Nestled along the Ninh Chu coastline in the southern central province of Khanh Hoa, Hai Chu offers a quiet charm that contrasts with the rapid development of nearby urban centres.
The village features a rustic dining scene where a few plastic tables and a steaming pot of broth suffice for a meal. A simple seafood meal for three or four people costs around VND 100,000 (approximately USD 4).
Hai Chu is also home to century-old houses. One yellow-walled home, pictured by locals, is said to date back to the early 1900s and remains a symbol of the village’s heritage.
These days, groups of middle-aged men can often be found playing chess along Dong Hai Embankment, while children still enjoy traditional games like tag, rock-paper-scissors, and jump rope along the quiet village road.
Local fishermen continue to hand-mend their nets in preparation for each new season.
According to Manh Tuan, a villager and basket boat owner, fishermen hold offerings on full moon days and at the start of each lunar month, presenting sweets, flowers, and incense to the sea to pray for safe and fruitful voyages.
From May to July, during just a few low-tide days each month, coral reefs emerge above the surface. On these rare days, villagers wade out to collect seafood including clams, snails, seaweed, crabs, and sea urchins.
