stand peaceful and serene in the middle of the Tri An Lake, a getaway that offers visitors more than they bargain for.

The O islet presents visitors with the options of boat tours on the lake, fishing or swimming. Take all of them. It is worth it.

For the romantically inclined, or for those just looking to have some fun, the “letter in the bottle” game is a special treat. You write a message, put it into a bottle, tie a stone to it and throw it into the lake. Come dry season, you can search for the messages you wrote or for one that was written for you, from among the hundreds or thousands of messages that wait at the bottom of the lake.

Most of the games are exclusive to O islet. Dong Truong hosts the restaurant and bungalows.

The islets are also known for their specialties made with catch provided by the lake, including Ca lang nau mang (Hemibagrus cooked with bamboo sprout), Ca lang kho to (Hemibagrus cooked with brine), and Tep um cuon banh trang (Simmered tiny shrimp rolled with girdle cake). The shrimps in Tri An Lake are delicious thanks to their soft and crispy shells.

Huynh Trung Thanh Son, the owner of the Dong Truong Green Tourist Site, says the islets are being upgraded to serve more tourists.

“We hope the renovations will satisfy the various demands our customers have. Apart from the fish, we are breeding wild boars on the O islet,” said Son.

Admission to the islets is free while cooking prices range from VND25,000 to VND130,000 (US$1.30-9). The games cost VND10,000 to VND50,000 ($0.7-3.50) each.

To get there, follow Highway 1A, turn right at Tri An T-junction, and after eight kilometers you will soon reach the heart of Dong Nai Province’s Vinh Cuu Commune where Dong Truong and O islets are located.

Dong Truong Green Tourist Site
Ward 8, Vinh An Town, Vinh Cuu Commune, Dong Nai Province
Tel: (061) 396 1286

Reported by Kim