Twelve ideas for the coast
The provincial tourism routes treat Phu Yen as two day trips from Tuy Hoa. The north route takes in Ganh Da Dia, the Mang Lang church, the O Loan food area, Nhan Tower and Hon Yen. The south route takes in the cape at Bai Mon and Mui Dien and the memorial in Vung Ro Bay. This list follows that logic and adds the beaches, a mountain and the local food.
Phu Yen is the former province that joined Dak Lak on 1 July 2025, and the sights have not moved. The list ends with Bai Xep, a film location whose access you should confirm before you go. Fees are in Vietnamese dong with a rough US dollar value, as listed in 2026. They come from a 2023 fee decision and from travel sites, so ask at the gate.
North of Tuy Hoa
Ideas 1 to 4 belong to the north route.
1. Ganh Da Dia basalt columns
Columns of volcanic rock run along the shore, with waves breaking on them and tide pools between. The place is a special national landscape monument. The documented fee is VND 40,000 (about $1.60) per person, including insurance. Children are exempt, and the decision lists discounts for older visitors. Blogs quote other amounts and opening hours, so confirm both at the gate.
Ganh Da Dia →2. Mang Lang church
A Gothic church with twin towers, standing in the north of the coast. It is a site of its own and not a building at Nhan Tower. Do not assume a walking distance between the two. Ask your driver to combine them in one route.
3. Seafood at O Loan Lagoon
The provincial route lists a food area at the lagoon. Blood cockles (so huyet) are a local specialty. They are cockles, not oysters. An older district overview also lists oysters from the lagoon. Fish farms on the water are not necessarily open to visitors.
O Loan Lagoon →4. Hon Yen coral coast
Hon Yen is a national landscape monument near Nhon Hoi in O Loan commune. Its coastal corals are looked after by the community, and a local tourism cooperative is active. Basket boats for watching the shallows are described for low tide. Do not walk on corals and do not touch or feed marine life.
Our picks: things to do
An island with a canoe and sand dunes, a private stream trip and a day trip with lunch.
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 →
Private four-hour stream trip in Phu Yen
A private car with an English-speaking driver-guide, snacks, water, towels and a helmet. Tips and personal spending are extra.
Check availability →
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 →Phu Yen tours and day trips
Basalt coast, lagoon, lighthouse and Quy Nhon day trips, with live prices and availability.
In and around Tuy Hoa
Ideas 5 to 8 sit close to the town.
5. Nhan Tower
A Cham brick tower from the end of the 11th century, with a view over the city and the Da Rang River. The 64 m quoted for the site is the height of the hill, not of the tower. Check fees and opening times locally.
Tuy Hoa →6. Da Bia mountain
The peak in Hoa Xuan commune is 706 m high. A race announced in February 2026 used a 2,280 m course over steps and natural paths. That is the race route, not a path every visitor can count on. Ask locally about access and guides before you climb.
7. Tuy Hoa Beach
The city beach lies on the east side of town and has a promenade. It is the easy option for a walk or a swim. Lifeguards and calm water are not guaranteed, so read the local signs.
Beaches →8. Long Thuy Beach
The national destination page names Long Thuy as one of the beaches of the coast. Ask your hotel about the current conditions, the road in and any fee. In the wet months the sea can be rough.
South of Tuy Hoa
Ideas 9 and 10 belong to the south route, and idea 11 fits any day.
9. Bai Mon and Mui Dien
A winding stairway leads up to the lighthouse, and a further stairway runs down to the beach. The area fee is VND 30,000 (about $1.20) per person. Ask whether the lighthouse has a separate fee. National tourism pages suggest sunrise, but check whether the gate opens before dawn. Sources disagree on whether it is the easternmost point, so treat that label with care.
Mui Dien →10. Vung Ro memorial
The memorial in Vung Ro Bay honors the ships without numbers, which carried arms by sea in late 1964 and early 1965. The story comes mostly from Vietnamese state media. Check admission and opening hours before you go. Respect any military signs on the shore.
Vung Ro Bay →11. Local food
Try tuna eye cooked in a water bath with Chinese herbs (VND 65,000–80,000, about $2.60 to $3.20), banh hoi with pork offal (VND 30,000–40,000, about $1.20 to $1.60) and blood cockles (VND 100,000–150,000, about $4.00 to $6.00). These are ranges from a travel article, not menu prices.
Food →A film location, with a caution
Idea 12 depends on access.
12. Bai Xep and Ganh Ong
Bai Xep is a shooting location of the 2015 film Toi thay hoa vang tren co xanh, directed by Victor Vu. In English the title is I See Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass. A travel report from May 2025 describes a visiting stop since September 2024 and fences around the grass hill and rocks, with no reopening date. A tour itinerary for July 2026 lists the place anyway. Treat a visit as possible, not promised, and ask locally.
Bai Xep →Two days cover most of the list: one for the north route and one for the south route, with a morning in Tuy Hoa on either side. In the wet months from September to December, leave room to move a day. For the season, see weather, and for the route to the coast, see getting there. Planning time in a bigger city as well? Nha Trang has its own list of things to do.
Things to do in Phu Yen: frequently asked questions
What are the top things to do in Phu Yen?
Ganh Da Dia, the cape and lighthouse at Mui Dien and the food around O Loan Lagoon are the anchors of the two provincial routes. Tuy Hoa Beach and Nhan Tower fit around them. The list above is an overview, not a ranking.
How many days do I need?
Two days cover the north and south routes from Tuy Hoa. Add a third if you want a slow day at the beach or the Da Bia mountain. The wet months can force a change of plan.
Can I visit Bai Xep?
That is not certain. A report from May 2025 describes a visiting stop since September 2024, and a July 2026 itinerary lists the place. Ask locally for the current status before you plan around it.
Do I need to book anything in advance?
Ask at the gate or at your hotel whether a reservation is needed on your date. For tours, check the date, the meeting point and what the price covers.
Is it safe to swim?
Do not count on lifeguards or calm water. Heavy rain, floods and storms occur between September and December, and the storm season runs from May to November. Read local signs and ask your hotel. See the beaches page.