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thaonguyennguyen · 6 years

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Magnificent Scenery In Less Travelled Places: A Travel Guide for weekend trips in Vietnam (Part 3)

Where to go on a budget!

Looking for uncommon tourist destinations for a 2-3-day vacation in a cost-effective way but you don’t know any place. There are worth going places to visit Vietnam and offer exciting experiences.

VINH HY - PHAN RANG, NINH THUAN

Heading east from Saigon to Nha Trang, you will get Phan Rang on your way. Vinh Hy is located about 40 kilometres northeast of Phan Rang – Thap Cham City. Vinh Hy bay is beautiful with clear blue water, white sand beach circling rocky mountains and green forest.

GETTING THERE

Taking train to Phan Rang is highly recommended and it is so convenient and timely. By bus, there is not much thing for you to see along the way and also you may get stuck due to traffic jam. We took the train departure at 9AM and we got Thap Cham Railway Station at 3PM. There are 10 trains available daily for you to choose.

We got medium standard tickets which were sitting in compartment with AC, it costs VND 300,000/way/person.

Ideally, it should take the same time (about 6 hours) to get from Saigon to Phan Rang by bus. Yet we prefer train as we can stay away from traffic jam and also in train, we have room to walk around and stretching out.

STAYING

Phan Rang is a quiet province, not much to do there. We decided to stay in Phan Rang due to accommodation cost. Resorts in Vinh Hy bay are luxury, one of them is Amanoi Resort (USD 1,000/night for the cheapest room).

We booked a 2-star hotel, Lan Anh Hotel (~VND 500,000/room/night). The facility was new, services level was okay. We are budgeted travelers; we never pay too much for accommodation, so Lan Anh hotel is good enough.

The hotel is at center of the city, by the beach. That beach is not beautiful but still crowded in the afternoon.

Making reservation with this kind of hotel is easy, phone in and confirm your booking. Sometimes they ask for deposit, you can bargain for not doing that.

SIGHTS

Thap Cham is a peaceful city but quiet. We only stay in the city for food.

There are a group of ancient towers because this area used to belong to Cham people hundreds years ago. However, towers are not the focus of our trip.

The day after, we went to Vinh Hy bay in the morning. For transportation from place to place, as usual, we prefer to rent a bike. For people who does not have driving taxi, taking cab is another option. However, you better do Google map first and know where you want to go, so you will not be cheated by drivers.

A lot of beautiful scenes along the way.

A fishing village on the way

Farmers have salt field by the road.

The road leading to Vinh Hy Bay.

We saw a lot of goats. Goat is popular in this area.

Some highlight spots of the tour are: Hang Rai – Nui Chua National Park, Vinh Hy Bay and beaches along the way (Binh Tien & Binh Hung).

Hang Rai – Nui Chua National Park

We stopped by the main entrance, bought the ticket VND 5,000 and kept riding to the parking slot.

We got Hang Rai actually after 5 minutes of riding and 10 minutes of walking up a hill.

Many couples have their pre-wedding photos here.

We spent about 30 minutes resting, walking around and taking some pictures at Hang Rai then we left. We got back the road and went to Vinh Hy bay.

Vinh Hy Bay

I love beautiful roads there. It is not crowded at all and we were lucky with blue sky and nice weather that day.

One of passes, this one I took when we just passed Amanoi Resort, where we were not allowed to get in.

And we got the bay finally.

We took a short rest again and pictures.

Beaches

We headed to the beaches.

And arrived there after another 30 minutes of riding.

Gorgeous beaches, clean and clear water is just all over this area, you can stop wherever you want.

And again, we met people taking pre-wedding pictures here.

We left there. On the way back, we stopped by a resort and had lunch – Vinh Hy Bay Resort.

