Buzz
Arrived in Phan Thiet, our group decided to rent motorbikes from Mr. Hieu (phone number 0933 715 692) at the rate of 150,000 VND/bike/day.
12:30 PM: Reached Phuong Trang bus station, where Mr. Hieu delivered the bikes right to the station. The bike rental process was simple, just present your ID and agree on the return time. Afterwards, we stopped by Co.op mart to buy some ingredients for the evening BBQ camping session.
1:45 PM: Departed from Phan Thiet to Mui Ke Ga, covering a distance of 31.8 km via DT719, a straight route.
The DT719 route is stunning. It features numerous twists and turns along the coast, with stretches of lush green forests, upscale resorts, and rocky beaches. Driving along this route, we leisurely snapped photos and enjoyed the scenery.
3:30 PM: Passed by the Biển Đá Vàng tourist area, less than 1 km away. Look out for a cute signboard saying “LU Here” and take a left turn.
LU Glamping – Mui Ke Ga is situated right by the sea, boasting unique accommodations such as beehive-shaped rooms, cozy cabins, and colorful bungalows. The decoration and layout at LU are reminiscent of Hawaii, with the owner's personal touch evident in every detail. Additionally, the coconut leaf-thatched cottages in the compound offer a cozy space for dining and mingling.
Our group rented a large tent for 4 people at the price of 150,000 VND per person. While waiting for the LU staff to set up the tent, we dashed down to the beach to play with the waves and take photos together.
5:30 PM: After frolicking in the waves, we divided tasks to prepare for the evening BBQ party. Near LU, along the main road, there's a small market (with a gathering starting from 5:00 PM), where we easily found seafood like squid, shrimp, and clams.
7:00 PM: Gathered around the bonfire, we commenced the BBQ party. Beneath the full moon, the warm fire and the sound of the sea breeze made us forget all the exhaustion of daily life, chatting away and savoring the wonderful moment.
Day 2: LU Glamping – Ke Ga Lighthouse – Thanh Minh Pagoda – Whale Temple
5:30 AM: A beach visit without witnessing the sunrise is incomplete. We inquired about the route to Ke Ga Lighthouse and were assisted by the LU Glamping owner to arrange a canoe trip at 50,000 VND per person.
7:00 AM: Leaving LU, we drove to the Biển Đá Vàng tourist area, where our canoe docked at the Ke Ga Cape rock beach. Stepping onto the island, we traversed variously shaped large and small rocks to reach the lighthouse entrance. The entrance fee to visit the lighthouse is 10,000 VND per person.
9:00 AM: Back at the camping site, tidied up and checked out from LU Glamping.
9:30 – 10:30 AM: Returned to Phan Thiet city and checked into the 19/4 Hotel on Tu Van Tu Street. We booked a room for 4 people, priced around 540,000 VND per room per night. For lunch, we had a light meal and rested at the hotel.
3:00 PM: Explored the city, following enthusiastic directions from a local, we found ourselves on Tuyen Quang Street – a street famous for selling banh canh, banh xeo, and grilled rice paper in Phan Thiet. We stopped at a grilled rice paper stall on Tuyen Quang Street, where the whole group enjoyed the local specialty.
Next, we drove to the Doi Duong beach area for a seaside stroll and visited Thanh Minh Pagoda located on the two main commercial boulevards of downtown Phan Thiet (formerly a golf course).
Afterward, we visited Dinh Van Thuy Tu – the largest whale skeleton museum in Vietnam, located on Ngu Ong Street, Duc Thang Ward. The entrance fee is 10,000 VND per person.
In the late afternoon, we drove around Vo Van Kiet Street area, admiring the sunset as we went.
7:00 PM: We had dinner at a banh canh eatery on Thu Khoa Huan Street. Here, a plate of 5 pairs of banh canh costs 15,000 VND (with options of egg or seafood filling), served with a plate of fresh and delicious vegetables, and shredded mango. The dipping sauce includes pork cracklings, pork skin, quail eggs, with a bit of ground chili, creating a perfect harmony with the delectable banh canh.
After a satisfying dinner, we visited Café Xe Bus at L03 – 01 Vo Van Kiet Street, Phu Thuy Ward. The café's interior design is eye-catching, especially the bright yellow bus inside, providing seating for guests to enjoy their drinks.
Day 3: RD Wine Castle – Ong Dia Rock Beach – Bau Trang – Saigon
6:00 AM: Packed our belongings, checked out, and left our luggage at the reception. We wandered around Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street, exploring a small breakfast market with banh xeo.
7:30 – 8:00 AM: Headed to RD Wine Castle along Vo Nguyen Giap Street. We parked our vehicle, bought tickets priced at 100,000 VND per person, and additional wine tasting tickets at 100,000 VND per person to sample 4 different types of wine. Passing through the ticket gate, instead of turning right to the main entrance, we turned left into a lush green path with an artificial waterfall nurturing many koi fish, orchid gardens, and cute benches and swings arranged around for perfect photo opportunities.
Following the guide provided by the castle staff, each visitor first receives an introduction and a glass of wine to taste the famous Napa Valley wine flavor from the United States. Then, visitors are guided through each room, learning about the grape harvesting, processing, fermentation, and preservation processes. The atmosphere inside the castle gradually cools as we descend underground, helping to preserve and enhance the flavor of the wines.
The last room is reserved for visitors interested in purchasing wine (if desired) and tasting. As our group had wine tasting cards, we were directed to a separate table for tasting. Each person in the group will sample 4 different wines, ranging from light to heavy, including 1 white wine and 3 red wines.
9:15 AM: Leaving the castle, we headed to Ong Dia Rock Beach and indulged in some Banh Quai Vac priced at 25,000 VND per box.
9:45 AM: Departed for Bau Trang, about 41 km from Ong Dia Rock Beach, taking approximately 40 minutes to reach. The road to Bau Trang is incredibly beautiful, with vast stretches of white sand dunes on both sides that leave everyone mesmerized.
10:20 AM: Entrance fee to Bau Trang is 15,000 VND per person. Here, we rented a jeep for 600,000 VND to explore 2 points with unlimited time.
1:00 PM: We returned to the hotel to collect our belongings, return the jeep, have a light meal, and wait for the Phuong Trang shuttle bus to pick us up. Ending the adventurous trip with close friends.
Total expenses for the 3-day 2-night trip (excluding souvenir expenses) amounted to 1,456,000 VND per person, including:
- Phuong Trang round-trip bus ticket: 260,000 VND per person
- Motorbike rental: 450,000 VND per bike for 3 days (112,500 VND per person)
- Large tent for 4 people: 600,000 VND each
- Canoe to Ke Ga lighthouse: 50,000 VND per person
- Ke Ga lighthouse entrance ticket: 10,000 VND per person
- Van Thuy Tu gate ticket: 10,000 VND per person
- Hotel: 540,000 VND per room per night for 4 people
- RD Wine Castle: 100,000 VND per person and wine tasting 100,000 VND per person
- Jeep for Bau Trang 2 unlimited-time sightseeing spots: 600,000 VND per jeep
- Food and beverages: 283,500 VND per person
- Other expenses (parking, fuel, surcharges…): 95,000 VND per person
By Mai Nguyen (Photo: PAN)
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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourSeptember 29, 2017
