Buzz
If not too long ago, Phu Yen was the most sought-after destination, this year, for a fresher experience, grab your backpack and head to Quy Nhon – a coastal city with a serene charm in the Central Vietnam region to discover intriguing wonders.
Complete Handbook for Your Quy Nhon Travel: The Hottest Destination This Summer!
“Where to travel now?” – This question pops up a couple of times and can be a bit exhausting. In reality, after visiting renowned places with breathtaking beauty like Da Lat or Nha Trang, Phu Quoc or Da Nang, traveling to many places can become ordinary. You'll want something new, a land that seems more untouched. So, traveling to Quy Nhon is undoubtedly a suitable choice for you.
If not too long ago, Phu Yen was the most sought-after destination, this year, for a fresher experience, grab your backpack and head to Quy Nhon – a coastal city with a serene charm in the Central Vietnam region to discover intriguing wonders.
Located in Binh Dinh province, the city of Quy Nhon is quite peaceful with a harmonious blend of mountains and sea. It also has white sand, golden sunshine, and blue sea. However, the name Quy Nhon also evokes a bit of 'hot, sultry, and primitive,' making many newcomers hesitant just by hearing it. However, if you overlook Quy Nhon just because of that, you are undoubtedly missing out on a land full of interesting things. Because the scenery, not extensively exploited for tourism, and the simple, charming life here are enough to captivate anyone who stops by. And when you have the opportunity to visit this coastal land, make sure you take enough time to fully enjoy the scenery, the most authentic life here. Be careful, Quy Nhon may be small, but its 'internal strength is extremely profound.'
1. Pack your backpack, now what's the best way to get to Quy Nhon?
Firstly, to reach Quy Nhon from Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, you can choose any mode of transportation such as a plane, train, or bus. If you manage to grab some good-priced plane tickets to Binh Dinh, after landing at Phu Cat Airport, you can take a taxi or airport bus to move to the city of Quy Nhon, approximately 35 kilometers away.
Finally, if you choose to travel by bus, regardless of your starting point, you will be taken directly to the center of Quy Nhon. Here, you can rent a motorbike at hotels or specialized rental services for about 150,000 VND/day, or rent a bike by the hour – a quite unique option, convenient for tourists in Quy Nhon.
2. You're in Quy Nhon, don't leave without knowing what Ky Co, Eo Gio, and Hon Kho are
If you ask the locals about the most beautiful places in Quy Nhon, they will undoubtedly say Ky Co and Eo Gio.
Eo Gio, meaning 'Wind Strait,' is a section of the sea strait in Nhon Ly commune, situated between two cliffs close to the sea, creating a unique crescent shape. As the convergence of mountains and the sea, Eo Gio with its rugged, challenging rock formations has created a majestic and somewhat wild natural scenery. Majestic it may be, but around the strait is a lush green meadow, pleasing to the eye, suddenly transforming the surrounding landscape into something beautifully gentle.
Eo Gio is so distinctive and renowned that if you come to Quy Nhon and don't visit Eo Gio, it means you know nothing about this land. In reality, describing Eo Gio in a few words is challenging because the experience of witnessing towering rocks with strange shapes, lying on the rocks, gazing at a bright blue sky, feeling the sea breeze on your face - it's both tranquil and gentle to the point that you won't want to do anything else but savor it.
From Eo Gio, to get to Ky Co, you can move by boat or canoe, taking only about 30-40 minutes. Setting foot on Ky Co, you'll feel like you've wandered into some beautifully enchanting untouched land. In Ky Co, life is somewhat rustic and lacks facilities because tourism here is just beginning to attract attention. However, this will be an opportunity for you to immerse yourself in simple living, experience the local way of life, enjoy delicious fresh seafood, and fully relish your vacation.
Leaving Eo Gio and Ky Co, the next destination not to be missed is Hon Kho. In fact, Hon Kho is about 16 km away from the city center, but this place is the stopping point that any travel enthusiast who has come to Quy Nhon wouldn't want to overlook.
To reach Hon Kho, you need to drive across Thi Nai Bridge, through Nhon Hoi Economic Zone, along Mai Huong Bay to reach the fishing village of Nhon Hai. From here, you'll move to Hon Kho by boat. The price per trip will range from 200 - 300,000 VND for a group of 5 to 10 people, and will depend on your bargaining skills.
Arriving at Hon Kho, don't be surprised that this island is just as pristine as Eo Gio. Because the population on this island is quite sparse, and the main activity is fishing, the area is almost inhabited by fishermen. That's why one of the advantages that makes Hon Kho catch the eye of tourists is the delicious and extremely affordable seafood. After eating seafood in Hon Kho, you might get 'addicted,' and even after leaving, the memories will linger.
