The morning begins with a wave check at the main surf beach in the town of La Gi, a minute’s scooter ride from where we were staying.
The town here is very close to Japan in terms of the distance between people, which makes it very comfortable for me as a Japanese person. There are several seafood restaurants on the beach, but the callers are only friendly and not unpleasant. The price of a bottle of water is JPY 30,000 (about 150 JPY), which is a rip-off. The price was a rip-off, but this is still a nice town today.
The surrounding rice fields are pleasant. At night, a lively chorus of creatures begins, made up of frogs, insects and small animals. This makes for the best background music at night.
The town of La Gi, Binh Thuan Province, is small but gives the impression of having a full range of shops. Traffic noises are very low and comfortable. I was surprised at how much difference there is in the same country.
Com tam, the classic Vietnamese broken rice dish. A set menu of rice and side dishes. Com is made from rice that has been broken or chipped, so it can be served cheaply.
Special chicken and broken rice. Meat is tough. Taste okay; VND 45,000 (220 JPY) a bit pricey.
Port of La Gi, Binh Thuan Province. The seawater is black and full of rubbish. Small waves of the monsoon reaches the harbour.
Loading ice at La Gi fishing port. This is a fishing town with a thriving fishing industry.
Fish are being dried next to the fishing port. Artificial rocks have been thrown in because the sea level is approaching. Coastal erosion is also severe here.
Fishermen’s residence. To get here, you have to come through a narrow road just wide enough for one motorbike to pass.
Market in La Gi town, Binh Thuan province. The atmosphere of the market is different from the markets I have experienced in the past because it is more relaxed, making it easier to shop. It is totally different from Da Nang and other parts of Vietnam.
Local food stalls in La Gi market. Cheap and tasty food.
La Gi market. Sharks from Vietnam.
Surf spot search in La Gi often requires one to go off-road. There were so many concerning itchy insects that insect bites in the grasslands. Small mosquitoes that rarely bite in Japan cause strong itching that lasts for more than two weeks. I now think that long sleeves and long trousers are a must.
Surf spots here are not good. There are no surfers anywhere. Was there ever a lot of surfers in the world at a surf spot where it’s always onshore?
Binh Thuan is known for its dragon fruit. Dragon fruit fields are scattered here and there in vast expanses. It is cheap and tastes delicious.
The wind is not good here at this point either. In summer, La Gi has a monsoon wind from the morning. The wind direction is to the south-west, the same as that of Shonan during spring.
No onshore here either.
Fishermen’s boats are everywhere on Vietnamese beaches. A typical scenery in Vietnam.
The wind is most suited to the La Gi main surf spot again today. The south-westerly wind is side offshore and also picks up the south-westerly swell that comes around.
La Gi main spot. The current is always strong to the left due to the seasonal winds that are constantly prevailing.
(Surf trip record: La Gi, Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam – August 2019)
