Hello 500 brothers and sisters and Cuồng are back with another light review of one of the famous tourist attractions Nha Trang tourism. The tourist spot in Nha Trang that Cuồng wants to mention today is the Hon Chong tourist area.
See more: Don’t Forget 15 Hottest «NHA TRANG» Tourist Destinations in 2019
1. Where is this place?
Hon Chong is about 4km from the center of Nha Trang city in the Northeast direction, along Tran Phu street, straight through Tran Phu bridge to Pham Van Dong street. Just a little further and you will find the Hon Chong tourist spot on your right side!!!
2. How to get there?
To get to Hon Chong tourist area, Cuong will guide you from Nha Trang Center, which is also one of the famous shopping and entertainment spots in Nha Trang for you to easily imagine. From Nha Trang Center, you go along Tran Phu street by the beach to the north to cross Tran Phu bridge. After crossing Tran Phu bridge, you will reach Pham Van Dong street and from there, just keep going straight a bit and you will see Hon Chong rocky beach on your right, surrounded by the cool blue sea water of the coastal area Nha Trang tourism.
Or you can follow a different route that Google Maps shows you as below
From Nha Trang Center, turn right onto Ly Tu Trong street, then turn right again at the first intersection to get onto Pasteur street. Keep going straight on Pasteur street until you reach a large roundabout at the intersection of Le Loi, Pasteur, and Ngo Quyen streets, then turn right onto Le Loi street and left onto Tran Phu street along the city’s beach. Nha Trang tourism. From here, follow Cuong’s instructions above by continuing straight on Tran Phu street, crossing Tran Phu bridge to Pham Van Dong street, and going up a bit until you see this Nha Trang tourist destination on your right.
3. How to get there?
To reach Hon Chong tourist area, you can choose to travel by motorbike or taxi. Since Hon Chong tourist area is only about 4km from the center of Nha Trang city, getting there is very easy.
For those who want to fully enjoy the atmosphere in Nha Trang and have a spirit of exploration, adventure, and want to quickly and flexibly visit different places, then a motorbike is the right choice for you. For those who ride a motorbike to Nha Trang, there’s nothing to worry about, but for those who want to rent a motorbike in Nha Trang, you can rent one at your hotel or at rental points with prices ranging from 120k-150k VND and just add about 50k VND for gas and you’re ready to explore all the tourist spots in Nha Trang.
If you want to sit comfortably in cool air conditioning, avoiding the city’s sun during this Nha Trang tour, then for just about 50k-60k VND, you can sit in a cool taxi and chat with friends while heading to Hon Chong.
4. What’s there?
The rock formations of Hon Chong in Nha Trang include large rocks stacked on top of each other for generations. This rock formation has long been a popular attraction in the city of Nha Trang. When you visit here, you can feel Hon Chong as a meeting point between the mountains and the sea, with the horizon in the distance like a dividing line between the sky and the sea moving away from each other, and just a few steps away, tourists can touch the sea or the foot of the hill. When you’re here, you’ll also hear many fascinating stories about the legend of this rock formation amidst a truly beautiful and charming natural landscape.
Hon Chong consists of 2 large rock clusters located on the beach at the foot of La-san hill, where erosion by the tides has created this tourist spot. The large rocks outside the sea are called Hon Chong, and Hon Chong consists of a large square rock lying on a flat and wider rock. On the side facing the sea, there is a very large hand-shaped hollow and this strange hollow is also associated with fascinating and intriguing legends passed down by the locals in the beautiful Nha Trang cityNha Trang tourism.
The collection of various large and small rocks, layered in layers with strange shapes, stacked on top of each other without any adhesive. The rocks seem to be stacked on top of each other from high to low as if there is a giant hand arranging them. Oddly enough, the large rocks stack unevenly on top of each other, despite the waves crashing, they cannot be shaken. Perhaps this is the place that inspired the art of stone stacking or “Rock Balancing” as it is known in English.
There are rocks stuck in the middle as if falling from above, partly creating a magical and fascinating scene, partly to balance the two large rocks on both sides. The sea water in this area is extremely clear and cool. So if you come here to admire the sunrise in the early morning, there is nothing like it.
