Buzz
Summer without a beach trip is like ignoring nature's call! But amidst the golden land of Phu Yen and the trending green island of Phu Quy, which one should I choose? Each destination has its own charm, so let's explore these two 'land of plenty' to make the right choice for my summer getaway!
Phu Yen - Tranquil Land of Abundance
Transportation
The quickest and most convenient way is to travel by plane to Tuy Hoa Airport. With just a 1-hour flight from Ho Chi Minh City, you'll arrive and can easily take a taxi or ride-sharing service to the city center, which is 10km away.
For a more adventurous experience and beautiful train ride photos, you can choose to travel by train to Tuy Hoa station. However, the travel time is quite long, taking over half a day from Ho Chi Minh City.
The most budget-friendly option but also the most time-consuming, taking over half a day if departing from Ho Chi Minh City (12-13 hours).
Key Destinations
You should allocate 2 days to explore both the northern and southern parts of Phu Yen. Here's the itinerary our group followed for exploring Phu Yen:
Northern Part:
Southern Part:
1. Nghinh Phong Tower - Tuy Hoa Beach
Nghinh Phong Tower, a new symbol of Phu Yen inspired by Ghenh Da Dia, a local iconic site and the legend of “A hundred eggs, a hundred children”. The tower consists of two parts. Each part is designed with 50 blocks of stones of different sizes, arranged closely to form a vertical shape pointing upwards. Between the two tall columns is a narrow path for only two people to walk side by side. Standing here, you may hear the clear sounds created by the wind blowing through the rocks.
Phu Yen tourism
No matter what time of day you visit Nghinh Phong Tower, you can enjoy the unique combination of nature and human creativity. In the evening, Nghinh Phong Tower is equipped with a unique lighting system that displays various light effects.
Early morning and sunset are the two best times to capture beautiful photos. Don't forget to wear appropriate colors such as white or sky blue, as the structure is made of gray stones.
Running along Doc Lap Street from Nghinh Phong Tower, you can easily admire Tuy Hoa Beach hidden under the lush green trees and umbrellas of dining areas. You can stroll down to the beach or visit the nearby eateries for snacks or seafood dishes in the evening.
Tuy Hoa Beach with its blue sea, white sand, and golden sunshine
2. Bai Xep - Gan Ong
Simply search for 'My Dear Yellow Grassland Movie Set' on Google Maps to easily reach the most famous check-in spot in Xu Nau Land. Since the impact of the movie, this is undoubtedly the must-visit photography location with stunning landscapes ranging from grassy fields, cacti, pineapple trees to the azure sea. Note that sunlight and wind are abundant at Bai Xep, so be careful when taking photos to avoid messy hair (or losing your hat) and getting sunburned.
The movie set of 'My Dear Yellow Grassland' is an unmissable photography spot
3. Ghenh Da Dia
Located 40km from Tuy Hoa city, along the road to Bai Xep, you can arrange a trip to Bai Xep and Ghenh Da Dia in one day. Here, you will be impressed by the black stone blocks formed from basaltic lava eruption over 200 million years ago. The diverse rock columns ranging from hexagonal, circular, square are stacked on top of each other like 'plates'. The ideal time to visit is in the afternoon when the sun is not too intense, and you can enjoy the beautiful sunset over the sea.
Ghenh Da Dia with its magnificent natural landscape is also a place to admire beautiful sunsets
4. Ganh Den Lighthouse
Just 1.2km from Ghenh Da Dia, you can easily move around in one day. Ganh Den Lighthouse is located on the edge of the cliff, facing the sea, the road to the lighthouse is well-planned and easy to walk, you can overlook the beautiful blue sea scenery. The lighthouse has a height of 10m with two colors white - red, which can light the way for ships within a 17 nautical mile range. Thanks to its distance from the city center, Ganh Den Lighthouse still retains its pristine beauty, and you don't have to worry about crowds when taking photos.
The road to Ganh Den Lighthouse will help you capture 'million-like' summer photos
5. The most beautiful coastal road in Central Vietnam
On the second day exploring Phu Yen to the South, you will definitely need a motorbike to fully enjoy the stunning scenery on the road known as the 'most beautiful in Central Vietnam'. This is also the route that will lead you to Dai Lanh Lighthouse and Vung Ro Bay. Along the way, you can cast your eyes over the blue sea, white sand, and golden sunshine, and you can stop to take beautiful photos like paintings. Be cautious while riding and stopping as there are many large vehicles on the road.
