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Unforgettable Vĩnh Hy Bay Getaway: 4 Days, 3 Nights of Coastal Bliss! (Under $250!)
Forget the crowds of Nha Trang and the tourist traps of Phan Thiết! Ninh Thuận, with its "Phan-style winds and Rang-style sunshine," offers a refreshing escape with pristine beaches, dramatic rock formations, and a laid-back vibe. This hidden gem, nestled between two popular destinations, will steal your heart with its stunning north and south coastal roads. Ready to explore? Let's dive into my epic 4-day, 3-night adventure in Vĩnh Hy Bay and Phan Rang, costing just 5.8 million VND (around $250) per person!
Getting Around: Your Ninh Thuận Transportation Guide
- Flights: Hanoi to Quy Nhơn roundtrip with Vietjet - 2.9 million VND (approx. $120).
- Cam Ranh Airport to Vĩnh Hy Bay: Grab a 4-seater taxi for 650k VND (approx. $27). Getting to Phan Rang is even cheaper (around 550k VND)! Call 0766060179 – this driver is super friendly and helpful!
- Exploring Vĩnh Hy & Phan Rang: Rent a motorbike through your homestay. Expect to pay 120k-150k VND (approx. $5-6) per day.
Cozy Stays: Where to Unwind in Ninh Thuận
- Vĩnh Hy Bay: 𝗡𝗵𝐚̂𝗻 𝗗𝘂𝘆𝗲̂𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗹 – Centrally located, clean rooms, and a super helpful owner! (450k VND/night for a 3-person room - approx. $19).
- Phan Rang: 𝗡𝗼̃𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 home – A seriously chill spot with a cute coffee shop and breathtaking views of endless rice fields (though a bit outside the city center). (900k VND/night for a 3-person room - approx. $38).
The Ultimate Itinerary: 4 Days of Ninh Thuận Magic
Day 1: Hanoi to Cam Ranh to Vĩnh Hy - The Adventure Begins!
- 2:55 PM - 4:45 PM: Hanoi to Cam Ranh flight. (Word of warning: Vietjet lost our luggage, causing a 4-hour delay at the airport! We finally arrived at our homestay around 10 PM for some well-deserved rest.)
Day 2: Turtle Island, La Mer Coffee, & the Scenic 702 Coastal Road
- 5:00 AM: 𝗛𝗼̀𝗻 𝗥𝘂̀𝗮 (Turtle Island)! Join a group tour for around 200k VND (approx. $8) per person. A local boat captain (call 0908199363) will pick you up from your homestay and whisk you to the harbor. After a quick 20-minute boat ride, you'll arrive at Hòn Rùa just as the sun begins to rise. The water here is incredibly clear and the color is unreal! The island has two natural swimming pools perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking. After soaking up the beauty until 8:30 AM, head back to the mainland, stopping at Mũi Cá Heo (Whale Cape), Bãi Amanoi, and Hang Yến (Swallow Cave) along the way!
- 2:30 PM: 𝗟𝗮 𝗠𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲 – a must-visit for its Instagram-worthy bougainvillea and panoramic views of the fishing village.
- 3:30 PM: Embark on a scenic drive along the 702 coastal road. Search for these stops on Google Maps and pull over for photo ops: Đ𝗲̀𝗼 𝗖𝐚̂𝘆 𝗖𝗼́𝗰 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁, 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴, and 𝗕𝗮̃𝗶 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗼̂́𝗶 (Banana Beach).
- Evening: Indulge in Banh Xeo and Banh Canh at the park and savor fresh seafood by the sea.
