Tourists walk to Mui Dien in the central province of Phu Yen

Mui Dien (Dien Cape) has all the makings of a classic coastal getaway - smooth white sand beaches, picturesque cliffs covered with trees and flowers, and a lighthouse that is more than 100 years old.

Formally recognized as a national scenic spot, the cape is located in Phu Yen Province’s Hoa Tam Commune.

The cape was discovered and marked on the maritime map in the late 19th century by Varella, a French naval captain. Here, in 1890, the French built a lighthouse at an altitude of 86 meters. It helped vessels orient their way to the shore, guided marine transportation in the area and facilitated arrivals and departures from the Vung Ro Port.

Now, well-built roads offer easier access for cars and motorbikes to the cape.

One has to travel for about 90 kilometers from Khanh Hoa Province’s Nha Trang Town or about 25 kilometers from Phu Yen Province ’s Tuy Hoa Town to get to the Ca Pass and then head for Vung Ro Port from a three-way intersection. After following the Phuoc Tan-Bai Nga road for nearly five kilometers, passing coastal sections of the road, the Mon Beach with white sand and gentle waves comes into view.

The Mon Beach is at the foot of Mui Dien. It is an ideal site for camping and bathing in the sea. Fresh fish and other seacooking caught by fishermen can be bought to cook instantly at the camp site.

To get to the lighthouse from the Mon Beach, wade through a shallow stream and walk for almost one kilometer on a twisted earth road with rocky steps to reach the mountaintop where the lighthouse is.

According to Nguyen Ngoc Thang, chief of Mui Dien Lighthouse Station, the station is building roads and cottages and preparing other services to receive visitors. Once they are done, the entrance fee to the place will be VND10,000 (US$0.56) per person or VND200,000 ($11.24) for a group. Rooms will also be available for VND80,000 ($4.50)/night/person.

Reported by Duong Thanh Xuan