Phu Yen is perfect for those who want to enjoy the beauty of the ocean in Vietnam. Here is some necessary travel information for you about your new destination on the Central Coast of Vietnam.
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1. Conquering Da Bia mountain
Da Bia mountain is higher than 700m located in the foot of Ca hill featuring a huge rock that’s nearly 50m high. From Bai Xep, Bai Trang (Hoa Tam commune), Da Bia is like a sitting person, whilst, from Hoa Tam, Da Bia isa standing Buddha. Legend has it that in the past King Le Thanh Tong, after the battle of Chiem Thanh, stopped and left his autograph at this magnificent attraction. Conquering a mountain is both challenging and interesting. The pay-off for your effort is that you can breathe the fresh air and feel like you were flying from the sky down to the expansive ocean.
2. Wandering on Nhan mountain
Centuries ago, the Kingdom of Champa left marvelous architectural structures, known as the Nhan tower, it rests on Nhan mountain and retains the remnants of such a prosperous time. In the afternoon with the sun shining, you can ride a bike between two lines of aromatic milk flowers in Le Trung Kien street, and then take a walk to Nhan mountain. From the ariel view, Tuy Hoa city is so sparkling and mysterious that you can’t help but feel relaxed.
3. View the sunrise on the sea in the early morning
When visiting Phu Yen in Vietnam, Tuy Hoa is a coastal city with a beach and large square in the city center that is perfect for water activities. Tuy Hoa features a curving and elegant seashore void of islands visible in the sea. It’s a wonderful place for witnessing the sunrise. In summer days, when the sky is blue and clear, you can go to the sea at 4a.m and view the sunrise at 5a.m as a fireball from the sea. It’s a memorable moment.
4. Having a bath at Om beach and witnessing the sunset on Xuan Dai bay
Xuan Dai is one of the most beautiful bays in Vietnam. When riding a motorbike from Song Cau town and following the soil path to Vung La, you will pass by a fishing village on one side and the serene Xuan Dai bay on the other side. The scenery at sunset is very picturesque and poetic. If you have enough time, you should visit the lagoons to see the views and check out the daily activities of the local fishermen.
In particular, you can drop by the pristine Om beach in Vung La. Om beach is an ideal destination for backpackers to go camping. It is an unforgettable experience to discover and listen to legends about the lagoons in Vung Dong, Vung Mam, Vung Chao, Vung La and Vung Su.
5. Enjoying seafood at Goc beach
Seafood in Goc beach, Phu Yen is infamous for being both cheap and delicious in Vietnam. Tourist services here are still undeveloped. The beach is situated in the north of Mon beach, Dien cape and Tien beach, Hoa Tam commune (Dong Hoa). Here, you can taste a variety of your favorite seafood. Fresh squid or tuna, snails, crabs and other types of seafood that will wake up your taste buds.
6. Tasting local cakes
Phu Yen is also famous for many types of cakes. You can wander around any small street and come to a roadside restaurant to taste cakes such as floating fern cake, fine rice vermicelli and other cakes, which are specialties of the Central Coast. In Phu Yen, cakes are often covered with cooking oil, shallot and shredded meat and served with sweet fish sauce.
7. Camping on Lao Mai Nha islet
About 4km from O Loan lagoon is Hon Lao Mai Nha. It covers an area of 1.2km with its highest peak of more than 100m. This place retains almost completely untouched features of nature. The inlet owns two beaches: the front beach with smooth sand with colorful coral reefs and the back beach which is an exciting place for hunting fish for your camping on the beach. If you love nature, a trip to Lao Mai Nha inlet is a fabulous destination.
8. Visiting Da Dia reef and Ganh Den lighthouse
Da Dia reef was formed by the eruption of a volcano over 200 million years ago. It has a width over 50m and a length of 200m. Da Dia is a unique wonder only found in Phu Yen. Rocks mysteriously appeared heaped up on the beach. Half of the reef has sunk into the sea while the other half expands above the waves all year round. As the day passes, water turns the rocks black and forms strange shapes upon the shore. Nearby Da Dia reef, you can visit the ancient and tranquil Ganh Den lighthouse. Here, you can witness breathtaking scenery and listen to the sound of the sea waves as they hit the shore.
9. Welcoming the night in Dai Lanh, the day in Bai Mon
Dai Lanh cape with the ancient Mui Dien lighthouse is also known as Mui Nay, Mui Ba or Mui Dien in Phuoc Tan hamlet, Hoa Tam commune, or Dong Hoa. Under the lighthouse, Mon beach features turquoise water with surfing waves all year round. Bathe in the water of Mon beach and indulge yourself in the mysterious Dai Lanh night. In the evening, it is starry and clear. Sitting on the rocks, you can view the immense ocean reflecting thousands of lights from fishing boats as well as stars in the sky. Here, you can escape from the sounds of daily life.
10. Phu Yen’s rice with chicken and ocean tuna with mustard
Phu Yen’s rice with chicken is an indispensable dish of visitors at this beach city in Vietnam. The rice is more viscous and aromatic when being cooked with the chicken broth and curry. This dish is best served with kimchi, salted onion and local fish sauce.
Phu Yen is the best fishing ground for catching ocean tunas in Vietnam. Delicious pieces of tuna are carefully cut and beautifully set on the plate. In order to keep its flavor, you should enjoy the raw fish with mustard greens and mustard.
Further information:
+ Transportation to Phu Yen:
- Airplane: the new Dong Tac airport, about 5km from Tuy Hoa city provides flights from Hanoi, Danang and HCMC.
- Tourist cars: Thuan Thao, Cuc Tu and Hanh Tho
- Train: Trains passing by Tuy Hoa station include Thong Nhat, SE and local trains such as SH and SQN.
+ Transportation in Phu Yen:
- Motorbike renting: from 150,000 – 200,000VND/day in hotels.
- Bus: You can take buses from the city center to communes and districts.
+ Culinary addresses in Phu Yen:
- Rice with chicken: Rice with chicken is a popular dish for breakfast here. You can taste this dish along the pavements of Tran Quy Cap street or at the corner of Le Loi and Nguyen Thai Hoc street.
- Rice pancake folded in half: This dish is often served with local fish sauce. You can try this at Dai Nam restaurant in the lane of Nguyen Cong Tru and Chu Manh Trinh street.
- Floating fern-shaped cake and fine rice vermicelli: the restaurant to enjoy this dish is located in the T-cross to Nhan mountain. It only opens in late afternoon.
- Ocean tuna: is often served with mustard greens and mustard. Its eyes are braised with Chinese traditional medicine. You can taste this dish in Mrs. Tam restaurant in Le Duan street, near the crossroad of Le Duan and Dien Bien Phu or Phu Anh restaurant.
- Shallot rice spaghetti: The dish is cooked with fish and fried fish and served with shallots. It is often sold in the evening near Tuy Hoa post office or Nang restaurant by the pharmaceutical company.
- Fine rice vermicelli with pork guts and gut porridge: Hoa Da restaurant (An My, Tuy An) is only open in the morning.
- Chop Chai goat hot pot: on the old national 1A road, about 3km from Tuy Hoa city in the north.
- Girdle cake and roasted meat roll: by the old Nguyen Van Troi school. The roasted meat roll is wrapped with Phu Yen’s girdle cake and served with local fish sauce.
+ Gifts: Soaked half-dried squids, Phu Yen girdle cake, cake made of glutinous rice flour dipped in lye and “nậm” cake.
