29 Jun 2026
Day 12
Dong Ninh Hoa, Doc Let Beach, Hon Khoi
This morning at 5 am, I visited the Hon Khoi Salt Field, the largest in SE Asia before sunrise. The farmers were already working in the salt field.
Spanning hundreds of hectares, the vast salt fields here are a spectacular sight
Water are channeled in from the sea to the salt pans. It take 3 days, completely rely on nature to vapourise the sea water for white salt to crystallise.
Salt making is one of the most arduous and physically demanding professions. Starting as early as 4 a.m., local farmers begin their day on the fields.
Under the scorching sun, farmers rake the salt into small mounds, shovel onto wheelbarrows, pushed and unloaded onto piles on the bank to dry and delivered to factory for processing.
These salt fields and the backbreaking labour of the farmers have been an source of inspiration for many people and photographers.
The sights of the farmers working is mesmerising. As the sun rise, breaking over the horizon, and illuminating the salt fields below, the flooded salt fields transform into a awesome natural mirror.
Farmers do need to take a break too. Before 7 am, the job was done and they were leaving the salt fields.
I returned to the hotel for breakfast and rest a few hous before hailing a taxi to Hon Khoi to see a temple, Chua Tap Thien. nested on a hill top.
View of the town from the hilltop
Then I went the fishing port, had lunch and return to hotel for afternoon rest. The weather was extremely hot.
In the late afternoon, I walked to Doc Let beach. It has a few kilometre of white sand, very popular beach for the local and foreigners are coming too.
