Quick navigation

Getting there

Sightseeing

Accommodation

Dining

Notes

Vinh Hy Bay, situated in Vinh Hai commune, Khanh Hoa province (formerly Vinh Hai commune, Ninh Hai district, Ninh Thuan province), is 40 km from Phan Rang city center and nearly 100 km from Nha Trang. The bay is part of Nui Chua National Park, a UNESCO recognized World Biosphere Reserve. The bay is surrounded on three sides by Nui Chua mountain, which stands 1,040 m high, and opens to the sea on its southeast side.

Vinh Hy Bay is known as one of the "four most beautiful bays in Vietnam", alongside Ha Long, Lang Co, and Xuan Dai. It is a destination for those who love the sea and pristine nature. The waters in Vinh Hy are clear blue, with abundant coral reefs, rocky mountains embracing the bay, white sandy beaches, and the cool atmosphere of the central coastal region combined with primeval forest. From Ngoan Muc Pass or the Vinh Hy coastal road, visitors can admire the entire bay view.

Vinh Hy is most beautiful from February to October, when the weather is sunny and there is little rain. During the early and late months of the year, the weather is cool, suitable for experiential tourism. In mid-summer, it is a destination for sea activities.

Vinh Hy Bay from above. Photo: Nguyen Van Quang

Getting there

By air

The nearest airport to Vinh Hy Bay is Cam Ranh, approximately 55 km away. From the airport, visitors can travel to the bay by taxi, with prices ranging from 500,000 to 600,000 Vietnamese dong per trip, via National Highway 1A or Expressway CT01. The travel time is about mot hour 15 minutes.

By road

The coastal road around Vinh Hy Bay is considered one of the most beautiful roads in Vietnam. Along this route, visitors can stop at various points to take photos, rest, and enjoy the scenery.

Ho Chi Minh City (TP HCM) is 360 km from Vinh Hy, with a travel time of about 5-6 hours. Besides private cars, visitors can choose limousine services from operators such as An Anh Limousine, Thien Tri.

Hanoi is 1,300 km from Vinh Hy. The fastest travel time is about 20 hours (with only short breaks). If visitors choose to travel and rest by private car, the journey can take 3-4 days, with stops at many scenic spots and delicious food destinations like Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Da Nang, Quy Nhon, Tuy Hoa, and more.

Cross-Vietnam bus operators include Hoang Long, Mai Linh Express, Thuan Thao, and others.

Ninh Thuan coastal road. Photo: Chi Linh Club

By train

Thap Cham Station is located on Minh Mang Street, Phan Rang ward (formerly Phan Rang - Thap Cham City). The distance from the station to Vinh Hy Bay is about 40 km, with a road travel time of about 50-60 minutes. The fastest train tickets (SE3/SE4) are priced from mot million to hai million Vietnamese dong per person for a one-way trip (soft seat or 4-berth sleeper cabin).

Sightseeing

The attractions around Vinh Hy extend about 20 km along the coastal area of Ninh Thuan province (now Khanh Hoa), offering diverse experiences.

>> See more: 48 hours in Ninh Thuan

Vinh Hy tourist village

The village provides services ranging from accommodation, dining, and shopping to bay exploration tours.

Vinh Hy fishing village in the morning. Photo: Bich Phuong

The village has more than 3,000 households engaged in fishing and tourism. In the morning, visitors can walk along the dike surrounding the village, observe the bustling activity of fishing boats, and then have breakfast at a local eatery in the village. There are many dishes such as banh can and banh canh cha ca (fish cake noodle soup). Guests can rent bicycles to travel around the village, with prices around 80,000 Vietnamese dong per day per bicycle.

Cau Gay village

This is a Raglai ethnic minority village in Vinh Hai commune, located on the edge of Nui Chua National Park. There are about 50 households, mostly Raglai people. The road into the village is about 2,5 km, passing over a wooden suspension bridge and Lo O stream, requiring a trek of about 45 minutes.

Vinh Hy Bay tour

Glass-bottom boat carrying tourists to see coral. Photo: Bich Phuong

To explore the bay, visitors can rent a glass-bottom boat to view coral or take a canoe. The cost to rent a glass-bottom boat is about 700,000 Vietnamese dong per trip for 4 guests, with the price increasing based on the number of people. The pier is located right at the dike area of Vinh Hy fishing village. Visitors can buy tickets directly at the pier, but it is advisable to book these services in advance through a tour guide to avoid long waits.

Guests staying at resorts will travel on private canoes and will not have to join a group like when purchasing services outside.

Fun at Lo O stream

Lo O stream is a recreational spot amidst the pristine nature of Vinh Hy, featuring water cascades and natural small pools, suitable for swimming, playing, or taking photos. The area around the stream is peaceful, surrounded by forests, offering a relaxing feeling.

Nui Chua National Park

Nui Chua National Park. Photo:

Nui Chua National Park is located nearly 7 km from Vinh Hy Bay and was recognized as a World Biosphere Reserve on 14/4/2022. Nui Chua stands out with its primeval forest, diverse ecosystem, and thousands of rare plant and animal species listed in the Vietnam Red Book and the IUCN Red List.

With 40 km of coastline, Nui Chua boasts Vietnam's largest nearshore coral reef, including over 350 coral species and hundreds of marine animals. This place is also ideal for trekking, mountain climbing, and nature exploration.