The most peculiar point at Hon Chong tourist area is the image of the giant handprint on a large rock resembling a guardhouse, on the highest peak. Therefore, local people in Nha Trang tourist destination often pass on mysterious legends that no scientist or explorer can explain. Currently, this Hon Chong tourist spot is one of the rare and outstanding Nha Trang tourist destinations in Khanh Hoa province.
Legend of Hon Chong
There are many mysterious legends surrounding the Hon Chong tourist area that people who have lived here for generations tell and pass on. That’s why no one, not even Cuong, knows which story is true and which is woven. However, just the sight of the steadfast rocks against the wind and rain, unmoved by the daily waves crashing against the shore, or the appearance of the giant hand on the rock slab makes us curious and eager to hear the stories right away, doesn’t it?
The coastal people in the city of Nha Trang often pass on the legend of Hon Chong – Hon Vo that:
Long ago, this place was a steep and treacherous cliff. On a stormy day, a boat from a distant sea of a young couple was washed ashore by big waves and strong winds, the boat hit the cliff and shattered. Because the waves were too strong, the wife was swept away, the husband panicked and jumped into the sea to save his wife. However, how could human strength resist nature, one hand holding the wife, the other hand clinging to the cliff. The cliff was already unstable, so when he tried to hold on, the cliff collapsed into the sea and engulfed the unfortunate young couple. Because of that noble love, this place was named Hon Chong – Hon Vo, and most notably, the handprint of the husband in the story was deeply engraved on the rock that the husband tried to hold on to.
Furthermore, this mysterious handprint is also believed by the locals to be left by a giant who sat fishing here. That day, suddenly a giant fish bit the hook but turned towards the deep blue sea and dragged him away. To catch this fish, he had to reach into the rock, and that’s why his handprint was pressed into the rock forming a hand shape until now.
There is another legend that tells of a young man who was a fisherman. One day, while casting his net at sea, he suddenly encountered a group of fairies playing on the beach, the young man hid behind a rock to watch. When the fairies discovered him, the young man fell into the sea. On a large rock there is a hand-shaped figure that is believed to be the unfortunate young man’s handprint when he clung to it while falling.
People in the city travel to Nha Trang also tell that on the Hon Chong rocky beach, there is a rock formation resembling a person sitting and looking towards the Cô Tiên mountain. It is said that this is the Fairy Ut who still lingers in the beautiful scenery of the earthly world and is not willing to return to the heavenly realm, so she transformed into a mountain. These mountains are now developed for tourism under the name of Bai Tien.
Hon Chong is an ideal sightseeing spot
Among the rocks, there are many strange rock formations like two standing rocks, with a large rock in between like a gate to another rock cluster. The second rock cluster has the shape of a woman sitting looking out to the sea, and this rock cluster is given a name closely related to Hon Chong. That is Hon Vo (Wife Rock), but tourists often do not pay much attention to this rock formation.
There are many mysterious stories attached to the rocks and marks on the rock slabs. But it seems like a fascinating gift that nature has bestowed upon the coastal city of Nha Trang. Hon Chong tourist area has a lot of potential for development Nha Trang tourism, but it has only been recently exploited. The rock cluster of Hon Chong and Cô Tiên mountain has now become a culturally rich tourist destination of the coastal city of Nha Trang.
Standing on Hon Chong, looking into the distance, you can see Hon Yen, to the right is the stone bridge port, Hon Tre – where the famous Vinpearlland is located, and the picturesque Nha Trang Bay. Behind Lasan hill, overlooking the sea is the Cù Lao fish market. On the other side is the Cô Tiên mountain, if you look closely, you will see what looks like a fairy lying there.
Or standing at Hon Chong, you will clearly see Hon Do, which is a small island near the shore, where there is a temple called Từ temple, commonly known as Hon Do temple. Not only that, you can walk on the road at Hon Chong and you will see a path leading up to Lasan hill. There is a very cool Hon Chong cafe, with a refreshing breeze, and sitting there enjoying the view is nothing short of wonderful. That’s why Hon Chong cafe attracts many tourists to visit and enjoy.
Going up a few more steps, you will see the ancient house, also known as the Vinh Nha Trang Assembly Hall, where many photos of Hon Chong and other famous tourist attractions in Nha Trang are displayed. This Vinh Nha Trang Assembly Hall is built in the style of Hue’s Ruong house, serving as a place for traditional musical performances and souvenir sales. This Nha Trang tourist destination also has added levels, viewing areas for visitors, and ticket counters for convenient ticket purchases to visit Hon Chong tourist area.
