After the noise and bustle of the capital Hanoi, a place of thousands of years of civilization, if guests want to take a trip to a peaceful place to relax, Halong Bay is an option not to be missed not only because of inherent natural beauty but also due to the idyllic beauty of the fishing village’s inhabitants.
Vong Vieng fishing village, also known as Vung Vieng fishing village, is situated peacefully in pristine, romantic bay covered with natural islands in various shapes. This is a floating fishing village inhabited long-standing stability, hidden the precious and peculiar value of culture and history.
From Bai Chay cruise terminal, going according to the boat about 30km to the north-east, visitors will go to Vong Vieng fishing village. The first impression when visitors arrive the fishing village is the poetic scenery of Bai Tu Long Bay along with spacious and fresh atmosphere as well as unique scenes of daily life of villagers.
Although the fishing village is on the sea, Vong Vieng actually has an entrance gate, a "village gate" perhaps nowhere in the world can have because it is a gorgeous huge arch stone carved by Mother Nature like to welcome visitors. Looming behind the village entrance is an area of ocean which is as blue and calm as a lake. On the surface of the water, the girls of Vong Vieng village slightly brandishes paddles bringing the tourists to travel and go sightseeing around. The kids of the fishing village frolic carefree on the boat, they are proficient with sea water, with oars as if born to have known.
Vong Vieng fishing village has over 60 households with about 300 inhabitants. Compared to other fishing villages on Halong Bay, Vong Vieng is the second largest village after Cua Van fishing village. People here live in the raft houses located close together along the edge of rocky islands. They mainly earn their living by fishing and aquaculture. At Vong Vieng fishing village, the children also go to school, a simple floating school but only finishing at Grade 5. To continue school to grade 6, they have come back to the land. It also has a market, a kind of floating markets where goods which are food and drink from the mainland, such as meat, vegetables and so on will be sold right next to the raft houses.
Living in this isolated place, the village relationships of residents in Vong Vieng fishing village is even more and more profound. In spite of hiding under the island, they always have to be wary of the storm. Whenever there is a major hurricane news, they help each other to bind up the homes so that the tornado cannot sweep away the house’s roof.
Currently, Vong Vieng’s fishermen were engaged in tourism, and also developed its own floating cultural house for community activities, showcasing the fishing gear used to catch fish. Thereby visitors will have the opportunity to better understand the livelihoods of fishermen for centuries.
In daily life, people of Vong Vieng fishing village often sing the folk songs to make the atmosphere more cheerful. Especially, in festival dates such as the sea god worship festival when starting a new season. Young men and women sing the songs, Cheo singing (a form of singing with many unique folk songs of Halong Bay area) in immense waves creating a strange charm.
Tourists coming to Vong Vieng fishing village also have the opportunity to experience the daily life along with fishermen such as participation in fishing trips, visitors will be guided to drop nets, trawl and remove each fish out of the net like a real fisherman, or kayaking and traveling around, sightseeing around the bay or visiting Vong Vieng’s fish cages area, shopping souvenirs made from shells, oyster, and enjoying attractive seafood specialties.
If visitors stay at night, they can join "Vong Vieng Night" tour. Under oil lamps light and magic moon’s shadow, visitors will be at sea with a rustic small boat, listen to the love song singing, or have squid fishing with fishermen.
The trip to Vong Vieng fishing village will leave a deep impression in the mind of tourists about a Halong Bay that is not only spectacular but also contains the unique value of local culture.
