Area 7,836.9 sq. km.
Population: 1,163 thousand habitants (2006)
Capital: Phan Thiet City.
Administrative divisions:
- Town: La Gi
- Districts:Tuy Phong, Bac Binh, Ham Thuan Bac, Ham Thuan Nam, Ham Tan, Duc Linh, Tanh Linh, Phu Quy.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Cham, Hoa, Co Ho, Cho Ro
Geography (Click here to see location)
Binh Thuan Province is located on coast of South Central Vietnam. It shares its border with Ninh Thuan Province to the north-east, Lam Dong Province to the north, Dong Nai Province to the west, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province to the south-west, East Sea to the east and south-east.
Binh Thuan has three types of topography: mountainous, plain and coastal. The coast longs over 192km with many capes: La Gan, Mui Nho, Mui Rom, Mui Ne, Ke Ga. They create good seaports: La Gan-Phan Ri, Mui Ne - Phan Thiet, La Gi. The Phu Quy District offshore links mainland to Truong Sa Island. The main rivers run through the province are La Ga, Quao, Cong, Dinh.
Climate
The province lies in the monsoon tropical area with two distinct seasons. The rainy season: from May to October and the dry season: from November to April following year. The annual average temperature varies between 27oC and the yearly rainfall is 800mm - 1,500mm.
Tourism and Econmy
Binh Thuan has many forests so that wood, cashew nut processing and handicraft are strong point of province. The long coast-side is convenient for sea economy such as fish catching, salt and fish sauce processing, frozen seafood. Binh Thuan attracts tourists by lovely landscapes. The mountains lie from west to east and reach beautiful beaches. Famous tourist sites include Phan Thiet, Mui Ne, Doi Duong and Ham Tan. Coming to there, tourists are able to have leisure activities as swimming, fishing, climbing, yachting, golf playing in many beaches and resorts such as Vinh Hao - Tuy Phong, Hon Rom, Novotel Ocean Dunes, Malibu, Palmira resorts... Apart of that, there are many great architectural sites such as Po Sha Nu Tower, Ta Cu Mountain, Hang Pagoda, Cham Royal Family Collection, Dinh Thay Temple Festival, Ocean Dunes Golf Club, and Phu Quy Island etc.
Ethnic Groups
Binh Thuan has a diversified culture of 30 ethnic groups. The stamp of Sa Huynh and Cham ancient cultures have been preserved include clothes, musical instruments, dances, and singings. The ancient architecture, archaeologic relics, historic vestiges, traditional festivals of Viet, Cham are together for making the special culture of Binh Thuan.
Transportation
Road: Phan Thiet is 200km from Ho Chi Minh City, 247km from Dalat, 250km from Nha Trang and 1,518km from Hanoi. The National Highway 1A passes through Phan Thiet.
Train: The express train between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City stops Muong Man station.
Hang Pagoda (Co Thach Pagoda)
Location: In Binh Thanh Commune, Tuy Phong District,Binh Thuan Province, 105km north of Phan Thiet City.
Characteristics: It was built in a large cave by Buddhist monk Bao Tang in the middle of the 19th century.
Hang Pagoda, also called Co Thach Pagoda was rebuilt more majestically by Ho Cong Diem and named it Co Thach.
The path and stairs that lead up to the pagoda are made of stone, and the two sides of the balcony are decorated with dragons. On the small rock mountain by the sea is a statue of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, and the pagoda contains a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha.
Next to the pagoda is the Ca Duoc multicoloured rocky expanse that stretches for nearly 1km along the coast. Recently, a new Co Thach tourism village was constructed with many attractive stilt-houses available to both pilgrims and to those who come to enjoy the beautiful landscape.
Ta Cu Pagoda
Location: In Ta Cu Mountain, Tan Lap Commune, Ham Thuan Nam District, Binh Thuan Province, 30km south of Phan Thiet City.
Characteristics: The pagoda was founded by Patriarch Huu Duc in the late of 19th century, and was restored in 1963.
Ta Cu Pagoda, also called Linh Son Truong Tho Pagoda, is perched at 400m on Ta Cu Mountain Behind the pagoda is the Lying Sakiyamuni Buddha, a 49m long, 6m high concrete Buddha. Here, the scenery is enchanting with a long coast, diverse rocks, and surrounding forest, which make Ta Cu Pagoda appear great and imposing.
Hon Rom
Location: Going from Phan Thiet to Mui Ne for 26km, then for more 4km along the seashore tourists will set foot in the Hon Rom.
Characteristics: The beach is clean and beautiful with clear blue water.
Calm winds sing lullabies unceasingly under cool shadows of coconuts trees sagging under the weight of their fruit. White sand dunes follow the yellow ones. The dunes keep changing their shapes as a result of wind blowing. All set up a wild attraction, inviting tourists to this well-known field resort.
