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Packing her bags after a decision she never expected, Rachael Nguyen (25 years old, from Binh Thuan) made the most of the time Vietnamese citizens could travel to Bali without a visa, exploring the island for 30 days. On May 15th, the young woman concluded her Bali exploration with many unforgettable experiences in this island paradise. Let's follow Rachael as she visits 5 must-see destinations when traveling to Bali.
Rachael Nguyen is currently an English teacher. She started backpacking and traveling alone abroad when she was 19 years old.
Discover the Hindu worship practices at Amed
Amed refers to the villages located along the eastern coast of Bali. Known not only for having some of the most beautiful coastlines in this island paradise, Amed also boasts many impressive natural landscapes such as terraced rice paddies and majestic mountains.
Located 25 minutes from Amed, Tirta Gangga – a unique Hindu temple with naturally flowing springs – is a fascinating attraction worth visiting. Literally, Tirta means holy water in Islam, and Gangga refers to the Ganges River in India. You can freely explore the exterior or change into traditional sarong attire (a tube skirt made from a piece of cloth tied around the waist) to visit the interior of the temple.
This temple is important to Hindus and is the most famous place of worship in Bali.
The people living in Bali are predominantly Hindu. They live a slow, quiet life, dedicating much of their time to worshipping the gods. Walking along the village roads, she saw people carrying trays of offerings to the temples every day, along with offerings laid out along the roadside. Upon inquiry, she learned that besides offering gifts to the gods, Hindus here also sincerely light incense for wandering spirits to maintain balance in the spiritual world.
Hindus worship the sea god.
Go snorkeling and admire the coral reefs in Lovina, a peaceful town.
Lovina is one of the best places for scuba diving in Bali, boasting colorful coral reefs. The reefs in Lovina grow at varying depths, their unique beauty offering many exciting experiences during your underwater exploration. Lovina is also extremely popular for dolphin watching and interacting, an activity you shouldn't miss while you're there.
Located in Banjar Dinas Bhuana Sari - Buleleng, Banyu Wana Amertha is an ideal destination for those who love natural waterfalls. To reach this waterfall, you need to hike through the forest for about 20 minutes. The fresh air and tranquility here bring a feeling of relaxation and peace, dispelling all the fatigue and stress of life.
One of the waterfalls is located within the Banyu Wana waterfall complex.
While enjoying the refreshing coolness of the waterfall, Rachael was surprised when, as she was leaving, the little girl approached her, took her hand, and gently placed it on her forehead. "I was deeply moved to learn that this is how Hindus show respect to others. Everything seemed to stop at that moment," Rachael recounted. Hindus value kindness and treat everyone with compassion, so wherever she went, she received genuine help from the locals.
Immerse yourself in the turquoise waters of Lembongan & Ceningan islands.
Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan are two pristine islands located next to each other, 30 minutes from Bali, with many beautiful attractions. The only way to reach Nusa Lembongan is by speedboat from Sanur or Kusamba harbor.
The natural landscape of Nusa Lembongan Island, with its majestic cliffs, bays, calm beaches with stunning turquoise waters, and numerous exciting activities such as surfing and diving, along with a diverse range of accommodation, entertainment, and dining options, makes it a top destination when traveling to Bali.
Blue Lagoon features striking turquoise waters set against the surrounding cliffs.
If the beaches of Bali don't satisfy you, then Ceningan will surely captivate you with its countless beautiful beaches of white sand and crystal-clear turquoise waters. For those who love surfing, Coconuts Beach on Ceningan Island and Mahana Point Bay are two of the best places to learn to surf, as there are many instructors available to teach surfing.
One interesting activity worth experiencing when visiting Ceningan is seaweed harvesting. You'll easily spot seaweed drying all over the island, as about half of the island's population makes a living harvesting seaweed. Most of the dried seaweed is sold to cosmetic manufacturers.
Seaweed harvesting is extremely popular in Ceningan, as more than half of the population is engaged in this occupation.
Enjoy surfing and watching the sunset in Uluwatu.
Surfing activities in Uluwatu are so vibrant that almost everyone visiting this southern Bali resort wants to experience it. One must-see beach for true surfers is Bingin, located in southern Bali, in the village of Pecatu. From Bingin, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Indian Ocean with its large waves.
Uluwatu is considered a "paradise" for many digital nomads. This destination is chosen because Uluwatu is not a very famous tourist spot, there aren't many tourists or businesses, so it's almost always peaceful and relaxing.
Watching the sunset in Uluwatu is an experience you shouldn't miss.
One interesting cultural activity in Uluwatu is watching the Kecak dance at Uluwatu Temple, a temple built on a sheer cliff overlooking Pura Luhur. The traditional Balinese Kecak dance performances begin around 5:30 PM and last for an hour, attracting many visitors.
Enjoy the breathtaking natural scenery at Nusa Penida.
Almost everyone who visits Bali wants to take a photo with the dinosaur spine in Nusa Penida. But the island has even more spectacular scenery waiting to be discovered, with countless beautiful beaches such as Diamond Beach, Dolphin Beach, Angel's Billabong, Atuh Beach, and Smoky Beach. You can easily explore these beaches by motorbike as they are quite far apart.
Diamond Beach is as beautiful as a diamond on the island of Nusa Penida.
Among them, Smoky Beach stood out, surprising the young woman. "I was thrilled to witness the waves crashing against the cliffs, creating a delicate wall of white foam. Under the shimmering sunlight, a rainbow appeared, stretching across the rocks—it was incredibly impressive," she excitedly recounted her wonderful experience in Penida.
Note that Nusa Penida is a popular tourist destination, so the island is almost always extremely crowded. If you want to fully appreciate the island's beauty in peace and quiet, you should visit around 7 a.m. This is also a great time to capture stunning landscape photos without crowds of people.
A rainbow appeared after plumes of white smoke rose vertically.
Rachael took a 30-day trip to Bali with a total cost of 20 million VND. Here are some tips she shared to minimize the cost of the trip:
Regarding accommodation, you can choose dorms or hostels booked through apps like Agoda or Booking.com. You can also find free accommodation if you find a host on the Couchsurfing app.
Regarding food, you can choose from many affordable restaurants with prices ranging from just 30,000 to 50,000 VND. Bali is also a paradise for vegetarians as there are countless vegetarian restaurants.
Regarding transportation, renting a motorbike is the most convenient way to explore the island. The longer you rent, the cheaper it will be. To travel to some islands, you should buy tickets directly at the counter to get a better price.
The cost of visiting tourist attractions in Bali ranges from 15,000 to 90,000 VND. However, the cost for experiential activities will be higher, from 150,000 to 200,000 VND.
You should remember to bring enough cash, or withdraw money from centers like Ubud before traveling to the islands, as ATMs are not numerous there. Before your trip, you should also register for SMS notifications from your local network provider while abroad to handle transactions with OTP codes or other issues.
