Sand dunes, ziplines, water rafting: Vietnam’s south-central coast is perfect for adrenaline junkies
Beyond the usual Vietnam cafe-hopping and city jaunts, experience the adventurous side of the country’s south-central coast in Phan Thiet and Cam Ranh.

Riding ATVs on sand dunes and water rafting in Vietnam. (Photos: Toh Ee Ming)
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We were perched on the edge of the treetop platform, the verdant forest below us. It’s higher than it looks. There’s a ripple of excitement in the air as the first brave soul made the leap. Soon it was my turn. Soaring through the air at dizzying speeds, it was an exhilarating ride.
This zipline canopy is just one of the many thrilling experiences you’ll find at the Kong Forest Adventure Park at Hon Ba Nature Reserve in Vietnam, a hidden haven for adrenaline junkies and nature lovers.
Over the next hour, we conquered our fears as we traversed across various zip lines and perilously shaky rope bridges, cheered on our travel companions and were thoroughly entertained by the staff’s antics as they swung vigorously on the zipline like gorillas, King Kong-style.


Most Singaporeans typically hit up places like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi or Da Nang and Hoi An. But those seeking something less cookie-cutter might not realise that Vietnam’s south-central coast has plenty of hidden gems –from unspoiled white beaches with turquoise waters, lush mountains, quaint fishing villages and picturesque sand dunes.
EXPLORING PHAN THIET
In March, I was hosted by the Radisson Hotel Group on a jeep adventure in south-central Vietnam, along with media from Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.
For the first leg of our trip, I boarded a morning flight from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh city. This was followed by a meandering three-hour drive (about 215 km) to Phan Thiet city, the capital of Binh Thuan province.

It was late evening by the time we arrived at the boutique beach resort Radisson Resort Phan Thiet. My gorgeous one-bedroom villa came with my own living room area, outdoor terrace and even an outdoor bathtub. We were treated to a romantic dinner on the lawn, complete with billowing white drapes decked in fairy lights and freshly grilled seafood.
The next morning, we were greeted by the sight of a convoy of jeeps in various bright retro colours. Joining us were English-speaking tour guides from Muine Express.
Once an obscure backwater town, the place leapt on the global radar in 1995 due to a rare solar eclipse that could be viewed from the region. Since then, Phan Thiet has become an emerging tourism destination, explains our passionate local guide Le Tuan Anh, a former geography and history teacher.

Today, Phan Thiet is a popular weekend getaway for locals who want a beach break.
Our first stop was to the whimsically-named Fairy Stream in Mui Ne (one of Phan Thiet city’s 18 wards). We took our shoes off and waded into the ankle-deep stream. Above us, the dramatic combination of white limestone cliffs and ochre red sand created a desert-like tableau.


Post-lunch, we popped over to the photogenic Soho Coffee Mui Ne, a pretty spot perched high above Mui Ne Bay. We’re told that the area comes alive with activity in the early morning as fishermen sell their catch.


Sipping on ice-cold Vietnamese coffee infused with coconut, I savoured the sight of the endless blue dotted with dozens of fishing boats and Vietnam’s iconic round basket boats. If it gets too warm, you can seek refuge within the cafe’s soothing terracotta, white tones and pastel interiors.
I was fascinated to learn that Phan Thiet is known as the birthplace of Vietnamese fish sauce, spanning a 300-year history dating back to the Champa Kingdom reign. You can find lots of fish sauce factories here and even a fish sauce museum.
DRAMATIC DUNE BASHING
Most would know Mui Ne for its unique geological sites of the White Sand Dunes and Red Sand Dunes. We timed our arrival at the former at evening time so that it was cooler.


What I had expected to be a leisurely ATV drive up the sand dunes turned out to be one of the craziest rides of my life. Our driver blazed away at top speeds, the wind and sand whipping madly about in my face. At the top, we were confronted by the vast expanse of rolling dunes that wouldn’t look out of place in a Dune film.



Shortly after, we braced ourselves for our next challenge, a near-vertical drop on ATV down the dunes. Once the initial shock wore off, the euphoria of feeling so intensely alive kicked in.
Although much smaller than its counterpart, the Red Sand Dunes offered a great spot for sunset and sand sledding.


