Nha Phu Lagoon: Of Monkeys and Orchids and Such

Nha Phu Lagoon: Of Monkeys and Orchids and Such

Nha Phu Lagoon is a collection of many islands, amazing beaches and breathtaking resorts. Located at the North of Nha Trang along the Central coast in Khanh Hoa Province, it is truly a must-go destination for any tourist and nature lover as a whole.

 

Hon Lao Island is the largest island at Nha Phu. It is more popularly known as “Monkey Island” because of about a thousand monkeys residing in the area. Three kinds of monkeys live in the island: red buttock with short tails; red-faced with yellow coats; and long-tailed with gray coats. They generally spend each day looking for food in the forest, but most of them have become comfortable enough to go inside Hon Lao Tourism Park and get fed by tourists visiting the site. These monkeys used to be taken to vaccine laboratories to be used as test subjects, but ever since the island was turned over to resort developers, they acquired the much easier and enjoyable task of entertaining visitors at the park.

 

Aside from monkeys, one resort at the island actually has an animal circus with animals like dogs, bears, elephants, and monkeys as well performing in the show. There is also a bird park and a garden filled with statues and sculptures.

 

As the island is naturally endowed with animals, there is also an ostrich farm located at Hon Thi. The ostriches are even tame enough to be pet and fed by tourists. In the same farm, there are also spotted deer which visitors can feed with peanuts and/ or corn.

 

Hon Thi Island offers more with its abundance of native plants, forests, beaches, and fresh water. Walking through these forests is a must for all visitors. Orchards also abound in the area with such varieties as mango, custard-apple, guava, orange, dragon fruit and coconut trees.

 

Past these orchards is an area with big rock formations and a cave beneath. But tourists are only allowed up to a short, safe distance and with a flashlight since going further into the cave is no longer considered safe.

 

Thien Long (heaven dragon) is a place at the island with a type of plant called thien tue arranged in an enormous landscape and shaped into several forms such as a dragon; the gods of happiness, wealth and longevity Phuc, Loc and Tho; and the twelve zodiac signs.

 

Suoi Hoa Lan is an orchid brook located at Ninh Phu Commune, Ninh Hoa District. The brook was formed by many small streams flowing down from the rocky slopes of Hon Heo Mountain. It is also this brook from which Hoa Lan Stream Tourism Site got its name. Aside from its beautiful body of water, the place is also filled with a large collection of spectacular orchids which came from the different areas in the Northern and Central regions and even the Central Coast. There are over 3,000 specimens of 39 orchid species at the park's “grotto” called “Cave of Orchid Flowers.”

 

For adventure-seeking visitors, Nha Phu Lagoon also offers such tourism entertainment as horseback riding, fishing, swimming, and boat racing. With its perfect combination of natural and commercial tourism, Nha Phu Lagoon is every tourist and adventure lover's dream destination.