From Ho Chi Minh City, it takes three hours by roadway to the “hot swamp,” as locals like to call it, located in Bung Rieng Commune, Xuyen Moc District, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province.

Although crowds of people arrive at Binh Chau — Ho Coc, the activities at the site are not as bustling and animated as other tourist sites.

Rather, visitors are received in a relaxed atmosphere by professional and friendly staff.

All springs, ponds, swimming pools, resorts, and medicinal areas are located the hidden tranquility of the forest.

Amenities such as hot-water baths, mud-baths, and thermal springs for boiling eggs can fully satisfy the demands of any individual, couple, or family.

Restaurants are identified by quirky names such as Hoa Rung (Wildflower) restaurant and Huong Rung (Forest Scent) wine shop.

Accommodations include Binh An Hotel (Safe Hotel), Binh Tam Hotel (Calm Hotel), Binh Minh Hotel (Sunrise Hotel) with a variety of rooms ranging from suite, superior, standard, and even a “three-star” villa reserved for only one person/one family.

In addition, there are self-contained buildings such as the sports-leisure complex for tourists playing golf, volleyball, and so on, and the Vuon Trang area (Moon Garden) with a stage that can seat about 1,000 people.

It is not enough to visit and exploring all the interesting things in Binh Chau in just one trip.

There are various Binh Chau tours for visitors to go fish for crocodile or river fish.

One can spend hours exploring the forest by foot, or roam by buffalo-carriage or horse-carriage, and go camping, dancing, and singing at night in the Vuon Trang.

Tourists can familiarize themselves with the area's ecosystem by examining the diverse tree species, complete with information boards that expound their ecological value.

Alternatively, tourists can visit the special thermal spring, where they can enjoy special boiled eggs thanks water temperatures that reach up to 82 degrees celsius.

Binh Chau's herbal specialists are available to consult visitors on how to use hot mineral water and mud-mineral to maintain health, and administer treatments via traditional therapeutic methods combined with Chinese traditional medicine.

Near the Binh Chau primeval forest is the Ho Coc beach.

In the near future when the Binh Chau project is expanded to the east, the 55-hectare land in Ho Coc beach will be developed to build a luxurious resort serving domestic and foreign tourists.

Ho Coc is an ideal destination for those who are interested in activities such as kayaking and swimming.

Coming here, tourists can take a nap on hammocks under poplar trees, enjoy the renowned specialty of the region, seafood rice porridge, or grilled fish.

This thermal spring area comprises more than 70 hot springs which make up a system of springs and lakes where water temperature ranges from 37 to 82 degrees.

The artesian water under the indigo forest contains silica, high nitrogen content, as well as sulfur, and sodium, useful for treating many types of illness.

The price of a two-day, one-night package tour HCMC-Binh Chau-Ho Coc: VND800,000-1,000,000/person ($50-63).