Phu Yen, 5,045 km2

With an area of ​​5,045 square kilometers and a coastline nearly 200 kilometers long, Phu Yen is like a sleeping fairy, dreaming of the beauty of nature, sea, and islands, waiting to be awakened.

Northern route

Xuan Dai Bay - Mang Lang Church - Ganh Da Dia (Disk Rock Cliff) - Ganh Den Lighthouse - Bai Xep Beach

From Tuy Hoa city, we drove north along National Highway 1A for about 45km, reaching Gang Pass, which is also the point of arrival at Xuan Dai Bay. Spanning the northeastern districts of Song Cau and Tuy An, the bay largely retains its pristine beauty, with its turquoise sea, lush green coconut groves, verdant mountains, and clear blue sky. The most enjoyable part of a boat trip on the bay is gazing out at the local fishing villages where lobster and fish are raised in cages, the uniquely shaped mountains jutting out into the sea, and the white sandy beaches interspersed with rocky outcrops. In the distance, we see Nhat Tu Son Island, and the Tu Nham sand dunes, like white silk ribbons, adding to the mystical beauty of this landscape.

Mang Lang Church, one of the oldest churches in Vietnam.

Mang Lang Church is a special landmark I marked on the map so I wouldn't miss it, as it's one of the oldest churches in Vietnam. The church is situated within a spacious area of ​​about 5,000 square meters. The church's facade bears the mark of Gothic architecture, with two bell towers on either side and a cross in the center. The two sides of the church's corridors are designed in the shape of stylized bamboo shoots. The interior sanctuary is impressive with its colorful windows, walls painted in a golden-brown hue, and a wooden ceiling adorned with antique lamps. In front of the church, there is also a small underground chamber, built within an artificial hill, containing many paintings and sculptures depicting the story of Saint Andrew Phu Yen, the first priest of this region.

Ganh Da Dia (Disk Rock Cliff) makes a strong impression on visitors with its hexagonal rock formations stacked on top of each other.

Among the most famous landmarks in northern Phu Yen, Ganh Da Dia (Disk Rock Cliff) has become a truly unique destination. Arranged by nature, the pentagonal and hexagonal rock formations are stacked upon each other like giant, glossy black honeycombs, perfectly aligned against the backdrop of the azure sea and sky. If you stand near the edge of the rocks, you'll easily get soaked by the sudden, powerful waves, sending up a spray of white foam.

The Ganh Den lighthouse stands silently at the entrance to Xuan Dai Bay.

Beside the enchanting Ganh Da Dia rock formation stands the Ganh Den lighthouse, silently nestled at the entrance to Xuan Dai Bay. Unlike most tourists who only stop at Ganh Da Dia, we walked along a trail for about 1km to the Ganh Den lighthouse. The lighthouse stands proudly, its red and white colors standing out against the vast blue of the sea. From near the lighthouse, it's easy to gaze out towards Chao Bay, where fishing boats bob on the waves. To the left are stretches of grass extending to the shore, and to the right are fascinating layers of rock formations. The moment the sun sets, with its golden rays blending with the salty scent of the sea, fills me with a strange sense of wonder.

Visiting Bai Xep means discovering a dreamy green hillside and endless stretches of cacti.

On the way from Ganh Da Dia (Disk Rock Beach) back to Tuy Hoa city center, we stopped at Bai Xep (Sticker Beach) to "take a trip back to childhood." To admire the panoramic view of Bai Xep, I followed a trail up the cliff, the dreamy, lush green hill resembling a silk carpet, with patches of cacti and wildflowers gradually appearing before my eyes. Reaching the top of the hill, a breathtaking scene unfolded below: a long, windswept coastline, paired with golden sand, harmonizing with the soothing melody of the waves.

Southern route

Vung Ro Bay - Hon Nua Island - Dai Lanh Lighthouse

Memorizing the famous poem from Phu Yen – “My homeland lies between two passes / To the south is Ca Pass, to the north is Cu Mong Pass,” it wasn't difficult for me to recognize the winding Ca Pass after driving along National Highway 1A towards Khanh Hoa. Ca Pass is like a silken ribbon curving along the East Sea coast, with towering cliffs on one side and the deep blue ocean stretching to the horizon on the other. In the distance, a few islands bob up and down in the silver waves. The curves along the mountain slopes jut out and then recede, taking us from one surprise to another.

Ca Pass is like a winding silk ribbon along the East Sea coast, with towering cliffs on one side and the deep blue ocean on the other.

Viewed from Ca Pass, Vung Ro Bay appears like a watercolor painting, with its calm, flat beach, hundreds of boats anchored bustlingly, surrounded by rolling hills. Vung Ro is the natural maritime boundary between Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa provinces, sheltered by three high mountain ranges: Deo Ca Pass, Da Bia, and Hon Ba. Because of its geographical location, during the war against the US, Vung Ro was a secret weapons receiving point for the South Central and Central Highlands battlefields, transported by legendary "no-number" ships. We visited the exhibition area showcasing the legendary "no-number" ships of the past and lit incense sticks to commemorate the heroic martyrs.

Vung Ro Bay, with its calm, flat beach and hundreds of boats anchored there, is surrounded by rolling hills and mountains.

