Explore Phú Yên with a 2 million VND budget

Hon Yen, Ganh Da Dia, Ganh Den, Bai Mon, Bai Xep are suggested destinations for travelers in a 3-day trip.

Travel Phú Yên with 2 million VND

In mid-June, Phạm Quốc Cường (1991) and a friend embarked on a journey to explore Phú Yên. Cường currently resides in Nha Trang and works as a graphic designer. Below is the itinerary of Cường and his companion.

Day 1: Hon Yen – Ganh Da Dia – Ganh Den – Mằng Lăng Church – Ông Cọp Wooden Bridge

All these spots are on the same route, so Cường chose to visit them on the first day. In the morning, he moved from the hotel to Hon Yen, about 15 km from Tuy Hoa city. Hon Yen is still quite pristine and free to visit; you only need to pay 5,000 VND for parking to the lady selling drinks or enjoy free water while she watches your car. To get a beautiful shot, you should climb up the nearby hill.

From Hon Yen, drive an additional 20 km to reach Ganh Da Dia. Entrance fee is 20,000 VND/person. The path from the entrance to the rock formation is not far, but if tired, you can take an electric car for 20,000 VND/person/round trip. Have lunch and rest at the restaurant near the entrance of Ganh Da Dia, where you can enjoy diverse seafood at reasonable prices and well-prepared dishes.

Around 2 PM, continue driving to Ganh Den, next to Ganh Da Dia, to climb up the lighthouse and admire the scenery from above. Then, visit Mang Lang Church, one of the oldest churches in Vietnam, housing the first Vietnamese romanized book. End the day by catching the sunset on Ong Cop Wooden Bridge – the longest wooden bridge in Vietnam.

Day 2: Mui Dien Lighthouse – Mon Beach – Thanh Luong Pagoda – Xep Beach

To witness the sunrise at the sea lighthouse, wake up early and depart at 4 AM from Tuy Hoa to Mui Dien, about a 30-minute drive. The sky is still dark, but someone will guide with a flashlight to the parking area and collect a 20,000 VND/person entrance fee. It takes about 15 minutes to climb the stairs to the lighthouse. 'This part consumes quite a bit of sweat whether you go in the morning or evening. But persevere because when you set foot on the lighthouse, you'll realize all the effort was absolutely worthwhile,' excitedly said.

Around 5:30 AM, the sunrise appears. Sit and admire the sunrise, take photos around the Mui Dien area until around 8 AM, then move down to Mon Beach nearby following the available signs. Here, the sun is bright, golden sand, and deep blue water. After swimming, climb up the sand dune to the parking area. There's only one restaurant here. Due to fatigue and hunger, Cuong and his companion have lunch immediately. The restaurant is quite simple, and they enjoy a satisfying seafood meal for only 380,000 VND.

Around 3 PM, depart to visit Thanh Luong Pagoda, a unique temple made from coconut leaves and coral, where a statue of Quan Am sits on a emerald green water pond. Around 4:30 PM, Cuong visits Xep Beach – the filming location of 'I See Yellow Flowers on Green Grass' movie.

For those seeking refreshing greenery in photos, it's advised to avoid harsh sunlight. Therefore, we saved Xep Beach for the evening, with gentle sunlight, less scorched grass, and the cacti appearing even greener. Sitting here in the evening, watching the sun dip into the sea is simply marvelous,” he shared.

Day 3: Vuc Hom Waterfall – Nhan Tower – Chop Chai Mountain

At 7 AM, Cuong set off to the Vuc Hom Waterfall in the Van Hoa Plateau. This lesser-known natural waterfall has rock formations similar to Ganh Da Dia. What makes it unique is the naturally green water pond nestled beneath stacked layers of rocks. To get here, travelers should locate it on Google Maps as 'Vuc Hom,' then head north on National Highway 1A, near Hoa Da station, turn left onto Route 643 towards the Van Hoa Plateau. Continue following the map for about 10 more kilometers, noting there's a rough gravel stretch on the way.

Vuc Hom also presented the most challenging route in Cuong's entire journey. 'Based on my hard-earned experience, stick to the path you took, don't foolishly try another route as it's difficult. I tried and had to return to the original path. While traveling, I kept stopping to admire the vast reed forests on the green plateau, causing me to spend the entire morning here,' Cuong shared.

In the afternoon, they visited Nhan Tower in Tuy Hoa City, with an entrance fee of 15,000 VND/person. Afterwards, they drove to Hoa Tri Commune to admire Chop Chai Mountain – a sacred symbol for the people of Phu Yen. In the evening, Cuong boarded a car back to Nha Trang.

“There are plenty of reasons to travel to Phu Yen this summer, but the most crucial one is that it's a top destination with delicious, affordable food, picturesque rural landscapes, and friendly, welcoming locals. Whenever you get lost, don't hesitate to ask the locals; the people of Phu Yen are very warm and enthusiastic, always ready to guide you to your destination,” Cuong exclaimed.

Additional Notes:

– Transportation: Cuong took a limousine from Nha Trang to Phu Yen and vice versa, with a ticket price of 120,000 VND/way. Travelers from other provinces can reach Phu Yen by plane, train, or bus. In Phu Yen, it's recommended to rent a motorbike or car, especially for larger groups. Motorbike rental in Tuy Hoa ranges from 120,000 to 150,000 VND.

– Accommodation: Due to frequent travels, Cuong opted for the simple Trieu Dang Hotel on Hung Vuong Street for rest. Room prices range from 250,000 to 450,000 VND for 2–4 guests, offering beautiful and modern rooms. Alternatively, tourists can consider lovely homestays like Laé Hostel, Joy House, Trai Hoa Vang, and Samstay Phu Yen.

– Cuisine: Travelers visiting Phu Yen can indulge in diverse dishes such as banh xeo, banh canh, hu tieu, clam porridge, various types of snails, and chicken rice... Cuong also recommends beautiful coffee shops like Pani Coffee and Tea, Viento 1, Leica Coffee, Sao Charm Coffee & Tea.

– Timing: Cuong suggests visiting Phu Yen during the sunny season, from January to August, when the sky and sea are beautifully clear. Avoid traveling in September to December as the Central region experiences heavy rains and storms.

– Expenses: 1,994,000 VND/person. Breakdown:

According to Ngan Duong/Vnexpress.net

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Reference: Travel guide Mytour