48 hours in Phu Yen

Famous in the Central area, Phu Yen is home to numerous picturesque sceneries and affordable, delectable cuisine.

Phu Yen is located on the South Central Coast, between Binh Dinh and Khanh Hoa provinces, with the capital being Tuy Hoa City. Phu Yen's airport is Tuy Hoa, about 10 km from the city center. This destination was chosen by many tourists in recent years thanks to the scenic Ghenh Da Dia, the filming location of "Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass". The 48-hour experience in Phu Yen below was suggested by Mr. Nguyen Duy, a local tour guide, and a group of friends, Mr. Minh Chien, Hanoi, who have just returned from Phu Yen.

Day 1

Morning
Breakfast in Tuy Hoa City with typical local dishes such as shallot soup cake, seafood soup cake, banh beo nong, banh hoi nong, grilled spring roll cake, can cake, and banh bot loc. Breakfast dishes in Phu Yen are quite cheap and popular in many places in the city center. The price of each dish ranges from 20,000 VND to 40,000 VND.

After breakfast, depart to Cu Lao Mai Nha. This small island in the Tuy An district, nearly 25 km from Tuy Hoa city to the North, has recently become a popular destination for young people. According to Mr. Duy, departing from An Hai Pier, Phuoc Dong village, is the most convenient travel method.

Mai Nha islet has unspoiled beauty; you can go during the day or camp overnight. Because there is no electricity and wifi on the island, you must prepare all the equipment if you stay overnight. And lunch you enjoy on the island.

On the island, rocky beaches, rocky cliffs, and natural caves are suitable for photography and fishing. There are also small natural lakes with clear water. Water collects to form pools at the natural dents and cracks on the surface of the rocks after the tide recedes. For active travelers, you can trek to the top of the highest rocky mountain at Mai Nha Island, with a wide view. Catching snails and fishing with locals is also an experience.

Before returning to the city, go about 5 km to the North to visit Ong Cop wooden bridge. This is the longest wooden bridge in Vietnam. The bridge, located right on National Highway 1A, has an age of about 25 years, a length of 800 m and a width of 2.3 m at the widest place.

Evening

Back to Tuy Hoa, visit Nghinh Phong tower square. The tower is located at the Nguyen Huu Tho - Doc Lap Street intersection, a Da Dia rapids simulation image. For over two years, this has been the famous check-in place for all tourists coming to Phu Yen.

The square is spacious and airy, but there are no trees, so it is quite hot. "It's best to come here before 8 am or after 4 pm," Chien said.
Dinner with typical Phu Yen dishes such as seafood, tuna, and tuna eyes. Some reference addresses: Nam Anh Seafood, Tran Phu Milk Flower, Ba Tam Restaurant, Cay Phuong Seafood, etc.,

Day 2

Morning

Wake up early to watch the sunrise at Dai Lanh Lighthouse (Mui Dien Lighthouse). This is said to be the easternmost point on the mainland, where the first dawn of Vietnam is welcomed.

About 30 kilometers southeast of Tuy Hoa's downtown is the Dong Hoa district, where the Dai Lanh Lighthouse is situated. Arriving, visitors walk more than 1 km of trails and climb about 100 more steps. There is a taxi service.

"To see the sunrise, you should be here at the latest by 5 am, and you have to time your departure from Tuy Hoa to catch the impressive sunrise moment because the sun rises quite quickly," Chien said.

After dawn, stay at the lighthouse area to take pictures and rest, then experience Mon Beach at the foot of Mui Dien. This is one of the most beautiful beaches. Besides, you should also experience the coastal road of Mui Dien - Vung Ro Bay, one of the most beautiful sea roads in Vietnam.

Have breakfast in Dai Lanh town at the foot of Ca pass, with some dishes such as porridge and seafood shrimp noodles. Squid hotpot is also a delicious dish here if you stay until noon.

Afternoon

Visit O Loan Lagoon to eat the raft's seafood with the famous blood cockle dish on the lagoon's surface. There are several eateries in this area; one that foreigners frequently suggest is Tuan. This place also has mats and hammocks for visitors to rest.

After lunch, you should go to Da Dia Rapids. This is a must-see destination in Phu Yen, classified as a special national monument. Ghenh Da Dia is a gift of nature, 50 m wide, more than 2,000 m long, with a crescent-shaped white sand beach about 3 km long. The stone here is erected in each column, which is even and close together. The stone columns have a hexagonal or circular cross-section.

Also: The beauty of Ganh Da Dia in Phu Yen

Along this road, you should combine visiting Yen Island, Mang Lang church, and Xep Beach - where the movie "Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass" was filmed.
After going to a series of places mentioned above, return to the city to visit Nhan Tower, an almost intact Cham tower on the mountain. From the tower, you can see the whole city. "Banh beo nong at the foot of Nhan tower, swimming and watching the sunset on the public beach at the foot of the Nhan tower is an experience you should try," Chien suggested.

Huy Tung coffee shop is located with its back to Nhan Mountain, on Tan Da Street, one of the oldest shops in Tuy Hoa; the space is green and airy, which is also a suggested point.

"The shop is not a hot check-in point for young people, mainly middle-aged customers like me, but the drink is delicious and suitable for people who like pure coffee," said Chien.

Evening

Have dinner at the oyster restaurant, with oyster dishes costing only a few tens of thousands of dollars, specially prepared, with 9 different flavors. "This is the restaurant that a local introduced and suits the taste of Northerners like me," Chien said.

If you don't like oysters, you can eat Phu Yen chicken rice at restaurants such as Tuyet Nhung, Thien Huong, and Hien, which have been confirmed for a long time. In addition, you can experience a street tour with filling and affordable snacks, with about 100,000 VND per person.