Binh Duong Province

Geography

Area: 2,696.2 sq. km.

Population: 964 thousand habitants (2006).

Capital: Thu Dau Mot Town

Districts: Ben Cat, Dau Tieng, Tan Uyen, Phu Giao, Thuan An, Di An.

Binh Duong is located in the south of Vietnam. It is surrounded by Binh Phuoc to the north, Tay Ninh to the west, Dong Nai to the east, and Ho Chi Minh City to the south.

Binh Duong has bazan that is convenient for rubber and coffee trees; alluvial deposits region with many paddy and fruit gardens. The network of rivers and canals are complete with Dong Nai, Sai Gon, Be rivers.

Climate

There are two seasons: the dry season lasts from November to April next year, the rainy one lasts from May to October. The annual average temperature is 27ºC.

Transportation

Binh Duong has National Highway No. 13 and many provincial roads that link to surround provinces. Thu Dau Mot Town is 30km from Ho Chi Minh City, 1,740km from Hanoi, 129km from Tay Ninh and 40km from Dong Nai.

Attractions

Binh An Lake

Location: In Binh An Commune, Di An District, Binh Duong Province.

Characteristic: Binh An Lake is a separated world as its name means. The peaceful, quiet atmosphere there is in contrary with noisy, effervescent and tense life of the urban outside.

Visitors certainly will be attracted by beauty of Binh An Lake with its sun and breeze. Green trees spread their shade above paths along the lake. Along the ways, verdant flowers and leaves cover everywhere. Below high foliage, sometimes visitors can surprise sawn stumps serving as seating places. Flower trellis, cement bridges are made in form of rough trees. Small island has curved roofs appearing vaguely or intermittently inside luxuriant forest, natural bridges reflected on ancient and romantic water.

There are pleasure-houses, restaurants located on water surface in center of the zone, which are looked like houses of fishermen anchoring in crowded land. In ashore there are small and beautiful pointed roof houses like house of Highland’s people. These are houses for relaxation of visitors for midday or for some days. Some houses are like villas for families or people, who need high-class comfortableness.

Binh An Lake offers many gastronomic services. Visitors can have their meals on the spot when fishing, sailing or taking rest everywhere around the lake. At night, Binh An Lake wears black coat decorated by light pearls from hundreds of colorful lamps in central zone like flower garlands and colored lanterns. There are many places for gastronomic services, small for a family and large for hundreds of people.

After tense working days, coming here to enjoy relax is really good.

Ba Pagoda

Location: In Nguyen Du Road, Thu Dau Mot Town, Binh Duong Province.

Characteristic: Ba Pagoda, also called Thien Hau Cung, is a worshipping site and religious place for Chinese in Vietnam.

The pagoda was built on Huong Chu Hien Canal, in the middle of the 19th century. In 1880, an additional back house was built and in 1925 the pagoda was moved to its current location.

Several deities are worshipped inside the pagoda, including Lares, Mon Quan Saint Mother Thien Hau, Bon Dau Cong Couple (Chinese General) and also Ngu Hanh Nuong Nuong (Five Lady Saint of the five basic element of eastern philosophy): Saint Kim (Metal), Moc (Wood), Thuy (Water), Hoa (Fire), Tho (Earth).

Every year on the 23rd day of the 3rd lunar month, which is the anniversary of the death of Lady Thien Hau, there is a ceremony at the Lady pagoda. This ceremony attracts many pilgrims from all over the country.