Phu Yen in brief
Phu Yen is a stretch of coast in south-central Vietnam. It was a province of its own until 1 July 2025, when it merged with Dak Lak. The new province is called Dak Lak, and its administrative center is in the ward of Buon Ma Thuot. For travelers the name Phu Yen stays useful: it still describes this coast. Tuy Hoa (Tuy Hรฒa) is the town on the sea and the usual base, but it is no longer the capital of a province called Phu Yen. On maps and with drivers, keep using the names Tuy Hoa, Ganh Da Dia, Mui Dien and Phu Yen.
This guide covers the sights of the coast: the basalt columns of Ganh Da Dia (Gร nh ฤรก ฤฤฉa), the cape at Mui Dien, Bai Xep, O Loan Lagoon, Vung Ro Bay, Tuy Hoa and its beach, plus food, weather, hotels and the way in. It is an independent site, not run by any government office, tourism authority, hotel or tour company. Prices are in Vietnamese dong (VND) with a rough US dollar value, as listed in 2026, and they change.
Two routes along the coast
The provincial tourism routes split the sights into a north and a south day.
The north route
Ganh Da Dia, the Mang Lang church, seafood by O Loan Lagoon, Nhan Tower and the coral coast of Hon Yen. Ganh Da Dia lies roughly 30 km north of Tuy Hoa, according to one travel site.
Ganh Da Dia โThe south route
The cape and lighthouse at Mui Dien near Bai Mon, and the memorial for the ships without numbers in Vung Ro Bay. A winding stairway leads up to the lighthouse.
Mui Dien โTuy Hoa as a base
The town has a long beach with a promenade, a Cham tower on a hill and hotels along Doc Lap street. The airport is about 10 km from the center.
Tuy Hoa โOur picks: Phu Yen day trips
Two day trips with lunch and a day out to an island and sand dunes, all starting from Quy Nhon.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Nhat Tu Son island, Hoa Bay and sand dunes
Car, a canoe as per programme, seafood lunch, the island and safety fee, entries and insurance. The guide speaks Vietnamese, and drinks with the meal are extra.
Check availability โ
Phu Yen day trip from Quy Nhon with entry tickets
Return transport, an English-speaking guide, the route's entry tickets, a seafood lunch, insurance and a conical hat. Tips are not included.
Check availability โ
Phu Yen day trip from Quy Nhon with lunch
Car, seafood lunch, water, a guide and the entry fees of the route, with pickup at your Quy Nhon hotel. An English-speaking guide is an optional extra.
Check availability โPhu Yen tours and day trips
Basalt coast, lagoon, lighthouse and Quy Nhon day trips, with live prices and availability.
Plan your trip
Start with the list of things to do, then open the pages you need.
Things to do in Phu Yen
Twelve ideas, from basalt columns to a Cham tower.
Tours compared
North and south routes, what the entry fees cover and what to check.
Tuy Hoa
Beach, Nhan Tower, Da Bia mountain and the airport.
Ganh Da Dia
Basalt columns on the shore, with the fee and the practical details.
Mui Dien
Lighthouse, stairs and the sunrise question.
Bai Xep
A film location and what to know about access.
O Loan Lagoon
Seafood by the water and a protected coral coast nearby.
Places, food and practical pages
The bay, the beaches, what to eat and how to get here.
Vung Ro Bay
Beaches, the history of the ships without numbers and the coastal pass.
Phu Yen beaches
Tuy Hoa, Bai Xep, Bai Mon and Long Thuy, with safety notes.
What to eat
Tuna eye, banh hoi and other coastal specialties.
Getting to Phu Yen
Tuy Hoa Airport, the train, buses and the road from Nha Trang.
Weather and best time
Monthly rain, the storm season and the floods of November 2025.
Where to stay
Beachfront or town center: which area suits you.
What things cost
Reference amounts in 2026. They come from fee decisions and travel sites and are not guaranteed.
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ganh Da Dia entry | VND 40,000 (about $1.60) | Fee decision of October 2023 |
| Bai Mon and Mui Dai Lanh area | VND 30,000 (about $1.20) | Same decision; ask about a separate lighthouse fee |
| Taxi from the airport | VND 120,000โ150,000 (about $4.80 to $6.00) | Rough guide for about 10 km |
| Motorbike taxi from the airport | VND 50,000โ70,000 (about $2.00 to $2.80) | Rough guide |
| Limousine bus from Nha Trang | VND 340,000 (about $13.60) | One booking example |
| Tuna eye, banh hoi, blood cockles | VND 30,000โ150,000 (about $1.20 to $6.00) | Per portion or plate; see the food page |
Details and sources are on the pages for Ganh Da Dia, getting there and food.
