At the end of 2018 I picked Ha Tien as a place to hang out for a couple of weeks before packing all my stuff into panniers and taking my very first steps in the world of bike touring.
It gave me the chance to explore and check out a lot of things both on and off the tourist radar. There are certainly some hidden gems worth exploring, such as the Nui Nai lighthouse (a great pick up from Google Maps).
You can check out a more detailed guide on Ha Tien here, but in the meantime, here is my top list of things to do. Except for the boat trip, they are all free of charge.
1. Visit Nui Nai lighthouse
On a clear day the view from the top of the lighthouse is simply stunning. The lighthouse keepers are delighted to have visitors, and will take you up for free on an informal basis. Nui Nai Lighthouse is best reached with your own transport (bicycle or scooter) though be prepared to walk the final dozen metres to the top, as it is very steep.
2. Visit Phat Da temple at nightfall
Ha Tien has many temples, but this one, built in a Japanese style, is the most elegant and serene. Visit just as night falls (around 6pm, don’t forget bug spray) to see dozens of bamboo lanterns lit up in a huge bodhi tree. The effect – coupled with sonorous wind chimes and gentle striking of the temple bell – is magical.
3. Watch the sunset
Sunsets can be quite a spectacle in Ha Tien. Join locals at the town’s sunset point as the sun becomes a huge red orb and drops into the ocean against the mountains of Cambodia. Ha Tien’s seaside boulevard, which sits alongside a new housing and villa development, is still a work in progress but is still a very nice, low key place to sit.
4. Boat trip among the mangroves
Take a peaceful early morning boat trip through narrow mangrove-lined waterways and Dong Ho estuary. The easiest way to arrange this is be emailing info@hatienmekongtravel.com or dropping in to the tourist information centre. Expect to pay around 300K for a 60-90 minute trip.
5. Visit Pirate Island (Hai Tac)
Hai Tac is one of Vietnam’s most recent islands to be opened up to foreign visitors. In just over an hour, a ferry will take you from Ha Tien to the island, making this an incredibly easy way to visit a location that is still truly off the beaten track.
And of course you get to tell your friends you went to Pirate Island.
What you’ll find there is a very nice little beach with crystal clear water and excellent seafood, though first impressions may not be as attractive for the time being due to a much needed project bringing running water and electricity to the island. With your own transport (bicycles and motorbikes can travel on the boat) you can circumnavigate the island (around 7kms) and pop in to the village. Ferries leave at 8.30am from Ha Tien’s main pier (Ben Tau Ha Tien Moi), returning at 2.30pm.
6. Ride the My Duc and Xa Xia back roads
Exploring the small rural back roads near the Cambodian border is an absolute delight and can easily be done in conjunction with a visit to one of the area’s cave complexes – both worthy visitor sites in their own right. The flat landscape is easily rideable and offers classic views across rice fields on to surrounding limestone mountains. Read about four back road loops here.
7. Stroll around Ha Tien’s heritage streets
Stop for a fresh rice paper roll or sizzling barbecue pork outside one of the 100-year old buildings on Lam Son Street. Most tourists never make it out this way, but Lam Son and surrounding ‘cultural streets’ are the real heart of the town. The area is also eminently walkable.
8. Survey the landscape from a much maligned monastery
Ngoc Tien Monastery doesn’t get too many compliments in the guidebooks, and personally I think its weird geometric design and earthy hues deserve more credit, especially in the late afternoon when everything lights up. What everyone agrees on is the quality of the view, which is excellent on a clear day. Cycling is also a pleasure on the cozy rural back roads not far from here.
9. Eat grilled chicken at the night market
Ha Tien is famous for its waterfront seafood stalls, but if you really want to try a truly local institution, pull up a plastic stool at the grilled chicken stall in the town’s main market area. The little street food hub is lively, delicious, and all that is good about south east Asia. A little green papaya side salad and squeeze of lime is served on the side.
Do make sure you also visit the market in daylight hours – it is one of Vietnam’s most thriving and lively, and even accommodates sleep-ins by kicking on well into the morning.
10. Watch river life go by at a breezy floating cafe
I whiled away many hours at the Dong Ho floating café and could while away many more. They serve the usual Vietnamese iced coffee and drinks, but the real attraction is watching river life go by as a variety of boats whizz right up close. Dong Ho and its flashier neighbour Café Mekong are also significantly cooler than the rest of town, offering respite during the hottest part of the day (11am to 2pm). In the late afternoon you can also grab a fresh rice paper roll or banh trang tron (refreshing salad with green mango and rice paper strips) and eat them inside.
