A must see: Without Lap An Lagoon on their list, travellers miss a great part of the charming city of Hue. — Photos: Hong Van/VNS.

My friend and I travelled to Da Nang City in late June and included Lap An Lagoon on our check list of things to do. We didn’t expect it would be such a highlight of the trip.

Travelling by motorbike does not only open up horizons, it provides a sense of freedom compared with a car or bus window. Everything looks surreal. The horizon, which separates the sky from the beach, seems to be diminishing. The sky seems to melt into the blue of the water.

My friend, a daring traveller who has driven through many passes in the northern mountainous areas of Viet Nam, says this is a different experience for her. “In northern mountainous areas, I am overwhelmed by the grandeur, the roughness of the mountain landscape. Here I can also feel the smooth, delicate, soft blend of mountain and beach,” she said.

After existing Hai Van Pass, we turned onto a local road and headed for the quiet, peaceful lagoon.

A road separates the lagoon from the local houses. On one side is the familiar, characteristic sight of rural life – old, modest houses surrounded by dense plants and fruit trees. On the other side is the untouched, landscape of mountain and water twinkling under the bright sun.

Photo-op: Sand dune ’road’ running from the bank to almost the middle of the lagoon.

Lap An Lagoon, located near Phu Gia Bridge of Lang Co Town, is 800ha large and one of the most scenic brackish water lagoons of Hue City to its north.

The water is clear affording a view of a variety of creatures, including fish, sea cucumber and oysters.

My friend and I sat for a while under the trees, contemplating the sight, and when we drove further, we realised it is just the beginning of this majestic journey.

We happened to find a sand dune stretching from the bank of the lagoon almost to its middle. Though excited by the discovery of this "road", we were unsure whether it was safe to walk on. A local tour guide, speaking in a heavy Hue dialect, assured us and even offered to take a photo of the two of us before we moved on.

In his heavy dialect, charming to the ear of a northerner like myself, the tour guide spoke proudly of his hometown’s attraction. He said the lagoon was not only a tourist attraction but a place where households grow the oyster.

Every afternoon, when the tide ebbs leaving behind little snails in beautiful shapes and various size, locals go there to collect oyster and sea cucumber.

The lagoon is the most romantic when sunset falls, he said. That was sad news for us since we had to be back in Da Nang in the afternoon.

When we arrived at the lagoon, it was almost empty. The tour guide, along with his two French tourists, were the first visitors we met. We walked for a while on the sand dune road, seeing a few more tourists posing for photos with the lagoon and spectacular Bach Ma Mountain range an ideal backdrop.

We then drove around the lagoon before travelling to nearby Lang Co beach, enjoying some seafood, and winding up a perfect trip that far exceeded our expectations.

Source: VNS