Ô Loan Lagoon

Đầm Ô Loan
Ô Loan Lagoon
LocationĐắk Lắk Province
Coordinates13°16′14″N 109°16′36″E / 13.27056°N 109.27667°E / 13.27056; 109.27667 (Ô Loan Lagoon)
TypeCoastal lagoon
Basin countries Vietnam
Surface area1.570 ha (15.7 km²)
Location
Interactive map of Đầm Ô Loan

Ô Loan Lagoon (Vietnamese: Đầm Ô Loan) is a brackish water lagoon located in Đắk Lắk Province, Vietnam. Covering an area of about 15.7 km², the lagoon lies around 22 kilometers north of Tuy Hoà. It is separated from the South China Sea by a narrow sand dune. There is a small creek connecting the lagoon to the sea.

The lagoon has been recognized as a National Scenic Site of Vietnam. Ô Loan Lagoon is also known for its abundance of seafood, particularly blood cockles, which are considered a local delicacy.[1]

Legend of the name

According to local legend, long ago, there was a beautiful fairy named Loan who loved to wander and explore. One day, she borrowed a ô thước bird (a mythical black bird believed to be a crow or magpie) to fly down to earth for sightseeing. Captivated by the beauty of the world, she didn’t notice that the bird had grown tired. When they flew over the lagoon in Tuy An district, the bird could no longer continue and fell down. Later, people combined the bird’s name with the fairy’s name to create the name Ô Loan Lagoon.[2]

Ecology

The lagoon hosts a rich ecosystem of brackish water species, including shrimp, crab, fish, and blood cockles. The mangrove vegetation around the lagoon provides a natural habitat for many birds and aquatic organisms, contributing to the ecological balance of the coastal area. Therefore, Ô Loan Lagoon was recognized as a national scenic site on September 27, 1996.[3]

Tourism

Ô Loan Lagoon is a well-known tourist destination in the former Phú Yên Province, especially after being featured in the Vietnamese film “Tôi thấy hoa vàng trên cỏ xanh” (Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass).[4] Visitors often come here to enjoy the scenery and savor fresh seafood.

See also

References

  1. ^ "7 Must-Try Seafood in Vietnam". Asia King Travel.
  2. ^ "Huyền thoại về tên gọi đầm Ô Loan" [The legend behind the name of O Loan Lagoon.] (in Vietnamese). Báo Phú Yên.
  3. ^ "Di tích thắng cảnh quốc gia Đầm Ô Loan" [O Loan Lagoon National Scenic Site.] (in Vietnamese). Phú Yên Tourism.
  4. ^ "Những Thắng Cảnh Phú Yên Xuất Hiện Trong Tôi Thấy Hoa Vàng Trên Cỏ Xanh" [The scenic spots of Phu Yen featured in “Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass.”]. Tour Du Lịch Phú Yên.