Ho Tram boasts the charm of tranquil beaches. Photo: Traveloka

Ho Tram is a coastal strip in Xuyen Moc district, the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, only two hours away from Ho Chi Minh City, making it an ideal weekend gateway. It boasts the charm of tranquil beaches, reserved primeval forests, scenic hot springs and substantial fishing grounds.

“Ho Tram may have all the qualities of a sleepy Viet village, but beyond the quaintness, it is at the heart of Vietnam’s fastest-growing development area, where an up-and-coming resort scene has rekindled the interest of tourists in recent years,” according to Travel Off Path.

Ho Tram is famous as a weekend retreat in the southern region thanks to its long, sandy beaches with turquoise waters and primeval forests. Photo: Travel Off Path

The article said “beyond the sun and sand, it is dotted with historical sites that don’t often make it to mainstream travel publications, such as the Minh Dam Mountain, perhaps the main point of interest in the province.”

The Minh Dam Mountain is a protected reserve of outstanding beauty that hides some harrowing stories and an underworld of secrets beneath its scenic trails and meandering creeks.

“Climbing the mountain, you’ll walk past numerous war memorials and rock formations whose once-smooth surfaces are scarred by bullet holes,” the article said.

The author suggested visitors stay at Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort, explaining it is one of a select few five-star properties that call Ho Tram home and one of the very first international brands to arrive in the area.

Ho Tram is home to ideal resorts. Photo: Tripadvisor

Totaling over 10.000 square meters of impeccably-designed lakes and water displays, bounded by more than 4.000 tropical trees, and world-class amenities, the Melia is a quintessential part of the Ho Tram experience.

Earlier, Ho Tram was voted by the US-based TV channel CNNGo as one of the most beautiful unspoiled beaches in the world.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau is also home to the Con Dao National Park, which received the ASEAN Heritage Park certificate in April, according to VietnamPlus.

The park covers more than 15,000ha, including over 6,000ha of land and 9,000ha of sea. It comprises 14 islands of Con Son Archipelago, located to the southeast of Vietnam.

With its rich biodiversity, the park was included by the World Bank among the top priority areas among global maritime reserves. In 2013, it was named the world’s 2203rd wetland of international importance by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Secretariat, making this park the 6th Ramsar site in Vietnam and the first maritime site earning this title in the country.

A Nicoba pigeon in the Con Dao National Park. Photo: VNA

The park is harbouring and conserving hundreds of vascular plant species, many of which are listed in the Red Data Book.

Meanwhile, the sea turtle conservation programme implemented here over the last 30 years has helped recover the population of the rare green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas). Nearly 2.5 million baby turtles have been released to the nature so far.

Besides, the Con Nao National Park was listed as an ASEAN Heritage Park thanks to not only its unique marine biodiversity but also rich historical and cultural values./.

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