To protect the coast and its fishing boats, in 2004, leaders of Quang Tri Province approved a project to build a VND39 billion (US$2.2 million) berth for ships to ride-out storms on the Cua Tung coast, Vinh Linh District. Unfortunately, the work has turned out to have had the opposite effect, not only does it not provide adequate safety for boats, it is also adding to coastal erosion.

Local fishermen only anchor their boats at the birth when the sea is calm

Surrounded by a basaltic mountain, the 1,500 meter coast running from Border Post 204 to Mui Hau is famous for its white sandy beaches and green rows of willows. Cua Tung was extolled by French colonials as “the queen of beaches.”

Unfortunately, raging waves have now devastated a large section of this magnificent coast.

Neither relevant authorities nor scientists have taken any action to discover the reason, while locals blame the building of the berth on Cua Tung.

The berth occupies an area of ten hectares, lying on the right of the beach. Before it was built on the site, there used to be huge arc-shaped pool, which helped prevent the waves from crashing directly onto the shore.

To build the berth, the contractor, the province’s Department of Fisheries - now Department of Agricultural and Rural Development, filled in land to level the pool and built a concrete foundation in place.

In order to let boats get into the fishing port, the contractor expanded the lagoon, which was 335 meters in length, and built it into a channel by widening it and extending its length by 225 meters.

A concrete embankment 430 meters long, 1.5 meters high and six meters wide was also built in south of the fishing port to prevent the North-East monsoon silting up the channel.

The purpose of the berth was to provide local fishermen with a safe place, where they could safely anchor their boats during storms. Ironically, reality shows that fishermen do not dare to sail their boats into the berth to take shelter from storms.

Although considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam, Cua Tung beach fails to attract visitors, even during mid tourist season.

Nguyen Tho, a 66-year old fisherman, said, “The berth is located directly opposite to the port. If ships anchor in the berth during storms, they will be vulnerable to crests of raging waves.

“The wharf, on the other hand, was made of concrete building materials like cement and ashlars. In 2008, dozens of ships, while sheltering from storms in the birth, were thrashed by the wind into the wharf, broken and sunk. Five fishermen were killed,” he said.

Hoang Dinh Liem, the deputy director of Quang Tri Province Department of Agricultural and Rural Development, acknowledged the severe erosion of the coastline after the building of the berth, and said that relevant authorities are trying to find out the causes of the erosion.

To prevent to beach from being eroded, many local people suggest building a similar embankment in the north of the fishing port to change the current. The project would cost VND10 billion ($562,000).

No one knows when Quang Tri Province will find enough money to build such an embankment in order to save one of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam. But at present, Cua Tung is likely to be swept out into the sea. No photographs will be taken, no footprints left, just fading memories of its beautiful past