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Hang Rai Beach is being "awakened" as more and more tourists make a point of stopping here during their Ninh Thuan travel itinerary. Especially during the rough sea season from November to February, it's the ideal time to visit and offers a great opportunity to capture unique and beautiful photos of the waves and the lush green moss covering the ancient coral reefs. Here, you'll find many stunning pictures.
Admiring the mesmerizing and mysterious blend of moss and waves at Hang Rai, you will be constantly amazed by this masterpiece of nature. The patches of moss growing on the coral appear beneath the crystal-clear water, looking from afar like giant, unique green gems.
Most impressive is at dawn, when the reddish sun on the distant horizon begins to awaken the vibrant life of Hang Rai. The green moss, after a night of slumber, seems to spring to life with the first rays of sunlight. The seawater changes color magically with the sun's rays. The towering cliffs stand out against the clear blue sky. As the sun rises higher, the sea surface becomes clearer, resembling fluffy clouds.
Here are some must-do experiences when visiting Hang Rai Cave in Ninh Thuan:
Explore the rock park.
Because this place used to be home to many otters, the name Hang Rai (Otter Cave) originated from there. The rock park is a skillful arrangement of hundreds of rocks of various sizes, creating beautiful shapes, narrow caves just wide enough for one person to crawl through, and steep cliffs that challenge your courage. Exploring the rock park, you will admire the majestic sea and mountains, and enjoy panoramic views of the ancient coral reef from above.
"Check in on the Martian coral reef"
At Hang Rai, this is perfectly normal. The "Mars" mentioned is actually the sacred ancient coral reef. Due to geological formations over millions of years, the ancient coral reef has risen up in a large area that tourists often jokingly call "Mars" or "the Moon." Its uneven terrain creates many diverse shapes; in some places, sharp rocks jut up to 30 cm high, ready to injure any careless visitor, while in other places, it sinks into perfectly round pits, sparkling with salt crystals, a truly fascinating sight.
Immerse yourself in natural swimming pools.
Right at the foot of the ancient coral reef lies another layer of ancient coral rock, halfway up the sea level. This is also the feature that attracts many tourists to Hang Rai. When waves crash against the rocks, causing water to flow inward, the slope of the rocks causes the water to flow back down to the sea, creating incredibly unique waterfalls. Many people call this fascinating phenomenon "waterfalls on the sea," and Hang Rai is the only place where this phenomenon occurs.
Heart-shaped rock formations are sought after by many young people. (Photo: Minh Triet)
These rocky crevices have inadvertently become natural swimming pools, providing both safety and coolness for anyone who can't resist the charm of Hang Rai.
Camping to watch the sunrise and sunset.
The best time to admire Hang Rai is at sunrise, but the sun rises quite early, around 5:30 AM. Therefore, camping overnight at Hang Rai is also a fun experience you should try. As dawn breaks, the horizon glows pink, casting the first rays of sunlight onto the "waterfall on the sea," making the scene even more magical.
This is a time that is very popular with professional photographers and couples getting married.
Visit the sea turtle sanctuary.
Photo: Viet Phuong
Hang Rai is located within Nui Chua National Park, one of Vietnam's nature reserves. While not as numerous as in Con Dao, the number of sea turtles that come ashore to breed each year can reach dozens. Sea turtles are a rare and endangered species, currently protected by international conservation organizations.
Photo: Minh Triet
Visiting Hang Rai, you'll learn more about sea turtles and conservation efforts during their breeding season. If you're lucky, you might even see turtles over 30 years old being rescued here, and hand-feed them with seaweed provided by the national park management. It will be a memorable experience and raise awareness about the conservation of turtles in particular and wildlife in general.
Lost in Thai An Vineyard
If you're in Hang Rai, you absolutely must visit the vineyards along the way. You can explore, take photos to your heart's content, eat ripe grapes right in the vineyard, sample grape wine and grape syrup, and learn about the grape growing process—all for free. You only pay when you buy grapes to take home, and at incredibly low prices.
Photo: Thuy Duong
Grapes typically cost around 20,000 – 30,000 VND per kilogram, depending on your bargaining skills. Nowadays, Hang Rai offers many services to meet all visitor needs, such as accommodation, food, and photography, so you don't need to prepare too much in advance.
