Bai Dai or Long Beach stretches for 10 km from the southern part of the Lo river along the road from Nha Trang to Cam Ranh Airport. The beach has pristine white sands and shallow turquoise water so its safe for children and non-swimmers. In the summer, travelers can enjoy the tranquil atmosphere and cool breezes whilst lying under the popular trees. However, it can be difficult to find accommodation here. Simple local cafes and restaurants serve a variety of seafood at lower price than in the city of Nha Trang.
Bai Dai (long beach) in cen-tral Khanh Hoa Province in the past three years has slowly been building up its reputation among tourists as a sleeping beauty finally being awoken by an influx of visitors.
Last April, a 21-km road that allowed easier access to this hidden treasure was opened, linking the southern part of the Lo River in Nha Trang to Cam Ranh airport.
Bai Dai, stretching 10 kilometers across Cam Hai Dong Commune, Cam Ranh Municipality, impresses visitors with its pristine beauty, white sands, turquoise waters and shallow shores. If tourists drift from the coast, they may also discover forests of poplar trees sitting atop stunning sand dunes.
Long Beach got its name from a vast sandy area that appears during low tide on calm days. The beach is shallow and safe, excellent for children and non-swimmers.
Before leaving, visitors should enjoy the tranquil atmosphere and cool breezes experienced while lying under the poplar trees. Especially for those coming from metropolitan areas, the forests offer shade from the stresses of city life.
Please be warned, however, that those who expect to find accommodations similar to other, more developed beach towns in Vietnam may be disappointed upon arrival to Bai Dai. While waiting for the construction of more modern and comfortable resorts, tourists can take advantage of the 30 or so makeshift restaurants that lie along a one-kilometer stretch of beach. Here, visitors can feast on fresh squid, fish and crab at lower prices than those in the capital city of Nha Trang. There is also the option of bringing your own food and drinks and renting chairs at VND5,000 each.
Finally, it comes as a surprise to many that each of the restaurants have a fresh-water well dug next to shore, where tourists can rinse off or bathe at no charge.
The authorities of Khanh Hoa have planned to turn Bai Dai into one of the major tourism areas in the southern part of the province. They plan to build a three or four-star tourism complex with luxury resorts on a 200-hectare expanse.
To discover this hidden treasure, go straight on Nguyen Tat Thanh Boulevard for 10 kilometers from Cam Ranh. After passing through Dong Bo Mountain, you continue going straight on a dirt road. Bai Dai is some 200 meters from there.