I was incredulous when we got back to the office after coronavirus and the boss asked “did you enjoy your holiday?”. I had worked every day except 1 or 2 through the lockdown and found working from home just as difficult and more emotionally taxing. Now, Finally, I’m getting a holiday, and in an unusual place.
For a Monday rush hour, the leafy street was nearly empty; only a few dosen mopeds pootled by. It’s a welcome change from bustling ho chi minh city. This is the city of Tuy Hoa which has a few good things to offer a weary city dweller.
The sleeper train from Ho chi minh city took 10 hours (this ride was an exciting milestone for me because after passing Nha Trang I’d ridden every inch of Vietnam’s mainline from Saigon to Lao Cai at the chinese boarder). Tuy Hoà boasts an impressive old Champa tower, the Phu Yen province museum (which was free) but I mostly came to Tuy Hoa for one thing…
Tuy Hoà has an amazing beach! During the day it was completely empty but when the sun began to cool around 5pm it filled up with locals cooling down after work. As someone who cut his teeth sea swimming in Cornwall, the sea here is very warm. You could even rent a karaoke speaker for 50k an hour right on the sand! After a lot of swimming I was famished and this the city boasts some delightful street food.
Tuy Hoà has a great selection of southern style pho noodles, puddings such as durian che and ice tofu. There is also a famous restaurant near the seafront selling Tuna eyes!
Overall I think Tuy Hoà made a great quiet getaway from Ho Chi Minh City which I desperately needed. Next stop is Qui Nhon which is a short bus ride from Tuy Hòa.
Eastward Ho! 