Vung Tau City entered social lockdown per Order 16 commencing 0:00 on Jul. 14.

The Thuy Van Road running along the Bai Sau (Back Beach) area is now relatively quiet with few people passing by. Photo: Tran Thanh Duy

The Thuy Van Road running along the Bai Sau (Back Beach) area, which used to be a bustling road with high traffic density before the pandemic, is now relatively quiet with few people passing by.

Other beaches, parks and tourism spots in the city are in the same condition.

In mid-August 2021, 30-year-old Tran Thanh Duy, who grew up and works in Vung Tau, used flycams to record scenic landscapes in the coastal city during the social lockdown. Duy’s photo collection received positive feedback from Facebook users, who praised the beauty of Vung Tau while expressed their surprise at the crystal-clear seawater.

The photos were taken at different moments during the day, sometimes at dawn, sometimes at sunset and sometimes at noon. Photo: Tran Thanh Duy

Duy said the photos were taken at different moments during the day, sometimes at dawn, sometimes at sunset and sometimes at noon.

“I stood at the balcony of my house to direct the flycam around the city. All these photos have not been fixed,” Duy said. He was also surprised to see how clean the water was. Born and growing up in Vung Tau, he had never witnessed this phenomenon before.

Boats docked at the Bai Truoc (front beach) area, close to the Vung Tau High-speed Boat Port. Photo: Tran Thanh Duy

Boats docked at the Bai Truoc (front beach) area, close to the Vung Tau High-speed Boat Port. Many people thought that the photo was taken at some beaches in Nha Trang or Da Nang cities when they looked at the photo.

According to the photographer, the weather in Vung Tau City in mid-August is particularly pleasant, with fresh air, quiet sea and few storms. When the city was in social lockdown, the sand and impurities settled down as the sea was less affected by human activities, creating rarely seen clearness that would allow people to see the sand and rocks at the sea bottom close to the shore.

The weather in Vung Tau City in mid-August is particularly pleasant, with fresh air and quiet sea. Photo: Tran Thanh Duy

The sky-blue color of the water came to life in the photo thanks to favorable weather and the color of the sky, aided by the equipment that had been adjusted to bring out colder colors than usual.

Working in the hospitality sector, Duy noted that the Covid-19 pandemic had caused his business’ turnover to be reduced by almost 70% and affected the incomes of nearly 30 employees. However, Duy believed the pandemic also brought a positive outcome: The recovery of nature and the environment of his hometown.

Iconic Hon Ba Island, where tourists can traverse to on foot when the road leading to the island is not submerged under water. Photo: Tran Thanh Duy

Hon Ba is one of the most famous religious tourism destinations in Vung Tau City. On the island lies a shrine of the same name. Tourists hoping to visit Hon Ba must observe Mother Nature closely. They can only come to the island about 12 times a month as the road leading to Hon Ba are submerged underwater in the remaining days.

The island is about 200 meters away from Nghinh Phong Cape, a small windswept headland with clear seawater adorned by small pebbles spreading to the sea.

The Kito God Statue on Tao Phung Mountain. Photo: Tran Thanh Duy

The idyllic landscape covered in lush green fauna at the Kito God Statue on Tao Phung Mountain that overlooks the Nghinh Phong Cape, Vung Tau’s eastern most point, and numerous scenic beaches in the area.

The Cot Co Park in the Bai Sau (Back Beach) area, a famous destination amongst Vung Tau locals and tourists alike, was deserted during the social lockdown. Thanh Duy hoped that everyone would keep themselves healthy and safe and work together to curb the Covid-19 pandemic so life could return to normal.

The Cot Co Park in the Bai Sau (Back Beach) area. Photo: Tran Thanh Duy

Via the photo collection, Duy also hoped to convey to tourists and locals the importance of protecting the environment and the landscapes in Vung Tau City.

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