When it comes to Hue, people often think about imperial palaces, royal tombs and French-influenced heritage sites, but Chuon Lagoon is a place absolutely not-to-be-missed, many would argue. The 100-hectare lagoon is part of the Tam Giang brackish water lagoon system in the central province of Thua Thien – Hue, home to Hue, the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), Vietnam's last royal family. |
Makeshift bamboo shacks serve as accommodation for visitors who want to get a closer look at local life. |
Early morning is the busiest time of the day in the hidden lagoon as fishermen row boats full of fish and other catch back to shore after a night out. Over the last few years, photographers have been converging on this place, tipped off by word of mouth. It is generally agreed that 5.30 a.m. to 7 a.m. is the most ideal time of the day to shoot pictures at the Chuon Lagoon. |
Restaurants in Chuon Lagoon are bamboo stilt houses floating in the water, a distinctive feature of the place. |
The lagoon is also an ideal place for visitors to watch dazzling sunsets. |
Fishing is the main vocation of the lagoon’s residents who live in their boats all year round. Fishermen start catching fish at around 6 p.m. when the sun goes down, and go on until 6 a.m, bringing baskets of seafood to the morning market. |
Banh xeo (Vietnamese pancake) served with kinh fish, a specialty of Hue and caught in abundance in Chuon Lagoon, is a must for food lovers in Hue. The kinh fish catching season runs from the fourth to the seventh lunar months. A kilogram costs around VND100,000 ($4.3) here, while large shrimp costs VND150,000 ($6.4). |