Phan Thiet Travel Guide

Phan Thiet covers an area of ​​approximately 200 square kilometers, boasting diverse natural landscapes, a beautiful coastal road stretching for tens of kilometers, and historical relics of the once-thriving Champa civilization.

Which season is the best time to visit Phan Thiet?

Phan Thiet beach. Photo: Crislove97

Phan Thiet is located in an arid region with a typical tropical climate, characterized by plenty of sunshine and wind. While there are two distinct seasons – rainy and dry – the rainy periods are not very long. The area is also less affected by typhoons and is free of fog, making it suitable for visitors at any time of year. However, June and July, or December to February, are the ideal times to visit Phan Thiet.

Move

Phan Thiet is located approximately 1,500 km from Hanoi and 210 km from Ho Chi Minh City. It has no airport, so transportation options include buses, private cars, and trains. Traveling from Ho Chi Minh City by private vehicle takes about two hours on the newly opened Long Thanh - Dau Giay - Phan Thiet expressway (inaugurated on April 30, 2023). To reach Phan Thiet from Hanoi, visitors can purchase plane tickets to Tan Son Nhat Airport (Ho Chi Minh City) or Cam Ranh Airport (Khanh Hoa) and then continue by car. Airfare ranges from 2 to 4 million VND, depending on the time of year. The train journey from Saigon Station to Phan Thiet takes nearly four hours, with ticket prices ranging from 250,000 to 350,000 VND. Bus fares from Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet range from 200,000 to 450,000 VND, depending on the type of bus. Bus fares from Khanh Hoa to Phan Thiet range from approximately 150,000 to 300,000 VND. Bus tickets from Hanoi to Phan Thiet range from 1 to 1.2 million VND. From Phan Thiet city, there are usually shuttle buses to hotels and resorts in Mui Ne.

Hotel

The Anam Mũi Né - a new resort that opened in 2023.

The area with the highest concentration of hotels and resorts in Phan Thiet is Mui Ne ward. Here you'll find luxurious resorts offering a full range of water sports , restaurants, swimming pools, bars, and spas. Some popular hotels in Mui Ne include The Anam Mui Ne, Anantara Mui Ne Resort, Victoria Phan Thiet Beach Resort & Spa, Pandanus Resort, The Cliff Resort & Residences, and Meraki Oasis. Alternatively, visitors can choose budget-friendly guesthouses in the city center. These guesthouses offer basic amenities and cost between 150,000 and 300,000 VND per night.

Where to play?

The tourist map of Phan Thiet is divided into four main areas: the city center, Mui Ne, Mui Ke Ga, and Hon Rom. Starting from one of these four points, you can explore other famous landmarks in Phan Thiet. Phan Thiet is often just a stopover for tourists who combine their stay with a relaxing trip to Mui Ne. Therefore, if you only have 1-2 days in the city, visit the following popular spots.

Doi Duong Beach Park , formerly known as Doi Duong Beach, is located in the heart of the city. On the way to the beach, visitors will pass rows of casuarina trees planted as windbreaks on both sides. Beyond the casuarina trees lies a large, white sandy beach, stretching in an arc shape, ideal for beach sports such as volleyball and sandcastle building. The sea at Doi Duong is shallow and calm, with few large waves, making it quite safe. Swimming is free for visitors.

Doi Duong Beach Park (left) and Phan Thiet Water Tower.

Phan Thiet Water Tower: The Phan Thiet Water Tower is a symbol of Binh Thuan province. Built in 1928 and completed in 1934, it was designed by architect and Prince Souphanouvong (later President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic). The tower is constructed of fired brick and stands 32 meters tall. From a distance, it resembles a giant lotus flower. (The text then mentions the Duc Thanh School historical site.)

The Duc Thanh School historical site. Photo: Nguyen Vu

Located in the heart of Phan Thiet city, the Duc Thanh School (1907-1912) historical site was established and operated according to the general principles of the Duy Tan (Modernization) movement. It was also 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. Today, the Duc Thanh School site preserves almost intact the relics associated with President Ho Chi Minh's time teaching in Phan Thiet. Van Thuy Tu Temple is a place of worship dedicated to the patron saint of the fishing profession in Binh Thuan. Inside the temple are over 100 whale skeletons, including the largest in Southeast Asia. It also houses 24 royal decrees from the Nguyen dynasty. Visitors can not only admire the centuries-old beauty but also learn more about the rituals and festivals associated with the fishing industry. Ong Hoang Pavilion

The French bunker section at the site of the former Ong Hoang Palace. Photo: jadenng0

Located on the summit of Ba Nai hill, Ong Hoang Tower is the remaining ruin of a villa built by Duke De Montpensier in 1911. However, only the base of the villa remains. Tourists often visit a nearby French-built bunker during the war. This was also once a meeting place and moon-gazing spot for the poet Han Mac Tu (1912-1940) with his lover Mong Cam. One of the poet's famous poems about Ong Hoang Tower is "Phan Thiet Phan Thiet". Less than 2 km from Ong Hoang Tower is Po Sah Inu Tower. This is one of the oldest temple complexes of the Champa kingdom in Binh Thuan, dating from the early 8th to 9th centuries. Although only of moderate size, this tower is the culmination of the architectural techniques and decorative art of the ancient Champa people. Visitors can enter the tower for a visit at an entrance fee of 10,000 VND. Ong Dia Rock Beach

Ong Dia Rock Beach. Photo: Manh Huy

Located about 10 km from the center of Phan Thiet city, Da Ong Dia Beach is a clean, long stretch of fine sand with no pebbles, a shallow seabed, and clear, calm water. At Da Ong Dia Beach, visitors can choose from activities such as strolling along the beach, enjoying coffee and taking photos with colorful fishing boats and the breakwater, or experiencing various water sports like surfing.

Specialty

Rice vermicelli with pork offal. Photo: Phan Thiet Pho

Banh hoi is made from rice flour, undergoing several processing steps to create a noodle-like structure made of small, white strands resembling vermicelli. Phan Thiet banh hoi is served with boiled pork offal. When enjoying it, the pork offal is wrapped together with banh hoi and rice paper, and dipped in a sweet and sour sauce.

Rice paper rolls dipped in shrimp paste are a popular street food often sold in the afternoons. The simple dish consists of mashed boiled eggs, sour mango, shredded cucumber, and crumbled grilled rice paper wrapped together. The dipping sauce is shrimp paste, often with added chopped fresh chili and a squeeze of lemon, then mixed well. People in Phan Thiet use fish meat to make fish cakes, fish bones to make broth, and fish sauce for seasoning.

Fried catfish with scallion oil. Photo: Phan Thiet Pho

The fish is cut into pieces and arranged on a plate, or steamed whole. The fatty meat is chopped, fried until golden brown, and topped with scallions. Once the fish is cooked, a layer of the scallion-infused oil is poured over it, and then sprinkled with crushed peanuts for added aroma. It's served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce or a tamarind fish sauce. Many connoisseurs will add a piece of the fish's liver to the dipping sauce, mashed, for a rich, creamy flavor.

Note

April and May are the peak hot months in Phan Thiet, with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius and intense sunshine. In July and August, Phan Thiet's beaches experience red tide, with algal blooms making the seawater murky and unsuitable for swimming.

Phan Thiet is a famous seaside tourist destination, so if you plan to visit, you should book your accommodation in advance to avoid the situation where hotels and resorts are fully booked, especially during peak season.

Summer in Phan Thiet often brings rain in the late afternoon and evening, so it's best to spend time sightseeing and enjoying yourself in the morning.

Quynh Mai - Viet Quoc

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