Sunset on Ke Ga Lighthouse

Binh Thuan Province is famous for Mui Ne - a hotspot with gorgeous resorts and stunning attractions, or Lagi Coastal Town or Ta Cu Mountain. But there’s a hidden gem called Ke Ga Cape (Mũi Kê Gà in Vietnamese) that is catching on as a jaw-dropping destination for tourists in this province. A hop, skip and a jump from Phan Thiet City, about 30 kilometers to the southeast, you’ll find a strip of smooth sand that hugs a rocky island where a lighthouse stands tall as an awesome landmark.

This lighthouse was put up in 1899 by the French colonizers to warn ships and boats of the reefs that are thick around the nearby sea. The whole building was made from granite and it’s over 60 meters high above sea level, with the structure itself being 41 meters high and the light reaching out as far as 22 meters. It’s the tallest and oldest lighthouse still standing in Vietnam, and it’s been working for 115 years since 1900. It’s a must-see place for travelers to check out.

To get to Phan Thiet, you can hop on a bus # 6 heading to the Cape in the southeast. But it’s more fun if you rent a motorbike and hit the road to the lighthouse. From the center of Phan Thiet City, you take Tran Hung Dao Str. past Doi Duong Beach and follow Lac Long Quan Str., and then you’ll end up at Ke Ga Cape.

When the sun is up and the tide is low, the lighthouse is linked to the mainland by a sand trail. You can walk there in a snap. When it gets dark and the tide comes in, you’d better set up a boat ride that costs around VND50k to VND150k to get to the island.

Or if you’re up for some crazy adventure, you can try a trip on a round bamboo-ratten basket boat or coracle. It’s moved by rocking the boat back and forth with a paddle to steer the way.

You’ll have a blast and a bit of a scare there as you finally make it to the lighthouse. And don’t forget about the way back to the shore, you’re gonna have a ball then.

But wait, there's more! The real challenge awaits you inside the lighthouse, where you'll have to climb a spiral staircase of 183 steps to reach the top. It's not for the faint of heart, but trust me, it's worth it. You'll feel like a champion as you conquer each step, getting closer and closer to the amazing view of the sea and the sky. You'll be rewarded with a breathtaking panorama that will make you forget all your troubles and worries. You'll be so glad you did it, and you'll have a story to tell for years to come.

You might think, ‘well, it’s just another beach in the province, so what’s the big deal?’. And I’ll tell you why you should check out Ke Ga Cape, especially in summer. It’s because the sunset there is totally mind-blowing to watch. The lighthouse sits on an island that sticks out to the sea, where you can catch the sunrise and wave goodbye to the sunset.

And especially, the sunset in summer will knock your socks off as you chill on the dock at Ke Ga Station, looking westward to see the nightfall. The water turns golden yellow sparkling up and down on steady waves rolling toward the shore. Breezes bringing a unique smell of the sea and the salty feel of seawater come up and touch your skin, which stir up a bit of nostalgia.

As you take in the sundown, you’re gonna spot a huge natural rock statue of Buddha lying face up to the endless sky. The sun is going down while the tide is coming up, and you sit back attentively enjoying such a stunning scene of the day. Or if you’re honeymooning with your better half, walking hand in hand along the smooth sand beach toward the dusk will definitely leave a lasting memory in your everlasting love.

At night, you can tag along with fishermen to catch some fish on the sea. It may set you back 10 bucks or so to have a fishing tour through the night. With a life jacket on, you end up sitting still on a boat holding a bamboo rod that is typical in Vietnam, with hook and line tossed down the water. The light is pretty dim, it’s just bright enough to attract fish. You’re gonna see your string bobbing up and down. Porrch! Yank the line backward quickly and you’re getting what you hope to see.

Ke Ga Cape is pretty close to Phan Thiet City - the capital of Binh Thuan Province, so it’s better for you to take a day trip to this destination and come back at dusk to join in a lively nightlife of the coastal city.

Tourist service at the Cape still has lots to develop. Though many resort constructions have been in progress, most of them have long been deserted due to the provincial bad planning. Actually there are quite a few resorts and hotels along the way to the Cape, but there’s not much to do at night there.

You’d end up eating in a resort restaurant and hanging out to pass time. It doesn’t matter if you look for a place to meditate or get away from your everyday hectic life. During the day, you can ride a bike or motorcycle around the neighborhood for sightseeing. Plenty of Casuarina equisetifolia or Australian pine forests are along the way, where you can stop by for a picnic with friends.

Especially, you can check out Rock Water Bay (Vịnh đá nhảy in Vietnamese) that has a large bunch of rocks with various sizes and shapes leaning on each other toward the sea. You can climb over those rocky cliffs and boulders to catch sea winds and have fun.

If you just decide to head south, you can stick to the main road to visit Lagi Town whose beach is still untouched, or take a west-bound turnoff for Ta Cu mountain town.

Thank you so much for your attention.

All the pictures posted here belong to the author. For further information, please contact me at nhphuc2310@gmail.com. 'hope you guys will make it to this particular destination, and enjoy yourselves then.

For other articles of the author, please check them out:

Tay Ninh Province at https://hubpages.com/travel/Tay-Ninh-Province-Why-not
Thu Duc Town at http://hubpages.com/travel/Thu-Duc-Saigon-A-joyful-suburb
Da Lat Half Way to Heaven at http://hubpages.com/travel/Do-we-need-a-long-trip-to-change-horses-in-midstream
Life Trap Escape at http://hubpages.com/travel/Life-Trap-Escape
Ke Ga Cape at http://hubpages.com/travel/Sunset-on-Ke-Ga-Lighthouse
Mui Ne Beach at http://hubpages.com/travel/Mui-Ne-Such-a-Paradise
Da Nang City at http://hubpages.com/travel/Thomas-Wanderlust
Hai Phong City at http://hubpages.com/travel/Hai-Phong-Once-Coming-Then-Staying
French Colonial Structures in Saigon at http://hubpages.com/travel/French-Colonial-style-Architecture-in-SG
Top 3 things to do in Saigon Vietnam at http://hubpages.com/travel/Top-ten-things-you-must-do-in-Saigon-Vietnam
Can Gio a nice choice at http://hubpages.com/travel/Can-Gio-A-nice-choice
Cat Ba Island at https://hubpages.com/travel/Cat-Ba-Island-Shining-in-the-Sun
Ta Dung at https://hubpages.com/travel/Ta-Dung-Vietnam-A-Pearl-of-The-Highlands