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Aside from natural beauty and convenient access, these Central Vietnam spots are popular getaway options for the September 2 National Day holiday thanks to their calm atmosphere, delicious local cuisine, and affordable prices.
Trung Luong fishing village (Gia Lai)
Trung Luong fishing village is located along a coastal area in Cat Tien Commune, Gia Lai Province (formerly Cat Tien Town, Phu Cat District, Binh Dinh Province), about 30 kilometers from the former city center of Quy Nhon.
The beach here is gently sloped, with soft white sand and clear blue water, making it an ideal destination for families with children. From the beach, visitors can also spot a nearby wind farm.
Visitors to Trung Luong can stop by the local seafood market about one kilometer away, typically open in the early morning and again from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The market offers a wide variety of fresh seafood at budget-friendly prices: oysters at 40,000 VND (approx. $1.57) per kg, crab claws at 50,000 VND (approx. $1.96), blue crabs at 500,000 VND (approx. $19.64), and jumping snails at 50,000 VND (approx. $1.96) per kg.
In the morning, visitors can enjoy local specialties like shrimp-and-squid pancakes (banh xeo), mini savory pancakes (banh can), and crispy spring rolls (ram cuon). In the afternoon market, they’ll find bagged yogurt, black bean sweet soup, and seaweed jelly.
Trung Luong fishing village is ideal for travelers seeking a slow-paced holiday on September 2. Photo: Nguyen Hong Nhat
Shrimp pancakes for only 10,000 VND (approx. $0.39) per three pieces. Photo: Nguyen Hong Nhat
Bich Dam Island (Khanh Hoa)
Bich Dam Island, part of the Hon Tre island cluster in Vinh Nguyen Ward, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, is another hidden gem in Central Vietnam worth exploring during this holiday.
The island’s scenery is rustic and serene, with no high-rise buildings, luxury hotels, or the sound of traffic. Life moves at a slower pace here. The island doesn’t even have a power grid, and local homes lack air conditioning.
Bich Dam Island features numerous cultural and historical sites, such as Bich Dam communal house, An Thanh shrine, Bich Son pagoda, Ong Lon shrine, and Hon Lon lighthouse.
Besides sightseeing, visitors can enjoy fresh seafood sourced from the local fishers and aquaculture farms. A bowl of special fish cake noodle soup (banh canh) on the island costs just 20,000 VND (approx. $0.79).
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The peaceful, untouched landscape of Bich Dam Island. Photo: Thieu Sang, Ninh Thai Thai
Ninh Van fishing village (Khanh Hoa)
About 60 kilometers from central Nha Trang is a small, simple fishing village known for its therapeutic charm. Ninh Van village, located in Ninh Hoa Ward, Khanh Hoa Province, is famous for its many “nos”: no supermarkets, no modern entertainment zones, no ATMs, and many shops don’t accept bank transfers.
The trip from Nha Trang to Ninh Van takes about 1.5 to 2 hours depending on the means of transport. Upon arrival, visitors will feel as though they’ve entered a completely different world – peaceful, simple, and far removed from the bustle of modern Nha Trang.
Food in the village is very inexpensive. With just 100,000 VND (approx. $3.93), visitors can feast freely: ginseng sweet soup (che sam bo luong) at 7,000 VND (approx. $0.28) per cup, steamed rice cakes (banh beo) at 5,000 VND (approx. $0.20) per plate, milk tea at 10,000 VND (approx. $0.39) per glass, and generous bowls of fish noodles or thick noodle soup at 25,000 VND (approx. $0.98) each.
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