About Phu Long Mangrover

Travel Guide to Cát Bà Mangrove Forest in Phù Long Commune from A-Z

The mangrove forest in Phù Long commune is one of the favorite tourist destinations in Cát Bà due to its refreshing and serene atmosphere, diverse ecosystem, and renowned cuisine. Let's explore the experience of discovering this mangrove forest through the following article.

 

1. Overview of Phù Long Commune, Cát Bà:

Phù Long commune covers a natural area of ​​4291.3 hectares, located on the western side of Cát Bà Island, Hải Phòng City. It is one of the five buffer zones of Cát Bà National Park. Additionally, it is situated on the trans-island route of Cát Bà, where the cable car station and Cái Viềng ferry terminal connect Cát Bà Island to the mainland via Lạch Huyện estuary.

A significant portion of Phù Long commune is located on Cát Bà Island, while the rest belongs to some islands in the northeast and north of the Cát Bà archipelago. In terms of topography, part of the commune's area consists of tidal flats and estuaries. During high tide, this area becomes submerged.

2. Function of Cát Bà Mangrove Forest in Phù Long Commune:

The mangrove forest in Phù Long commune is within the natural reserve area of ​​Cát Bà National Park. Out of the 2,300 hectares of mangrove forest in this area, about 700 hectares are within Phù Long commune. Numerous studies have highlighted the significant ecological value of the mangrove ecosystem in Phù Long commune.

Specifically, according to research conducted by the Institute of Natural Resources and Environment, the economic benefits provided by the mangrove forest in the Cát Bà Biosphere Reserve are diverse. Here, residents can engage in various activities such as fishing, forestry, herbal medicine, tourism, and beekeeping. Furthermore, the mangrove forest has indirect benefits such as erosion prevention, coastline protection, CO2 absorption and reduction, carbon accumulation, and providing food for aquatic species. As part of the Cát Bà Biosphere Reserve, the mangrove forest in Phù Long commune fulfills all of these functions.

Most notably, this area cultivates many climate-resilient tree species, providing livelihoods for locals for hundreds of years. Therefore, the mangrove forest in Phù Long commune significantly contributes to the local economy. Currently, locals are farming natural aquatic products within the forest. Moreover, they also catch shrimp, crab, and fish in the sea to increase income.

3. What Makes the Mangrove Forest in Phù Long Commune Appealing?

Traveling to the mangrove forest in Phù Long commune is the perfect choice for nature lovers and adventurers alike. Here, you can experience various exciting activities and capture memorable moments with family and friends.

3.1. Explore Ecotourism Farms:

One of the must-try experiences when visiting this Cát Bà mangrove forest is to explore ecotourism farms. These places offer spacious areas filled with lush greenery, rivers, and skies, creating a cool and refreshing ambiance. Here, you can participate in exciting activities like stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking.

3.2. Learn About the Diverse Ecosystem:

As part of the Cát Bà National Park Biosphere Reserve, the mangrove forest in Phù Long commune boasts a rich flora and fauna ecosystem. Some prominent species include mangroves, seaweed, jellyfish, clams, snails, and mangrove apple trees. In addition to natural flora and fauna, local residents' activities such as planting trees and aquaculture in the forest also contribute to the diversity of the mangrove forest ecosystem. Visiting here, you will experience sitting on boats, exploring the mangrove forest's natural beauty along the canals.

3.3. Immerse Yourself in the Serene Environment:

According to many travelers' observations, the mangrove forest in Phù Long commune is quite pristine and peaceful, with minimal human intervention. Setting foot here, you will surely be impressed by the lush green scenery of trees and water surfaces. Paddling along the rivers, travelers can hear the sounds of nature such as flowing water, rustling leaves, chirping birds, and the occasional laughter and conversation of local people working in the forest. This serene and harmonious natural landscape helps travelers temporarily set aside their daily worries, relax, and fully enjoy peaceful moments with loved ones.

3.4. Experience the Life of Local Residents:

In addition to exploring nature, travelers also have the opportunity to learn more about the lives of local residents when traveling to the mangrove forest in Phù Long commune. The locals here are friendly, hospitable, and amiable. They are willing to welcome travelers warmly and affectionately. Here, you can join local residents in their daily activities such as weaving nets, fishing, clamming, and cooking. Moreover, interesting stories about local life and customs help travelers gain a deeper understanding of the affection of Phù Long residents.

3.7. Enjoying Delicious Local Cuisine

After this exploration journey of Cát Bà's mangrove forest, travelers are sure to be quite tired. To continue wandering and discovering new things here, you should recharge your energy with some excellent dishes. The cuisine of Phù Long commune is diverse, rich, and famous for its rustic yet incredibly delicious flavors. If you're not sure what to eat in Phù Long, you should definitely try some delicious fresh seafood.

