Bac Lieu is considered the capital of Vietnam’s salt fields, because it is one of the localities with the largest salt production area in the country. With a history of more than 100 years of formation and development, salt farmers in Bac Lieu have accumulated practical skills and passed on unique salt-making professions.
By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Bac Lieu Visitor Guide
1. Better to Know as a Tourist
Ticket: Free
Spend-time: One and a half hour (approx)
Hours: Dawn – dusk
Food:
Shop:
Parking lot: Yes
Blog: https://vemekong.com/bac-lieu-salt-farm/
Address: Located in Hoa Binh and Dong Hai District, Bac Lieu, Vietnam.
Added values: Bac Lieu salt is not only a culinary specialty but also contains many cultural features of the coastal people in Bac Lieu. Not only that, with the vast salt fields, covered with a pure white color, it has created a beautiful scene that attracts a large number of tourists from Bac Lieu every year.
Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from Bac Lieu Salt Farm? Ghositaram pagoda (50 km), Xiem Can Pagoda (42 km), Cong Tu Bac Lieu House (47 km), Bac Lieu Bird Sanctuary (37 km), Tac Say Church (23 km), Bac Lieu market (46 km)…
2. Travel Guide to Bac Lieu Salt Farm
Salt-making is hard work and depends on the weather. When it’s sunny, the salt farmers will hit the season, and if suddenly thunderstorms fall when the salt is not salty enough to scrape, it’s considered as effort poured into the river, into the sea. According to the salt farmers, sea salt is normally farmed once a year, starting in December after the rainy season, and will last about 5 months until April the following year.
Making salt does not cost a lot of investment, but the most necessary is diligence, hard work and experience accumulated over many years. Despite the hard work, the Bac Lieu people still try to keep the job of making salt. Profession passing profession, career following career to this day.
Before entering production, farmers must store water and make drying yards carefully, renovate them by motor vehicles, and flatten the ground so that the yard is firm and smooth to catch sea water. After 12-18 days, thanks to the blazing sun of heaven and earth, the sea water evaporates to form salt. At this time, salt farmers used rakes to harvest salt. They usually scratch in the early morning or early afternoon. Then leave it for about 3-4 hours to drain the water, then pour the salt into the trolley and transport it to the gathering place.
It can be said that the pioneers in exploiting coastal mangrove wastelands to produce table salt are the Chinese, with the technique of drying sea water to crystallized salt grains from ocean seawater. During the French colonial period and the American domination of our country, Bac Lieu salt was acquired in the hands of many famous salt production and business owners, occupying along the left and right banks of the Bac Lieu river, which until now still remains. In addition, there are houses of French architecture, including the famous large mansion of Prince Bac Lieu, who was also one of the salt business owners in Bac Lieu at that time.
With pink and white color, eye-catching gray, odorless, strong salty taste, no bitter taste, dry and firm salt, clean salt without impurities… It is these factors that have made the Bac Lieu salt brand for generations. Bac Lieu salt seeds are also kept by people in glass glues, buried in the ground for many years, and have the effect of curing a number of diseases and taking care of beauty very effectively.
In the past, most salt was produced directly in the field by traditional methods. But now, people know how to take advantage of opportunities, make good use of new technology techniques to replace traditional manual methods, and produce salt grains with higher economic value, focusing on quality instead of traditional methods.
And one of the great motivations for salt farmers to firmly maintain this traditional profession is that in 2013, Bac Lieu table salt was certified for protection of geographical indications as a national brand.
3. What to Do –See – Eat at Bac Lieu Salt Farm
The first impression when coming here is the poetic, fresh scenery, the vast and immense salt field is covered by the pure white color of tiny salt particles. When the sun shines on, the salt field becomes sparkling, surprisingly beautiful.
The salt field is divided into small squares, straight and very eye-catching. When the salt is harvested, it will be grouped into different big and small piles, looking from afar like diamonds undulating in the middle of the field.
Not only the beautiful scenery, the scene of people here diligently harvesting salt is also charming and enchanting. Coming here, visitors can comfortably take & save beautiful photos with friends and the salt farmers.
Visitors should come here in the morning or evening to catch the best views of the salt fields. And especially you should avoid coming at noon because this is the time when the sun is hot, the water is evaporating to form salt, so it will be very hot and muggy.
When visiting Bac Lieu salt fields and taking photos, remember to ask permission of the locals.
4. Free Itineraries from VeMekong
As a local travel expert, we have some ideas for you to think about.
