Tuy Hoa and the Phu Yen coast: Ganh Da Dia, Mui Dien and where to stay

Why stop in Tuy Hoa, and where to sleep

Tuy Hoa works as a stop rather than a resort. The national tourism site describes a well-planned town with a grid of wide streets along the river and Tuy Hoa Beach running up the eastern edge behind a promenade. What it lacks is a single headline sight in town; the reasons to come are spread along the coast to the north and south, so the town is a base and your days are built around two short drives.

Sleep on or near the beachfront, where you can walk the promenade at dawn and dusk and be on the coast road early, or in the town centre near the river if you prefer street food and local cafés over a sea view. The Dak Lak provincial government held its 2026 tourism conference at a resort in Tuy Hoa, and the province lists Ganh Da Dia, Xuan Dai Bay, O Loan Lagoon, Mui Dien, Vung Ro and Nghinh Phong Tower among its key coastal destinations, but the national tourism site still calls the province relatively off the beaten path. Do not expect the range of English menus and tour desks you find in Nha Trang.

Two nights is enough for both day trips. Add a third if you want a full beach day, or if a cloudy sunrise at Mui Dien means you want a second try.

Ganh Da Dia: the basalt columns

Ganh Da Dia is the reason this coast is on the map for geology lovers. According to the Department of Cultural Heritage, the columns formed when basalt from volcanic activity on the Van Hoa plateau inland cooled and cracked into regular five- and six-sided columns, later lifted and exposed by the sea. Its record describes about 11,500 exposed columns with an average diameter of 43 cm, stacked so that from the side they look like piles of plates, which is where the name, 'reef of stone plates', comes from. The Prime Minister ranked it a special national monument in December 2020.

The site sits in Phu Hanh village in the former An Ninh Dong commune of Tuy An, north of Tuy Hoa. The main area is two small promontories: on one the columns stand upright and step down into the water; on the other they bend and lie almost flat, like a bundle of giant chopsticks seen end-on. On the south-west edge is a small shrine to the whale god of the fishing community, built in the mid-19th century. South of the columns, the arc of Bai Bang beach runs towards the cliff of Mui Mom.

Practical points: the rocks are uneven, often wet and can be slippery near the waterline, so wear shoes with grip and keep well back when the swell is up. The national tourism site notes that a beach next to the columns offers food and drinks, and that a path leads north up the cliffs to a lighthouse looking back over the rocks. Morning light is gentler for photographs and the heat builds fast. When we checked on 2026-10-03, we could not find an official page listing current opening hours or an entrance fee, so check on arrival.

Mui Dien and Bai Mon at sunrise

South of Tuy Hoa, Mui Dien (Dien Cape, also called Dai Lanh Cape) is the place for an early start. The national tourism site suggests coming at dawn and walking up a winding staircase to the lighthouse to watch the sun rise over the sea at what it calls Vietnam's second-to-easternmost point; the honour of the easternmost goes to Mui Doi, about 50 km further south.

A second staircase leads down to Bai Mon, a small beach between green and grey cliffs that the national tourism site describes as feeling like a secret. Its Phu Yen page names Bai Mon and Long Thuy as beaches for swimming and for a sunrise swim. Pack water and a torch for the walk up in the dark, and plan to be back in town for a late breakfast.

On the same southern side of the province, the Dak Lak provincial portal lists Vung Ro bay among the coast's main destinations. If you have a car for the morning, it is easy to combine with the cape.

Bai Xep, O Loan Lagoon and the coves north of town

Bai Xep is the beach that made the province famous. The national tourism site explains that the 2015 film *Toi Thay Hoa Vang Tren Co Xanh* (known in English as *Dear Brother*) shot a scene here, and the grassy bluff above the sea, lined with yellow-flowering cactus, has been a photo stop ever since. A path leads down to the beach, where shacks rent loungers and sell drinks.

On the way to or from Ganh Da Dia, the road passes O Loan Lagoon, a brackish lagoon by National Road 1 known for its blood cockles. The national tourism site suggests kayaking on the lagoon and in Xuan Dai Bay further north, and mentions camping on Lao Mai Nha, a small, undeveloped islet about 4 km from the lagoon. Be aware that the provincial government broke ground on a large resort on Cu Lao Mai Nha in December 2025, with a first phase due by early 2028 and a cable car to the mainland in the plans, so expect construction and check what the islet is like before planning a night there.

If you want one long day instead of two short ones, a car can take you north to O Loan and Ganh Da Dia in the morning and back down to Bai Xep in the afternoon, but the coast is more enjoyable at an easy pace.

Nhan Tower and the town by the river

Nhan Tower (Thap Nhan) stands on Nhan Mountain, a hill above the Da Rang River in the middle of Tuy Hoa. The national tourism site dates it to the late 11th century and calls the tower, the hill and the river together the symbol of the province; from the top you look over the town, the river and its bridges to the sea. Come in the late afternoon, when the heat has eased and the light falls across the river.

Nghinh Phong Tower in Tuy Hoa ward is the other landmark. The provincial portal describes the area as a popular gathering place, and over the 30 April–1 May holidays it hosted a hot-air balloon show, with tethered rides giving a view of the town and its coastline.

If you have time, the national tourism site also recommends Mang Lang Church, near the Ky Lo River, a Gothic-style church with two steeples, coloured windows and a wooden ceiling, which keeps sculptures telling the story of St Andrew Phu Yen in its basement. Dress modestly and keep quiet during services.

Getting there and getting around

By air: Tuy Hoa Airport (TBB) is about 10 km from the city centre, according to the national tourism site, which says there are daily flights from major cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam Airlines lists Tuy Hoa as a destination on its route pages.

By train or road: the North–South railway and National Road 1 both run along this coast, and the national tourism site recommends the train for the scenery. Tuy Hoa is the obvious overnight stop if you are going slowly between Quy Nhon and Nha Trang. When we checked on 2026-10-03, we did not verify a timetable, so check journey times on the operator's site before you book.

Around the coast: the sights are spread over a long stretch north and south of town with no tourist shuttle we could verify. A car with a driver or a taxi kept for the half day is the simplest option; a rented motorbike gives freedom on the coastal roads but only makes sense if you are licensed, insured and confident on hills and in wind.

A two- or three-night plan

This is an editorial suggestion, not a timetable. Check sunrise times, the sea and the weather for your dates.

• Day 1 — Arrival: check in, walk the beachfront promenade, then Nhan Tower for sunset and a tuna dinner in town.
• Day 2 — North: early drive to Ganh Da Dia before the heat, lunch near the beach next to the columns, O Loan Lagoon on the way back and Bai Xep in the late afternoon.
• Day 3 — South: sunrise at Mui Dien, down the steps to Bai Mon for a swim, back for breakfast, then onward to Nha Trang or Quy Nhon, or a lazy day on Tuy Hoa Beach if you are staying a third night.