Binh Phuoc is a culturally diverse destination, with many pristine natural scenes, a preserved ecosystem, and convenient transportation.
About 120 km from Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Phuoc is located in the transition area from the South Central Highlands to the Mekong Delta, the capital is Dong Xoai city. Life here is gentle and simple with many unique cultural features. Binh Phuoc also attracts tourists because of its intact natural landscape and ecosystem of Bu Gia Map National Park.
Journey to explore Binh Phuoc as suggested by Ms. Pham Kha, specialist of the Tourism Management Department of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Binh Phuoc province and a group of guests from Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 1
Morning
Have breakfast in Dong Xoai city with dishes from many regions such as Cay Xoai snakehead fish soup, Phuong Linh Hue beef vermicelli, Quang Huong Que noodles, eel porridge, Nang Kieu squid noodles, Lucky beef. These breakfast spots are located on major roads in the city center such as Hung Vuong, Nguyen Hue, and Phu Rieng Do. The price of each dish ranges from 30,000 VND to 60,000 VND.
After breakfast, depart for Vinh Phuc garden eco-tourism area (Dong Tam commune, Dong Phu district), about 18 km from Dong Xoai city. Here, you can immerse yourself in nature and experience fruit picking, check-in to the tile-roofed wooden bridge with bridge beam (load-bearing structure supporting the entire bridge body) made of 15.3 m long solid wood, road 1.26 m diameter. From the 33 m high Son Dang tower, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the regenerating forest typical of the Southeast region on a 300-hectare campus.
Then, tourists move to Standing Waterfall (Doan Ket commune, Bu Dang district), about 70 km from Dong Xoai city. The waterfall is about 6 m high, 15 m wide, has many large stone columns forming walls, the stone blocks are naturally joined together to create a unique feature. According to Ms. Kha, in the rainy season, the waterfall’s flow takes on the characteristic yellow color of the red basalt land. At the end of the rainy season, the beginning of the dry season, the waterfall is clear and blue.
Above the waterfall there are many trees, a place to rest and you can camp during the day.
Noon
After a period of exploring and experiencing nature, you should go to S’tieng Soc Bom Bo Ethnic Cultural Reserve (Binh Minh commune, Bu Dang district) to have lunch and rest. Lunch has typical dishes such as grilled meat, bamboo-tube rice, soup, and vegetables.
“If you come to Binh Phuoc and don’t go to the famous Bom Bo squirrel in the song The Pestle on the Bom Bo squirrel, it’s a mistake,” Ms. Kha said. Coming here, you will learn more about the life of the S’tieng people, with traditional long houses and village restoration areas. A simple but sturdy rice pounding pestle, a spike trap or a gourd containing water are handicraft products that make up the material culture of the Stieng community.
Afternoon
After lunch, the next destination is Bu Gia Map National Park along road DT760. The first experience is trekking, with a travel time of about 90 minutes. This is the time for you to enjoy the wild natural scenery and explore the flora and fauna on Vietnam’s special list. You can also watch the sunset filtering through the leaves of the forest trees.
Dinner in the Garden with many typical dishes of indigenous people, each meal from 60,000 VND. Cultural exchange of gongs with S’tieng and M’nong people. Overnight at the Garden.
According to Mr. Le Quang Hoi, Director of the Center for Propaganda, Tourism and Conservation Rescue of Bu Gia Map National Park, the center has 8 rooms and a long house, each room can accommodate 6 people, with a maximum number of guests. The center can serve about 90 people at the same time. Accommodation price per person is 100,000 VND per night. You can also camp in the middle of the forest. You should refer to the Center for a suitable location.
Also according to Mr. Hoi’s suggestion, after dinner, one experience you should try is going to look for animals at night in the forest. “This is a quite interesting nightlife experience. However, for safety, visitors do not go on their own but must be guided by center staff,” Mr. Hoi said.
Day 2
Morning
Have breakfast and move to ranger station number 2. This is the highest point of Bu Gia Map National Park so you can see the entire view of the Park. Standing high up, the view is the green of the forest mixed with the white of the clouds amidst the blue sky.
On the National Park trekking journey, you will visit the relic at the end of the North-South petroleum pipeline and rest on the grass in the middle of the pine forest, which is considered the “miniature Da Lat” of the Southeast. On the journey there is also Dak Mai waterfall, about 50 m wide, about 12 m high.
Noon
Return to Phuoc Long town to have lunch at My Le restaurant with typical dishes such as cashew sticky rice, fish (grilled or hotpot) before going to the spiritual cultural complex of Ba Ra mountain, the 3rd highest mountain in the country. Nam Bo (723 m). Here the air is fresh and the scenery is beautiful.
Standing on the top of Ba Ra mountain, you can see the center of Phuoc Long town, Thac Mo town and Thac Mo hydroelectric plant with an area of 12,000 hectares, immerse yourself in the natural air, feel the cool breeze from Thac Lake. Dream.
On the top of the mountain there is an antenna of Binh Phuoc Radio and Television Station, 48 m high. There is also a temple worshiping Thien Hau Thanh Mau and the Mother Goddess (Ba Ra Mountain), a Buddhist spiritual area.
Evening
On the way back to Dong Xoai city, stop by My Le Lam Vien tourist area to visit tea hills, linden trees, sesame seeds, breadfruit garden, participate in thrilling games such as roller coasters, flying saucers, electric car crash or swimming pool, fishing.
“Back to Dong Xoai city, if you have time, visit Quang Minh Pagoda. The pagoda has a strange architecture with the main door and windows alternating,” Ms. Kha said.
At the top of the tower of Quang Minh pagoda hangs a great bell (big bell) with the idea that the bell ringing brings peace to everyone. Inside the pagoda is solemnly decorated, in the middle is the shrine of the Buddha Shakyamuni and the statue of Lady Buddha with a thousand eyes and a thousand hands.
Some places for dinner: Anh Em clay pot rice, Chinh seafood restaurant, Sau Bang restaurant (serving guests and large groups), Minh Tuan clubhouse with diverse, rustic dishes such as hot pot, grilled or soup with prices ranging from a few tens of thousands to a few hundred thousand dong.