CULTURAL DAY
For the second leg of the trip, we set off by mini-bus from Phan Thiet to Cam Ranh.
En route, we stopped at the Bau Truc Pottery Village of Vietnam’s Cham village ethnic minority, one of the oldest craft villages. We observed how the Cham women kept the clay in a stationary position and walked circles around it, methodically using their hands to knead the clay.



I met artisan Luu Thi Toan, 57, who has been making pottery for the last three decades. She told me that there were people from other villages and even tourists who wanted to learn the craft, but gave up after a few months because of how technically difficult and labour intensive it is. Still, she was hopeful that more young people will preserve this intangible cultural heritage.




The peaceful journey offered glimpses of scenic coastlines, flourishing grape vineyards and green fields dotted with giant wind turbines. We also passed the tranquil mountain town of Da Lat, known as the Little Paris of Vietnam with its deep valleys and pine forests where people can go cloud chasing.
By nightfall, we reached the Radisson Blu Resort Cam Ranh. The sprawling beachfront resort sits among a stretch of luxury hotels, located a ten minutes’ drive from Cam Ranh International airport.
ADVENTURES IN CAM RANH
Cam Ranh’s unique geography of a deep-sea harbour, islands and high mountains made it an ideal location as a former US air and naval base during the Vietnam War. Today, these characteristics have made it a new tourism hot spot.
We set off bright and early from the hotel for our second jeep tour. This time, our ride was decked out in less flashy colours. Instead, we clambered into a convoy of rugged looking US army jeeps, which took us on a scenic drive past golden fields and up the winding roads of Hon Ba Mountain.


As we passed through the countryside, we drew curious stares from locals. It was clear that a convoy like ours was still a novelty sight.
Arriving at the Kong Forest Adventure Park, we were thrust right into the heart of action – from the zipline canopy tour, water rafting down roaring rapids and an adrenaline fueled ATV ride through the jungle.




Although I was hesitant at first (I had failed spectacularly riding the ATV in Bali previously), I decided to take the driver’s reins this time. The challenging route saw me revving up steep inclines, weaving through perilously narrow paths, and many heart-stopping moments where I stalled multiple times, nearly drove off the mountain and rammed into a tree.
Mishaps aside, the best part of the experience for me was being among the rare few venturing to a lesser-trodden part of Vietnam.
“Cam Ranh is a nascent area for adventure tourism but is slowly gaining traction among tourists,” said Kurt Vieren, general manager of Radisson Blu Resort Cam Ranh. He had joined us for the Kong adventure outing and shared that he thoroughly enjoyed the ATV experience for its combination of driving skills and quick thinking.


While the resort usually sees Vietnamese, European and South Korean travellers, Kurt’s team was clearly eager to woo more international tourists into the Cam Ranh area.
Sadly, we didn’t get a chance to explore the Vinh Hy Bay, located 64km away from our resort. Pictures online show gorgeous views of emerald blue waters teeming with marine life and colourful coral reefs. Other attractions include the Rai Cave with stacked stone beaches and unique rock formations and Nui Chua National Park.
A DOSE OF WELLNESS
After all the action, it was time for some well-deserved rest.
During downtime, I wandered down to the beach to drink in the gorgeous views of the ocean at sunset, and took in the dramatic bird’s eye view of the resort’s landscaped grounds fringed by white sands.



For dinner, we headed over to the hotel’s signature seafront restaurant Blu Lobster. At the elegant verandah on the second floor, we dined on authentic Vietnamese dishes served with modern flair by talented young chef Hong Uyen. The standout dishes included banana blossom salad with jellyfish and succulent grilled lobster with garlic butter.
Meanwhile, restaurant manager Kien Nguyen with his playful brand of humour made for an entertaining accompaniment.
On our very last morning, the hotel’s spa staff worked out the kinks and aches in our bodies with a relaxing massage. With no shortage of bespoke treatments and packages, the spa also has a Himalayan salt chamber, aromatic floral steam room and ice grotto.
Reluctant to leave, I spent the last hour lounging and chatting in the resort’s pool with my travel companions, dreaming of yet another Vietnam beach side getaway.
The jeep tour is available for both individual tours and combo packages at Radisson Resort Phan Thiet and Radisson Blu Resort Cam Ranh.