Tourists often come here to sightsee and discover the unique beauty of the sand dunes. Newly built bamboo cottages on sand dunes and new forms of entertainment such as sand surfing, sea-bathing, fire burning outside camps, or boarding on fishing boats add greater charm to the resort.
Mui Ne
Location: 24 km north-east of Phan Thiet City.
Characteristics: It is a fishing village as well as a familiar tourism area in Binh Thuan Province.
It is found on Highway No. 706, and features sweeping sand dunes and beautiful rows of palm trees. The beach is shallow and sloped, the water is clean and blue and the sun rarely hides behind clouds. There are desolate and primeval beaches that have never witnessed human exploitation as well as imposing landscapes. There is also Doi Cat (Sand Hill), which has long been a creative subject of artistic photographs and paintings. Besides beaches and sand dunes, there are also beautiful landscapes such as Suoi Tien (Fairy Spring), the Ong Hoang Building and the Poshanu Cham Tower.
Mui Ne has long been considered the "Hawaii" of Vietnam. It boasts shady roads under coconut trees, a beautiful beach and cliffs battered by the waves of the sea. The typical scenery of Mui Ne lies in the moving lines of golden sand caused by the wind and when they are seen from afar they look like moving waves. The scenery looks more fascinating at dawn, when young Cham girls in green dresses go to work. That's why no photographer fails to visit this area. Mui Ne is an ideal place for rest and relaxation. Visitors can certainly enjoy swimming in the blue water of the sea, climbing the sand dunes or relaxing by a swimming pool. In fact this oasis entertainment people of all ages, and furthermore, provides an endless inspiration to the artists' creation.
Poshanu Cham Tower
Location: Located on Ong Hoang (Mr. Heaven) Hill and built in the late 8th century.
Characteristics: T he Thap Poshanu Cham Tower worships god Shiva, who is highly venerated by the Cham.
Beside these three towers there was once a temple, but it has been buried for more than 300 years. Inside the main tower is an altar, on which a couple of Liga-Yoni (a symbol of Shiva) is worshipped. The towers were repaired and upgraded from 1990 to 2000.
Fishermen living in the vicinity also come here to appeal for safe sea journeys before they go out to sea. The are sometimes refered to as the castle of the king and queen (or god and godess) of the sea. Much local folklore and legend has developed regarding the towers, since the time they were built by the anchient Cham people. the towers have served as an important landmark for fishermen and shipping vessels in navigation as well.
It should be noted that on the same hill with the Cham temple complex is a former military stronghold from the recent war. While the Towers are safe to explore, we recommend visitors do not climb around the nearby fort due to the possibility of unexploded ordinences.
Phu Quy Island
Location: It lies at the junction line of the mainland and Truong Sa (Spratley) Island, 120km from Phan Thiet City.
Characteristics: In the island, several pagodas and temples such as Linh Quang, Cao Cat, An Than have been recognized to be cultural -historic relics.
Phu Quy Island has an area of 16.5km2. The island is surrounded with white sandy beaches and 9 islets, of which Hon Tranh, Hon Den (Black Islet), Hon Trung (Egg Islet) are attractive aqua tourist spots.
Phu Quy is close to the international maritime route and an important in-between logistic destination linking the mainland to Truong Sa archipelago. It is a "floating base" providing services to ships fishing offshore. With such an important position, people built a light house guiding ships going out and coming in.
Dinh Thay Temple Festival
Time: From the 14th to the 16th day of the ninth lunar month.
Place: Dinh Thay Temple, Tan Hai Commune, Ham Tan District, Binh Thuan Province.
Objects of worship: Thay and Thim, wife and husband who had merit of treating disease for poor people.
Characteristics: Vegetarian meal worshipping in the everning of the 15th day, vegetarian meal and meat meal worshipping on the 16th day, sortileging, casting a horoscope. Click here to see photo
Ocean Dunes Golf Club
Location: Ocean Dunes Golf Club is located on the seashore, in the northern outskirt of the quiet fishers' city of Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan Province.
Characteristic: Sculpted out of the coastal dunes, along the Eastern Sea, the Ocean Dunes Golf Club is the ideal respite from the demands of daily life. Brilliant sun, windswept dunes and sea breezes makes it one of the most exciting links style courses in the region.
Ocean Dunes Golf Club is designed by Nick Faldo. It features a 6,746-yard, par 72, golf course which slaloms through the seaside dunes and coastal breezes shape the course's day-to-day characteristics. It also is an engaging and playable course for higher handicapped players who will enjoy the openness of the links-course.
The Ocean Dunes Golf Club is well-known with sand dunes, sea breezes, beach vegetation, and sea views. "We have let the dunes determine the routing and the look of the golf course. It should have the feel and the playability of the early seaside courses, but with a tropical climate" says Nick Faldo.
The Ocean Dunes course offers exciting opportunities for more experienced players who will appreciate the challenges posed by the winds.