Ninh Thuan may struggle to compete in terms of mass tourism with neighboring south-central coastal provinces like Binh Thuan and Khanh Hoa, but is ideal for those seeking primitive natural landscapes boasting mountains, rivers, coastline, a unique ethnic minority culture, and tasty cuisine.
Ninh Thuan’s climate tends to be marked by howling winds and roasting heat. Two days in the province is likely to darken the skin to some degree, even when covered up and smothered with the best sunscreen on the market. But, in return, its wonderful experiences are sure to render a smile. Those same two days are sufficient to “see” Ninh Thuan – not just the renowned Po Klong Garai Cham lowers but also its youthful and charming ambience.
Green & cool Vinh Hy
Vinh Hy Bay is a must-see destination, no matter how tight your schedule may be. By following the pass along Binh Tien Beach, Vinh Hy Bay will appear soon enough – so close it feels like you could simply reach out and dip your hand in its blue waters. There are a host of different activities on offer for the more active among us, such as swimming, fishing out at sea, cruising in a glass-bottom boat, and scuba diving. Replenishing energy is easy and best done with seafood delights raised by local people, with a freshness that is “more than wonderful”.
While in the area, don’t forget to stop at the vineyards of An Thai or An Hoa, with red, green, and pink grapes ready for you to enjoy, or My Hiep Cultural Village and the fossil coral of Hon Do Island, which has been described as a natural masterpiece and is now a popular check-in destination. Exploring Hon Do Island to the fullest means trekking, swimming, and camping.
Silhouetted Cham Towers
It’s hard to imagine anyone coming to Ninh Thuan and not finding the time to visit Po Klong Garai Cham Towers. Still standing tall after hundreds of years despite the harsh climate, the red brick Cham towers have borne witness to history – a symbol of the Champa Kingdom’s days of glory and with high- quality architecture and engineering. They continue to witness the passing of time, welcoming tourists from all over the world, and are home to the Kate Festival, held in August and September every year by local Cham people, who are followers of the Brahman religion. The local cuisine is unique, thanks to “Canh Boi” (rice porridge cooked with mixed wild herbs), mango anchovy salad, fried discus fish, and moringa stir-fried with iguana, among many others, which may be found elsewhere but can’t be beaten in these parts.
Nomadic life
While you could never claim to have been in a desert after simply going to the beach, you can almost claim to have visited the Inner Mongolian steppes while in Ninh Thuan. The Tango Your Life (aka Tanyoli) tourism area, some 30 km from Phan Rang city, not only boasts adventure offerings such as taking on sand dunes in an all-terrain vehicle, kayaking in coastal Bai Trang and Bai Vung, and archery and ziplines, but also a Mongolian village with tents identical to those found in the Inner Mongolian steppes.
Another popular destination is An Hoa – the largest free-range sheep farming area in Ninh Thuan, with vast lush grasslands, expansive mountains, poetic lakes, and thousands of sheep grazing leisurely amid the freshest of fresh air. This is also a check-in destination favored by the young, just like Hon Do Island and Vinh Hy Bay. For amazing photos, come before 8am, when the sheep are released into the fields for the day, and if possible, spend some time sharing the nomadic lifestyle of the local shepherds and their families. You’ll take home some very special memories.