Not many lush green trees, at Hon Kho, it's mostly rocks, sand, and blue sea. However, this very aspect gives Hon Kho an extremely distinctive wild beauty. The sea here is clean and clear to the extent that you can easily see the seabed along with colorful, enticing coral reefs. Especially, there's a path in the middle of the sea that will provide you with a very interesting walking experience. When the tide goes down, this path will be clearly revealed, and you can leisurely stroll along the seaside, swim in the sea, and admire the coral reefs - quite romantic indeed.
In reality, when you come to Quy Nhon, you'll have quite a few interesting destinations to choose from besides Eo Gio, Ky Co, or Hon Kho. It could be the seemingly intimidating but incredibly peaceful Phong Quy Hoa Village, where the poet Han Mac Tu chose to send his short-lived days. It could also be the sprawling Cù Lao Xanh Island, where upon arrival, you'll feel completely lost in the green hues of the sky, sea, and the refreshing, cool trees.
3. In Quy Nhon, the vastness is the sea, but surely you can't overlook Bai Trung!
Being a coastal city, when you visit Quy Nhon, beautiful white sandy beaches stretch throughout the city.
Famous beaches like Bai Trung (also known as Queen's Beach, as this used to be the exclusive bathing area for Queen Nam Phuong during her reign) stand out. With a scenic winding coastal route, crystal blue waters among countless oval-shaped rock formations stacked like captivating eggs.
Or numerous other beaches with peculiar names such as Bai Bau, Bai Nhom, Bai Dai, Bai Xep... each place has its own completely captivating beauty, catering to even the most discerning travelers. From bustling crowds to untouched, desolate, and tranquil, the beaches in Quy Nhon always know how to 'win the hearts' of visitors from afar.
4. When in Quy Nhon, what local specialties should you try?
When traveling, no matter where you go, no matter how much you explore, you must take the time to savor the delicious, distinctive dishes of that region. Quy Nhon is no exception. While Quy Nhon's specialties may not be hard to find elsewhere, coming here and not indulging in the popular delicacies might make your journey incomplete.
Fish noodle soup
First, let's talk about fish noodle soup. Each bowl of noodles consists of 4 types of savory fish cakes served with minced fish, a flavorful and authentic Quy Nhon broth. When you taste the gradually tender and crispy texture of the fish cakes combined with the sweet flavor of minced fish, it will surely satisfy your hungry stomach. This dish is considered the easiest for tourists to enjoy and is the most suitable breakfast that Quy Nhon offers to help you regain energy after a long journey.
Jumping shrimp crispy pancake
Compact in the Central Vietnamese style of crispy pancakes, the crispy shell is wrapped with various herbs, lettuce, mint, mango,... to balance the greasiness of the pancake. The jumping shrimp crispy pancake is quite easy to eat. The pancakes are usually served in portions of 5 to 10, so you can easily order the amount that suits your appetite.
Steamed rice cakes in small cups
When talking about small steamed rice cakes, it's a must to mention the ones in Quy Nhon. Just a small cup containing steamed rice cakes and a sauce made from soybean and minced meat, with a touch of chili, yet the peculiar taste of this dish is surprisingly delicious. Dipping the cakes into the flavorful fish sauce, a diner must skillfully handle several cups to satisfy their craving.
Banh Hoi Chao Long
Although the names of these dishes may seem unrelated, in Quy Nhon, the joy of enjoying both of these dishes together is incomparable. The thin rice noodle cakes are served with a somewhat watery, sweet, fragrant soup with a side of pig offal and banh hoi, creating an unexpectedly delightful combination.
Surf Bar
As a rare beachfront bar in the heart of Quy Nhon, Surf Bar has recently become a constant mention among young people visiting Quy Nhon. Admire the long winding coastline, the sound of waves mixed with the music of sentimental songs, sip a cocktail, take a gentle breath, that moment makes people want to linger and stay there for a long time, to relax, to sweep away the worries in their hearts, to recharge energy and move forward confidently in the following days.
Pledge:
Indeed, if you haven't visited Quy Nhon for once, wandered around and explored this place, it would be challenging to imagine how fascinating this land is. It may sound like a sunny and windy place, but just a few days in Quy Nhon, witnessing the pristine beauty, indulging in delicious local specialties, breathing in the fresh air deeply, and letting your heart gently follow the simple rhythm of the locals here, in no time, it feels like recharging energy for yourself.
A truly fresh spirit, a healthy body with a bit of sea breeze after days of beach bathing, wandering all over this land, a source of positive energy for you to be ready to return to daily life, that is the gift that Quy Nhon's sun and wind generously offer to any visitor who has set foot here.
According to Youth Knowledge
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Reference: Travel Guide Mytour
MytourAugust 17, 2017
