[jackbl]

‘Little Ha Long Bay’
================

Long An Lake in Buu Long Park resembles a smaller version of northern Ha Long Bay. With a cluster of rocks and mountains in its midst, the lake – located in a cultural park 30 km outside of Ho Chi Minh City – brings to mind a smaller version of northern Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay.


Long An Lake looks particularly charming on a quiet afternoon.

In the late 18th century, the Nguyen clan was defeated by the Tay Son troops and Nguyen Anh, a prominent member of the clan was forced to flee, stopping at what is now the Buu Long Cultural Park in Bien Hoa Town in the province of Dong Nai.

In 1802, Anh unified the country, became the Gia Long Emperor and established the Nguyen Dynasty, the last monarchy of Vietnam.

The name of the lake, Long An, or the Dragon – a popular Asian symbol for the King – is thus derived from this historical period.

The rocks in the middle of the lake, the park’s key attraction, tell an even more interesting story.

These rocks were once part of a bigger cluster of mountains but after years of intensive mining by locals, the mountains became what they are now – small rocky outcrops scattered throughout the lake.

The cultural ministry has designated the park a nationally protected site.

Visitors can tour the lake by boat and for families with kids, Buu Long Park offers a mini-amusement park with merry-go-rounds, ball houses and roller coasters.

Additional interesting features include a set of exactly 100 steps that lead up a nearby hill to a 17th-century pagoda which exhibits items from the ancient Nguyen Dynasty.

Tourists can enjoy being outside amongst the trees and carefully pruned tropical plants.

And for those looking for a more peaceful, quiet escape, a simple restaurant offers a full view of the lake where one can sit and sip Vietnamese coffee while gazing out at the water.

Entrance fee: VND10,000 (US$0.61.) per person

Reported by Phuong Anh