Explore the charisma of Phu Yen - Land of the rising sun

Phu Yen has two distinct seasons: the dry (sunny) season and the rainy season. The best time to visit this land is supposed to be from January to August (dry season). the dry season, things are much more convenient, from transportations, sightseeing to taking part in the festivals.

Like other places in the central part of Vietnam, there are many choices to go to Phu Yen such as by airplane, train or coach. The ticket prices for these kinds of transportation are not really high, especially when you book in advance. Moreover, since Phu Yen hasn't invested in mass tourism yet, everything is quite cheap compared to other tourist attractions in Vietnam.

Day 1: Nhan Mountain - Vung Ro Bay - Hon Yen

Nhan Mountain

Nhan Mountain lies by the north bank of Da River, in the center of Tuy Hoa city. The small mountain in the heart of the city reflecting on the poetic Da River has become the best-known tourism symbol of Phu Yen with more than 400 hundreds of history. It has other names such as Nhan Thap Mountain, Bao Thap Mountain, Thap Dinh Mountain.

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Standing majestically on the top of this mountain is Nhan Tower - an ancient piece of architecture built by the Cham people in the late 11th century and early 12th century. The tower illustrates the art and creativeness of the Cham people and resembles the architecture found in Po Nagar Cham towers in Nha Trang city. On the top of Nhan Mountain, you can also enjoy a panoramic view of Phu Yen landscape including Tuy Hoa city, endless paddle fields, turquoise sea, Chop Chai Mountain and two bridges running parallel across Da river.

Vung Ro Bay

Vung Ro Bay is situated close to Deo Ca mountain in Hoa Xuan Nam commune, Dong Hoa district and is the most beautiful bay in Phu Yen. The bay has the total water surface of about 16.4 km2 and is surrounded by high mountain ranges of Deo Ca, Da Bia, Hon Ba. It features 12 small beaches including Bai Chua, Bai Lang, Bai Lau and so on. The path to Vung Ro is stunning with green trees, vast countryside grasslands and flickering turquoise seawater.

If you go from Deo Ca pass, you will have the chance to admire the breathtaking allure of Vung Ro Bay from afar. The bay is like a nature painting with clear sky, white clouds, blue water, green forests and mountains harmonizing perfectly.

Hon Yen (Yen Island)

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Located in Nhon Hoi village, An Hoa commune, about 20 km to the northeast of Tuy Hoa city, Hon Yen is not only famous for unspoiled beauty of its beaches but also stunning coral reefs. When the tide recedes, a whole large area of coral will appear with a sparkling beauty. According to the locals, the tide only recedes in the afternoon of the first few days of the month or during the middle of the lunar month. Hence, you should choose the appropriate time to visit this island, or else you will have to wait another 15 days to have the chance of marveling at the scenic views.

Particularly, from May to August, Hon Yen possesses a unique beauty that you can hardly find anywhere else - the seine season. During this time, fishermen in Nhon Hoi village go to Hon Yen sea to catch anchovies. When the nets are dropped into the sea and pulled up, they will be formed in different artistic shapes. The whole fishing ground looks like an art stage imbued with beautiful colors and the fishermen become the artists throwing and collecting the nets skillfully.

Day 2: Da Dia Reef - Bang Beach - Ganh Den lighthouse

Da Dia Reef (Ghanh Da Dia/Ghenh Da Dia)

If Ireland has Giant's Causeway - a striking landscape with a legend about the Irish giant, Vietnam is also proud to possess Da Dia Reef, which has the same surprising geology. The reef is about 50 meters wide and stretches more than 200 meters. According scientific explanations, Da Dia Reef was formed by volcanic activity millions years ago. This attraction is truly a natural masterpiece with millions of basalt rocks stacked together creating a stunning high and large complex of columns. From afar, it looks like a giant honeycomb structured with prismatic stone blocks in disparate shapes: circle, pentagon, hexagon and other polygons.

Bang Beach

After exploring Da Dia Reef, don't forget to stop by Bang Beach - the beautiful beach close by with fine white sand and blue sea water. The beach is approximately 3 km long, spread out into an arc. It still keeps the pristine beauty and pure environment since there are not many resorts or tourism services here. On dry tidal days, you can see ancient limestone blocks of many different lines emerging on the sea water.

Ganh Den lighthouse

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Ganh Den lighthouse is situated on the rocky shore in Xuan Dai Bay, only 1 km from Da Dia Reef. The afternoon sunshine together with majestic vertical cliffs make this one of the best spots to catching sunset in Phu Yen. The lighthouse is 10 m high and 22 m above sea level. It has two colors: red and white, and a range of lights within 17 nautical miles helping navigation activities in and out of boats in the section of Xuan Dai Bay and Vung Chao Bay. The charm of Ganh Den Lighthouse also lies in the beautiful image of working people. Standing here, you can admire the lyrical scenery of boats carrying fishermen on the immense blue sea water.

Day 3: Dien Cape - Mang Lang Church - Hon Yen

Watching sunrise in Dien Cape (Dai Lanh Cape)

Dien Cape is a spur of Truong Son mountain range stretching to the sea, 35 km away from Tuy Hoa city. Being one of the two easternmost points in Vietnam (the other is Doi Cape in Khanh Hoa), Dien Cape is the first place to be bathed in the morning sunlight. However, if you want to catch the sunrise in time, you should come here the night before or you have to leave Tuy Hoa city at 3 am.

In Dien Cape, there is a lighthouse built in 1890 by the French for maritime navigation. Climbing 110 stairs to the top of Dai Lanh Lighthouse, you can admire the immense blue sea and sky, pristine beach and magnificent cliffs. This is also a nice place for those who want to stay overnight at 80,000 VND (~3.6 USD) to catch the sunrise.

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Another place you should't miss when visiting Dien Cape is Mon Beach (Bai Mon) located behind Dai Lanh lighthouse. The beach is only 400 m long, surrounded by two mountains which altogether form an arch. Those who don't want to stay overnight in the lighthouse can camp on this beach. Gathering around a campfire in the night and waiting to see the first rays of the morning sun with the pure air and spectacular scenery will truly touch your heart and soul.

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Mang Lang Church - The oldest church in Phu Yen

Mang Lang Church is located in An Thach commune, Tuy An district, about 35 km from Tuy Hoa city. It was built in 1892 by French priest Joseph de La Cassagne - a French priest. At that time, in An Thach commune, there were many trees with large canopy, oval leaves and purple flowers called Mang Lang, from which the church takes its name.

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Mang Lang Church is one of the most ancient churches in Vietnam with the extraordinary Gothic design. Visiting Mang Lang Church, you will have the chance to feel the traces of time marked on the architecture that have been witnessing a lot of changes of this tranquil land.

Phu Yen is not only the land of beautiful scenery but also the heart of amazing and uinque food. Don't forget to enjoy local specialties such as grilled tuna, steamed tuna eyes, Dong spring rolls (cha Dong), cake soup with Chinese Chives (banh canh he), rice vermicelli with pig tripe, Phu Yen chicken rice and so on.

In addition, most attractions lies quite far from each other, so you should takes some careful planning to save time and enjoy to the fullest. It might take years to develop Phu Yen into a top spot like Nha Trang or Phu Quoc Island. Therefore, pay a visit to Phu Yen before modern resorts and buildings take the untouched beauty of this land away.