Starlight quy nhon

By Huong Thuy

The main ingredients of this dish ( banh trang cha ) are fish, a little bit of tapioca starch to create plasticity, cornstarch and some spices to purify the fishy smells and enhance the characteristic aroma of grilled fish.

The mixture is cut into thin slices and deep-fried until brown yellow.

A portion of banh trang cha in Quy Nhon in the south-central province of Binh Dinh. Photo by VnExpress/Hong Anh.

To properly eat Quy Nhon banh trang cha , put a few stalks of herbs, a little central Vietnam-style fried chili sauce, the highlight of the roll, on a piece of grilled fish rice paper, roll it up and enjoy.

You can also roll grilled fish rice paper with Vietnamese coriander leaves and a dab of chili sauce mixed with a little soy sauce, which makes a salty, sweet, well-seasoned dipping sauce.

Banh trang cha is a childhood delight of many Quy Nhon culinary buffs. The snack can be brought from any place in Quy Nhon at affordable prices, though the best way to enjoy it is at the seaside.

In the afternoon, you can catch young locals gathering to enjoy the sea breeze, ordering a plate of banh trang cha , along with a glass of cool sugarcane juice.

A roll of banh trang cha with Vietnamese coriander and chili source costs about VND2,000-5,000 ($0.1-0.2). Photo by VnExpress/Hong Anh.

The third edition of the marathon, to be held on June 6, promises to bring many improvements to the route and road surface to enhance the experience for participants.

The starting and finishing point of four distances (5, 10, 21 and 42 kilometers) is unchanged compared to last year. It is on An Duong Vuong Street, in front of Nguyen Tat Thanh Monument of the coastal town Quy Nhon. The area has quite a spacious road, suitable for hundreds of athletes to start at the same time. The large square is also a convenient spot from where spectators could cheer.

All four distances will start and run along the coastal road of Xuan Dieu.

The five kilometer distance will stretch across the most beautiful coastal route in Quy Nhon and before turning around to end at the monument.

In the 10 kilometer distance, athletes after turning around at the end of Xuan Dieu Road will keep running along Nguyen Tat Thanh Street before finishing in front of the monument.

As usual, the half and full marathons attract more than half the number of registrations. Most athletes want to conquer Thi Nai, the longest bridge over the sea in Southeast Asia. With a length of 2,477.3 meters and 54 spans, Thi Nai Bridge will be a great test of endurance and determination. When the sun rises, athletes can see the fishing village and fishermen from afar at Thi Nai Lagoon.

The coastal village of Nhon Hoi has also been upgraded significantly, increasing safety for full marathon runners.

After passing Nhon Hoi, all athletes will run along the west road, across a sand dune and take a look at lagoons like Thi Nai and Con Chim from above. This section is a bit steep, but offers a unique experience.

Unchanged parts of the tournament include traffic police guiding groups, water and medical stations placed in many positions, and traffic flow separation to ensure locals are less affected by the marathon.

VM Quy Nhon has become one of the biggest sporting events in Binh Dinh Province.

Register or access more information here .

More than 20 restaurants located along the highway connecting Binh Dinh and Phu Yen provinces are famous among culinary buffs.

Nguyen Phi Hong, 43, owner of Huu Lai chicken restaurant, said his eatery was opened by his father Huu Lai 20 years ago. Lai let his chicken roam freely in his garden. When customers arrived, he let them choose which they would like to eat.

This special culinary delight is locally known as ‘Ga chi’ (Chosen chicken). Many other nearby restaurants have adopted this practice. Huu Lai’s restaurant is the oldest and among the most prominent along the route from Phu Yen to Quy Nhon.

The concept was originally birthed in Song Cau Ward of Phu Yen Province. Chickens in Song Cau are famous for their chewy, fragrant texture, opposed to their crumbly industrial counterparts. They typically roam freely, eating rice, bran, vegetables and insects. Chicken restaurants in Quy Nhon only source from Song Cau.

“Free-range chicken, if kept for a long time, would lose weight, and the meat not delicious. Therefore, I don’t rear too many chickens. During the weekends and tourist season, I source more chickens from Phu Yen,” said Hong.

With the process of choosing and preparing a chicken taking around 30-45 minutes, regular customers now often call on the owner to cook their meals in advance of their arrival.

Boiled, steamed, and grilled chicken are all popular. Often brined or fried with fish sauce, or sauteed with lemongrass and chili or bamboo shoots, all dishes come with a set of delectable dipping options.

Lemon pepper salt, green chili salt, red chili salt, sweet and salty sauce are brought to the table before the main dishes are served.

Hai Ly, a tourist from Hanoi, said the chicken is “appealing for the unique way it is cooked and seasoned”.

Huy Hoang, a tour guide from Saigon, said he always suggests this chicken specialty to visitors to Quy Nhon. But most restaurants along the highway are not suited to large passenger coaches due to the lack of parking space.

The chicken restaurants are located in the middle of the garden, with guests congregated in rustic bamboo, concrete or metal-roofed huts spread across the hilly terrain.

Most restaurants open from 7 a.m. to about 9 p.m., serving locals, tourists and deliveries. Chickens cost about VND330,000 ( $14) per kilogram, each weighing about 1.4-1.8 kilograms.

Bai Xep is located by Quy Hoa Beach, Ghenh Rang Ward, about 13 kilometers from the center of Quy Nhon Town in Binh Dinh Province.

With a long coastline and turquoise-blue waters, Bai Xep fishing village has been listed by Business Insider as “one of 16 hidden gems” of Asia.

“It’s ideal for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, with a car-free village that includes a relaxing beach and plenty of fresh seafood,” the American business news website wrote.

Life’s A Beach

A Life’s A Beach room with an ocean view.

This green-themed homestay is located next to the beach. Life’s A Beach is operated by two young British owners and boasts an East-West fusion. Rooms are all open spaced, airy and close to nature.

The homestay offers double and dormitory-style rooms with prices from VND100,000 to VND600,000 ($4.3- 26) per night respectively.

An outdoor bar at Life’s A Beach makes for a relaxing vacation.

Haven Homestay

The Haven Homestay terrace overlooks the ocean.

Located next to the beach, this homestay boasts a simple design and natural ambiance.

Haven Homestay is equipped with a kitchen, bar, basic equipment, and wifi. All bedrooms have large windows and balconies facing the wind and sea.

The common area features umbrellas and wooden chairs for guests to relax and enjoy nature.

Haven Homestay has a variety of rooms with prices ranging from VND700,000 to VND1 million per night.

Open space, close to nature is what attracts tourists to Haven Homestay.

Banana Sea Homestay

Banana Sea Homestay also provides additional services like breakfast and lunch.

Banana Sea Homestay boasts a thatched design. Here, even without an air-conditioner, visitors could immerse themselves in the refreshing seaside air.

Rooms at the homestay are designed in a vintage, nostalgic style. With direct views of the beach, it attracts many tourists with its many five-star reviews.

Beside double rooms, Banana Sea Homestay also has ones that accommodate 8-10 people.

A bedroom with seaview at Banana Sea Homestay.

Photos courtesy of the homestays.