An additional tip for you is that if you go to the left side of Hoi Quan Vinh Nha Trang, you will come across a bridge connecting Hon Chong with Nha Trang University area. Just park your vehicle in the parking lot and walk there to take some beautiful photos. If you have more time, you can even enter the Nha Trang University campus with permission, where you can find lecture halls overlooking Nha Trang Bay and enjoy the expensive view there.
The water level at Hon Chong is quite low, so you can walk there following the stone path below or wade through the water to cool off. Alternatively, you can go up to Hoi Quan to park your vehicle and buy a ticket to visit Hoi Quan and Hon Chong to learn more about the city Nha Trang tourism.
Moreover, on days when the tide is low, you don’t have to worry about getting wet when visiting Hon Chong. Besides, you can enjoy collecting seashells, catching crabs, or peacefully fishing on the rocky cliffs of Hon Chong, which are very enjoyable experiences.
5. How much does it cost to visit?
To visit Hon Chong, with a ticket price of only 22k/person, you can already enter this Nha Trang tourist destination. Not only that, this ticket price also includes visiting the Nha Trang Bay Temple, so feel free to visit and check-in.
6. What about dining?
When visiting the city of Nha Trang in general, and Hon Chong tourist destination in particular, you cannot miss the unique cuisine of this famous tourist city, right?
6.1 Nem Nướng Ninh Hoà
This grilled pork roll is famous, becoming a brand for the land of Ninh Hoa, Nha Trang thanks to the unique processing formula of the people in this tourist land and that distinctive flavor that is hard to find anywhere else. Ninh Hoa pork roll has long been a delicious dish in Nha Trang that anyone who comes here must try once and even bring back as a gift for relatives and friends. There are two types of Ninh Hoa pork rolls that you can try, sour pork roll and grilled pork roll. Besides the 2 types of pork rolls, the white rice paper used for wrapping is also quite special. This type of rice paper has a moderate salty taste because if it is too salty, it will quickly spoil and mold. This white rice paper is made soft by lining it between layers of banana leaves or wiping it with a damp cloth, so the rice paper does not need to be soaked in water, but when rolled, it is still soft and chewy. Both types of rice paper are typical products of the rice paper craft village of Dien Hoa, Dien Thuy (belonging to Dien Khanh town), often used for wrapping fried spring rolls or called egg rolls or used for wrapping pork rolls. Not stopping there, depending on the season, the vegetables displayed to eat with the pork rolls can also change but still ensure to bring diners enough flavors of sour, spicy, bitter, etc. When writing up to here, Cuong is really craving and just wants to quickly go eat to satisfy the craving.
6.2 Jellyfish noodle soup
If you want to taste the delicious and sweet flavor of the sea, then jellyfish noodle soup is an excellent choice. While other places may also have jellyfish noodle soup, in Nha Trang there is a special delicious and sweet taste, with a clear broth and tasty jellyfish. As the city of Nha Trang tourism is famous for its fresh and delicious seafood, the seafood dishes here are truly a masterpiece. The best fish to make jellyfish noodle soup is the chù fish, which has a delicious and sweet taste with firm flesh, and the jellyfish is caught far from the shore with tender and firm flesh. You will be addicted as soon as you taste this dish. Cuong has to warn you in advance, don’t blame Cuong if you get addicted.
6.3 Grilled Beef with Scenic Peanuts
No matter where you are, you can easily enjoy grilled beef. However, the grilled beef at a restaurant in Nha Trang tourism city is so delicious and famous that Cuong has to go there whenever he sets foot back in the area to enjoy it. The special thing about this dish is the seasoning applied to the beef before grilling, which Cuong has not seen anywhere else that can make such a simple dish taste so irresistibly good. So if you have the chance to visit Nha Trang, remember to visit Lac Canh grilled beef restaurant at 44 Nguyen Binh Khiem to enjoy this top-notch grilled dish.
6.4 Lobster in Binh Ba.
Not far from Binh Ba, a place famous throughout the country with the name Lobster Island, the restaurants in Nha Trang always have this famous Binh Ba Lobster in their hands. Due to the high salinity of the Binh Ba sea, the lobsters here are very firm with a sweet taste that is hard to match anywhere else. So when you come to this land Nha Trang tourism, remember to find and try this Binh Ba Lobster dish because you may not always have the opportunity to enjoy it.