Good to know
Where older guides and blogs are out of date or disagree.
Phu Yen is now part of Dak Lak
Since 1 July 2025 the former province belongs to Dak Lak, and the district level ended nationwide. Older addresses that read Tuy An district, Phu Yen province may no longer be current. Sights and the airport did not move.
Mui Dien and the easternmost label
National tourism pages disagree. One names Mui Doi, about 50 km further south, as lying further east. Treat the easternmost label with care, and do not count on a guaranteed first sunrise.
Mui Dien โCheck Bai Xep access first
A travel report from May 2025 describes a visiting stop since September 2024, with fences and no reopening date. A tour itinerary for July 2026 still lists the place. Ask locally before you plan a day around it.
Bai Xep โFees differ between sources
The fee decision from 2023 sets VND 40,000 (about $1.60) for Ganh Da Dia, and it exempts children without defining an age. Blogs quote other amounts and child rules. Ask at the ticket booth.
Ganh Da Dia is not a UNESCO site
It is a special national landscape monument. In April 2026 the press described the plan for a global geopark as a goal, not a title already granted.
The wet months are October and November
Average rain at Tuy Hoa is 539.5 mm in October and 507.9 mm in November, against 22.5 mm in February. Severe floods hit the area in late November 2025.
Weather โStarting from Nha Trang or Quy Nhon
Two larger coastal cities lie along the same railway line.
Many trips to Phu Yen start in a bigger city. Nha Trang has its own guide, including one on its airport. A bus from Nha Trang to Tuy Hoa is listed at roughly 116 to 120 km and about 2.3 hours, depending on the source. A private carriage operator's timetable valid from 15 May 2026 lists train SE8 leaving Nha Trang at 2:03 p.m. and reaching Tuy Hoa at 3:51 p.m. Check the current timetable before you go. Quy Nhon lies on the other side. For routes in both directions, see getting there.
More independent Vietnam guides
Separate guides from the same team, each focused on one place.
Ha Long Bay
Cruises, caves and the quieter Bai Tu Long Bay.
Cat Ba Island
The island, its national park and kayaking in Lan Ha Bay.
Hoi An
The lantern-lit old town, My Son and the beaches.
Cam Thanh
Basket boats in the coconut forest near Hoi An.
Hue
The Imperial City, royal tombs and the Hai Van Pass.
Sapa
Treks through rice terraces, Fansipan and the Ha Giang Loop.
Nha Trang
Beaches, island trips and the Po Nagar towers.
Phu Quoc
Beaches, the Hon Thom cable car and island hopping.
Can Tho and the Mekong Delta
Floating markets, river towns and trips from Saigon.
Quy Nhon
Ky Co, Eo Gio, the Cham towers and island trips on the Binh Dinh coast.
Phu Yen: frequently asked questions
Is Phu Yen still a province?
No. Since 1 July 2025 the former province is part of the new Dak Lak province. The name Phu Yen remains in use for the coast, so it still helps on maps and in conversation. Tuy Hoa is a city on that coast, not the capital of a province called Phu Yen.
When is the best time to visit?
The national tourism site suggests February to August and warns of heavy rain from September to December. Tuy Hoa averages 22.5 mm of rain in February and 539.5 mm in October. The storm season runs from May to November, according to British travel advice. No month guarantees calm seas. See the weather page.
Do I need a visa for Vietnam?
German citizens can stay up to 45 days without a visa, counting the days of entry and exit, and the passport must be valid for at least 6 months. This rule runs from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028 and also covers citizens of several other countries, among them France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Japan and South Korea. An e-visa for up to 90 days is open to all nationalities. Overstay penalties rose on 15 December 2025, and e-cigarettes are banned. Check your own government's advice.
How do I get to Phu Yen?
By air to Tuy Hoa Airport (TBB), with flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, or by train or bus along the coast. The airport is about 10 km from the center. See getting there.
How much does Ganh Da Dia cost?
The documented fee is VND 40,000 (about $1.60) per person per visit, including insurance, set in a decision of October 2023. Some travel sites list other amounts, so confirm at the gate. More on the Ganh Da Dia page.
Is phu-yen.com an official site?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the provincial government, a tourism authority, a hotel or a tour operator.