A day in Tuy An: Head to the coast and swim in the waterfalls.

Return to the seaside

Ganh Da Dia is perhaps the most famous landmark in Tuy An - a unique national-level natural scenic spot, recognized by the state since 1988 - with its hexagonal rock pillars packed together, resembling a giant beehive right at the edge of the sea when viewed from afar.

Ganh Da Dia (Disk Rock Cliff) was formed approximately 200 million years ago. When lava flows from volcanoes on the Van Hoa plateau spilled into the sea, it suddenly solidified and cracked upon encountering the cold seawater, creating the unique and fascinating natural landscape we see today.

As one of the most unique rock formations in the world, most tourists who come to Phu Yen try to see Ganh Da Dia at least once.

Located about 10 km west of Ganh Da Dia, Mang Lang Church (An Thach commune, Tuy An district) is famous for being the first church in Phu Yen province, built in 1892, and also one of the oldest churches in Vietnam. It also houses the first book in Vietnamese by Father Alexandre de Rhodes, who is considered the creator of the Vietnamese Quốc ngữ script.

Find Vuc Hom Waterfall

Leaving Mang Lang Church, we returned to Chi Thanh town on National Highway 1A and proceeded along the road towards the western mountains, to Vuc Hom Waterfall.

Located more than 30 km from Chi Thanh, this waterfall is a little-known scenic spot in the western mountainous region of Tuy An district, in An Linh commune. In fact, there are two waterfalls in An Linh commune on the same stream, separated by only a little over 1 km: Vuc Song waterfall upstream and Vuc Hom waterfall downstream.

These two waterfalls are located in a relatively remote area, little known to tourists. Previously, reaching this area was quite difficult due to steep mountain passes and many sections lacking roads. Fortunately, the roads leading to these two waterfalls have now been paved with concrete, making access much easier.

The final 500 meters to reach the waterfall require a walk; vehicles can be parked at a local's house right at the descent – ​​they are very friendly and hospitable. The bumpy dirt road from the residential area down to Vuc Hom waterfall is steep and winding; some members of the group were already gasping at the thought of the climb back up. However, upon hearing the rushing sound of water near the top of the waterfall, everyone became excited by the cool sensation it offered.

The waterfall isn't very high, only about 20 meters (the Vuc Song waterfall, more than 1 km further in the stream, is even lower, only about 10 meters). Both waterfalls in this area share a unique feature: the rock formations along the cliffs are vertical basalt columns, closely packed together, similar to the geological structure of Ganh Da Dia.

The clear blue water at the foot of the waterfall is cool and refreshing, with tiny bubbles filling the air, creating shimmering rainbows in the sunlight.

The long, hot afternoon journey, coupled with a steep hike, left everyone drenched in sweat. However, upon reaching the waterfall, the cool air immediately soothed the heat. After enthusiastically taking photos by the waterfall, the group couldn't resist the allure of the clear blue pool.

During this season, the water flow at the waterfall is less strong, and the lake is very clear and blue, not murky like during the rainy season; the waterfall itself is also gentler and more poetic, lacking the intimidating appearance of the high water season. The water level here in March is also not deep, so swimming is quite safe.

It wasn't until the last rays of sunlight faded behind the forest canopy that we reluctantly left Vuc Hom Waterfall. If we had more time, camping overnight at the foot of Vuc Hom Waterfall would undoubtedly have been an even more amazing experience.

Text and photos: Nam Hoa