Flock to Nghinh Phong cape to welcome the sunrise

In Ba Ria - Vung Tau, many tourists have recently flocked to Nghinh Phong Cape to watch the sunrise, not hesitating to wake up at 3 am to choose a spot with a good view.

Nghinh Phong Cape has emerged as a popular "sunrise viewing spot" for tourists . This long headland jutting out into the sea is located in the south of the Vung Tau peninsula, with mountains behind it and the sea in front. Situated between Bai Sau and Bai Dua beaches, the cape is windy year-round and features numerous underwater rocks and dangerous cliffs.

Ms. Thanh Thuy, originally from Vung Tau but now living in Ho Chi Minh City, said that five days ago she was lucky enough to witness the sunrise at Nghinh Phong Cape. She had known about this cape for a long time, but had only ever driven past it without much interest. Recently, after seeing review videos on social media, she noticed it and decided to visit out of curiosity. She arrived at Nghinh Phong Cape at 4:30 AM, but the open spaces around the area were already packed with people waiting for the sun to rise.

Tourists enjoy coffee and watch the sunrise at Nghinh Phong Cape. Photo: Thanh Thuy. — Tourists enjoy coffee and watch the sunrise at Nghinh Phong Cape. Photo: *Thanh Thuy.*

"Many people come here as early as 3 am to get a good view. People usually sit in the open spaces or on the chairs of the street vendors' cafes here. After 5 am, there are no more spots, and you have to stand in less desirable areas," Ms. Thuy said.

Not all tourists are as "lucky" as Ms. Thuy. Ton Thoa, from Long An, said she took a trip to Vung Tau at the end of October and also visited Nghinh Phong Cape to check in because "it's a hot spot." Thoa arrived at the location at 5:30 AM, but the cape was "packed and she couldn't catch the sunrise." Tourist Cam Nhi, who lives in Ho Chi Minh City, also "arrived at 4 AM" and couldn't find a suitable seat, "surrounded by a sea of people."

Mr. Son Nguyen, from Ho Chi Minh City, shared that he has visited Vung Tau many times and Nghinh Phong Cape is a familiar place to him. From 2016 to 2018, Mr. Son camped at this cape, and at that time, the place was sparsely populated; in the mornings, "there was almost no one," and tourists usually came in the afternoons.

"In the last two to three months, this place has become popular again thanks to the appearance of mobile coffee stalls around the open area. The owners of these stalls share videos of the sunrise over the cape on TikTok, attracting tourists. These mobile stalls are open from 3 am to around 7:30 am, and tourists who come to buy coffee are provided with seats, which are foldable camping chairs," Mr. Son said.

Mr. Pham Khac To, Director of the Vung Tau City Tourist Management and Support Center, said that Nghinh Phong Cape is currently not an official tourist destination of the city, but only an informal location. Previously, tourists "entered and exited this place freely, without any management."

According to Mr. To, Vung Tau City has held numerous meetings to prepare for investment and renovation of the Nghinh Phong Cape area into a tourist attraction, "but so far there is no concrete plan." If the renovation project is implemented, the road leading to Nghinh Phong Cape will be upgraded, and additional safety barriers will be added, similar to the Con Heo Hill area, to ensure the safety of tourists. In addition, some scenic spots will be built to cater to visitors who wish to take photos.

Mr. Pham Khac To stated that street vendors operating in the Nghinh Phong cape area are "in violation of city regulations." Patrol teams from the city's wards continuously conduct inspections, but "it's difficult to thoroughly address the issue."

This area is now just empty land with dilapidated, abandoned buildings that have been left untouched for many years, formerly owned by the tourism company of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province.

According to data from market research firm Outbox Company, Ba Ria - Vung Tau is rated by tourists as having "beautiful scenery and reasonable costs that suit the current tastes of Vietnamese people." It is also the number one favorite domestic destination for Vietnamese tourists in the third quarter.

According to a report from the Department of Tourism of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, the province welcomed more than 11 million visitors in the first nine months of the year. An estimated more than 3 million overnight stays were recorded, an increase of 18.33% compared to the same period last year.

Bich Phuong

Source link