The Four Supernatural Islets: Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle, Phoenix - Go for remember
Entering My Tho city, we will come to Tan Long Island, which is Long Island (in Tan Long ward, My Tho city). Dragon Islet has an area of more than 273 hectares, is the second largest island in the four supernatural islets on the Tien River. According to ancient people, at the bottom of the Tien River, there is a giant snake. Over hundreds of years, the layer of silt deposited on the body of the snake has formed a floating dune in the middle of the river. Gradually people came to live, established villages and organized production. Lush orchards were born from there, creating prosperity for this land known as Dragon Islet. Located between vast rivers, fertile land, and a temperate climate, Dragon Islet has the conditions to develop year-round fruit orchards with many rich and diverse species. For a long time, fruitful orchards have become a trademark, an unforgettable mark in the hearts of tourists who visit this land of gardens. At that time, Dragon Islet was "famous for a while" for its unique longan variety - a crop that had enriched many people here. Today, in addition to developing fruit gardens, Long Islet is also a locality with strengths in fishing and aquaculture on rafts. With a convenient location, located in the middle of the Tien River and near My Tho fishing port, Dragon Islet people also take advantage of it to raise fish on rafts, and this is also the main source of income for many households here.
Next among those four supernatural islets is Unicorn Islet, also known as Thoi Son Islet, in Thoi Son Ward, My Tho City, Tien Giang Province. This is the largest islet among the four supernatural islets, with many interlaced ditches and fertile land. When coming to the islet, one of the most convenient and attractive means of transportation is the rowing boat, especially when moving in the interlaced canals. Along both banks are nipa palm trees with long and wide foliage, covering the entire sky, giving visitors an extremely cool and peaceful feeling. It can be said that Thoi Son dune is a symbol of Southern garden ecology, so besides fruit trees, people here also grow other ornamental flowers that bring high economic value. Another interesting point that adds to the vivid picture of life on Unicorn Islet is beekeeping for honey. The vast longan gardens on the island are a favorable environment for bees to collect honey. Through a delicate honey refining process, the bees produce a honey product corresponding to the honey of the longan flower, and this honey is mixed with tea into a unique nutritious drink on the islet - honey tea longan flower.
Don Ca Tai Tu has been present for a long time in the peaceful Southern region, closely associated with river life, so the verses and lyrics in this form are as rhythmic and flexible as the waters of the West. It is with great pride that Don Ca Tai Tu was recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity in December 2013. There are many music groups that have been associated with the tourist area on Thoi Son Islet for many years. Successive generations have preserved and developed this form, so that the soul of the Southern land remains forever, boldly imprinted into the hearts of tourists in particular and Vietnamese people in general. The sweet lyrics seem to hold the footsteps so that when leaving, everyone has to exclaim: "I will definitely return to this place."
The third is Turtle Islet, also known as Sand Islet, located in Tan Thach and Que Son Ward, Chau Thanh district, Ben Tre province, 22km from the center of Ben Tre town by river. Turtle Islet was once considered the smallest of the four islets with an area of about 65 hectares. However, the area of Turtle Islet today is constantly expanding, many people believe that in the future Quy Islet will be even larger than Phoenix Islet. The unique point of the islet is that it still retains the wild nature of the recently exploited land. Most of the gardens here are decades old, planted straight and look very airy and straight. In the middle of a cool green space, welcoming the wind blowing from the Tien Giang river, lying back in a swinging hammock and enjoying the sweet taste of green-skinned grapefruit segments, perhaps there is nothing better. You feel like you are reliving the moments of your peaceful and ecstatic childhood, immersing yourself in the quiet, peaceful space of the ancient village. Somewhere familiar folk songs resound:
“Bằng lòng đi em về với quê anh
Một cù lao xanh một dòng sông xanh
Một vườn cây xanh hoa trái đơm hương
Thuyền ai qua sông nụ cười mênh mông”
That last name is Phoenix Islet which also has another name Tan Vinh, floating in the middle of the Tien River like a green oasis inviting tourists. Phoenix Islet is home to the richest and most diverse entertainment activities among the four islets. You will be able to participate in many unique, attractive and equally "sensational" games such as swinging on a rope across the river, tossing water balloons or fishing for crocodiles. This is truly an interesting destination for family and friends to have fun and entertainment after a tiring week of studying and working. After participating in energy-consuming games, coconut candy production facilities are the place for visitors to "recharge their energy". Coconut candy is considered a proud specialty of Ben Tre people, with a sweet, greasy aroma that attracts tourists. The steps to make coconut candy are also quite elaborate and not everyone can easily catch its secret. Despite experiencing many ups and downs, up to now, the people of Phoenix Islet still maintain traditional handicrafts made from coconuts. Besides the famous coconut candy and rice paper establishments, it is not difficult to come across establishments making handicrafts from coconut on this island. Skillful and creative, the coconut workers here have turned inanimate coconut trees into beautiful and delicate applications. These are souvenirs that everyone who visits once wants to bring back to relatives and friends, to introduce and remind of the interesting and extremely sweet Phoenix Islet here.