Sam Son – A Romantic Beach
With a coastline of 6km from Lach Hoi Sea-mouth to the foot of Truong Le Mountain, Sam Son boasts lightly sloping beaches with big waves, which is very suitable for summer vacations.
Under the French domination, Sam Son was a famous vocational resort in the Indochina. Many years later, a series of resort villas were built there and Bao Dai, the last king of the Nguyen Dynasty, also ordered the construction of his residence in the area.
At present, the local authorities have invested hundreds of billions of dong in building infrastructure. Many enterprises and individuals have also poured in capital to restore, upgrade and build resorts and hotels for tourists. A series of services, hotels and restaurants on a large scale have been put into operation this summer that will lead to a sharp increase of tourists to the beach.
Sam Son attracts tourists with its charm all day. At sunrise, tourists are strongly impressed by the breathtaking scenery formed by a miraculous change of colours of sunlight, from light red to bright yellow, which spreads over the sea.
In the afternoon, the atmosphere is like a festival. The 6km long beach becomes more crowded with tourists. Hundreds of plastic colourful weathercocks are arranged into different shapes and several sand castles are built on the beach while kites of different sizes are flying in the blue and clear sky.
It is a wonderful time for tourists to enjoy the exciting atmosphere, swim in the cool sea and play in the big waves.
A Destination of Spiritual Tourism
During the trip to discover the Thanh area, tourists will visit “Vong Phu” Mountain which is related to a local legend about a woman carrying her child to the mountain peak to wait for her husband’s return from the sea until she turned into a stone. Her tears become the Truong Le Mountain Range. Therefore, on this mountain range there is a system of temples, pagodas and relics showing the religion and spiritual culture of local fishermen. One of the relicts is the sacred temple of Doc Cuoc. Legend has it that there was a strong man who divided his body into two parts, one with locals going to the sea to catch fish and kill sea monsters and the other standing at the beginning of the Truong Le Mountain Range. To commemorate the man, the locals built Doc Cuoc Temple.
Every year, the residents hold their festival, Day Cake and Chung Cake, on May 11-13 according to the lunar calendar to pray to Doc Cuoc Genie for good weather and a bumper crop. The festival falls during the tourist season so it has become a spiritual tourist product of the locality.
On the road through the Truong Le Mountain Range, tourists can stop at Trong-Mai Mountain, Co Tien Temple and To Hien Thanh Temple to behold beautiful stone grounds in unique shapes and enjoy the cool winds from the sea.
Going to the Sea Using Bamboo Rafts
In March 1993, explorer Tim Severin from Ireland arrived in Sam Son to learn about going to the sea using rafts. He and the locals built a large raft to take a trip across the Pacific Ocean. Therefore, the trade of making rafts in Sam Son has been well known worldwide. It now is still practiced by the locals. To make a raft, it is necessary to select fresh Luong and Buong trees in mountainous area of the Thanh which then undergo some stages before being woven together as a means of transport on the sea.
Visiting the land, tourists will not only have a wonderful vacation in the beautiful coastal city but also have a chance to learn about the culture and spiritual life of the locals.
With a coastline of 6km from Lach Hoi Sea-mouth to the foot of Truong Le Mountain, Sam Son boasts lightly sloping beaches with big waves, which is very suitable for summer vacations.
Under the French domination, Sam Son was a famous vocational resort in the Indochina. Many years later, a series of resort villas were built there and Bao Dai, the last king of the Nguyen Dynasty, also ordered the construction of his residence in the area.
At present, the local authorities have invested hundreds of billions of dong in building infrastructure. Many enterprises and individuals have also poured in capital to restore, upgrade and build resorts and hotels for tourists. A series of services, hotels and restaurants on a large scale have been put into operation this summer that will lead to a sharp increase of tourists to the beach.
 A corner of Beach B of Sam Son Tourist Area seen from a fly cam. Photo: Hoang Ha  Enjoying the sunrise on Sam Son Beach. Photo: Duc Hanh  Playing in the waves on Sam Son Beach at sunrise. Photo: Cong Dat  Rescue boats of the sea emergency team ensure the safety of tourists. Photo: Cong Dat  Weathercocks beautify the beach in Sam Son. Photo: Cong Dat  Tourists can take photos on the beach. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang  Flying kites in the afternoon sunshine on the beach of Sam Son. Photo: Trong Chinh  Rocks in different sizes and shapes in Vung Tien at the foot of Dau Voi Mountain attract a large number of tourists. Photo: Trong Chinh  The beauty of Sam Son Beach at sunset. Photo: Cong Dat  The peaceful scenery of Sam Son Beach in the last sunlight of the day. Photo: Cong Dat  Sam Son has a new appearance in this summer and attracts a large number of tourists nationwide. In the photo: the coastal road of Ho Xuan Huong was expanded, which is two times larger. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang  Sam Son has received the largest investment capital ever with hundreds of billions of dong from the provincial budget for infrastructure. Many enterprises and individuals have also invested in upgrading, restoring and building hotels for tourists. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang |
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Sầm Sơn đã đón hơn một triệu lượt khách du lịch trong tháng 5/2016, bình quân có tới 50.000 lượt khách/ngày. Đặc biệt, số lượng khách lưu trú đã tăng gấp đôi cùng kỳ năm 2015. (Nguồn: Báo Thanh Hóa) Sam Son Beach received over one million tourists in May 2016, on average 50,000 tourists per day. Especially the number of visitors staying on the area increases doubly in comparison with the same period last year. (Source: Thanh Hoa Newspaper) |
In the afternoon, the atmosphere is like a festival. The 6km long beach becomes more crowded with tourists. Hundreds of plastic colourful weathercocks are arranged into different shapes and several sand castles are built on the beach while kites of different sizes are flying in the blue and clear sky.
