48 hours in Binh Thuan

Binh Thuan boasts beautiful beaches, delicious food, and many unique experiences, making it ideal for weekend getaways and holidays.

Binh Thuan province boasts numerous tourist attractions, but they are concentrated in Phan Thiet city and its surrounding areas. Among them, Mui Ne and the white sand dunes (Bau Trang) are particularly well-known. Traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Binh Thuan is now convenient thanks to the Dau Giay - Phan Thiet expressway, taking just over two hours.

This 48-hour itinerary in Binh Thuan, suggested by Nguyen Nam, a tour guide in the Ninh Thuan - Binh Thuan area, and based on the experience of a VnExpress reporter.

Day 1

Morning

Have breakfast in Phan Thiet city with local dishes such as banh can (rice flour pancakes), banh canh cha ca (fish cake noodle soup), bun bo rau ram (beef noodle soup with herbs), banh hoi long heo (rice vermicelli with pork offal), banh beo (steamed rice cakes), or chicken rice. Tourists can easily find eateries in the city center, with average prices ranging from 20,000 to 40,000 VND per person depending on the dish.

Visit two famous landmarks right in the city center: the Van Thuy Tu Palace and the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area (including the Duc Thanh School and the Ho Chi Minh Museum located next to each other).

The Van Thuy Tu Temple is a place of worship dedicated to the patron saint of the fishing profession in Binh Thuan province. Inside the temple are more than 100 whale skeletons, including the largest whale skeleton in Southeast Asia. It also houses 24 royal decrees from the Nguyen dynasty.

Duc Thanh School is where President Ho Chi Minh taught from September 1910 to February 1911, before embarking on his journey to find a way to save the country. The school grounds still preserve almost intact the artifacts associated with President Ho Chi Minh's time teaching there.

Noon

Have lunch with Phan Thiet's specialty hot pot, available at restaurants such as Soc Nau, Seahorse Bistro, Vietnam Home, and Mui Ne Del.

The Kê Gà lighthouse seen from a distance.

Afternoon and evening

Visit Ke Ga Lighthouse, located about 30 km from Phan Thiet city. This is one of the tourist attractions due to its beautiful scenery. Ke Ga Lighthouse was built by the French in 1897 and is currently one of the oldest lighthouses in Vietnam. According to Mr. Nam, the lighthouse is currently undergoing renovations, but visitors can still view the structure from the outside and stroll along the large rocks surrounding it to admire the sea.

Returning to Mui Ne, check into one of the resorts along Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street. This central area has many accommodations and restaurants catering to all needs of tourists, from budget-friendly to high-end.

Tourists can choose to stay at The Anam Mui Ne, Anantara Mui Ne Resort, Victoria Phan Thiet Beach Resort & Spa, Sai Gon Mui Ne, Sunny Beach Resort and Spa, Hoang Ngoc Resort, with double room prices ranging from 1 million to 4 million VND per night.

Grilled seafood platter.

Enjoy a swim at the beach and have dinner at seafood restaurants along Nguyen Dinh Chieu street. We suggest choosing grilled and steamed dishes to enjoy the freshest seafood flavors.

Day 2

Morning

Watch the sunrise at Bau Trang (white sand dunes), a famous tourist destination in Binh Thuan province. Bau Trang is about 25 km from the center of Mui Ne beach and is a "must-visit" spot when coming to Binh Thuan. The time spent here can range from 2 to 4 hours.

"To watch the sunrise, visitors should arrive around 5 am. When the sun is high in the sky, it will be scorching and tiring," Mr. Nam said. Visitors can also come here in the afternoon, around 4 pm to 6 pm, to enjoy the sunset.

Bau Trang is a vast expanse of white sand dunes spanning over 100 hectares, containing a pristine blue natural lake. The road leading to Bau Trang is also very beautiful, perfect for stopping to take photos. Here, visitors can experience activities such as sandboarding, taking pictures with camels, and riding high-speed vehicles (motorcycles or cars).

The rental price for a sandboard is 50,000 VND with unlimited uses, motorbike rentals range from 400,000 VND to 600,000 VND for 20 minutes, and car rentals are 800,000 VND per trip. Several companies, such as Trang Trieu and Minh Thai, provide a full range of services right at the entrance to the Bau Trang area.

"Please note that if you have a weak heart or are not used to high speeds, tourists should not participate in the games, as it may not be good for your health," Mr. Nam added.

Have breakfast in the sand dunes area with local dishes.

Noon

Return to Mui Ne for swimming and relaxation. If you enjoy traveling, you can choose to visit some famous spots in Binh Thuan such as Ong Dia Rock Beach in the Mui Ne beach area.

Ong Dia Rock Beach.

The Fish Sauce Museum (Old Fishing Village), located about 8 km from Phan Thiet city, is divided into several themed spaces, recreating the 300-year history of the old fishing village in Phan Thiet from the Champa era, the Nguyen Dynasty, and the French colonial period. Visitors can also experience life as fishermen, play the role of salt workers in the salt fields, visit Phan Thiet Old Town, explore the fish sauce making process, the origin of the name fish sauce, and purchase fish sauce products.

Alternatives

Po Sah Inư Cham Tower, Ong Hoang Palace, and Mui Ne fishing village are possible destinations for a 2-day trip. If you're backpacking in Binh Thuan, you can consider coastal campsites such as Cu Lao Cau, Cam Binh beach, Yen Cape, and Ke Ga lighthouse.

(According to 24h, March 24, 2024)

Source: https://baovinhphuc.com.vn/tin-tuc/Id/108592/48-gio-o-Binh-Thuan