CA MAU
1.Geographical Location
Ca Mau is the southernmost province of Vietnam in the Mekong Delta region, re-
established on January 01st, 1997. Its territory includes two parts: mainland and
sovereign territorial waters.
It borders Kien Giang to the North, Bac Lieu to the Northeast, East Sea to the East
and Southeast, Gulf of Thailand to the West. Ca Mau is located on a peninsula, a
rather special geographical position, circled by the sea on its three sides. Ca Mau
Cape is the only place on the mainland where people can watch the sun rising from
the East in the morning and setting into the West.
2. Climate
Ca Mau is a coastal flat terrain, located in the inner northern hemisphere,
subequatorial zone, at the same time in the Asian monsoonal zone, so Ca Mau is
temperate, of subequatorial moon soon climate, and two distinct seasons: rainy and
dry seasons.
Morning dew in Ca Mau
3. History
Ca Mau province is found more later than other provinces in the region. The early
17th century, population in Ca Mau is very thin ,land is deserted. Today Ca Mau
province is the developing province of the Mekong River Delta and the country.
4. Places and Sights
Hon Da Bac
Hon Da Bac, away from Ca Mau city about 50km, away from mainland about
50m, with area of 6.34ha, is located in the west of Ca Mau Peninsula, in Kinh Hon
village, Khanh Binh Tay commune, Tran Van Thoi district. Overlooking on the
map, Hon Da Bac likes as an outpost station guarding airspace and sea area in
southwest of Ca Mau Cape . Walking on Hon Da Bac, visitors will encounter the
Tien hands, Tien footprints, Tien wells, tiger feet. On the east top of Hon Da Bac
there are big rocks and its surfaces are quite wide. The gap between two rocks with
a deep pit like shaped foot. Hon Da Bac also has a natural vegetation of island
tropical forest ecosystems. This vegetation is like a robe covering land to give a
green on Hon Da Bac.
Bird yard in the heart of Ca Mau City
Ca Mau has a variety of bird yards with hundreds of bird species.Many of them
are rare species and in need of conservation, gathering under the canopy of
mangrove forest (mangroves) and brackish water forest (cajuput). There are more
than ten thousands of birds individuals to nest, give birth and settle here. In
particular, there are many storks, herons, cong coc, dien dien... In the afternoon,
when the sun sets, birds come back to their nests, visitors can easily enjoy chorus
of thousands of storks couples chasing each other. Fledglings are effusively calling
their mothers, the male bird is calling his partner etc. among the prosperous town.
Ca Mau Cape
Ca Mau Cape is the tip of the cape, under Dat Mui Hamlet, Dat Mui Commune,
Ngoc Hien District. The cape tip is shaped weird and heading out West Sea (Gulf
of Thailand) at speeds from 50 to 80m per year. This is considered to be the
southernmost point on the mainland of Vietnam Fatherland. Ca Mau Cape is the
only place on the mainland to watch the sun rise over the sea from the East in the
morning and the sun set into the sea west in the afternoon.
From Ca Mau Cape, overlooking the East Sea is green, majestic Hon Khoai island
appearing in the vast sea. Domestic and international tourists once arrived at Ca
Mau, rare of them do not wish to visit Dat Mui one time.
Lower U Minh Melaleuca forest
Going to Ca Mau, visitors would sit on small boats (called Vo Lai) swept under
Trem Trem river, Cai Tau, Song Doc to reach and explore the Lower U Minh
Melaleuca forest. Lower U Minh National Park is one of the three core areas of Ca
Mau Cape World Biosphere Reserves is responsible for preserving, reproducing
the value of the natural landscape, ecology and biodiversity of particular wetland
ecosystem, Melaleuca forest on peat land; preserving and developing the genetic
resources of precious plants and animals, the value of cultural, spiritual, historic
monuments, serving the works of scientific research, sightseeing and tourism
development.
Cai Tau Strawberry
Cai Tau strawberry is abuts on U Minh Ha Melaleuca forest and along the Cai Tau
river under Nguyen Phich commune, U Minh district, Ca Mau province.
Landmark if Cai Tau was named the “kingdom” of yellow strawberry in Mekong
Delta for long time ago. In the minds of U Minh’s people, strawberry in Cai Tau is
both a special dish and a characteristic of the local. Referring to Cai Tau
strawberry does not just refer to a normal tree but it is also an emotional deeply in
the hearts of every citizens for this fruit tree.