The most beautiful coastal road in Central Vietnam must be traveled by motorbike to fully appreciate its beauty
6. Bai Mon - Mui Dien
Dai Lanh Lighthouse located south of Phu Yen in Mui Dien is where the first sunrise in mainland Vietnam is welcomed. Dai Lanh Lighthouse has the ability to illuminate within a range of 27 nautical miles and is built higher than the sea level by 110m. Built on the top of a hill facing the sea, when you arrive here, you need to park your vehicle at the foot of the hill and walk 20-30 minutes to reach the lighthouse. Despite the effort, when you set foot here, you will be truly amazed by the majestic scenery and beauty that no travel article can fully describe for you. Below Mui Dien is Bai Mon - a beach with pristine beauty and emerald green water. You can hike down to the beach along the trail.
The scenery at Mui Dien lighthouse will leave you in awe because of its beauty
7. Vung Ro Bay
From Mui Dien, continue on National Highway 1A to reach Vung Ro Bay - where floating rafts of seafood restaurants gather. Instead of enjoying seafood at regular restaurants or eateries, Vung Ro floating rafts offer a unique culinary experience with vast sea views surrounded by distant towering mountains on the horizon. Getting there is simple, just go to the Tàu Không Số relic site, park your vehicle for a leisurely stroll to explore the relic site and ask the manager to contact the floating rafts. A few minutes later, a boat will pick you up to the rafts, and the food shopping journey begins. An ideal meal suggested by the rafts is a variety of lobster dishes, with the head boiled in porridge or hotpot, and the body grilled or served with cheese, along with simple preparations of shrimp, squid, and fish to preserve their freshness.
Having lunch on the floating rafts at Vung Ro Bay is an experience not to be missed
Must-try dishes
Phu Yen offers a wide variety of delicious dishes thanks to its diverse local ingredients from both the sea and the mountains. The local cuisine is delicately prepared, not too spicy, salty, or sweet, so you can indulge in Phu Yen's culinary delights. The dining costs are also reasonable, without overcharging.
Phu Quy - The cha-cha-cha rhythm on the green island
Getting around
From Saigon, you can either enjoy the journey on your own 'steed' or take a bus or train. However, since the completion of the Ho Chi Minh City - Phan Thiet expressway on April 30, 2023, travel time has been reduced to only 2-3 hours by bus, making it a suitable choice for many travelers and families. Upon arrival at the bus station, you can take a shuttle or taxi to the Phan Thiet pier.
Upon arrival at the Phan Thiet pier, if the ferry departure time has not yet arrived, you can rent a hammock in a café to rest and have a light breakfast. 30 minutes before boarding, you should take motion sickness medication to prevent seasickness. The estimated ferry time is 2 hours and 30 minutes. You should buy high-speed ferry tickets early, at least 1 month in advance, as Phu Quy is currently a popular tourist destination. You can choose from one of the following ferry services: Superdong, Phu Quy Express, Chan Kha Express, etc.
There's a note that when going to the island, the boat will follow the waves, so there may be less rocking, but on the return trip, the boat will be against the waves, so there may be more intense rocking, and you're likely to experience more seasickness.
Highlighted Destinations
Unlike Phu Yen, Phu Quy is very small with only one coastal road running around the island, so you can explore the entire island with just a motorcycle ride. However, to fully explore all the landmarks, you should spend 2 days on the island. The sequence of landmarks you can arrange from nearest to farthest along the coastal road starting from Triều Dương Bay - Phượt Slope - Flagpole - Gành Hang - Mộ Thầy - Phong Điện, and don't forget to spend an afternoon to explore Hon Tranh.
1. The Lonely Tree not so 'lonely' and the fishing village 'hometown cha cha cha'
'The Solitary Tree' is the name given by tourists to a tree planted on the embankment facing the sea, near the Tam Thanh fishing village on Phu Quy Island. This is one of the favorite check-in spots for young people. Recently, during the peak tourist season on the island, there are crowds of tourists waiting to take photos with the tree every day, especially on weekends. Sometimes many people wait for hours to take a photo, so some jokingly call it the 'lonely' tree. But truly, this is the top recognizable landmark, just post a photo with the solitary tree and everyone will know you're in Phu Quy.
The 'Lonely Tree' and the fishing village dubbed the 'hometown cha cha cha'
When you visit the solitary tree, you can also visit the Tam Thanh and Phu Long fishing villages nearby. However, truth be told, the village won't be like a Korean drama. In reality, the fishing village here carries the characteristics of a Vietnamese coastal village with a peaceful scenery of gray-tiled houses and hospitable locals drying squid under the sun and making bricks.
