TRAVELLIVE 8-2016

By: Lan Que Photos: Quelan, Nam Chay, Xushiigraphy
travel
After all the business of preparing for our Big Day, it was time for us to enjoy
the private moments of a sweet honeymoon. Having visited most of the famous
attractions along the Central coast of Vietnam, we chose Phu Yen Province, a
new land with which it was love at the first km.
With an area of 5,045km 2 and a
200km long coastal line, Phu Yen
is like a sleeping princess awaiting
someone to stir her nature from
its rest.
THE NORTHERN STRETCH
OF ROAD
XUAN DAI BAY - MANG LANG
CHURCH - DA DIA REEF -
GANH DEN LIGHTHOUSE -
BAI XEP
From Tuy Hoa City, we drove
along the northward along the
1A highway toward Giang slope
to visit Xuan Dai Bay. The Bay
retains its charms with different
shades of green and blue, from
the wine dark sea to the clear sky
and from lush coconut trees on
beach to dark green mountains.
The most intriguing experience
while travelling by boat in the
bay is sightseeing around the
fishing villages, mountains take
on different shapes, and white
sand beaches dotted with rocky
outcrops. Nhat Tu Son Island and
the Tu Nham sand dunes in the
distance add the final touches for
this picturesque landscape.
I marked Mang Lang Church on
my map before the trip to make
sure that we wouldn’t miss the
oldest church in Vietnam. The
church sits upon a spacious area
of 5,000m 2 . Stand in front of
it and you will easily recognize
the Gothic design with the
Holy Cross set between two bell
towers. The flanking towers
have stylized pointy arches. The
interior impresses visitors with
its stained glass windows, buff
colored walls, and wooden ceiling
with antique chandeliers You can
access a hidden cellar in the front
yard. Built in a man-made hill,
this cellar is home to paintings
and sculptures evoking the story
of St. Andrew - the first priest
in Phu Yen. Of the most visited
destinations in the north of Phu
Yen, Da Dia Reef is without equal.
The pentagonal and hexagonal
stone formations of varying size
are stacked upon eachother like
a giant black beehive arranged by
the hand of a masterful artist. If
you stand near the edge of these
stones, you might get wet as the
strong waves and white foam can
“attack” you at anytime.
TRAVELLIVE 119