Essential Tips for Adventurous Travels to Phan Thiet

Phan Thiet is a cherished travel destination, especially among the backpacking community. It boasts beautiful beaches, a rich culinary scene, and numerous captivating attractions. Discover how to make your Phan Thiet adventure cost-effective, time-efficient, and safe. Check out the latest tips for exploring Phan Thiet in the comprehensive article below.

Beloved Tourist Destination – Phan Thiet (Photo by ST)

1. Introduction to Phan Thiet

Phan Thiet is a city located in Binh Thuan province, 183 km northeast of Ho Chi Minh City. Tourism in Phan Thiet is increasingly attractive to both domestic and international travelers due to its beautiful natural landscapes, enchanting blue beaches, and affordable prices. The area also captivates visitors with unique and unforgettable forms of exploratory tourism.Not only that, this region is also an intriguing cultural tourism destination with diverse communities of people, including the Hoa and Cham ethnic groups.

Phan Thiet is alluring with its pristine blue beaches and vast, silky sand dunes (Photo by ST)

Situated in the tropical zone, with little influence from the Northeast monsoon, the climate is hot and dry, allowing visitors to travel to Phan Thiet at any time of the year. However, the best time to visit Phan Thiet is around June, August, and September, avoiding the peak heat of April and May, as well as the seaweed season in July.

The beautiful and picturesque city of Phan Thiet (Photo by ST)

With its picturesque beaches, sweeping coconut palms against the backdrop of white sand, and an array of fresh seafood, Phan Thiet always stands out as the top tourist destination in Binh Thuan.

Phan Thiet boasts numerous high-end resorts and luxury accommodations (Photo by ST)

2. Journey to Phan Thiet

For a road trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet, there are various routes, but the most favored by adventurers is either along National Highway 1A or National Highway 51. Following National Highway 1A is an easily navigable route but is less favored by thrill-seekers due to heavy traffic and lack of scenic beauty.

Coastal route tailor-made for thrill-seeking bikers (Photo by ST)

The alternative route along National Highway 51 is the coastal adventure road. Starting from Saigon, you cross the Cat Lai ferry to Long Thanh, then head to Ba Ria town. This route is about 25-30km shorter than taking National Highway 1A. At the Vung Tau intersection, turn onto National Highway 51, where the stunning scenic roads unfold, leading all the way to Phan Thiet.

Phan Thiet also attracts many biking enthusiasts (Photo by ST)

3. Unmissable Spots in Phan Thiet

• Vast Ocean Lord Mansion

Address: Ngư Ông Street, Đức Thắng Ward, Phan Thiet City

Vast Ocean Lord Mansion is the home to the largest whale skeleton in Vietnam, constructed in 1762. The whale skeleton, preserved in the mansion measuring 22m in length and weighing 65 tons, is considered the largest in Vietnam. Over the years, Vast Ocean Lord Mansion has housed nearly 100 whale skeletons and various related species. Half of them date back 100-150 years, with some large skeletons being worshipped solemnly. For the local coastal residents, the whale is a protective deity for fishermen, providing shelter against the tumultuous waves and winds of the ocean. The mansion stands today as evidence of the formation and development of the coastal residents in Phan Thiet. Annually, the mansion hosts ceremonial rituals on the lunar 20th of February, April, June, July, and 23rd of August.

Vast Ocean Lord Mansion displaying the giant whale skeleton (Photo by ST)

• Poshanu Cham Tower

Address: Located on Ba Nai Hill, Phu Hai Ward

Poshanu Cham Tower is a remaining relic of the ancient Cham Pa kingdom, constructed to worship the god Shiva and Princess Poshanu. The tower exhibits Hoa Lai architectural style, one of the ancient art styles of Champa. Today, the tower group consists of only three remaining towers: main, medium, and auxiliary, serving as evidence of the existence and development of the Cham people. Despite its relatively small size, it encapsulates the essence of ancient Cham architecture and decorative art, creating a solemn and mysterious ambiance. Every year, residents of Cham villages and travelers from afar visit to pay respects and participate in ceremonies.

Poshanu Cham Tower – A testament to the Cham people (Photo by ST)

• Duc Thanh School

Duc Thanh School is an educational institution founded by patriotic scholars in 1907, in response to the Duy Tan movement in Central Vietnam. It is also the place where President Ho Chi Minh taught before heading to Saigon. Today, the school has preserved almost intact the artifacts from nearly a century ago.

Duc Thanh School – where Uncle Ho used to teach (Photo by ST)

• Ong Hoang Building

Address: Phu Hai Ward, Phan Thiet

Ong Hoang Building is a historical site built during the French colonial period. Over the years, the structure has been destroyed and now remains as ruins. This location is associated with the legend of Han Mac Tu, who chose Ong Hoang Building as a place to meet and admire the moon with Mong Cam – his lover. Poet Han Mac Tu wrote many poems about the romantic landscape of this place.

