A day in Nghi Thiet
Nghi Thiet beach is described as "the rough gem of Nghe An's coastal tourism," "a miniature Ly Son island," a "peaceful and relaxing paradise"... Countless beautiful words, yet none are enough to praise the beauty of this place...
Content & Design:Phuong ChiApril 29, 2026
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Nghi Thiet beach has been dubbed "the rough gem of Nghe An's coastal tourism," "a miniature Ly Son island," a "peaceful, relaxing paradise"... Countless beautiful words, yet none are enough to praise the beauty of this place. I'll just call it Nghi Thiet, even though that name only exists in memory, as the new administrative unit is Hai Loc commune. Whatever it's called, the sea and rocky cliffs here remain vast, layer upon layer of sediment unchanging with time, fierce and gentle, lonely and proud, familiar and strange... forever prompting people to bow in awe before the wondrous depths of nature.
About 30 km from Vinh city, driving along National Highway 1A, then turning onto National Highway 7C towards Vissai Port, you'll immediately feel the invigorating scent of the sea. Whether it's a crisp early morning or a spontaneous afternoon, feel free to head towards the sea, filling your lungs with the refreshing air.
Along the way, how could one miss a peaceful little fishing village with its simple, honest fishermen's way of life? Years ago, it's unclear who first put this fishing village online, but since then, it has repeatedly gone viral with picturesque photos that are more romantic than Korean dramas!
The village has a small bridge called the Fish Bridge (or Mr. Hong's Bridge), only about 2 meters wide, connecting the shore to a stretch of sea, serving as a mooring place for small boats and ships in the village. Every angle on the bridge is perfect for taking photos. The blue sky, white clouds, golden sunshine, and boats gleaming with vibrant colors create the brightest, most youthful scene, capturing the most innocent smiles. So many young people have strolled across this bridge, leaving behind romantic dreams, joyful songs, and playful banter... before the sea. And for a moment, I also felt myself... several years younger, eager to snap a few photos. Well, why not imagine, why not dream, when standing before the vast ocean, we are just tiny grains of sand? The deep blue of the sea has such a magical power, capable of awakening joy and sparkling, inviting human dreams.
And the rhythm of life in this fishing village has captivated me and countless other travelers from afar, with its rare simplicity and genuineness. Every morning, the Fish Bridge – true to its name – is overflowing with the sizzling sound of fish and shrimp… Fishermen arrive at the dock, their voices and laughter echoing even before their figures are fully visible. The catch isn't huge, but the seafood is diverse: shrimp, crab, fish, snails… If someone says, "Eat at Cua Hoi, swim at Cua Lo," then come here and try it first. The seafood is incredibly fresh, the shrimp bodies translucent, the fish and crab eyes gleaming with a vibrant green… Many food connoisseurs often stop by the Fish Bridge area just as the boats return to buy their favorite seafood. The buying and selling here is also quite unusual; sellers rarely haggle, and buyers don't bother bargaining. The goods are exchanged quickly and swiftly, and in a flash, the "market" is over, returning to the shore the silence of the gentle breeze and the vast ocean.
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Stepping away from the hustle and bustle of the early morning market, I continued driving along the winding road towards the rocky shores – the pristine charm of Nghi Thiet, silently waiting to be discovered.
I've taken many trips along the central coast, curiously "exploring" Ghenh Da Dia (Disk Rock Reef), overwhelmed by the mystery of Ghenh Rang (Rang Reef), and even slipped at Ghenh Lo Dieu (Lo Dieu Reef)... but for some reason, only before Nghi Thiet rocky beach did I truly feel a profound silence. A silence because something from the depths of the void, before the sea and the sky, amidst the jagged cliffs rising like a bow embracing a vast expanse of ocean, "spoke" to me about the ferocity and gentleness of life. I am small before the endless waves crashing against the cliffs, I am just an anonymous dot in the vast ocean, I am myself and yet not myself, here, at this very moment.
How long have these rocky outcrops, cliffs, and rock formations existed? Millions of years ago, no, perhaps hundreds of millions of years ago? Could they have originated from a sudden eruption of lava, colliding with the cold of the ocean, cooling, cracking, and taking shape, then being eroded, polished, and sculpted by the salty waves and winds into the myriad magnificent forms we see today?
Standing on the highest rock outcrop one can climb, gaze in all directions and let your imagination run wild: Here is a towering hexagonal rock; there are mounds, bumps, hollows, and caves; and there is a rock resembling a hedgehog with sharp quills, a turtle shell, a hat, a beehive…
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I stumbled across the jagged rocks, their dark brown surfaces absorbing the day's heat and radiating a warm glow. The wind howled, the silvery waves crashing against the cliffs, then slowly receding, dissolving into countless tiny bubbles of sea foam towards infinity. Dissolving, only to rise again, to caress, like the steady breath of a colossal entity called the Ocean.
Standing before the wondrous creation of nature, every traveler suddenly becomes humble. The worries of everyday life, the struggles and gains weighing heavily on one's shoulders, suddenly become light, dissolving into the salty breeze and the deep blue of the sky. Amidst the sturdy rocks embracing the rhythm of the tides, I suddenly realized that all things are whispering about the inherent nature of the earth and sky, and that humanity, no matter how proud of its intellect, remains only a small traveler struggling to find a way to dialogue with the profound nature.
But this tranquility doesn't mean Nghi Thiet is forgotten or isolated. From the precarious rocky outcrop, looking out into the distance, one sees so much promising activity. There's the imposing Vissai Port pier, the silent DKC oil depot beside the bustling shipping lanes; further away are ships hurrying into Cua Lo Port, and in the distance, a range of high and low structures—Cua Lo bustling with the opening of the sea season. Standing amidst the Nghi Thiet rock formations and observing the powerful industrial rhythms out there, one suddenly feels a quiet joy… It's a beautiful intersection: behind is the enduring past of millions of years of geology, before is the promising future of a land undergoing transformation.
And perhaps, it is the synergy between the majestic rocks and the bustling economic activity that has created an irresistible attraction for Nghi Thiet in recent years. The Nghi Thiet rocky beach is like a "natural film set," needing no elaborate architecture or ostentatious staging; just a corner of rock jutting out into the sea, a golden sunset illuminating the sedimentary cliffs, is enough to transform this place into a "sanctuary" for artistic souls.
It's not uncommon to see couples coming here, dressed in splendid wedding attire, to capture the happiest moments of their lives. In the photos, they look elegantly beautiful, both contrasting and harmoniously blending with the rugged, ancient rock formations. Some young women wear flowing dresses, swaying in the breeze. They don't just come to take pictures; they come to "touch" the pristine beauty, to feel honored amidst a magnificent wonder. The presence of people makes this place even more vibrant, as if the beauty is only truly complete when captured in the admiring gaze of humans.
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Nghi Thiet's tourism potential lies in its charming, rustic character. As more and more people discover it, I secretly hope that this "awakening" will be a way of cherishing and treating Mother Nature with civility. Because the most precious gem of Nghi Thiet is its tranquility, the beauty of its layers of proud, towering cliffs that stand firm against the sun, rain, and storms, unconcerned by the noise of the world.
Hopefully, even as tourists leave more footprints in the future, the cliffs, the waves, and the peaceful rhythm of life in the fishing village will retain their essence – a Nghi Thiet that will forever be a sanctuary for the soul, a place where people can find solace, comfort, and acceptance amidst the vastness of nature. And travelers come and go, not only taking with them "Instagrammable" photos, but also love, appreciation, and contributions to keep this "gem" shining brightly amidst the rhythm of prosperity.