How do I visit Vung Ro Bay in Phu Yen?
Vung Ro Bay is near Deo Ca pass at the Khanh Hoa border, 30–35km south of Tuy Hoa. Protected by mountains on three sides — calm when the open coast is rough. Swim, walk the shore, or take a boat tour (150,000–250,000 VND/person). The 1965 Vung Ro Incident — a key wartime event — happened here.
Vung Ro is what happens when a bay has walls. Three sides of the inlet are enclosed by mountain ridges that rise steeply from the water’s edge, blocking wind from every direction. The result is a body of water that sits almost flat even when the open coast is being worked by swell. You can stand on a boat here in conditions that would have you clinging to the railing elsewhere.
Getting there
From Tuy Hoa, take National Highway 1A south for approximately 30–35 kilometers. You’ll pass through Hoa Hiep, continue south past the Mui Dien turnoff, and begin climbing Deo Ca — the mountain pass that marks the boundary between Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa provinces. Vung Ro Bay is at the base of the pass on the Phu Yen side. Look for signs and a small road that descends toward the water.
By motorbike from Tuy Hoa: approximately 45–50 minutes.
What to do
Swimming: The sheltered water makes Vung Ro one of the safest swimming spots in the region. The bay is sandy-bottomed with gradual depth, and the clarity is good in the dry season. January through August is ideal.
Boat tours: Small boats are available at the pier for guided tours of the bay. Cost: approximately 150,000–250,000 VND per person. The tour takes you around the inner bay, past the cliff faces, and sometimes to a snorkeling spot near the rocks. Duration: 1.5 to 2 hours.
Historical site: The Vung Ro Incident memorial and a small museum are near the bay. In February 1965, North Vietnamese forces were caught unloading weapons from a camouflaged cargo vessel here. The discovery led to a major shift in US naval strategy. The museum is modest — a few artifacts, photographs, and explanatory text. Worth 20 minutes if the history interests you.
The Deo Ca viewpoint
Climbing back up Deo Ca toward Tuy Hoa, there are viewpoints on the western side of the pass that look back down over Vung Ro Bay from above. The view of the enclosed bay from height — dark mountain walls, flat water, a thin strip of coast — is worth stopping for.
Practical notes
There are small seafood restaurants at the bay entrance — simple places with fresh catch from the bay. Prices are reasonable, and the fish is genuinely local. A full meal for two runs 200,000–400,000 VND.
No entry fee for the bay itself.