Buzz
Heading into the sunny season, negotiating rental prices, and buying souvenirs made from seashells are valuable tips for your Phu Yen journey.
Phu Yen belongs to the South Central Coast, located 1,160 km from Hanoi and 561 km from Ho Chi Minh City. It is a place that still preserves many pristine natural landscapes, enchanting and captivating.
Best Time to Visit Phu Yen
The climate in Phu Yen has two distinct seasons. The rainy season is from September to December. Therefore, for the most convenient sightseeing trips, it is best to visit during the sunny season from January to August. You can also plan your visit during festivals to enjoy bamboo hut singing, a national intangible cultural heritage.
Getting to Phu Yen
You can reach this destination by various means of transportation such as train, airplane, or coach.
Coach: Purchase tickets at the Miền Đông Bus Station, Saigon. Prices range from 180,000 to 300,000 VND per ticket.
Train: There are multiple trains to Tuy Hòa station at different times. It's advisable to refer to the schedule to choose a suitable hour.
Airplane: You can fly from Hanoi or Saigon to Tuy Hòa. Ticket prices range from 1 to 1.5 million VND. The airport is located 10 km away from the city center, so you'll need to hire a motorbike taxi or a taxi for further transportation.
Transportation within Phú Yên
It's recommended to rent a motorbike or a coach for convenient sightseeing. The rental price for a motorbike is 80,000 – 120,000 VND per day.
Accommodation
The price of guesthouses in Phú Yên ranges from 150,000 to 300,000 VND per room depending on the type.
Places of Interest
Ghềnh Đá Đĩa resembles a giant beehive. In reality, it's a collection of basalt columns stacked together, formed from volcanic lava cooling and fracturing upon contact with seawater. Adjacent to this area is the enchanting Bãng Beach. In 1998, Ghềnh Đá Đĩa was recognized as a national natural monument (see more here).
Tháp Nhạn is the name of a Cham tower located on Nhạn mountain. This structure was built at the end of the 11th century, beginning of the 12th century, using fired bricks of various sizes, depending on the location and each tower level. Inside is a small sanctuary dedicated to Lady Thượng Đỉnh Chúa Thiết A Na Diễn Ngọc Phi, built since the late Lê dynasty. After the visit, you can head southwest, along the banks of the Chùa River, to admire a tall stone with a lotus petal engraving. This is the only epigraphy left in the tower area to this day.
Mũi Đại Lãnh is located about 35 km from the city center of Tuy Hòa. It's an extension of the Trường Sơn range that reaches out into the sea. Formerly, this place was named after the person who discovered it, Cap Varella. Here, you can visit the Đại Lãnh lighthouse, take photos with the coordinate marker or immerse yourself in the pristine natural scenery at nearby Môn Beach.
Vũng Rô is a coastal bay covering an area of 16.4 km2, sheltered by three high mountain ranges: Đèo Cả, Đá Bia, and Hòn Bà. In the past, it served as a clandestine weapons reception point from the North for numerous historically significant voyages. What makes this bay area attractive are its stretches of fine white sandy beaches. Thanks to this, you can indulge in splashing around in the cool water to your heart's content.
Furthermore, Phú Yên boasts many other impressive tourist spots you shouldn't miss such as Cù Mông lagoon, Ô Loan lagoon, Xuân Đài bay, Mằng Lăng church, Vực Hòm waterfall, Hòn Chùa island, Crông Trai nature reserve, Gò Thì Thùng tunnels, and Chóp Chài mountain.
Local Specialties
Sun-dried beef is made from clean thigh and rump beef, marinated with various spices such as sugar, salt, MSG, chili, and dried for a day. When eaten, the meat is grilled over charcoal until cooked and pounded for tenderness. This dish is served with aromatic herbs, cucumber, and dipped in golden ant salt.
Dishes made from tuna are something you shouldn't miss. Among them, tuna eyeballs simmered in northern-style medicine, tuna stomach salad, and tuna loin are the most beloved for their delicious flavor and high nutritional value.
Ô Loan lagoon blood cockles are enticing due to their pink flesh being prepared into various dishes such as grilled rare, sour soup, steamed, or made into salad... Among them, the most enticing is salt and chili fried blood cockles. This dish has a sweet, slightly spicy, and alluring aroma.
Phú Yên chicken rice may not be as famous as Hoi An or Tam Ky, but it's still a specialty worth trying. The chicken here is firm, lean, golden, and sweet. Accompanying vegetables include cucumber, pickled onions, and pickles.
Steamed mudfish is served with rice paper, raw vegetables, and a tangy chili dipping sauce or fermented fish sauce. This dish has a naturally sweet taste, firm fish meat, fragrant with onions and characteristic spices.
Oyster porridge is greatly loved by the people of Phú Yên. The preparation of this dish is not overly complicated. Pre-prepared oysters are stir-fried with onions, salt, and pepper, then simmered together with white porridge. It's best enjoyed hot to fully appreciate the sweet aroma of the dish.
Chives soup noodles have soft, chewy strands, not sticky, eaten with sea fish cake. The highlight of the soup bowl is the fresh green chives and enticing aroma. This dish is available all day, making it easy for you to find and enjoy.
Traditional Festivals
Ô Loan lagoon boat racing festival is held on the 7th day of the 1st lunar month in An Cư commune, Tuy An district. The festival hopes for a calm, peaceful year for people to harvest abundant seafood.
Horse racing festival is held in An Xuân commune on the 6th day of the 1st lunar month. The festival serves as a reminder of the martial spirit of a land, showcasing the indomitable will and extraordinary strength of humans against the majestic nature.
Mid-Autumn poetry festival is an occasion for poetry lovers in Phú Yên to exchange and meet. The venues are Diên Hồng flower garden, Hải Phú library, and Nhạn mountain yard, where the most romantic and dreamy spaces are found. The festival takes place on the full moon day of every January.
Buffalo stabbing festival is a culturally rich activity of the Ba Na ethnic group from around December to March of the lunar calendar. The festival lasts for three days and nights in Đồng village, Phú Mỡ commune, Đồng Xuân district. On the first day, the tribal leader, priest, or village elder will preside over the offering ceremony. On the second day, the young men in the village will wield sticks to perform traditional dances. After the dance, they begin to stab the buffalo. The meat is evenly distributed among the families, and the liver is given to the young men of the village to eat to increase their strength.
Souvenirs to Bring Home
In addition to items like dried seafood, fish sauce, and sun-dried beef, you can also buy handicraft products made from shells as gifts for family and friends.
Note:
When renting a car, you should negotiate your requirements in advance to avoid having to change cars multiple times.
According to VnExpress
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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourFebruary 22, 2015
