Yang Bay Tourist Area in Y Bay Tribe, Khanh Vinh District, Khanh Hoa Province, is suggested as an ideal site for tourists to celebrate the Tet holiday and discover this area that is endowed with magnificent waterfalls, blue lakes and splendid scenery.
To reach the site from Nha Trang City, tourists must pass through Dien Khanh Old Town and 40 kilometers more through deserted villages. The way to Yang Bay is rather complicated, so tourists should stop frequently to ask locals the right way if traveling independently.
Yang Bay Tourist Area is located on an area of 570 hectares of primeval forest and three waterfalls, namely Yang Bay, Yang Khang and Ho Cho. Yang Bay in the local ethnic language is Raglay, which means Heaven Waterfall. Entrance tickets are VND30,000 per adult and VND30,000 per two children. English speaking tour guides cost VND100,000 per hour and Vietnamese language conducted tours are VND50,000 per hour.
The 800 meter path to the center of the site is shaded by seasoned trees and is lovely with its flowers and creepers. However, anyone too lazy to walk the 800 meters can catch the electric bus for VND10,000.
On the stone steps of the gentle slope, tourists can start the journey to Yang Bay Waterfall with fresh air in the lungs and the relaxing feeling of cool water under the feet. The silence of the site is broken by the roaring of the waterfall spilling onto the giant rocks below. The stream from a height of hundreds of meters looks like a silver carpet under the glistening rays of the sun.
The waterfall sustains several small lakes below, of which the deepest is 16 meters.
The nearby Yang Khang Waterfall offers swimming or bathing in clear water. Bathing suits and buoys are available for rent, VND60,000 to VND70,000 for swim suits and VND5,000 for buoys.
After working up a hunger from the hiking and swimming, tourists can stop at Yang Khang Restaurant or Yang Bay Restaurant which was built in the traditional architecture of the highlands. While enjoying some food, locals will perform on ethnic musical instruments.
In the distance is a colorful orchid garden with many kinds of orchids brought from southern provinces. Tourists can also hire a horse-drawn carriage to enjoy the flower garden as well as the site.
Less than a thousand meters away is the pristine Ho Cho Waterfall with its wonderful surrounding landscapes.
An overnight stay ensures tourists a chance to enjoy a stone musical instrument performance and an old fashioned campfire in the great outdoors.