While enjoying the beautiful scenery of Vung Ro Bay, my travel companion pointed to the far south of the bay, curious about an island shaped like a dinosaur. Upon asking the locals, we learned it was Hon Nua, a pristine island little known to tourists. We contacted a fisherman's boat to arrange a visit to the island.

Departing from Vung Ro port, after about 45 minutes, we arrived at Hon Nua Island. A small beach, about 500 meters long, stretches in a gentle arc, a strip of white sand, and crystal-clear turquoise water. The beach is followed by rocky outcrops that gradually rise into the sea. Climbing one rock after another, all I could see was the deep blue of the ocean, with fishing boats in the distance. Where I was standing was a small stainless steel marker indicating the maritime boundary between Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa provinces. Even under the scorching 2 PM sun, I couldn't resist jumping in the clear water and playing with schools of colorful fish. If I had prepared a tent and food beforehand, I would definitely have spent a night there to admire the moon and stars on this pristine island.

Viewed from a distance, Hon Nua Island resembles a dinosaur.

TOn the island is a small, gently curving beach with crystal-clear, turquoise water, followed by rocky cliffs that gradually rise into the sea.

Leaving the island, we returned to the mainland in time to see Bai Mon beach and the Dai Lan lighthouse. From afar, we could see the lighthouse standing majestically at the tip of the land jutting out into the sea, towering prominently against the blue sky. While the white-lined path with its steep steps led to the lighthouse, the beautiful golden sandy road led directly to Bai Mon beach. We climbed to the top of the lighthouse first to get a panoramic view of the sea and rocky mountains from above. The wind blew strongly, making Bai Mon beach seem smaller, with the vast ocean stretching into the distance and the rocky cliffs hazy in the afternoon sun.

From afar, the Dai Lanh lighthouse stands tall at the tip of the land jutting out into the sea.

We hiked up to the base of the lighthouse.

I continued my descent over the rugged rocks to reach Mũi Điện, the place that witnesses the earliest sunrise in Vietnam. As the sun began to set, I had to quickly hike down to Bãi Môn beach along the winding rocky path below and immerse myself in the crashing waves. Not only is it the beach that welcomes the earliest sunrise in Vietnam, Bãi Môn is also likened to a "blue strait," with gentle waves lapping against the crescent-shaped sandy beach, surrounded by mountains and the sea. Camping here to gaze at the stars at night and wake up to witness the first sunrise on the mainland is a unique experience you'll never have at any other beach.

Camping at Bai Mon beach to gaze at the stars at night and wake up to witness the first sunrise on the mainland is a truly unique experience that you will never have at any other beach.

A city "in the palm of your hand"

Many tourists spend a lot of time visiting destinations dozens of kilometers away from Tuy Hoa, but few know that this charming little city also has many interesting things to offer.

One such place is the Nhan Tower, built on the summit of Nhan Mountain, the most representative ancient tower left by the Cham people in the architectural complex of the central provinces. The tower, dedicated to deities, dates back to the late 11th or early 12th century. In the evening, the tower is illuminated, standing out against the mountaintop. We were fortunate to visit the tower on a Saturday evening and enjoy a special artistic program featuring performances of traditional folk songs, including Bài Chòi, Hò Khoan, Phú Yên folk songs, Vọng Cổ singing, Cham dance, and a stone xylophone ensemble.

The Swallow Tower was built on the summit of Swallow Mountain.

Tuy Hoa city is small, so you can explore it in just a few laps. Tuy Hoa market is usually open from 7 am to 5 pm and is one of the city's busiest areas. Following the main road to the beach leads to the square, a popular spot for young people to cycle and play sports. In the evening, we rode along the Tuy Hoa coastal road to enjoy the sea breeze and then continued driving onto the Da Rang bridge to enjoy the wind. At this time, the city at night is quiet amidst thousands of twinkling lights…

Phu Yen impressed me not only with its pristine coastal beauty but also with its friendly and approachable people. They might stop what they're doing to show you the shortest route, or even be willing to accompany you all the way if it's convenient. These are the simple, genuine things that tourists like me always cherish at the end of their journey.

Additional information:

+Time:It's best to visit Phu Yen during the dry season, from February to August. The rainy season, from September to December, brings rough seas and makes travel and sightseeing difficult. It's recommended to allocate about 3-4 days to explore Phu Yen.

+Trip:

Currently, Vietjet Air and Jetstar Pacific Airlines operate the Hanoi - Tuy Hoa route and vice versa, the Ho Chi Minh City - Tuy Hoa route.

+Vehicle:

Tourists can rent motorbikes from 100,000 VND/day. If traveling in a small group of 4-6 people, they can hire a taxi for a day trip to various locations as agreed upon, or hire a car with a driver.

+Hotel:

The 5-star Cendeluxe Hotel, the 5-star Viet Star Resort, the 4-star Kaya Hotel, the 4-star Saigon Phu Yen Hotel, the 3-star Long Beach Hotel, and many other hotels along Hung Vuong and Nguyen Hue streets are all nearby.

Souvenirs:

Sun-dried beef, sticky rice cakes wrapped in thorny leaves, dried shrimp, dried fish, dried squid, and handicrafts made from shellfish.

Text: Que Lan. Photos: Que Lan, Nam Chay, Xushiigraphy

The Thanh