It is a wonderful time for tourists to enjoy the exciting atmosphere, swim in the cool sea and play in the big waves.
A Destination of Spiritual Tourism
During the trip to discover the Thanh area, tourists will visit “Vong Phu” Mountain which is related to a local legend about a woman carrying her child to the mountain peak to wait for her husband’s return from the sea until she turned into a stone. Her tears become the Truong Le Mountain Range. Therefore, on this mountain range there is a system of temples, pagodas and relics showing the religion and spiritual culture of local fishermen. One of the relicts is the sacred temple of Doc Cuoc. Legend has it that there was a strong man who divided his body into two parts, one with locals going to the sea to catch fish and kill sea monsters and the other standing at the beginning of the Truong Le Mountain Range. To commemorate the man, the locals built Doc Cuoc Temple.
 Since the early morning, the parade of seven villages in five communes and wards in Sam Son Town marches on main streets before gathering at Doc Cuoc Temple’s yard on the festival of Day and Chung cakes. Photo: Trong Chinh  The parades of villages to Doc Cuoc Temple on Truong Le Mountain. Photo: Hoang Ha  The palanquin procession of villages on streets in Sam Son. Photo: Trong Chinh  Offering rites in Doc Cuoc Temple’s yard. Photo: Hoang Ha  Doc Cuoc Temple where Doc Cuoc Genie and Mother Goddess Lieu Hanh are worshiped looks magnificent on Truong Le Mountain. Doc Cuoc Temple is a popular destination for tourists to Sam Son. In the photo: The statue of Doc Cuoc Genie is placed at the central hall. Photo: Hoang Ha  Banh Day (round sticky rice cake) with a diameter of 30cm and Banh Chung (square sticky rice cake) which were carefully made are placed on palanquins to be offered at Doc Cuoc Temple. Photo: Hoang Ha  Co Tien Temple on the peak of Dau Voi Mountain at the end of Truong Le Mountain Range is ancient dating back to the Ly Dynasty where Thanh mau ThuongThien (Mother Goddess Lieu Hanh), Mau Thuong Ngan and Thanh Mau Thoai are worshiped. Photo: Trong Chinh  A corner of Co Tien Temple on Truong Le Mountain. Photo: Hoang Ha  The Banh Day-Banh Chung Festival is held from June 18-19 (May 14-15 of the lunar calendar) at Lach Hoi Fishing Wharf, Quang Tien Ward with a series of rites, such as palanquin processions and offerings. Photo: Trong Chinh  Village elders in festival costumes in the procession. Photo: Trong Chinh  A tourist from Hoang Mai District, Hanoi participates in the procession and offering rite in Doc Cuoc Temple during festival day. Photo: Trong Chinh |
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Sầm Sơn là địa phương có 5 ngôi đền được công nhận là di tích cấp quốc gia là Đền Độc Cước, Đền Cô Tiên, Đền Tô Hiến Thành, Đền Đề Lĩnh, Đền Cá lập. Sam Son has five temples recognised as national relics, including temples of Doc Cuoc, Co Tien, To Hien Thanh, De Linh and Ca Lap. |
On the road through the Truong Le Mountain Range, tourists can stop at Trong-Mai Mountain, Co Tien Temple and To Hien Thanh Temple to behold beautiful stone grounds in unique shapes and enjoy the cool winds from the sea.
Going to the Sea Using Bamboo Rafts
In March 1993, explorer Tim Severin from Ireland arrived in Sam Son to learn about going to the sea using rafts. He and the locals built a large raft to take a trip across the Pacific Ocean. Therefore, the trade of making rafts in Sam Son has been well known worldwide. It now is still practiced by the locals. To make a raft, it is necessary to select fresh Luong and Buong trees in mountainous area of the Thanh which then undergo some stages before being woven together as a means of transport on the sea.
 Fishermen prepare for the trip to the sea the next morning. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang  At 5am, the fishing wharf becomes bustling. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang  Fishermen with bamboo rafts are ready for the sea. Photo: Hoang Ha  Catching seafood using a raft. The locals have practiced the trade of building bamboo rafts using fresh Buong trees and rattan threads. Photo: Trong Chinh  Part of the fishing village’s boat wharf. Photo: Hoang Ha  Boats after trips. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang  Tourists like to learn about the daily activities of the locals. Photo: Trong Chinh |
Visiting the land, tourists will not only have a wonderful vacation in the beautiful coastal city but also have a chance to learn about the culture and spiritual life of the locals.
By Vietnam Pictorial’s Golden Moment Photography Club
