Phú Yên

Phú Yên sits on Vietnam's south-central coast, squeezed between the more famous beach cities of Nha Trang and Quy Nhơn. The province became famous across Vietnam after the 2015 film "Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass" (Tôi thấy hoa vàng trên cỏ xanh) put its scenery on the national map. Since then, domestic tourism has picked up significantly, but international crowds are still thin.

Locals call themselves "Xứ Nẫu" people — a term of regional pride rooted in the local dialect. The culture blends Vietnamese (Kinh) majority traditions with Cham, E De, and Ba Na ethnic influences, visible in everything from 11th-century Cham tower architecture to gong performances in highland communities. Tuy Hòa is officially the tuna capital of Vietnam, with the largest tuna wharf in the central region.

That identity shapes the food, the economy, and the daily rhythm of fishing villages across the coast. Phú Yên also holds a significant place in Catholic history — Mang Lang Church in Tuy An District, over 120 years old and designed in Gothic style, preserves the story of Saint Andrew Phú Yên.

Locals are called 'Xứ Nẫu' — using this term shows you've done your homework and will earn genuine warmth from residents.. At restaurants, dishes arrive family-style and everyone shares. Don't fill your own plate first — serve others, then yourself..

Remove your shoes before entering any home or temple. This applies to Nhan Tower and Mang Lang Church too.. At temples and pagodas, keep shoulders and knees covered.

A light scarf in your bag solves this on the fly.. Don't stick chopsticks upright in a rice bowl — it mirrors funeral incense offerings and is considered deeply inauspicious.. Public displays of affection beyond hand-holding are frowned upon, especially in fishing villages and at religious sites..

Always greet the oldest person in a group first. Addressing an older man as 'Anh' (older brother) or woman as 'Chị' (older sister) shows cultural awareness.. Bargaining is normal at markets — keep it light and friendly.

Aggressive haggling embarrasses everyone and rarely gets you a better price.. Don't photograph locals, monks, or ceremonies without asking. In fishing villages especially, people value their privacy..

Salt-making season in the villages of Trung Trinh, Lê Uyên, and Tuyết Diêm runs April to July. Watch where you walk — the salt flats are working sites, not photo props.

Phú Yên is considered safe for travelers. Standard Vietnam precautions apply: watch personal belongings at busy markets, use Grab instead of unmarked taxis from the airport, and carry small-denomination VND bills for street vendors who rarely have change. The coast has a proper storm season from September to December each year — if you're visiting during this window, watch local weather reports and be prepared for cancelled boat trips to Hòn Yến.

Motorbike riding is the best way to see the province but requires some experience with Vietnamese road conditions, including unpaved coastal paths. Don't attempt Deo Ca Pass in wet weather. The tuna fishing harbor area near the wharf in Tuy Hòa gets active very early in the morning — watch for fishing trucks on narrow roads.

English is spoken at most hotels and some restaurants, but much less so in fishing villages and rural districts, so offline Google Translate with Vietnamese downloaded is genuinely useful here.

Motorbike rental in Tuy Hòa costs roughly 100,000–150,000 VND per day and is the single best way to explore. Most of the province's best spots are 20–40km apart and not connected by any reliable public transit. Hiring a private car with driver for a day costs around 800,000–1,200,000 VND and is worth it if you're covering multiple districts in one day or aren't comfortable on two wheels.

Grab operates in Tuy Hòa city for short hops. Getting to Phú Yên: fly into Tuy Hòa Airport (TBB) — 10km from center — with Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet operating routes from Hanoi and HCMC. Round-trip airfares run 1,500,000–3,000,000 VND.

Or take the Reunification Express train to Tuy Hòa Station, which is actually inside the city — a 9.5-hour overnight from HCMC in a 4-berth sleeper cabin costs 400,000–1,365,000 VND depending on class. From the train station, you're 5–10 minutes by Grab from any central hotel.

Day trips from Quy Nhơn to the north or Nha Trang to the south are available from operators for $51–138 depending on group size and inclusions.