Imprints of islets in Bien Hoa

​Hiep Hoa Bridge connecting Bien Hoa City and the islet

Hub of commerce

The most impressive and famous in Bien Hoa City is Pho island (Hiep Hoa ward, nearly 700ha). It was once known as a hub of commerce in Bien Hoa, a bustling trading port, with a special role in the process of expanding territory to the South. This alluvial belt of land is embraced by two branches of the Dong Nai River. The person credited with the development of this islet is General Tran Thuong Xuyen.

Pho Island still has many vestiges of the flourishing of the land, such as: pottery, sculpture, trade; valuable historical and belief works such as Dai Giac pagoda, Nguyen Huu Canh temple, and Quan De temple. According to statistics, Pho Island currently has 3 national historical relics, 1 provincial relic, 11 communal houses and temples that preserve the Nguyen Dynasty, and 40 ancient tombs.

Currently, Pho Island is being planned as a symbolic landmark for the city with the most historic history in the South. It has an architectural space planned in harmony with the landscape of the river and the ecological environment; buildings, values of heritage, typical culture inherent in the old islet are preserved and promoted along with contemporary urban constructions. Pho Island becomes a green biosphere reserve for the city; ideal travel destination for those who love nature and like to study the cultural values and long history of the land.

 Peaceful and quiet place

Different from the hustle and bustle of Pho Island, Co Island (also known as Bay Mau Island) is nestled on Cai river's branch, in Thong Nhat Ward, with area of just around 7ha. According to the elderly, before the people had not come to declare the land, Cu Lao Co was an old forest with luxuriant reeds. Noticing the dunes of lush grass and plants over the other side of the bank, some of the people swam across to claim the land to grow rice, vegetables and fruit trees. At first, only one family came, then 2, 3 families, eventually, in the peak period, Co Island has nearly a dozen households living by fishing and aquaculture on the river now.

It is about 100m from the bank of Thong Nhat Ward to Co Island. Due to the characteristics of the river bed, no bridges are connected and the only means of connecting to the outside world is canoes; therefore, the life of the island is self-sufficient and less affected by outside influences. A few years ago, there was a tour project connecting Co Island and other islets of the city researched and explored by a private organization, but so far, this project is still "dormant" and the people in Co Island still enjoy a carefree and peaceful life.

Someone once said, Co Island is a "muse" who overslept; on the contrary, the people there still diligently plant trees, raise fish, and fish in order for their next generation's better life. Sometimes, the people welcome delegations of writers, journalists, photographers, and painters to come for creative topics. Literature, poems, and articles on Co Island are increasingly created. Under the eyes of writers, Co Island is like a peaceful and calm "muse", but slowly changing her state.

A view of Pho Island down from An Hao bridge

The miniature Southwest of Dong Nai

From Pho Island, downstream the Dong Nai River, you will see Ba Xe Island (Long Binh Tan ward, with area of about 27ha). Ba Xe Island is like a miniature Southwest of Dong Nai because many years ago, this island was planned as an eco-tourism area associated with gardens and rivers. The downstream islet of the city does not have many constructions, the life of the people in this oasis mingle and rely on nature. The most typical cuisine in Ba Xe Island is grilled field rat, a dish that not everyone is brave enough to enjoy. The locals consider field rats to be delicious, nutritious, cheap and specialty foods that are not available everywhere. The rats there often make burrows at the water's edge; they hunt small fish and snakes as main source of food, so the meat is delicious and smells good. It is this dish that has contributed to the nickname "miniature Southwest of Dong Nai'' in Ba Xe Island.

A river tourism route from the pier (opposite Bien Hoa market) - Cu Lao Pho - Tan Mai Rafting Village - Ba Xe Island was put into operation. In particular, Ba Xe Island was chosen as a destination for visitors to visit and experience the ecological services of the river such as: catching fish, boating and enjoying the "flavor of wilderness" cuisine with fish, shrimp, wild duck, and field rat. This tourist route contributed to economic development for people in the islands, creating a highlight for Dong Nai tourism in particular and the Southeast tourism in general. It is developing green and environmentally friendly tourism based on the island's advantage on the Dong Nai River.

Nam Vu