In the Southern Province of Phu Yen, one place is attracting more and more attention firstly because of its breathtaking sight, but most of all because of its sumptuous seafood which makes it now a top tourist destination: O Loan Lagoon.
 
O Loan Lagoon is located at the foot of Quan Cau Pass near National Highway A1 in Tuy An District. It is 1,200 hectares wide with an average depth of 1.2 – 1.4 meters. It is surrounded by rolling hills and connected to the Cai River. It is also linked to the sea by a small creek. Golden sand dunes and casuarina forests can be found along the bank of the lagoon, a refuge for amazing wildlife as pelicans, storks and ducks. Moreover, when viewed from a plane or above, it has the shape of a swan, even adding to its beauty and fame. Guests can cruise the peaceful waters of the lagoon by a boat driven by the local boatmen. If you’re lucky, you may even see fish jumping out of the water.   
 
But as the lagoon is most known for, O Loan Lagoon creates its own brand of culinary artistry by offering seafood specialties such as red oysters, cuttlefish, jellyfish, and a kind of red algae. The red clams are said to be especially sweet-smelling and tasting. They are also said to be very healthy, containing the highest nutritional content compared to other clam or oyster species in Vietnam. In fact, the red clams are so famous that there’s a popular local saying “One can not say that they have visited Phu Yen without having tasted O Loan’s blood cockles.” Red clams are referred to as blood cockles because of its red-colored meat.
 
The clams can be prepared in several ways depending on the customer’s taste: grilled; boiled; or steamed, the first being the most simple and delicious. O Loan also offers different clam dishes such as stir-fried and clams with rice porridge. The clams can be dipped in salt sauce, pepper and lime juice, spicy vegetables, grilled girdle cake and wine, all best eaten out at the lagoon for a spectacular view while dining.
 
As O Loan is famous for its seafood, it is also known for its beautiful environment which has in fact helped in the preservation of nature in the area. A number of business companies have already tried to convince the government to breed the seafood but all the time, they are refused in a conscious effort of maintaining the ecosystem in the lagoon.
 
Aside from O Loan Lagoon though, there are also other attractions in Tuy An District that tourists can visit and enjoy: The Mang Lang Church in An Thach Commune is one of the oldest churches in Vietnam and where one of the first books printed in Vietnamese romanised script; Quang Duc pottery village of the 17th-18th century which is known for its enamel-covering pottery using shells from O Loan Lagoon; Da Dia Reef which has a 3-kilometer beach stretch, white, clean and smooth sand, and clear, blue waters.
 
January 7 of the lunar calendar year is the best time to visit O Loan Lagoon, during the O Loan Lagoon Festival. Visitors will be treated to such activities as boat racing and traditional folklore, among others. O Loan Lagoon has received such historical and cultural significance that in 1996, it was highlighted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a “beauty spot that must be protected.”