Day 3: Stone Park, Thái An Grape Farm, & Phan Rang City
- 5:00 AM: 𝗖𝗼̂𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝗲̂𝗻 đ𝗮́ (Stone Park), located about 10km from Vĩnh Hy. Entrance fee is 40k VND (approx. $1.70) per person. You can drive your motorbike inside, but be warned – the road is a bit rough! Go early in the morning or after 4 PM to avoid the scorching sun. We snapped photos and explored until 7 AM before the heat became unbearable. ☀️
- En route: 𝘃𝘂̛𝗼̛̀𝗻 𝗻𝗵𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝗮́𝗶 𝗔𝗻 (Thái An Grape Farm)! A friendly local will guide you to the Hồng Nhật variety, grown inside a greenhouse. Despite some reviews saying the grapes are sour, we found these juicy, slightly sweet, and incredibly delicious! (Though they are pricier at 160k VND/kg, or approx. $7/kg, entry and photos are free!)
- Missed Stop: We planned to visit 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗮́𝗶 (Rái Cave), but we were exhausted from the early start and blazing sun. Next time!
- Check out of our homestay at 11:30 AM and head to 𝗧𝗽 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗴 (Phan Rang City).
- 12:30 PM: Check into 𝗡𝗼̃𝗻 cottage home. We loved the window views overlooking the rice fields, but unfortunately, the fields had just been harvested that morning! 🥹 In the afternoon, we relaxed at the homestay until 4:30 PM before heading to 𝗯𝗮̃𝗶 𝗯𝗶𝗲̂̉𝗻 𝗕𝗶̀𝗻𝗵 𝗦𝗼̛𝗻 for a swim.
Day 4: Ninh Chữ Beach, Mũi Dinh, Ninh Thuận Coastal Road, & Đầm Nại Wind Farm
- 5:00 AM: 𝗕𝗶𝗲̂̉𝗻 𝗡𝗶𝗻𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝘂̛̃ (Ninh Chữ Beach), located 12km from our homestay. The sunrise here is absolutely stunning and worth waking up early for! 💯
- 6:20 AM: Drive straight to 𝗠𝘂̃𝗶 𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗵 (Mũi Dinh Cape) along the stunning 𝗰𝘂𝗻𝗴 đ𝘂̛𝗼̛̀𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗶𝗲̂̉𝗻 𝗡𝗶𝗻𝗵 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗮̣̂𝗻 (Ninh Thuận coastal road). The blue waters are mesmerizing, and we stopped frequently to capture the picturesque views. (We skipped the sand dunes, as the weather was too hot and we heard they weren't as impressive).
- Back to our homestay for breakfast and relaxation before checking out at 12:30 PM. We visit 𝗗𝗶𝗲̣̂𝗻 𝗴𝗶𝗼́ Đ𝗮̂̀𝗺 𝗡𝗮̣𝗶 (Đầm Nại Wind Farm).
- 7:30 PM: Fly back home, ending our incredible journey in Ninh Thuận!
Foodie Adventures: Must-Try Eats in Vĩnh Hy & Phan Rang
Here are a few places I tried and recommend:
- Vĩnh Hy Bay:
- Bánh Canh Hải sản (Seafood Noodle Soup): Decent portion with plenty of fish cakes and three whole squid for just 35k VND (approx. $1.50) per bowl.
- Cơm sườn (Grilled Pork Rice): Delicious and high-quality for 35k VND (approx. $1.50) per plate.
- Bánh xoè, bánh canh (Mini Savory Pancakes & Noodle Soup): Cheap and tasty for only 5k VND (approx. $0.20) each.
- The fresh juices are a steal! Huge and delicious cups for 15k-20k VND (approx. $0.60-$0.80). I had two every day!
- (Vĩnh Hy is small, so check out the stalls around the park - there aren't specific addresses.)
- Phan Rang City:
- Bánh hỏi (near Phủ Hà roundabout): Rice vermicelli with pork, spring rolls, and fish cakes - quite satisfying.
- Nem nướng Nha Trang (Phủ Hà roundabout, 4 PM - 8 PM): Grilled fermented pork sausage, served with fresh herbs, dipping sauce, and nem chua (fermented pork).
- Quán ốc núp hẻm (208/1 Ngô gia tự alley, opposite HD Bank, 3 PM - 11 PM): Cheap and cheerful seafood. We spent nearly 500k VND (approx. $21) for three people, and the food was decent but not amazing.
