South Central Vietnam

Read my South Central Vietnam Overview here: South Central Vietnam

My travel guide to South Central Vietnam’s places of interest:

Quy Nhon
Nha Trang
DaLat
Mu Ne
Phan Thiet
Ta Cu Mountain
Ba Ria
La Gi
Saigon

This part of Vietnam has a plethora of lovely beaches and lots of tiny fishing villages to explore such as Quy Nhon. Along the costal route there are some well preserved Cham temples – the towers of Po Klong Garai and the Phan Rang – Thap Cham. While the coastline has some very built up popular holiday destinations with five star tower hotels strips, like those found in Nha Trang, it also has some more laid back places like Mu Ne. Around Mu Ne are the famous Red and White sand dunes that make a fun late afternoon visit to watch the sunset behind the endless sand mounds. Camping is popular along the last part of the coast all the way towards the coast line below Saigon. They are full on small locally popular camping sites that also accommodate backpackers. My favorite, Long Son was just before you reach Mu Ne coming from the North. If you can´t take much more of the beautiful beaches and fishing villages you can head inland to Dalat. Due to its mild climate it was once a French Colonial summer holiday spot. A lovely town that offers; a mountain cable car ride, an old historic train station to visit, beautiful flower farms and gardens, a night market,numerous pagodas, a ´Crazy House´, lots of karaoke and trendy little bars, second hand shops and cafes. Outside of Dalat are over ten waterfalls to visits some of which are large enough that you can abseil down them, Hot Mud springs in Thap Ba near to Phan Thiet an absolutely massive sleeping white buddha that is nestled peacefully up on the Ta Cu Mountain. As you ride about the internal areas you will pass though lots of flat farm lands and fields filled with dragon fruit trees that look like an image taken from a Dr. Seuss book. Hidden amongst the tranquil and pretty farm villages are some the best home stays although its little hard to find them as a few are down literally sand or dirt roads.

Note: Riding into the center of Ho Chi Minh City ( Saigon ) from the coastal beach town of Vung Tau on the R51 is also a much nicer way to go, less traffic and larger vehicles.