We aimed to take a tour and see coral reef but we could not. The tour guide told us at first that they would open the tour once they had 10 guests and it was 7 people already by the time we arrived. We waited for an hour, he came back and said now they only had 3 (not include 2 of us). Then he wanted us to keep waiting, he would go find more guests. We refused him them, just ordered food and had lunch at the resort.

A corner of Vinh Hy Bay Resort, where we waited for coral reef tour, rested and had lunch.

EATING

A lot of restaurants, street food is available around the central park of Thap Cham City, especially at night.

And here is our dinner, very local street food. The place was so noisy, crowded, services was acceptable and very reasonable price.

Banh xeo for dinner

Banh can for dinner too.

As I mention above, lunch in countryside is not as various as what we have in Saigon. That was the reason that we had lunch in the Vinh Hy Bay Resort. Their food is very good, fresh seafood, well cook and price range is reasonable.

For the other lunch, we just randomly pick a seafood restaurant on Yen Ninh street, near Lan Anh Hotel.

It is better for you to equip yourself with some basic Vietnamese words which help you a lot in ordering food or asking for help.

Here is Banh canh ca (Vietnamese udon with fish), we had it for breakfast, only VND 15,000/bowl, very popular street food place that we stopped by randomly in Yen Tu street.

BUDGET

The whole trip to Vinh Hy – Phan Rang for 2 people, 2 days 1 night cost us totally VND 2,500,000.

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thaonguyennguyen · 6 years

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Magnificent Scenery In Less Travelled Places: A Travel Guide for weekend trips in Vietnam (Part 2)

Where to go on a budget!

COCO BEACHCAMP LAGI - BINH THUAN

Lagi is a small town of Binh Thuan Province; it is 160 kilometers east from Saigon. Lagi is known for its beaches and coastal roads. The best time to go to Lagi is after raining season, from September to January, with beautiful sunlight, clean beach and clear water.

GETTING THERE

There are many ways leading to Coco Beach Resort, by bus, train and rent motorbike when you are there.

Getting there by motorbike, you will be on coastal roads passing by Ba Ria Province.

You should have breakfast early and be at Cat Lai Ferry by 8AM. It gets crowded in the late morning. Dropping off the ferry, just follow DT 769, pass by rubber forest, industrial parks, many traffic police waiting along the way. Tips here are paying attention to road signs and do not go over permitted speed (max speed is allowed at 40kmh), prepare required papers (valid driving license, motorbike insurance).

You will reach the Highway 51 after 2 hours. You keep following Google Map, heading Lagi by coastal road. It takes about 2 more hours from Vung Tau Lagi.

If you want to take bus, the Coco Beachcamp now provides bus from Saigon to their place. It is only 2 hours and a half from Saigon to Lagi on the freeway. Ticket is VND 150,000/person, just call to 0898681357 and make reservation. They will inform you schedule and pick you up at Le Van Tam Park, in Dien Bien Phu Str., Dist 1.

STAYING – COCO BEACHCAMP LAGI

Address: Le Minh Cong Str., Lagi, Binh Thuan Province

Tel: 0903093262 / 0252 2233383

Note: There is another resort name Coco Beach Resort, it is a different one from Coco Beachcamp Lagi. That resort is more expensive than this camp.

There are 3 types of room available at Coco Beachcamp: Villa, Bungalow and Tent. With Villa and Bungalow, you have your own AC and bathroom.

Meanwhile, with tents, you are supposed to use shared (public) bathrooms and toilets. I did stay in tent when I was there and it was an interesting experience worth your try.

Reservation can be done via their Facebook page or by phone. Deposits via bank transfer is required at least a week in advance. It costs you about VND 700,000 – 1,000,000/night/room for Villa, Bungalow. For a tent, it is only VND 150,000/person/night. Receptionist is helpful but not with lock issue, you should bring yours to lock tent up.

Coco Beachcamp Lagi is destination for so many team building events, especially for young companies. If you are lucky and have the opportunity enjoy your weekend trip here and see their activities. They usually have kite competition in the afternoon, campfire at night, karaoke and morning exercise too.