Ong Hoang Building – where the love story of poet Han Mac Tu is engraved (Photo by ST)

• Bau Trang – Bau Sen

Address: Binh Nhon Commune, Hoa Da District, Binh Thuan Province

Bau Trang – Bau Sen are two natural freshwater lakes nestled amidst vast white sand dunes. Also known as Bau Ong, visitors here can admire blooming lotus flowers amid the white sand dunes in summer. Bau Sen is also known as Bau Ba, where a wide, expansive lake is surrounded by beautiful, pure white sand dunes, creating a serene and smooth landscape.

The spacious Bau Trang – Bau Sen creates a picturesque scenery (Photo by ST)

• Suoi Tien

Address: Mui Ne Ward, Phan Thiet City

Suoi Tien is a small stream, aptly named as the fairy scene. Visitors to Suoi Tien will witness a beautiful natural landscape with tall mountain ranges on both sides and a small stream flowing at the foot. This is a charming walking stream with a beautiful sand valley, accompanied by natural hills of red and white rocks shaped uniquely by the erosion of time. It is also a popular location for couples to capture beautiful wedding photos.

Suoi Tien – an unmissable destination for travelers (Photo by ST)

• Doi Cat Bay

Address: Quarter 5, Mui Ne Ward

Mui Ne Sand Dunes is one of the landscapes that has enchanted poets, artists, and photographers. The sand dunes stretch for several kilometers, covering a vast area with an undefined boundary and a large overall scale. In addition to its appearance, the sand comes in 18 different colors, attracting many tourists. On the sand dunes, you can rent boards for sand sliding, at a cost of only about 5,000 VND per board.

Sand Dunes – an attractive destination for young travelers (Photo by ST)

• Bai Rang

Llà is the most beautiful beach in Phan Thiet. Bai Rang is nestled under dense coconut groves resembling a beautiful coconut forest. In summer, Bai Rang is always bustling with visitors coming to swim in the sea and enjoy the delicious grilled sweet snail dish. The area also has many hotels and resorts for tourists to choose from, allowing them to relax in the turquoise water.

Image of Bai Rang – the most beautiful beach in Phan Thiet (Photo by ST)

• Hon Rom

Hon Rom is a small pristine mountain in Mui Ne – Phan Thiet, a small tourist area in this region. The mountain is named Hon Rom because during the dry season, the grass on the mountain turns yellow. The surrounding area of Hon Rom has clear blue water, gentle waves, and numerous beaches for tourists, suitable for group activities. There are many beaches in Hon Rom such as Hon Rom 1, Hon Rom 2, Thuy Trang... In the morning or evening, you can sit and admire the sunrise or sunset, and at night, you can organize a campfire.

Hon Rom sparkles at sunset and sunrise (Photo by ST)

• Ke Ga Lighthouse

Address: Tan Thanh Commune, Ham Thuan District, Binh Thuan Province

Ke Ga Lighthouse is a tall tower with a light used for maritime traffic in the area. This lighthouse holds the record in Vietnam as the tallest and oldest sand lighthouse. The majestic lighthouse stands amidst pristine beaches, clear water on Ke Ga Island. To visit the lighthouse, you can contact to rent a boat or canoe.

The oldest ancient lighthouse in Vietnam (Photo by ST)

4. Phan Thiet specialties

• Banh Re (Rattan Pancake)

One of the finest specialties of Phan Thiet. Banh Re is made from shredded sweet potatoes, shaped into round pancakes, deep-fried to golden perfection, and then coated with a layer of melted sugar on top. The cake has a crispy texture, a fragrant sweetness, and pairs wonderfully with hot tea.

Deliciously fragrant and crispy Banh Re (Photo by ST)

• Banh Can (Mini Pancakes)

Banh Can is a must-try when visiting this place. Made from rice flour poured into molds similar to banh khot but without the coconut cream layer. After the pancakes are cooked, they are sandwiched together with finely chopped green onions, served with a special dipping sauce, and fresh vegetables for a delightful taste experience.

Image of Banh Can - a specialty of Phan Thiet (Photo by ST)

• Soft Rice Paper Rolls

Soft Rice Paper Rolls are a common delicacy in Phan Thiet. With soft rice paper, shrimp paste, pork fat, and quail eggs rolled together, you have a deliciously rich and flavorful dish. This dish is often sold in the evening at locations such as the intersection of Tran Hung Dao and Thu Khoa Huan, Tam Bien crossroad.

Deliciously rich Soft Rice Paper Rolls (Photo by ST)

• Baked Seafood Casserole

Dông is considered a specialty of the sandy hill region. The white meat of Dông, similar to chicken but sweeter, firmer, and more tender, is processed into various dishes. While one can find grilled Dông in large restaurants and eateries everywhere today, the flavor and preparation methods distinguish Phan Thiet's grilled Dông from elsewhere.

Grilled Dông – specialty of the sandy hills (Photo by ST)

• Moon Snail Salad

Moon Snail Salad is a simple yet highly praised dish by many tourists exploring Phan Thiet. The snails used for the salad are fresh, and their meat has a naturally delicious and sweet taste. After being boiled and sliced, the snail meat is mixed with pork belly, papaya, fresh herbs, and various spices. The salad is eaten with rice paper and drizzled with vinegar and sugar sauce. This dish is both a popular appetizer and a delightful treat for students.

Exquisite and Unusual Moon Snail Salad (Photo by ST)