The seafood here is caught from the mangrove forest and the sea, so it has its own unique, fresh, and delicious taste. Additionally, the diverse cooking methods also contribute to providing travelers with memorable culinary experiences. Some delicious dishes to try when visiting this Cát Bà mangrove forest include:

Red Jellyfish Salad: Sweet, crispy pieces of jellyfish combined with various ingredients such as green bananas, star fruit, pineapple, roasted peanuts, and aromatic herbs create an irresistible flavor. Because it is a rare and difficult-to-catch seafood, red jellyfish are not widely available in the market. You can visit the community floating houses in the fishing village of Cái Bèo or the boats of fishermen to enjoy this specialty. The best time for delicious jellyfish is from March to May and October to November.

Crab: Large crabs with tender, sweet meat full of enticing juices. Depending on your taste, you can choose dishes such as steamed crab with beer, sweet and sour stir-fried crab, grilled crab, salt-roasted crab, and more.

Sea Snails: These seafood creatures, also known as conchs, often live in coastal rock formations and mangrove forests. Based on their color, sea snails are divided into 2 types, including red sea snails and black sea snails. Although they have little meat, sea snails have a very distinctive flavor, fragrant, tender texture, and many leg bones. Some ways to cook sea snails include boiling, steaming with beer, grilling, cooking with tamarind sauce, and more.

Razor Clams: Also known as earthworms. This type of seafood is very nutritious and good for health. Razor clams can be cooked into many different dishes such as stir-frying with jicama, deep-frying until crispy, stir-frying with garlic, making porridge, roasting, and more.

In addition to the above specialties, travelers to the mangrove forest in Phù Long commune can also enjoy many other excellent dishes such as minced clam (short-footed clam), shrimp, fish soup, mountain goat, sea cucumber, and more.

4. Exploring Phù Long Mangrove Forest: Tips and Experiences

If you want your journey to explore the mangrove forest in Phù Long commune to be smooth and memorable, you should be familiar with the following useful experiences.

4.1. Transportation

Understanding transportation options before traveling helps travelers proactively arrange their plans and itineraries. Moreover, it provides the basis for choosing suitable means of transportation. Firstly, travelers need to move to Phù Long commune. From Hai Phong, you can reach here by waterway from Bến Bính to Cái Viềng, by road via the Gót - Cái Viềng ferry, or via the Cát Hải - Phù Long cable car route.

In case you're departing from the central area of Cát Bà tourism, you can quickly move to Phù Long commune by common means of transportation such as cars, motorcycles, etc. After arriving in Phù Long commune, you can purchase tickets for motorboat rides from the passenger pier at Cái Viềng, cruising along the Cái Viềng river through the small shrimp ponds where local fishermen raise aquatic products to reach the mangrove forest.

4.2. Best Time to Travel

In addition to transportation, the timing of visiting Cát Bà Island in general and the Phù Long mangrove forest in particular is also a matter you should research. Phù Long commune features the characteristics of a tropical monsoon climate with 4 seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. According to the experience of travel enthusiasts, summer is the ideal time to explore this place. From April to October, with the peak season from May to July, the weather is relatively cool with less rain, suitable for beach bathing and relaxation.

If you intend to visit the Cát Bà mangrove forest from July to August, travelers should proactively update the weather situation before leaving, preferably 3-5 days in advance, as this period often experiences dangerous storms and heavy rains. From November to March of the following year, this location is relatively deserted. If you enjoy tranquility, you can visit the Phù Long mangrove forest during this time.

4.3. Where to Stay During Your Trip

Despite the landscape being quite primitive, Phù Long commune has many guesthouses and homestays. Therefore, when traveling to the Cát Bà mangrove forest, you can rent accommodation here. In general, the rooms have full amenities such as internet services, cafes, etc., promising to provide the most comfortable and relaxing feeling for travelers.

5. Ecological Mangrove Forest Farming Area in Áo Cối Hamlet, Phù Long Commune

The ecological mangrove forest farming areas in Phù Long commune are potential development models that combine community economic development and environmental protection, while also opening up space for resort and wonderful experiences. Among them, the ecological mangrove forest farming area in Áo Cối hamlet, Phù Long commune, is a preferred destination for many travelers.

This location boasts a fresh, cool, and lush green space. When visiting here, travelers can explore and participate in activities such as interacting and learning about mangrove aquaculture from the local community, enjoying the atmosphere and natural landscape on the island. Moreover, it's also a great opportunity for you to experience activities like kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), fishing, and hand-catching aquatic products in the mangrove forest.

Traveling to the mangrove forest in Phù Long commune is a perfect choice for adventure and exploration enthusiasts. The natural landscape along with exciting activities in the Cát Bà mangrove forest promises to bring unforgettable experiences for travelers. Hopefully, through this article, you have gained more detailed information about the location, transportation, dining options, and interesting activities, thereby perfecting your itinerary.