Unique whale-shaped mountains and sand dunes in Gia Lai

Nestled amidst vast fields in Loc Ha village, Tuy Phuoc Dong commune, Xuong Ca (Fishbone) Mountain stands out with its majestic shape that looks like a whale and it is the subject of many mysterious folk tales passed down through generations.

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Measuring approximately 300m in length, the mountain, viewed from above, makes a striking visual impression, resembling a giant humpback whale, and has become a familiar symbol for local villagers.

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Local elder Phan Van Long, 72, recounts a folk legend about a giant who once helped villagers fight natural disasters. According to the story, the giant drained Thi Nai Lagoon to catch fish, and the pile of fish bones later turned into the mysterious mountain seen today.

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At the foot of Xuong Ca Mountain there is a small shrine called Ba Temple. Every year, on the 9th day of the first lunar month, local people prepare offerings to worship and pray for peace.

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In recent years, the humpback whale-shaped mountain has attracted not only locals but also tourists who come to explore the beautiful landscape and listen to its fascinating legends.

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The local administration holds that Xuong Ca Mountain has great potential for developing ecotourism associated with folk culture thanks to its unique shape and prominent location in the plain bordering Thi Nai lagoon.

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Heading north from the Tuy Phuoc Dong lagoon, visitors encounter another natural wonder recently discovered by photographers and travelers at the An Du estuary in Hoai Nhon Dong Ward - a striking landscape that has quickly gone viral across social media.

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A naturally formed sanddune resembling a giant whale has emerged at the point where the Lai Giang River meets the open sea, covering an area of roughly five hectares.

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According to local residents, the shape of the sanddune changes from year to year under the impact of floods, sediment deposits, and erosion caused by water currents. This year, however, nature’s shifting waters appear to have created an especially striking formation.

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Nguyen Cong Tam, a local resident in Hoai Nhon Tay ward, Gia Lai province, shares that the formation highlights the extraordinary creativity of nature. “The appearance of this whale-shaped sanddune has been creating a buzz across travel forums and attracting large numbers of visitors eager to see it for themselves,” he says.

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The whale-shaped sanddune at the An Du estuary has long been used by local residents for shrimp and aquaculture farming and remains uninhabited. Local authorities are now considering plans to develop the site into a tourist destination. Together with Xuong Ca Mountain, the whale-shaped sanddune is emerging as one of Gia Lai’s newest and most intriguing travel attractions.