Ninh Chu Beach and the journey of slow living in the middle of white sand

Ninh Chu beach lies there quietly, pristine like a green silk ribbon stretched across the sun-drenched land of Ninh Thuan. It is not flamboyant or dazzling, yet it holds a breathtaking beauty in its own unique way. Like a watercolor painting crafted from light and serenity, the place offers more than just the sea. It is a whole space for slow living, a dream caressed by time and memory.

Few people know that Ninh Chu is one of the nine most beautiful beaches in Vietnam. This title was not awarded under stage lights, but rather felt by those who have stepped onto the chalk-white sand and listened as the wind whispered untold stories. The shoreline curves gently like a soft smile, where rows of casuarina trees stand still like silent witnesses to the seasons of waves.

About five kilometers from the center of Phan Rang city, this beach rests quietly within Khanh Hai town like a secret kept with care. In the early morning, the air carries the salty scent of the sea, the breeze gently brushes the skin, and the sound of waves lulls like a lullaby from a mother’s heart. When the sun still hesitates at the horizon, golden light scatters over the water, making the whole space seem to glow from within.

Amid that pure nature, the cultural fragments are present in a subtle yet profound way. Not far from the beach stands the ancient Po Klong Garai tower cluster, a masterpiece of the Cham people shaped like a red flame rising against the sky. Built in the thirteenth century to honor a virtuous king of the Cham, the towers are bonded brick by brick without mortar, as if time itself forged their lasting strength. The carvings on the towers are not mere decorations but whispers of history.

At the foot of the towers, Cham hands still mold clay just as their ancestors did. Bau Truc pottery village lies beside a small stream, where the handcrafting technique without molds has been passed down for centuries. The pottery is sun-dried, fired with wood, and shaped from memory. Each ceramic piece is a fragment of soul etched by time.

Nearby is Thai An grape village, where lush green vines intertwine with bougainvillea blossoms, forming a scene that looks like it came out of a painting. Grapes here are not grown en masse. Each cluster is cared for with sun and sea breeze. Locals use only spring water and patient hands. The handmade grape wine is not intense but warm enough to comfort the windy afternoons.

There is a place many pass by without visiting, Vinh Hy Bay. Located about forty kilometers from the main beach, the bay is like a hidden gem tucked behind majestic limestone mountains. The water is so clear you can see beams of light piercing to the bottom. You can sit in a glass-bottom boat to watch coral reefs, or simply lie on the deck and let your mind drift with the quiet waves.

For those yearning for adventure, Mui Dinh is an irresistible call. White sand dunes stretch endlessly, the wind constantly sweeping over the grains, turning the landscape into a story-telling desert. When the sun sets, the entire space transforms into a brilliant orange band. At night, small camps rise, flames flicker, and stars seem to fall closer to the ground. In that moment, it feels as if the whole sky fits into a single blink.

The ideal time to visit Ninh Chu is from January to August, when the sky is clear, the sea is calm, and the sun coats each wave with a golden shimmer. Visitors can fly to Cam Ranh airport and travel around sixty kilometers by car. Or, for a slower pace, take the train to Thap Cham station, once a key transit point during the French colonial era.

The cuisine here is simple but rich in flavor. Fresh mai fish salad is mixed with forest herbs and sweet-sour fish sauce, eaten with crispy rice crackers. Grilled dong lizard, a specialty of the white sand area, offers a unique fragrance and sweetness. Banh canh is cooked on clay molds, served with scallion oil, dipping sauce, and fresh vegetables, creating a humble yet unforgettable taste. Food here is not only to be savored but also a way to feel the soul of the land.

Few notice that Ninh Chu lies in one of the sunniest regions in Vietnam, a condition that helps fruit trees flourish and flowers bloom vividly all year round. This also creates a rare green tourism ecosystem. The scenery here fits perfectly with the trend of slow travel, nature-based retreats, and all-day photography in perfect light.

The locals live peacefully, kindly, always smiling at strangers. There is an old tale that a sea fairy once chose this land to rest after wandering the vast ocean. She left her laughter in the waves, her tears in the wind, so that future travelers would always find peace here.

Ninh Chu is not for those in a hurry. But for those who know how to pause, how to breathe slowly and feel each wave’s rhythm, this is a place worth keeping. A place where waves can write letters on the sand, where sunlight gently touches memory, and where every burden dissolves in the breath of the sea.