Hang Rai

Hang Rai. Photo: Nguyen Van Hop

Located about 7 km from Vinh Hy Bay, adjacent to Nui Chua National Park, Hang Rai beach features a mountainous terrain that blocks waves. It is a coral reef millions of years old, which has fossilized to form a high rock formation above sea level. The limestone blocks, eroded by sea waves, create unique shapes, making it a popular spot for many tourists to watch the sunrise and sunset. The best time to visit Hang Rai is at sunrise.

Grape vineyards

The area around Vinh Hy Bay, formerly part of Ninh Thuan province, is known as Vietnam's "grape capital". Thanks to the dry, hot climate with abundant sunshine and little rain, the region possesses natural conditions for grape varieties to thrive. Visitors can tour, pick grapes directly, learn about the cultivation process, and buy fresh grapes as gifts. In addition to fresh grapes, the vineyards also produce many specialties such as grape wine, grape syrup, dried grapes, and grape jam. Suggested vineyards include: Thai An, Ba Moi, Sau Lang, Ho Vang.

Ninh Thuan stone park

Located about 12 km from Vinh Hy Bay, the stone park is part of the Nui Chua National Park complex, featuring large and small precarious rock slabs on the sea surface. The stone park belongs to a dwarf forest ecosystem on rocky mountains, surrounded by drought-resistant plants adapted to the year-round dry and hot climate. The park covers an area of about 3 ha and was discovered around 2013 but only began to be exploited for tourism in 2022.

Bau Truc pottery village

The village is located in Phuoc Dan town and is considered one of the oldest existing pottery villages in Southeast Asia. The craft village has a cooperative that displays and recreates the history of pottery making and distinctive products.

Households around the village also sell pottery and offer spaces for guests to experience making pottery. The price for each pottery item, such as a vase, Apsara statue, or Cham-patterned relief, ranges from 80,000-200,000 Vietnamese dong.

Sheep fields

Vast sheep fields stretching across the arid land have become a symbol, creating a rustic and peaceful beauty in Ninh Thuan. Thanks to the characteristic climate with natural grasslands, this area concentrates the largest sheep flock in Vietnam, associated with the long-standing herding life of local people.

Famous sheep fields include An Hoa, Suoi Tien, or Phuoc Trung, with hundreds of sheep leisurely grazing, moving in flocks across the hillsides. Early morning or late afternoon are ideal times to visit for photos.

Sheep in the fields of Ninh Thuan. Photo: Huynh Van Truyen

Accommodation

Visitors have many accommodation options, suitable for different needs and budgets.

Homestays and guesthouses near the bay

This type of accommodation is suitable for visitors who want to save costs and experience the rustic life of local people. Some suggestions include Vinh Hy homestay, Hai Dang guesthouse, Chu Lam homestay, Nha Xua farmstay, La Mer, Chanh Ranh House. Rental prices range from 300,000-600,000 Vietnamese dong for a double room per night.

Nha Xua farmstay near Vinh Hy Bay. Photo: Booking

Resorts and retreats

A prominent resort in the Vinh Hy Bay area is Amanoi resort. It is surrounded by the sea and pristine mountains and forests. The resort consists of private villas, separated from each other. Room prices start from 20 million Vietnamese dong per night.

Other resorts include Vinh Hy Resort or Eco-Chi Homestay & Resort, starting from about mot million Vietnamese dong per night.

Amanoi resort's spa area.

Panoramic view of Vinh Hy Bay from Amanoi resort.

Hotels in Phan Rang

If combining a visit to Ninh Thuan (old), visitors can book accommodation in Phan Rang or Ninh Chu beach and visit Vinh Hy Bay as a day trip. This area offers many types of accommodation, from hotels to resorts, with prices ranging from mot million Vietnamese dong to about 3 million Vietnamese dong per night.

Reference addresses: TTC Ninh Thuan resort, Sai Gon - Ninh Chu, Swiss-Belvillas Solavita Binh Tien, Grand Luxury Ninh Chu, Hoan My - Ninh Chu, Long Thuan Hotel & Resort.

Dining

The cuisine in Vinh Hy Bay bears the distinctive mark of the South Central Coast, a harmonious blend of sea, mountains, and Cham culture.

Seafood

Vinh Hy Bay has a rich source of seafood caught and farmed directly in the bay, including lobster, grouper, squid, crab, oysters, abalone, sea urchins, and many rare types of snails. An experience visitors should try is enjoying seafood on floating rafts in the bay or along the dike area, where people select fresh seafood and request on-the-spot preparation.

Suggested dishes include: moon crab, nipple snail, clam, giant sea snail, and seafood hotpot. Each type of seafood is usually sold by the kilogram.

Local specialties

Besides seafood, Vinh Hy Bay also entices with other dishes such as lamb, banh can, and jellyfish noodle soup.

Notes

Visitors traveling by boat around the bay must wear a life jacket when boarding, even when the sea is calm. If prone to seasickness, it is advisable to take anti-motion sickness medication 30-60 minutes beforehand.

When snorkeling to view coral, visitors should not stand, step on, or break coral, nor feed fish or take marine life as souvenirs.

The sun in Vinh Hy, and Ninh Thuan in general, is intense, and the weather is dry. Be sure to prepare sunscreen, hats, protective clothing, and drink plenty of water.

Visitors can make payments via bank transfer in many places, but it is advisable to carry cash for convenience in some remote areas.

The coastal road to Vinh Hy is beautiful, but it has many winding mountain sections; visitors should drive slowly and avoid driving after dark.

Tam Anh