6.5 Yến sào Khánh Hoà
Yến sào Khánh Hòa is considered the best type of swallow in the world with extremely high nutritional content. You can buy swallow nests as gifts and process them later, or you can go to a restaurant and order a bowl of swallow nest soup. This is also a dish that women often recommend to each other for its great benefits in skin care, so this Khánh Hòa swallow nest dish is warmly welcomed by women and husbands. This is truly a high-quality meal, isn’t it? Currently, in Nha Trang, there are two types of swallow nests: island swallow nests and house swallow nests. Island swallow nests are priced nearly twice as high as house swallow nests because they are collected from nature, which is dangerous, while house swallow nests are nests raised indoors. However, the nutritional value of the two types is not significantly different. Furthermore, swallow nests are very good for recovering patients, the elderly, children, and women. However, because of their high nutritional value, it’s not good to eat too much, so remember to advise your loved ones to eat just enough.
7. Những địa điểm du lịch gần đó.
To not waste time in one place, you can add the following places to your itinerary for that day.
7.1 Tháp Bà PoNagar (about 2km from Hòn Chồng)
Tháp Bà PoNager is a famous tourist spot in Nha Trang located to the north of the city, right at the foot of the Xom Bong bridge (parallel to Tran Phu bridge) at the intersection with Thap Ba street. Just mentioning this place, many of you will smile at this name! Don’t misunderstand because the name Xom Bong is actually named after the dance style of the people here, not like a 3D dormitory area.
Thap Ba Ponaga is located on Cu Lao hill, next to Cai river mouth, only about 2km north of the city center and about 4km from the central beach of Nha Trang city. Therefore, Thap Ba Ponagar naturally becomes a famous tourist spot in Nha Trang attracting many visitors to visit as well as worship for a prosperous and peaceful life.
Tháp bà Ponagar Nha Trang is commonly referred to by locals as Tháp Bà for short. So if you are traveling to Nha Trang and want to visit this tourist destination, just ask the locals for directions to Tháp Bà and they will point you in the right direction. The Ponagar Tower, built by the Cham people, is located on a hill next to the Cai River – the largest river in Nha Trang, overlooking the Xom Bong Bridge. If you visit the tower and are lucky, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a traditional Cham dance performance, which is very unique and special.
With a ticket price of only 22k per person, Cuong thinks this is also one of the places in Nha Trang that you should definitely visit.
7.2 Tháp Bà Tourist Area (4-5km from Hon Chong)
When visiting the PoNagar Tower tourist area, also known as the Nha Trang PoNagar Tower tourist area, you can enjoy services such as mud baths, relaxation massages, and rejuvenation to relieve the fatigue in your body. Mineral mud baths have long been known as a therapy that brings many benefits, especially for human health. It is formed from the transformation of substances, originating from buried plant species along with the soil, so mineral mud is considered to have healing properties and many effects in supporting human health such as joint inflammation or nerve pain. Relaxing, releasing tension from the body, soaking quietly in a tub filled with mineral mud also has a high effect in reducing stress. Therefore, Cuong thinks that after walking around and taking photos at Hon Chong rock beach, why not visit the PoNagar Tower tourist area to rest, relax, and enjoy the feeling of soaking in mineral mud and natural hot mineral water to feel the fatigue gradually leaving your body, isn’t that wonderful?
Read more: Don’t Forget 15 Hottest «NHA TRANG» Travel Destinations in 2019
8. Notes when visiting and playing here
Opening hours: from 08:00 to 18:00
Free entrance for local residents (ID card required);
Parking: free – Parking lot next to the ticket counter.
Hon Chong is near PoNagar Tower so you can arrange these 2 points close to each other in your itinerary to save time running around the city.
Be careful when moving around the rock area as it can be slippery due to sand.
The ethnic musical instrument performance area only operates when there are group tours (mostly Russian and Chinese groups).
Remember to follow the signs and notices here.
Cuong’s review of Hon Chong tourist spot ends here. Hopefully, Cuong’s review will provide you with the necessary information to plan your upcoming trip to Nha Trang. Please continue to like, share, and subscribe to receive more videos and reviews sharing travel experiences from Cuong. Thank you.
