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Now it was time to leave HCM again for
the 3-hour drive to the fishing town & beach resort
of Phan Thiet. We checked into the fabulous Victoria
resort in Cape Mui Ne. This area is known for its 21
kilometre long arc of fine sand. The stylish &
elegant Victoria resort offers the very best individual
bungalows set in gardens of tropical trees within a few
steps of the fine sandy beach. The swimming pool is
beautifully blended in with the lovely gardens & the
sand & sea, relaxing & elegant. The restaurant
is artistically decorated in a modern Vietnamese style
and serves excellent food. The mixed raw fish in coconut
milk starter & the baked fish in wine & garlic
sauce as a main course were both superb. Breakfast
outside on the restaurant balcony overlooking the beach
& the sea is simply luxurious.
Apart from the beach & the sea,
Phan Thiet is also a fishing town. There are fleets of
fishing boats by the main bridge in the centre as well
as the fish market. It makes a good postcard photo.
Don't miss eating seafood in Phan Thiet as there are
plentiful nice restaurants. The 'shrimp' Kim Anh Quan
restaurant in the centre of Phan Thiet town turned out
to be more like a small lobster and must have weighed
about a half a kilo each. Two giant prawns like that
cost less than £3 total, just marvellous.
Next day we checked into the Bamboo
Village. Although much less grand than the Victoria
Resort, the Bamboo village has a much more laid-back
style, octagonal bamboo bungalows set among the gardens,
again right next to the beach on the same stretch of
coastline at Mui Ne.
All too soon our break on the beach
was over, and it was time to drive back to HCM to check
into the 5* Sofitel Plaza. A top-notch and beautiful
luxury hotel, the Sofitel has a rooftop swimming pool
and is located on historical Le Duan Boulevard, right
next to the British and US Consulates. Don't miss their
lunch or dinner buffets, both lavish & delicious.
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