At Coco Beachcamp, they arranged many photo spots for people who like taking pictures.

There is a bar in the Coco with DJ every night. Their music is good, mostly chilling. You also can pay VND 50,000 for swimming pool.

EATING & DRINKING

For breakfast, you can order at Coco Beachcamp when you make reservation. It is about VND 50,000/person. For us, we talked to some local people in the beach and they guided us to a local seafood market nearby. We walked along the beach for 15 minutes in the morning (6-7AM). We spent VND 250,000 for four people. Seafood is fresh caught from the ocean in early morning. However, they only steam all kind of seafood.

There is not so many lunch options in this small town. People often have lunch at home. You can explore around the town. There are some restaurants along Thong Nhat Str., just local ones, no signature food and price is so so, about VND 50,000 – 60,000/person for a very normal lunch.

So lunch-outside option is not recommended. You better have lunch at Coco Beachcamp.

Another option is that buying seafood and ask Coco Beachcamp to cook. They will charge service fee for that but it not too bad.

For dinner, we went to down town again. Food at night is a lot. We took Cha Lui 19/5 at 35 Tran Hung Dao Str., VND 60,000 for 4 people.

The shop opens at 4PM every day. We were full after that so we did not take more for dinner.

For your information, you can go back and forth Tran Hung Dao Str., and Thong Nhat Str., bunch of street food.

After dinner, we went to another place for desert, its name is Ao Trang Fruit. Fruits are fresh and served with yogurt, coconut milk, syrup, and shaved ice. Price VND 17,000 – 20,000/dish, full of different kinds of fruit.

Total cost for our trip of 4 people going to Lagi on our bikes was only VND 1,500,000 for 2 days 1 night.

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thaonguyennguyen · 6 years

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Magnificent Scenery In Less Travelled Places: A Travel Guide for weekend trips in Vietnam (Part 1)

Where to go on a budget!

Looking for uncommon tourist destinations for a 2-3-day vacation in a cost-effective way but you don’t know any place. There are worth going places to visit Vietnam and offer exciting experiences.

BAO LOC TOWN – LAM DONG

Located in Lam Dong Province, en route to Sai Gon and Da Lat, Bao Loc is a small town in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Bao Loc is a temperate city. Its temperature is about 18C degree to 25C degree for whole year. The best recommended time to visit this place is during dry season, from October to April. Do not go there during raining season, it rains endlessly for days.

GETTING THERE

It is only about 180 kilometers away from Saigon. To get to Bao Loc, take the Highway 20 on motorbike if you are adventurous. However, please be aware that traffic in Vietnam is not in high standard and police is everywhere, you may get caught without reason. So, it may finally cost you more than a bus ticket, but you will be impressed by crossing up and down formidable gorges and beautiful roads on the way.

It is 3 hours closer than Da Lat. You can take the same buses to Da Lat and ask them to drop you off earlier when you are just over the Bao Loc pass and reached the Bao Loc Church or Pagoda on your right-hand side. (The Church and the Pagoda are next to each other). I would recommend you get on the morning buses, leaving Saigon at 7-8AM, so you will be in Bao Loc by lunch time.

There are several trustworthy buses you can book: Thanh Buoi, Phuong Trang, Nhat Doan or TheSinhTourist, etc. Ticket is only about VND 150,000 to 200,000. There are several trustworthy buses you can book: Thanh Buoi, Phuong Trang, Nhat Doan or TheSinhTourist, etc. Ticket is only about VND 150,000 to 200,000.

SLEEPING

Since Bao Loc is not a tourist town, there are not so many options for you in term of accommodation. If you are expecting a luxury stay, then this town is probably not for you. However, break your limit, spending one weekend at motel in a small town is such a worthwhile experience. Room rate in the town in general is about VND 400,000 to VND 500,000/room/night. You can make reservation via Booking.com or by phone in advance.

