VietNamNet Bridge – Stretching along the central coast of Vietnam, the province of Phu Yen is blessed with the Ghenh Da Dia (The Cliff of Stone Plates), a masterpiece of stone gifted by nature, recognised as a national heritage.

Ghenh Da Dia, boasts a collection of interlocking basalt columns in a wide variety of differing shapes and sizes. The cliffs are dark lava hexagonal columns with flat surfaces, resembling dinner plates, hence the name – Ghenh Da Dia.

The basalt cliffs are the result of ancient volcanic eruptions. When the molten basalt flows met the cool water they hardened and formed these rare polygonal columns.

Ghenh Da Dia is about 50m wide and stretches over 2,000m long. Each column has an average visible height of 60-80cm, cross-section of 20-30cm. There are an estimated 35,000 rock columns standing in close position as if supernaturally placed.

Ghenh Da Dia is actually a fresh water pond surrounded by rock columns. Legend has it the pond is fed by underground rivers, which explains why it never dries up.

It is fantastic to sit on a rock column and let the senses take in the high sky and the immense sea while breathing the cool fresh sea air.

Nhan Dan