From Bac Lieu city center:
Route 1:
Route 2:
Route 3:
If you do not have much time left, it is easy to check out spots in one full day by boat or with bike or with motorbike and car. But there are much more than tourist sites like these in Bac Lieu. Make sure you have more time to feel and explore more about the hidden gems and the culture, food, night life, wildlife and forest as well. Top tip: Stay in a homestay nearby, so you have more chances to visit it and surroundings. If you are looking for the package Bac Lieu daily tour with local, you can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com
5. Google Maps of Bac Lieu Salt Farm
Google Maps made a name for itself helping people travel from one place to another, avoid traffic (You probably know the route from your hotel to the gas station by heart, but what you can’t be sure about is gridlock), measure a distance, get back to the hotel on time, share the location…
6. Visit Bac Lieu Salt Farm by yourself
Solo traveller? Travelling on your own means you will get out of any difficult situations by yourself. This, in turn, leads to more satisfying travel experiences and helps you improve your problem-solving skills. These days we rarely get the chance to sit with ourselves and simply be. That’s why you should consider the time you spend alone on your trip as a gift.
It is possible for solo travellers to use google maps and do it alone. But sometimes they need to update local maintained roads and bridges which close and lead you a longer road than the road from Google maps. It is just about the time. It takes more time to find the correct garden to come. Adventure is always fun. Wifi is strong in Bac Lieu village! The locals find it hard to speak English as well. Top tip: Sticking to one canal and keeping going along it which gives you more things to see and avoids getting lost. Contact vemekong.com to hire a car, scooter with English-speaking-guide or cycling tours in Bac Lieu.
7. Responsible Travel and Advice Bac Lieu Salt Farm
Don’t get us wrong. But we assure you that you totally agree with us. “Do not give candy and things to the children when you plan to visit any local villages”, the kids will leave the school and follow the sweets and later they find some things to give you or sell to you. The garden is a little forest, don’t pick and touch the flowers or fruits without the local’s smiles. We deal with traveling green and leaving green behind, not plastic. Top tip: Vemekong.com are some of the companies that care a lot about responsible travel and local respectation.
8. Amazing Video flycam/drone of Bac Lieu Salt Farm (4k)
If a picture says a thousand words, it stands to reason that the video says many times more.
9. Incredible Tips for Photography, Specialists, KOLs, Media and Influencers
To get the best of the best for your unique writing, featuring, photo, video and insider’s stories. We do recommend you to have a local travel expert, the one who always gets more ground information and makes sure every single element is solved perfectly. The Vemekong (very exclusive Mekong) team is your priority choice. Email and have a private talk with them to customize your journey smoothly, personal and the most ultimately amazing. You can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com
10. Pro Tips
You can stay in a homestay which is near the riverside, this will help you out the best option. Then you can hire a scooter, car or bike and explore it by yourself and I hope you have an amazing Mekong Delta river sunrise.
If you plan to extend your travel to Bac Lieu homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.
Visit Bac Lieu or do any customized tours, please choose reputable providers with boat trips equipped with lifebuoys, jackets, motorcycle and cycling tours with the helmets and. Safety is a priority! Choose Bac Lieu responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.
Bac Lieu food & drink guide ranges from street food, authentic, fancy to fusion foods. As a tropical land of many fresh vegetables and homegrown gardens, which always make Bac Lieu cuisines fresh, close to nature and very traditional. If you are a food lover, don’t hesitate to put other bites onto your food lists such as Bun bo cay (Spicy beef noodle soup), Three-striped crab (Freshwater crab in Bac Lieu), Banh cu cai (White radish pies), Banh tam bi Bac Lieu (Bac Lieu thick noodles & creamy coconut milk), Pho Ngheu, Bon Bon Pickles
Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunblock, scarf to wear when visiting temples, pagodas, and the cathedral.
Bring the raincoat if you’re planning a trip to Bac Lieu in the rainy season, as Bac Lieu always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.
Bac Lieu tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Bac Lieu Bird Sanctuary, Bac Lieu Salt Farm, Buddha Temple Ba Nam Hai, Cong Tu Bac Lieu House, Ghositaram Pagoda in Bac Lieu, Bac Lieu Wind Farm, Ancient Longan Orchards, Vinh Hung Ancient Temple, Xiem Can Pagoda Bac Lieu, Cao Van Lau Theater (Conical Hat Non La Theater), Tac Say Church, Cao Van Lau Musician Memorial Site, Nha Mat amusement park, Bac Lieu Beach and mangrove forests, Phuoc Duc Ancient Temple and Dia Mau Cung (Ba Pagoda), Bac Lieu Market, Hung Vuong Square in Bac Lieu…
Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Bac Lieu province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!
“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.
Thank you