Many motels are available on the main street of the town - Tran Phu street. This is also Highway 20, where you are dropped off by the bus. There are some other motel-standard hotels around wet market area, such as: Huynh Gia Bao Hotel.

Furthermore, one of the most famous hotel and also the oldest one in Bao Loc is Seri Hotel.

Seri Hotel: 05 28/3 Str., Bao Loc, Tel: 0263 3864 150

Staying here gives you chance to enjoy the beautiful view in front of the hotel, especially having morning coffee at Ho Thuy Ta – a coffee shop by the lake.

SIGHTS

There are several places to sites within easy reach of Bao Loc but in this guide, I only focus on four of them, which all can be visited within two days. The best way to tour between the locations is motorbike. Motorbike renting can be arranged by the hotel when asked. Average price is about VND 150,000/day and motorbike driving license is required.

In addition, it is also available to take taxi, remember to deal for a-day tour to save your money or your accommodation can help arranging a car and a driver (~VND 500,000/day/4-seat car, not including tip for driver).

Tuyệt Tình Cốc - this location is suitable for those who love to explore the lake which is known as a jade surrounded by hills, luxuriant trees.

It is located 18 kilometers away from Bao Loc downtown. Heading to Dambri District, at the Dambri roundabout, continuing southeast way to Loc Tan (Bao Lam District), right at Cau Tre factory, keep going about 10 kilometers, then follow the sign of Đập Chính (the Main Dam), you will see the beautiful lake with natural jade color. This lake is 20 hectares and a part of Dambri Dam. It also has different name, Lục Kính Hồ (Green Mirror Lake) because of its enchanted green. Moreover, the landscape here is also adorned with huge rocks, making it more charming. At the height of 1000 meters, you can open your view to green tea and coffee fields.

Nam Phuong Lake - Beautiful view and convenient in transportation, Nam Phuong Lake is only 2 kilometers away from the downtown.

The lake is surrounded by green and airy grass field.

This is a special spectacle of this lake, known as chocolate filed.

It happens in dry season, soil becomes dry, cracked and makes a scenery that you can see nowhere else. This is also reaffirming my recommendation to go for my hometown during dry season.

Tam Chau Tea Hill

Tam Chau is a famous tea and coffee brand established about 30 years ago in Bao Loc and now well-known over Vietnam. They produce tea and coffee products from the beginning to the end.

In Bao Loc, they have a lot of plantation areas, two special ones are immense tea farms in Dambri District, which are opened for visiting and only 10 kilometers from Bao Loc. From the hill, you can view the whole area of green tea, blue sky and white clouds and can listen to the whispering of the winds.

Linh Quy Phap An Temple

This is a hilltop temple; from its yard you will have an overlooking scenic rural panoramas.

From Bao Loc, take Highway 20 to Highway 55 and keep following Google map and signs, you will reach the Temple after about 40-50 minutes.

Note that the Temple is only reachable by motorbike or even on foot for more interesting moment by enjoying gorgeous scenic and feeling mountains, trees and local people.

This place is a Buddhist temple, so you are supposed to dress properly and behave yourself when you are here.

EATING & DRINKING

Just like many other destinations in Vietnam, street food is a daily pleasure while travelling. My home town is not famous for any special dish which is invented by ourselves, like Bun Bo Hue in Hue, Da Nang with its own My Quang or Hanoi with Pho Ga. Bao Loc people are mostly immigrants from the North or Central of Vietnam, so our food is influenced by others. Basically, we localize others’ food, I can tell. As below, I list out several dishes that are worth your try and enough for your weekend trip there.

Banh cuon - Vietnamese Steamed Rice Roll

For your breakfast, you can try Banh cuon. The shop is located near old market, at a small alley on Phan Boi Chau street (behind Trung Vuong Primary school). It is opened for breakfast only (from 6AM to 9AM). It will cost you VND 15,000 - VND 20,000 per person, depend on what you order. One tip here, if you don’t know what to order, just take a special one, it is supposed to be the signature of the shop.

