With the rugged beauty of rocks, the glorious rush of water together with bamboo clusters and reeds, Suoi Da or Rock Stream - a stream that begins at Dinh Mountain in Tan Thanh District, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province - is suggested as a fascinating weekend getaway for adventurous tourists.

People swim at a lake in Suoi Da tourist area at the foot of Dinh Mountain in Ba Ria-Vung Tau

A poetic view of Suoi Da tourist area in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province

From Ho Chi Minh City, you head onto Hanoi Highway before passing Dong Nai Bridge and take a turn on National Road No.51 to Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province for 40 kilometres, and then you will see the small road to the stream. There are many paths to the mountain’s foot but the easiest way to remember it is when tourists pass Chu Hai Church, ride along the road for two kilometres where there are a number of small houses, vegetable gardens and onion farms along street sides. Then you will see the mountain’s foot, park your vehicle and then walk to the stream.

What you notice is that there are many rocks of various sizes lying on the banks, forming into many smaller waterfalls. Tourists can rest on big and smooth rocks as they relax and admire the wonders of nature and talk with friends as they watch the rocks form into lakes. Locals say that from the foot to the peak of the mountain, there are five lakes that they number from 1 to 5. In scorching summer days or weekends, visitors flock to the lakes to swim in the cool water. Some young boys often jump from the mountain wall to the lake at a height of two meters and amidst the white bubbles they laugh so much as they revel in the joyous relationship between nature and humans.

The site is still non-resident so tourist services consist of small cottages for tourists to rest and enjoy food. Some vendors also come to sell snacks and drinks.

The ideal time to come to the stream is around 9 a.m. After swimming, tourists can take a rest and then have lunch. Later they can walk on the rocks along the stream as they bid to trek up the mountain. There are many old pagodas for tourists to visit on the way up.

Tourists should go home before 5 p.m. as it’s very dark in this area at sunset and there is no accommodation for travellers.