The coastal winds, a specialty of this region, have been transformed by human ingenuity into a sustainable energy source while also creating additional value through tourism, attracting visitors to Bac Lieu through the unique activity of exploring and experiencing wind farms.
Located about 10 kilometres from the centre of Bac Lieu Province’s eponymous capital city, Bac Lieu Wind Farm sits in the coastal commune of Vinh Trach Dong (Bac Lieu City) and is the first wind power project in both Vietnam and Southeast Asia to be built on the continental shelf along the coast.
Construction of the farm began in 2010, and it was connected to the national power grid in 2013. Over the years, the Bac Lieu Wind Farm has not only brought changes to the socio-economic landscape of the coastal wetlands but has also become a unique symbol of Bac Lieu tourism. In 2019, the Bac Lieu wind power tourist site was recognised by the Mekong Delta Tourism Association as an exemplary tourist destination in the region.
Visitors can access the site either through organised tours or independently, thanks to convenient transport routes. Even from afar, tourists can easily spot dozens of giant pure white wind turbine blades as if they are etched against the sky.
There are 62 turbine towers, each standing 80 metres high, with 42-metre-long blades weighing over 200 tonnes, made from special materials designed to withstand harsh natural conditions. The best times to visit the wind farm are the early morning or dusk, avoiding the intense midday sun. Whether at sunrise or sunset, the space on the wind farm is filled with light and a cool atmosphere amidst the vast sea and sky.
The wind turbines look like enormous pinwheels arranged in straight rows, reaching towards the sky, rotating at different speeds to create a scene both modern and poetic. The turbines are connected by floating bridges over the sea, serving the farm’s engineers and workers.
Tourists who purchase entrance tickets can access certain turbines and connecting paths, however they must comply with national power grid safety corridor requirements, avoid making noise, and not enter restricted areas.
While walking through the wind farm, visitors can also admire the landscape of the alluvial mangrove area surrounding the coast. Up close, it is a vibrant world of coastal wildlife, rich with various species of birds, crabs, mudskippers and other creatures.
Not far away, the Hoa Binh 1 Wind Farm in Vinh Hau A Commune, Hoa Binh District, opened to visitors in 2022 and quickly became an impressive, attractive destination.
This project comprises 39 wind turbines, which were connected to the national grid in 2021. The facility extends dozens of kilometres out to sea, and electric vehicles are required to complete a full tour. The impressive, magnificent turbines, comparable to European wind farms, have attracted numerous visitors for sightseeing and photography.
Alongside wind power generation, the company has invested in tourism infrastructure including electric passenger vehicles, accommodation facilities and restaurants. In addition to touring the farm and taking photos, visitors can opt for resort holidays or eco-tourism experiences such as cycling along the sea road, paddling through mangrove forests, and sampling south western cuisine.
To continue developing both a green tourist area and a renewable energy plant, regular activities are organised here including waste sorting guidance and tree planting. Visitors gain insight into the value of clean energy and admire the creativity and dedication of the workers, while developing a greater love for nature and awareness of green living and environmental protection.
Currently, Bac Lieu is the province with the largest number of wind power and renewable energy projects in the Mekong Delta and ranks third nationwide. According to Ly Vy Trieu Duong, Deputy Director of the Bac Lieu Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the province has 56 kilometres of coastline stretching from the border with Soc Trang Province to Ganh Hao in Dong Hai District. The mangrove ecosystem covering thousands of hectares, wind power projects, and high-tech agricultural zones provide potential strengths for Bac Lieu to develop eco-tourism, resorts, wind farm tours, and cultural experiences of coastal residents’ life.
Notably, Bac Lieu Province has been facilitating and encouraging wind power project investors to combine tourism development at the base of wind turbines through various services such as sightseeing, dining and eco-tourism. This model is identified as creating distinctive tourism products while helping address social issues, particularly employment and improving the lives of local residents.
In the coming period, more wind farms will be inaugurated, along with tourist spots, resorts and entertainment services. Several destinations near the wind farms are also suitable for inclusion in Bac Lieu discovery tour itineraries, such as the ancient longan garden, Xiem Can Temple, Quan Am Phat Dai Temple, and Truc Lam Zen Monastery.
Bac Lieu is typically known as the cradle of Don Ca Tai Tu art, the homeland of talented musician Cao Van Lau, and the land of salt-making, which has been recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage.
Today, visitors to this southern land have another fascinating destination that cannot be missed — the wind farms.