A three-day trip is just enough time for you to relax and explore the coastal route from Cam Ranh to Ninh Thuan.
My heart skipped a beat when I arrived in Binh Lap.
Binh Lap Island is one of the Four Binh Islands in the Cam Ranh Bay area, already well-known to tourists, boasting a pristine, natural beauty. From Cam Ranh Airport, you can easily travel to Binh Lap Island by following National Highway 1A to Cau Gay Bridge, then turning left. From there, a shuttle bus will take you directly to your accommodation on the island. The winding road, about 5km long, is lined with vibrant yellow osaka flowers, blending with the blue of the sea and sky. The majestic natural scenery captivated my eyes, leaving me constantly amazed and delighted. I didn't even dare blink for fear of missing this breathtaking view while exploring the Cam Ranh route.
We chose a homestay with a sea view so we could freely explore the Cam Ranh route. Coming here felt like returning to the countryside, to a fishing village from literary works; I only needed to take a few steps to reach the beach. Due to its location deep in the bay, Binh Lap Island is considered an ideal place for boats to dock. Choosing a hammock carefully strung between two rows of trees swaying in the wind, I felt the salty sea breeze and observed the hardworking fishermen preparing for the next day's fishing trip.
Exploring the Cam Ranh route, the locals were very friendly and enthusiastic, guiding us on what to do and where to go. Binh Lap Island doesn't have as many outstanding recreational activities as other islands, and we were suggested to join a snorkeling tour to see coral reefs or watch the sunset, and enjoy dinner on a floating raft.
Binh Tien Beach - A hidden gem of Ninh Thuan
Located just about 10km from Binh Lap Island is Binh Tien Beach, considered a hidden gem of Ninh Thuan tourism . When visiting Ninh Thuan, you can't miss the experience of camping and swimming with friends at this paradise beach. Surrounded by lush green pine forests and limestone mountains, the sea here is calm and gentle, peaceful and sweet like a princess.
Binh Tien Beach is still pristine, untouched by commercialization or industrial machinery. The sea water is a turquoise color, and the white sand is soft and gently sloping. The entire stretch of beach was occupied only by our group and a few other families camping out on weekends. We had wonderful and refreshing moments immersing ourselves in the turquoise water, while my friend simply chose to lie on the beach reading a good book, listening to her favorite music, letting the sunlight sparkle through the leaves, and the gentle breeze caress her flowing hair.
Because it's still quite undeveloped, for a perfect trip you should prepare snacks, drinks, and a tent beforehand. All services can be rented, but you have to go quite a distance, into the local village, to find them.
Vinh Hy Bay - Hang Rai Cave - Experience picking grapes in Ninh Thuan
Since we had plenty of time, we were suggested that on the last day of our trip we should visit Vinh Hy Bay – Hang Rai Cave and experience picking grapes in Ninh Thuan. Before going, I had researched Ninh Thuan quite thoroughly, but it's true that "seeing is believing." The coastal road running from Binh Lap to Vinh Hy Bay once again overwhelmed me, leaving me constantly exclaiming that even the most eloquent words couldn't describe the natural beauty of the sea here.
Stepping foot in Hang Rai, I felt like I'd wandered onto... "Mars." Perhaps nowhere else boasts ancient coral reefs millions of years old lying in the middle of the sea like Hang Rai. The surface, eroded by waves and seawater, has created a rugged, sharp terrain reminiscent of Mars. What's special about this "Mars" is its changing color depending on the sunlight and the sea level throughout the day. We arrived around midday, so unfortunately, we couldn't fully appreciate the beauty of Hang Rai at sunset and the spectacular sight of waves crashing against the ancient coral reef, causing water to surge inward and then flow back down, creating stunning waterfalls that the locals call "Waterfalls on the Sea."
The last place we visited before ending our 3-day trip was a vineyard in Ninh Thuan. Before going, I wasn't very excited and thought it would only take 10 minutes to buy some grapes as souvenirs, but I was wrong. What caught my eye was an overwhelming number of grape clusters, laden with fruit. Turning left, turning right, looking straight ahead, looking behind, everywhere I looked, there were plump, inviting bunches of grapes hanging down. Picking a bunch and savoring the sweet, sour, and refreshing taste, I was especially pleased that the grapes were freshly picked.
One grape, then two, three... I quickly popped them into my mouth, slowly savoring the fresh taste spreading throughout. And finally, I spent 1 hour and 30 minutes on the grape-picking experience in the vineyard. The locals guided me on how to choose the best bunches to take home, and how to preserve them to keep them fresh for as long as possible. It was an incredibly enjoyable experience that I was so glad I didn't miss during my visit to Ninh Thuan.
Sample tours at Vietravel: Ninh Chu - Vinh Hy Bay (2 days 2 nights) - Package price from: 999,000 VND. Departure from Ho Chi Minh City: Fridays and Saturdays every other week. Nha Trang - Vinh Hy - 3-4 star hotels (4 nights) - Fly Vietnam Airlines. Departure from Hanoi: July 25th; August 6th, 13th, 27th - Package price from: 5,990,000 VND. ------------- VIETRAVEL COMPANY 190 Pasteur Street, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City Hotline: 1900 1839 | Website: www.travel.com.vn
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