5. Food
Ba Khia
Ba Khia are shellfish, smaller and shaped like a crab but greater than the cuffs.
They often have big hands, live mainly in mangrove areas along rivers and coastal
areas. However, in the South, Ba Khia concentrate in shrimp farming areas, along
waterways, mudflats and mangrove areas of Ca Mau. Especially, by eating more
fruit ripe black sauce, Ba Khia in Rach Goc, Tan An commune, Ngoc Hien district,
are always full of roes, make their meat tastier and more delicious than other areas.
For years, Ba Khia in Rach Goc, Tan An commune, Ngoc Hien district became
famous specialty of Ca Mau. Ba Khia can be cooked into different dishes including
salted Ba Khia ( Ba Khia sauce), steamed, boiled, fried with salt, etc. but the most
delicious and attractive is roasted Ba Khia with tamarind.
U Minh Sauce Hotpot
Travelling to Ca Mau, the visitors do not forget to enjoy the rustic delicious dish
characterized by the country flavor - U Minh Sauce hotpot.
The main ingredient is fish sauce. There can be many types of fish sauce including
snakehead sauce, tilapia sauce, catfish, etc. But the most delicious and the most
attractive sauce is tasty sauce (not too salty or too sweet), flavor of U Minh Ha
forest in Ca Mau.
U Minh sauce hotpot can be enjoyed with lots of vegetables such as spinach
contract, cilantro, broccoli, mushrooms, tomato lungs, mint, bean dragons, lilies,
cotton squash, banana, cotton, cork, cotton than chopsticks, anchored, sprout
grower, vegetable labels, vegetables shy, pennywort, water celery, silk leaves, can,
squeezing, etc. and any country vegetables can also delicious with U Minh sauce
hotpot.
Grilled Mud Clam
If You have ever had a chance to visit Ca Mau Cape, you mustn’t miss Grilled
Mud Clam with salt-pepper and lemon juice.
Mud Clam is a specific two-piece shell mollusk of Ca Mau salt-marsh forest. It can
be made into many delicious dishes such as: braised with ginger, stir-fried with
cattails leaf, Thai hot pot, clay pot stew, dip in hot vinegar, etc. But the most
delicious of them all is Grilled Mud Clam with salt-pepper and lemon juice.
Grilled Mud Clam is easy to make. We only have to choose fresh Mud Clams,
clean it, let dry then grill it on a charcoal stove. Grilled Mud Clam is served with
salt-pepper and lemon juice, laksa leaves, spice vegetables, etc.
6. Festival
Nghinh Ong Festival
Nghinh Ong Festival is held for 3 days (14th, 15th, 16th February in Lunar
calendar annually at Ong Doc river mouth, Tran Van Thoi district. In which the
main ceremonies are held on 15th, beginning at 2:00 pm.
Chairman of festival and management board of temple put an incense burner onto
the palanquin (dragon temple), with 8 students carry and follow up them. These
students were selected from fisherman’s children living within Song Doc town.
The teams of phosphorus, five-color flag, the weapons: pill, sword, dancers, etc.
wearing formal uniforms make into two long lines from the main hall to the yard.
When parading, people in the area are also enter them. On the water, hundreds of
fishermen’s fishing boats are decorated with flags, flowers anchoring under the
river.
Nghinh Ong festival on Ong Doc river is a the festival of coastal residents, they
wish for the calm sea, prosperous country, the luck of fishermen, fishing many
seafoods
Ba Thien Hau Worship Festival
Ba Thien Hau Worship Festival is a largest festival of the Chinese community in
Ca Mau, was held at 9 o'clock (because the Chinese think that Number of 9 is a
lucky number) on 23/3 of lunar calendar at Ba Thien Hau Thanh Mau Pagoda (Ba
Pagoda), ward 2, Ca Mau City. Before the ceremony, the Chinese community in
Ca Mau richly decorated inside and outside where worship Ba. Each group with
gongs, drums, unicorn, monk, dragon, etc. and flags, flowers parading through the
inner routes of Ca Mau city that made the Festival was more thrill, excitement
On the day of ceremony, many rituals were held. In particular, there had a
ceremonial of object bath, brushed away the dust layers and put a new cloth on.
The art & cultural activities were held attracting pilgrims to visit, apply for a
fortunetelling, etc. In this Festival, the gifts offered to worship Ba to reply what
they wished and wishing Ba Thien Hai keep her protection, wish for peace, luck in
their job, happy family, prosperous life, etc.
