O Loan Lagoon at a glance
O Loan Lagoon (Đầm Ô Loan) lies on the north coast of Phu Yen, the former province that joined Dak Lak province on 1 July 2025. Travelers still use the name Phu Yen for this coast. The published northern route for the coast lists a seafood and dining area at the lagoon, together with Ganh Da Dia, the Mang Lang church, Nhan Tower and Hon Yen.
The lagoon is mainly a place for a meal and a view. Hon Yen, a coastal site nearby, is a separate destination and not another name for the lagoon. It is covered below.
What to eat at the lagoon
Prices are rough guides from a travel article, not a current menu.
| Dish | What it is | Rough price |
|---|---|---|
| Blood cockles (so huyet O Loan) | A type of clam and the best-known lagoon specialty. They are not oysters. | VND 100,000 to 150,000 (about $4 to $6) a plate |
| Oysters (hau) | An older local overview also lists oysters from the lagoon. They are a different product from blood cockles. | Ask at the table |
| Other Phu Yen dishes | Tuna eye, banh hoi with pork offal and fish noodle soup are Phu Yen specialties. See our food guide. | Varies |
Prices are rough guides from a travel article and could differ in 2026. Ask the price per plate before you order, and check the bill. If you do not eat offal or shellfish, say so before ordering, because many local dishes use them.
O Loan Lagoon and north coast tours
Guided trips to the lagoon and the north coast of Phu Yen, with live prices and availability.
Fishing and the water
The lagoon is a working waterfront. Treat boats, nets and anything floating on the water as someone's workplace. Do not step onto private boats or platforms without an invitation, and do not assume that every raft or farm is open to visitors.
If someone offers you a boat ride, ask about life jackets before you get in, and decline a boat that looks overloaded. The UK government advises checking that a boat is registered, that you get a safety briefing and that life jackets are on board.
Do not plan to swim in the lagoon. Do not expect marked swimming areas or lifeguards, and water conditions change with the rain.
Hon Yen: the neighboring coast
Hon Yen is not the lagoon.
Hon Yen (Hòn Yến) is a national landscape monument near Nhon Hoi in the commune of O Loan, now in Dak Lak province. It is known for coastal coral, community-based conservation and a local tourism cooperative. The provincial tourism portal describes basket boats used to see the reef at low tide.
Corals are living animals. Do not walk on them, touch them or take pieces. One travel article suggests walking over the corals at low tide, while the provincial portal describes conservation measures and the strain visitors place on the reef. Stay on sand, follow the cooperative's guides and ask them for tide times and prices on the day.
Fitting the lagoon into a day
The northern route has several stops: Ganh Da Dia for the basalt coast, the Mang Lang church (a Gothic church with two towers), Nhan Tower in Tuy Hoa and Hon Yen, plus the lagoon for a meal. A full-day tour from Tuy Hoa lists the O Loan Lagoon, Ganh Da Dia, Bai Xep and a seafood lunch. Check which stops it really makes, because Bai Xep has had access limits.
The lagoon fits best around lunch. A sensible order is Ganh Da Dia in the morning, lunch at the lagoon and a later stop at Nhan Tower or Tuy Hoa. Read the Tuy Hoa guide for the tower and the seaside.
Coming from Nha Trang, take the train to Tuy Hoa first and continue by taxi or tour. Day trips from Quy Nhon to Phu Yen are also listed. See getting there.
Rain matters here. October and November are the wettest months, with long-term averages of about 540 mm and 510 mm in Tuy Hoa, and central Vietnam can flood. The region was hit by severe floods in November 2025. Check the forecast first, and read the weather guide.
More from the north coast
Places that go with the lagoon.
O Loan Lagoon: frequently asked questions
What is O Loan Lagoon known for?
Seafood, above all blood cockles. The published northern route for the Phu Yen coast lists a dining area at the lagoon.
Are blood cockles the same as oysters?
No. Blood cockles (so huyet) are clams. Oysters (hau) are a different product, and an older local overview lists them as a lagoon specialty too.
Is there an entry fee for the lagoon?
Rates depend on the individual boat, platform or viewpoint, so ask before you go on or in.
Is Hon Yen the same as the lagoon?
No. Hon Yen is a separate coastal site with coral and community-run visits, in the same commune of O Loan.
Can I swim in the lagoon?
Do not plan on it. Do not expect marked swimming areas or lifeguards.