Phan Rang is tourist heaven

I have visited Phan Rang several times but each trip gave me a new experience and brought me to new cool places of this coastal central city of Ninh Thuan Province.

 

The memory of passing through a sand dune on the way to Dinh Cape in Ninh Thuan Province will be unforgettable

People who love to swim in the sea, to bathe in a stream, to trek to a mountain, to explore a forest can find all these things in this ideal destination.

Apart from popular destinations in Ninh Thuan such as Vinh Hy Bay, Ca Na and Binh Tien beaches, Poklong Garai Tower, Bau Truc Pottery Village and My Nghiep Brocade Village, tourists are advised to visit Nam Cuong sand dunes, Hanging Lake on Nui Chua National Park, Mui Dinh Lighthouse, Chapor Waterfall, fossilized coral reef and Rai Cave.

To get to Phan Rang, which is about 330km away from HCMC, tourists can either take a train or bus/car. The best option is a two-way journey in an air-conditioned train to Thap Cham Railway Station in Phan Rang which costs VND900,000.

The first destination should be the red Nam Cuong sand dunes in Tuan Tu Culture Village in Ninh Phuoc District’s An Hai Commune. The 700 hectare Nam Cuong sand dunes amazingly shine in different color tones depending on the sunlight. The perfect time to admire the sand dunes is at sunrise when the first rays of the sun from the horizon reflect its light onto the place and gradually spread its light.

A tourist poses in front of a pre-historic fossil reef

Tourists can then visit Nui Chua National Park in Ninh Hai District which is 7km from Phan Rang-Thap Cham City at around 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. to avoid the heat and humidity. The park has a unique semi-arid flora and fauna, sea turtle nesting beaches, protected prehistoric coral reef which faces the sea. Some might think that its surface looks like Mars as there are a lot of holes in different shapes and depth.

Especially, tourists cannot imagine that there’s a Hanging Lake on the peak of the park which is full of water from streams and underground springs in the area all-year round. The diameter of the lake is 80 meters. Its water is blue, and, especially in rainy months, the lake amidst the immense forest creates a beautifully proportioned picture.

The next day you can discover Chapor waterfall which is located in Ma Lam Hamlet in Phuoc Tan Commune of Bac Ai District and is 60km from Phan Rang City. This is a natural waterfall and stream and falls down from a height of 50m to the ponds below. Tourists can freely relax on the pure and cool water of the stream below the waterfall or find a flat rock under a shade to enjoy a meal or take a snap in a very quite and peaceful space.

Mui Dinh (Dinh Cape) in Son Hai Village in Phuoc Dinh Commune which is 40km south of Phan Rang City and 10 km from the popular Ca Na beach is the perfect ending to your trip. However, this is not an ideal place for those who are not physically strong as you have to pass a sand dune in strong winds. The wind power can extinguish even a brave tourist’s will. If you can pass it, you are treated to a fantastic landscape of primitive, beautiful, white sand beach with rock cliffs at the foot of Dinh Mountain and a romantic lighthouse on the peak.

Tourists can buy friends and relatives some Ninh Thuan souvenirs like fish sauce, garlic and products made from grape. As for local specialties, banh can (a cake made from rice flour served with seafood) and banh canh (rice noodles with fish paste) are a must.

A tourist poses in front of a pre-historic fossil reef

A tourist poses in front of a pre-historic fossil reef

   

Staying the night at Dao Village

Just spending one night with a Dao minority family is a great experience for tourists.

In the Nam Choong village of Xin Man Commune, Ha Giang Province, tourists can do just that as they can easily find a cozy homestay for the night and enjoy the hot spring that runs through the village during the day as they experience the daily routines of Dao people.

Xin Man Commune is located in the north-west area of Ha Giang Province but tourists can reach it from the city of Ha Giang or Lao Cai.

Nam Choong village is special not only thanks to the hot spring, but also because it’s the living place of Dao Ao Dai and its villagers still keep the old traditions alive on a daily basis.

 

The bridge leading to the Dao’s locality

The hosts will serve lunch and dinner according to visitor’s request. Normally meals will include chicken, pork, buffalo, fish and vegetable dishes - Photos: Pham Thai

 

Do you know how to prepare a meal for the next trip?

Traveling in an adventure style will let you have an experience to eat outside such as campaign in a forest or a mountain . So, learning how to make easy camping meals can save you a ton of time on your next camping trip. Though outdoor cooking can be fun, it’s never good to miss out on other outdoor activities because you’re stuck making food for everyone. Use the following guidelines to minimize the work and time it takes to make great meals on your next camping trip.

 

Foil is Your Friend

If there’s one essential item you need to make camp cooking easier, it’s aluminum foil. Almost any food item can be cooked quickly and effectively using it. Simply wrap the food item in the foil, and place it on a grate over the campfire. Some of the most popular foods to cook with aluminum foil include hamburger meant for burgers and pasta dishes, whole potatoes, almost any type of vegetable, and chicken parts. Obviously, cooking times will vary depending on what you’re making. A good rule of thumb for this easy, all purpose campfire cooking method is to assume cooking times to be similar to that of using a grill. Read another post on uses for aluminum foil while camping to learn more.

 

Preparation Before the Trip

Before the invention of the microwave, people used more primitive heating methods to cook leftovers. Following this logic, preparing certain foods in advance can seriously cut down on time and effort spent cooking during your next camping trip. Before you leave, make some simple, hearty foods that fit nicely in the cooler and can be reheated easily over a campfire. Scrambled eggs, spaghetti, Hamburger Helper, and biscuits can all be cooked at home and stashed safely in Tupperware containers for later use. Best of all, their reheating time at the campsite is minimal, giving you plenty of extra time to enjoy the beautiful spot you’re camping at – wherever it may be.

Use a Time Tested Cooking Tool

Let’s face it; non-campers are a little spoiled when it comes to cooking. With microwaves, stoves, and electric ovens at their disposal, they can prepare food a lot more quickly and easily. But you do have an advantage when it comes to campsite cooking; easy camping meals can be made even easier with the use of a Dutch Oven. An all purpose cooking vessel, the Dutch Oven has a tight fitting lid to seal in heat and a very sturdy construction. Almost anything that fits in one will cook nicely. Some popular easy camping meals to make in it include chili, beef stew, and just about any soup you can come up with.

With a little preparation, making easy meals while camping really isn’t all that tough. So, instead of slaving over a hot fire for lengthy amounts of time on your next camping trip, employ the tricks above to allow more time for fun.