Ninh Thuan is located in the South Central region, a suitable destination for nature lovers and those interested in learning about Cham culture.
Ninh Thuan experience shared by Ms. Thu Dung, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, during her trip in early March, on the occasion of the Cham New Year, and suggested by Mr. Nguyen Nam, from a travel company in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 1
Morning
Have breakfast in the center of Phan Rang - Thap Cham city with local specialties such as banh can or banh canh cha ca. Banh can can be found in many restaurants in the city, while banh canh cha ca has some famous addresses such as Xuan Huong, banh canh 79, Co Nam, Ba Bon Phan Rang.
Ninh Thuan fish cake soup. Photo: Moon
Visit Vinh Hy Bay, about 35km from Phan Rang city center. From the city, travel along the coastal route - there are many beautiful landscapes. Along the way, there are some famous attractions such as Nui Chua National Park, Ninh Thuan Stone Park, Rai Cave, My Tan Fishing Port, and vineyards. "Usually, in one day, you will not have time to visit all the above places, so choose your favorite destination," said Mr. Nam.
My Tan fishing port and Ninh Thuan stone park are the first two places you should visit. The fishing port is where you can witness the daily activities of fishermen and take pictures with the mossy rocks (especially at the end of the year).
As for the stone park, you will have to walk nearly 2 km from the main road. This place used to be a very large stone field and over a long period of time, the stones were eroded, weathered and piled up, creating many special shapes. The park is also a favorite camping spot in the evening to watch the sunset.
Ninh Thuan Stone Park. Photo: Thu Dung
Ninh Thuan Stone Park. Photo: Thu Dung
Ninh Thuan Stone Park. Photo: Photo: Thu Dung
Ninh Thuan Stone Park. Photo: Thu Dung
"There are no services around the stone park, and the weather is quite hot, so you need to prepare enough water and food if needed," said Ms. Dung.
Noon and afternoon
Take a break and eat lunch in Vinh Hy Bay area. You can choose Vinh Hy floating restaurant or Vinh Hy resort restaurant. The seafood dishes here are fresh and delicious, prepared simply like steaming or grilling to keep the original delicious taste.
On the way back to the city, visitors stop by the Rai cave area. This is a destination for many photographers.
Dawn at Rai Cave. Photo: Nguyen Van Hop
According to Mr. Nam, many photographers come here and sit for hours just to wait to capture beautiful photos at dawn. If you can't come early in the morning, visitors should visit in the afternoon when the sun sets. "The most beautiful photo spot is the stone table area, with the sea waterfall rising with each wave," said Mr. Nam. Hang Rai is located quite close to the main road, so it is convenient to travel.
If you have time, you should visit one of the vineyards such as Thai An, Xuan Truong, Be Diem, Ngoc Nga. You can experience picking and tasting the products, and buy things to take home such as grapes, wine, and syrup.
Evening
Ninh Thuan is a famous sheep farming area in Vietnam, so if you can eat lamb, don't miss this opportunity. Cuu O Vuong restaurant on Tran Quang Dieu street, A Loc on Pham Ngu Lao street or Dong Duong restaurant on Ngo Gia Tu street are recommended addresses by many people. Popular dishes are grilled lamb ribs, hot pot, lamb porridge, and baked lamb leg.
Grilled lamb leg dish from Ninh Thuan. Photo: O Vuong
Stay overnight at Ninh Chu beach, about 4 km from the city center. Along this beach, there are many hotels and resorts with prices ranging from 1 to 2.5 million VND per night such as TTC Ninh Thuan resort, Saigon Ninh Chu, Hoan My Resort, Gold Roaster, Long Thuan Hotel & Resort.
Day 2
Morning and noon
If you come in March, you should take the time to attend a ritual during the traditional Cham New Year, when the family visits the graves to invite ancestors, grandparents, and parents to come home to celebrate Tet, similar to the Tomb Sweeping and New Year's Eve ceremonies of the Kinh people.
Early in the morning, the family and relatives go to the common grave, clean, pull weeds, and pile up the sand of the deceased's "house". Each deceased person is marked by two large stones, their heads facing north. There is no name engraved on a stele like the Kinh people, but the family remembers it themselves. As many rows of stones as there are graves.
Cham people's pre-New Year activities. Photo: NVCC
Families go to the graves, clean, weed, and pile sand for each "house" of the deceased. Photo: NVCC
The grave is marked with stones. Photo: NVCC
The Cham people do not have altars or incense sticks. They only prepare offerings on Tet holidays, placing incense cones on charcoal to create smoke. Because of the matriarchal system, the most experienced woman in the family is in charge of the offerings. Siblings gather at the ancestral altar (the youngest daughter's house) to prepare food and worship together.
During the year, the Cham people in Ninh Thuan also have many festivals such as Ranuwan, rain-praying ceremony, door-opening ceremony, the biggest of which is the Kate Festival in September-October every year.
Lunch with Cham people with dishes prepared by the family before the ceremony.
Afternoon
Visit Bau Truc pottery village, 10 km from the city. This is one of the oldest pottery villages in Southeast Asia that still exists today.
Products at Bau Truc pottery village. Photo: NVCC
Bau Truc pottery village. Photo: NVCC
Bau Truc pottery village. Photo: NVCC
While other pottery villages in Vietnam such as Bat Trang (Hanoi), Chu Dau (Hai Duong), Phuoc Tich (Hue) have applied many high technologies to production, Bau Truc potters still maintain the ancient method of making pottery entirely by hand and moving themselves. The kiln is open-air and fired with firewood, straw, and rice husks. Visitors here will experience making pottery themselves, buying souvenirs and taking photos.
Alternatives
Nui Chua National Park, Ba Moi vineyard, Thanh Son lake area, sheep grazing fields, Ninh Thuan salt fields, and Dinh cape are all beautiful destinations. These places are scattered throughout the province, with different routes, so it takes more time to travel.
VnExpress
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