Phan Thiet is really more of a resort town for those who want to relax and take it easy, as well as for avid water sports enthusiasts. There are, however, some good and exciting activities for children. Beaches are always popular and provide endless opportunities for play, while sliding down a sand dune is something the kids will talk about with their friends even when they’ve returned home.

Beaches
The nearby beaches are one of the main attractions of Phan Thiet. Here kids can enjoy a range of activities, from building sandcastles and swimming to windsurfing lessons for the older ones. One of the most spectacular is Bai Rang Beach, 15kms northeast of the town and lined by coconut groves. Mui Ne Beach is also popular and hosts several windsurfing competitions throughout the year. Equipment is available from Jibe’s (tel: +84 62 847 008).

Cycling
This is a great way to get around this compact town and lets the children feel they’re in charge of their own holiday. The area is mostly flat, so it’s not too tiring. Be careful of the traffic, which tends to be rather disorderly. Bicycles are widely available for hire, in many sizes.

Sand Dune Sliding
Kids will feel like Lawrence of Arabia climbing up these steep dunes. Mui Ne’s red sand dunes attract lots of curious visitors wanting to experience this unique natural phenomenon. Suitable shoes will make the steep climb to the top a lot easier. The view from the summit is amazing as the gentle sand waves roll along like a shawl of silk in the wind. You almost regret the footprints you’ve left. The changing winds guarantee that each visit is unlike any other. Take it slow on your way down or bring a plastic sheet for an exhilarating slide to the bottom.

Culture fans may have to search to find enough sights to keep them busy. The school where Ho Chi Minh used to teach is a definite highlight, as is the attached museum. The Thuy Tu Fishermen Association is where you can see the still practiced tradition of burying whales and the Forest restaurant offers some more light-hearted cultural diversions.

Duc Thanh School and Ho Chi Minh Museum
This exceptional museum is located where Ho Chi Minh’s former house is and also Duc Thanh School where he worked as a teacher. Numerous items that are linked to Ho Chi Minh’s life can be seen here, including an ink-slab, a writing desk and a wooden bed. There is also a star fruit tree and a well, which are both worth a look. Constructed in 1986, the Ho Chi Minh Museum also houses preserved samples of local wildlife and big squid. It is set on a beautiful spot with views of the Ca Ty River.

Duc Nghia Communal House
This house was constructed on a towering sand hill in the first half of the 1800s in the precinct of Duc Nghia. There is a big lotus pond in front of the house, featuring unique decorations. The most outstanding feature is the glazed china and terracotta that have been put together to create pictures of a lion, dragon, phoenix and tortoise, the four sacred creatures.

Forest Restaurant
This restaurant is located on Mui Ne Beach and offers a range of unique cultural exhibits and demonstrations. Frequently on show are Cham ceramics and textiles, including a Cham ceramic weaving demonstration. There are often live Cham music and dance shows, including one of Vietnam’s only active performance of the almost vanished ‘water music’, an instrument powered by running water. Phone: +84 62 847 589.

Po Sha Nu Towers
Dating back to the 8th century, this complex features three magnificent towers. Built during the Cham nation, it boasts the distinctive Hoa Lai artistic style. Set on a hill also known as the Prince palace, the tower is located 6kms north-east of Phan Thiet city. The area between the Prince Palace and Phan Thiet is popular with visitors and researchers. The rock-strewn pathway leading up to Prince Palace exhibits several early ruins and attractive scenery. The Buu Son Pagoda and Co Mountain are adjacent to Po Sha Nu. If you follow the beach further down, you’ll come across Mui Ne Beach and Ong Dia temple.

Thuy Tu Fishermen Association
This association is reminiscent of a Chinese temple and an interesting place to visit. Local fishermen come here to honour the gods of the sea. More than 100 years ago, whales were often seen on the seashore surrounding Phan Thiet and fishermen held the belief that the whales were gods of the sea who offered them protection and guidance. The remains of dead whales were taken back to the association and buried in their grounds. Three years later, the bones were put in a pagoda for worshipping. Tonnes of whale bones, some of which are more than a century old, are stored in several rooms of the association. The preserved skeleton of a massive fin whale, 22 meters long and weighing more than 65 tons is exhibited here. These days, the burial rite is still alive and was last practiced this century.

There aren’t really that many options for dining out in Phan Thiet, but those available are mostly very good. Since the town is still developing as a tourist destination, things can change rather quickly and it’s a good idea to ask your hotel for any up to date popular eateries.

Southern Vietnamese cuisine makes extensive use of vegetables, fish and other seafood, and has also been the most influenced by French cooking. Apart from local Vietnamese delicacies, there are a couple of Italian restaurants well worth checking out. Naturally, seafood also features prominently on the menu, Phan Thiet being a fishing town. Seafood restaurants popular with the locals in Phan Thiet town include Kim Son Lau and Toan Duong Quan.

There are also a number of resorts worth trying out, with the Ngoc Suong Resort featuring a great Vietnamese restaurant and the sailing Club, a little Mediterranean style resort, offering a modern jazzy bar which is a wonderful setting for sundown drinks.

If you consider shopping to be an integral part of your holiday, the Central Market is the main place for shopping, open from morning until late afternoon. Here you can find clothes, food and useful things for your daily needs. There are some souvenirs to be found, but you’ll have to peruse and use your hunting skills. There are little gift shops in the Novotel Coralia Resort and the Victoria Phan Thiet. However, it’s probably best to leave your shopping for Ho Chi Minh City.

Some popular things to buy in Phan Thiet include: Nuoc Mam (fish sauce), dragon fruit, needlework, ceramic objects and Cham textiles. On your shopping excursions you will likely come across a number of things that may look exotic and tempting to buy, but are better left alone. Buying corals and coral accessories only contributes to the already significant damage to Vietnam’s coral reefs. Other products to watch out for include sea turtle products, rice wine with endangered animals in the bottles, things made of ivory and alligator hide.

Phan Thiet is home to a good variety of outdoor pursuits for those who like to make their stay more active. While some of these are located a bit outside of the town, the nearby beaches offer plenty of opportunities for swimming, walking and beach life in general. There is even a world-class golf course not far away.

Golf
The Ocean Dunes Golf Club was designed by Nick Faldo. As can be gleaned from its name, rolling sand dunes determine the natural layout and appearance of this course. Cooling sea breezes and spectacular ocean views provide a stunning setting. High handicap players will particularly enjoy this course, but more experienced golfers can still take something new home after a long day on the greens. The course is popular both with local golfers and international visitors. Phone: +84 62 821 511

Hiking
Ta Ku Mountain is only 40 minutes drive from Phan Thiet. The hike up the mountain takes four to five hours and reveals some magnificent natural attractions. Once on the top, you’ll have the breathtaking views all for yourself, while enjoying your picnic. This is a very popular day outing for trekking fans.

Kite boarding, Windsurfing and Surfing
Nearby Mui Ne Beach offers excellent conditions for windsurfing kite boarding. The beach is developing into the kite boarding centre of Southeast Asia. There are fine waves and great weather all year round. The beach is home to several kite surfing schools.

Scuba Diving and Snorkelling
Ca Na Beach offers some of the best diving in Binh Thuan Province. The clear waters and unspoiled coral reefs are home to an abundance of marine life. What Ca Na does not have is lots of tourists or accommodation options. The area surrounding the beach is a desert landscape of far-reaching sand dunes and cacti.