Nem nuong - Vietnamese Grilled Pork Sausages rolled with rice cake

Address: 28 Pham Ngu Lao Str., 5 minutes walking from Quang Trung High school or Bao Loc Hospital)

Price: VND 25,000 - 30,000/person. The Nem Nuong is from Nha Trang originally, people brought it to my town and made it a bit different. We have Nem Nuong rolled in a rice cake with different kinds of vegetable and deep-fried rice cake

Banh beo - Waterfern Cake (a dish from Hue - Central of Vietnam)

Location: 2/4 Be Van Dan Str., - in a small alley next to Bao Loc Church.

The shop has been there for so long, since I was in my kindergarten. The shop is famous for Banh beo, Red Bean sweet soup, mung bean sweet soup, coconut jelly, Vietnamese ham and also homemade yogurt. Price is about VND 10,000 to VND 20,000.

Banh Trang Mam Ruoc - Grilled Rice Cake with special shrimp sauce

If you have been in Da Lat before, you may know Banh Trang Nuong, it is called Vietnamese pizza. Yet in Bao Loc, Banh Trang Nuong is a bit different. In Da Lat, rice cake is covered with quail eggs, dry shrimp and seasoning it. Yet in my town, rice cake is glazed by special shrimp sauce, green onion and grill until it is crunchy.

Banh Trang Mam Ruoc is available at a shop next to Hoai Pho cafe, nearby Bao Loc People’s Committee, open from 5PM to 10PM every day.

All of friends visiting my place, I took them here for the first night and most of them liking it a lot. I would recommend you try one normal and one with chili. It is only VND 5,000 each. Hot soya milk is available at the central park opposite this place. Hot soya milk and Banh Trang Mam Ruoc is a good combination.

It is also my proud showing everyone the 2 beautiful parks in front of The People’s Committee. My father designed those two, very first parks of the town.

Pho kho Hao Ky – Dry Pho

73 Nguyen Cong Tru Str., Ward 2. It is opened from 6AM to 9PM daily. The restaurant it always crowded in the morning. You better get there early by 7AM to get seats. A small bowl is VND 35,000 and large one is VND 50,000.

This is also known as Pho 2 bowls, because it comes with a bowl of dry Pho and another bowl of soup.

Oc Heo – Steamed Pig Brain

The shop is at 23 Le Thi Hong Gam Str., quite popular with the dish of steamed pig brain. This is one of my most favorite dish.

They open at 3PM and steamed pig brain is usually sold out of by 5PM.

Che Ha Nghi - Ha Nghi sweet soup shop

425D Tran Phu Str., Bao Loc.

One of the my most favorite here is Tau Hu Da. It is sweet tofu served with shaved ice and coconut milk.

There are some other Vietnamese sweet soups that you can try, such as taro, mung beans, red beans sweet soup. I usually spend approximate VND 20,000 – 30,000/person here.

Duy Long Cafe

Address: 10 Tran Quoc Toan Str., Bao Loc.

Café Duy Long is one of the first coffee shop in my home town back 30 years ago. Their coffee is pretty good. Its homemade ice cream cannot be comparable to recognized-brand ones in Saigon, but it is special to us, local people.

The cafe is in the family’s front garden. Spend some time and have a coffee there, enjoys some happy moments with a typical Vietnamese family where three generations (grand parents, parents and grandchilds) are living together

Coming to budget matters, as far as my experiences, lodging is the costliest part for every trip. However, it costs you only approximate VND 500,000 for 2 days and 1 night in this quiet town. Transportation is about VND 600,000, including 400,000 round-trip ticket and 200,000 for motorbike renting and fuel. Food costs approximate VND 400,000 – 500,000. To sum up, not even VND 2,000,000 is already enough for a trip to a cool and quiet place which is only 4 hours away from Saigon.

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