Phu Yen

Tourists looking for a vast expanse of golden coasts with barely anyone in sight should look no further than the Province of Phu Yen. It’s 120 km south of the uber-popular Nha Trang and enjoys a vibe that is laid-back and very local. As beach province, it is best to avoid it during the monsoon season from September to November but do note that May to July is the peak of the domestic tourist season so prepare for heavy local tourism. Once you’ve sorted out when you’ll go, getting there is fairly easy especially if coming from Ho Chi Minh City as you can take a direct bus or train that passes there.

A good starting point to explore is its capital city, Tuy Hoa with its beautiful natural and historical sites and see how different it is from other Vietnamese cities. But Phu Yen’s main attractions lie outside of the urban zone and the top places to see are the Bai Xep Beach, Mon Beach, Hon Yen Beach, Vung Ro Bay, Xoan Dai Bay, Van Hoa Plateau, Da Dia Reef, the Nhan Mountain, and the Chop Chai Mountain. Other sites to see are the Mang Lang Church, the Ong Cop Bridge (longest wooden bridge in the country), and the Da Trang Pagoda.

Of course, no trip to a beach town is complete without sampling their seafood. Among their specialties are local salted anchovy, grilled blood clam, and their main fish specialty salad. Another local favorite is the Hoa Da Girdle Cake which is not your typical dessert cake but more of the main course.