2. Triều Dương Bay - Phượt Slope - Flagpole - Small Beach
Following the coastal road, the first destination is Triều Dương Bay, a small beach with calm turquoise waters and smooth sandy stretches. In the afternoon, locals gather here for swimming, and on the rocky outcrops, many come to take photos. Next, you'll pass Phượt Slope, where there's a wide expanse of land perfect for photoshoots and witnessing the beautiful sunrise. The sunrise here starts from 5:30 to 6:00 in the morning, so you should wake up early to drive to the parking lot and can rent a camping chair for 10K to enjoy the sunrise.
Places where just lifting your phone creates perfect Instagram shots, but they tend to be crowded.
Running a few hundred meters further, you'll see the sovereignty flagpole where almost every tourist comes to take photos. Below the flagpole is Small Beach - a crescent-shaped beach nestled against the mountains with natural turquoise water. Visitors just need to park their motorbikes on the road, then walk along the trail down to the beach.
Small Beach with its crystal-clear water is a beloved beach destination in Phu Quy.
Many visitors come to Dinh Mo Thay mainly to take photos with the Lagoon of Lang Duong Fish, but Dinh Mo Thay is a religious destination for the people of Phu Quy. Many believe that this is a place where wishes come true, so when you come here, you should visit the Dinh to offer incense to show respect. Behind the Dinh is a mountain wall with a view of the sea, creating a quiet space with the breeze carrying the salty scent from the ocean. From here, you can clearly see 3 small islands around, namely Hon Den, Hon Do, and Hon Giua, and see the white sandy beach stretching in both East-West directions.
The Lagoon of Lang Duong Fish is a famous check-in point for young people when visiting Dinh Mo Thay.
5. Phong Dien
The narrow road filled with dry branches and the 'magical' view along with the wind turbines in recent years has also become a popular photo spot. On weekdays or during low tourist season, you can comfortably pose here. Conversely, on weekends or during beautiful tourist seasons, tourists flock and crowd the path waiting for their turn to check in.
Phong Dien is also a famous photography spot, so it's quite crowded on weekends.
6. Hon Tranh - Bai Can
You should spend a day on a local tour to explore Hon Tranh and a snorkeling tour to admire the coral reefs of Bai Can. Located about 800m southeast of Phu Quy Island, Hon Tranh stands out with its pristine natural scenery, smooth white sand beaches, and clear blue seawater. The reason this island is called Hon Tranh is because it has many grassy slopes resembling paintings and was once cut by islanders to roof their houses. When you visit Hon Tranh, you can participate in various island exploration experiences such as swimming, paddling SUP boards, and taking check-in photos...
Hon Tranh with its rugged scenery and towering cliffs facing the sea.
Afterward, you'll take a boat back to Bai Can for SUP paddling and snorkeling to admire the coral reefs. However, because Bai Can is an area with seafood farms, many corals have died, which is something I deeply regret seeing nature being heavily damaged as Phu Quy is becoming a popular tourist destination in the past 2 years.
Paddling SUP and snorkeling to admire the coral reefs at Bai Can, however, the coral reefs are heavily affected by tourism activities.
Must-Try Dishes
One thing to note about Phu Quy is that the local dishes here are VERY SWEET, which you may not be used to. Therefore, you should choose simple seafood dishes like grilled, steamed,... because they are very fresh and delicious and are guaranteed to be easier to eat.
Phu Quy is a suitable place to explore with a group of adventurous friends.
In conclusion, in my personal opinion, both Phu Yen and Phu Quy are BEAUTIFUL, and each place will offer its own uniqueness. If possible, you can choose to visit both places this summer. However, if you want to go on a FAMILY VACATION with small children and elderly people, Phu Yen will be easier to visit due to its developed transportation system and better dining and accommodation options. Whereas Phu Quy is a distant island, traveling there is challenging and is only suitable for solo travelers or groups of friends with good health. High-speed boat departures depend on the weather and seasickness is very likely to occur even with good health. Therefore, I hope through this article, you can consider and choose a suitable itinerary for yourself this summer.
Author: Le Thi Kim Nguyen
*This article is part of the Mytour Golocal program
Mytour Golocal is a blog writing program introducing beautiful destinations throughout Vietnam, part of the Mytour Go & Share program. This is a great opportunity to promote local tourism to everyone. For each qualified article, you will receive 800,000 VND and a chance to become a contributor with Mytour. For more information about the program, visit: https://trv.lk/golocal
