Located in the Central region of Viet Nam, Phu Yen is another beautiful coastal province that is not as well known as Da Nang or Nha Trang. However, it is home to some of Viet Nam's stunning landscapes and the most spectacular beaches in the country, with white sand and waves crashing against the shore. On the inland side of the province are rice paddies which produce more rice per acre than anywhere else in Vietnam.
Its magnificent landscapes were unknown to tourists before it was featured in the famous movie "I see yellow flowers on green grass". As a result, in recent years, Phu Yen has become one of the most popular beach destinations in the central region. The beautiful sight of nature is what first draws people to Phu Yen province. The villages are surrounded by lush mountains and beautiful blue beaches. When you reach the coast, you will be greeted with an amazing site- Da Dia Reef. This reef is one of the most spectacular natural wonders over 2000 meters long and 50 meters wide.
Have you heard about the Giant's Causeway in Ireland or the Fingal Caves on Staffa Island in Scotland? Vietnam might have somewhere fantastic and similar to that. Da Dia Reef is one of the highlights of Phu Yen Province, which is very popular and a unique example of nature not found anywhere else in the country.
It is possible to get a train ticket to Tuy Hoa station or you can fly depending on the destination you depart. Once you reach Phu Yen, drive to the north along National Highway 1A about 40 Kilometers from Tuy Hoa city center. Then you'll arrive at Chi Thanh town, turn left toward the East for about 12km to the Da Dia Reef, and here it is, you won't miss it. :)
The road is well maintained and the location is easy to find. As soon as we park the motorbike, we walk to the entrance gate to purchase the tickets (20.000/adult -less than 1 Usd). I heard that it's free to visit after 5 pm, and this is the ideal time to catch the stunning sunset.
The staff lent me a colorful hat to wear, honestly; the weather is still hot, despite the wet season at the end of the year.
You will pass through the Hon Xua sightseeing where you will have a chance to learn about the culture of local residents and ethnic groups that totally worth checking out (I will have a separate post about it) and the breathtaking Ghenh Bang Beach before reaching Da Dia Reef. I'm sure you will spend an hour or two taking photos here and admiring the surroundings. Although it's cloudy, the scenery still looks amazing.
Standing on the cliff looking down at the waves crashing against the wind is one of my favorite things to do. The view is breathtaking and seeing the waves crash against the rocks below makes me feel like I'm on top of the world. π
Phu Yen has a similar climate to other central provinces with two main seasons: the dry and the wet. It's a beautiful time of year to travel from March to October because the sky is blue, sunny, and beautiful. It is advisable to bring water, sunscreen, and sunblock if you travel by motorbike during summer time as it's very hot there.
Da Dia Reef is a stunningly beautiful natural wonder, located in An Ninh Dong commune, Tuy An district, Phu Yen province. It has unique geology as well as a beautiful landscape. The rock in Da Dia Reef is a basalt rock formed when a volcano erupted on the Van Hoa plateau two hundred million years ago. There are stone plates stacked on top of one another that look like a massive, exposed honeycomb on a two-square-kilometer reef. It is so unusual in its natural beauty, that it was designated a National Park in 1998.
Da Dia Reef is a testament to the geological history of the area and a gift from nature. When I get close, the more I am surprised to see tens of thousands of stone blocks arranged hexagonally, squarely, or in circles, layer upon layer and adjacent to one another. Initially, I thought the stones stacked here were man-made because they are so well arranged, but no, all of them were natural. It is indeed the stunning gift of nature that has given this land, isn't it?
Although the tourism industry in the area has significantly developed nowadays, the landscape still retains a pristine beauty. On my trip to Da Lat, I stopped here for one day and it was definitely worth it. I'd like to return here and spend more time experiencing other places in the future. The central region of the country is a true gem that shouldn't be missed and this destination in Phu Yen has earned a reputation for being one of the most scenic and special places. The Da Dia Reef is an example of the natural beauty and diversity in Vietnam. It's worth a visit and sure to not disappoint.
