Discover Hon Ba - 'Dalat of the coastal city'

Hon Ba is known as "Da Lat of Khanh Hoa" thanks to its altitude of over 1,500m, fresh air, mountain landscape, and the house where Dr. Yersin lived.

Hon Ba Peak is a mountain peak in Hon Ba Nature Reserve (formerly Khanh Vinh and Cam Lam districts), about 50 km southwest of Nha Trang beach city. The mountain peak is 1,578 m above sea level. The climate here is temperate and is known as "Da Lat of the beach city".

Hon Ba Peak at an altitude of 1,578 m, where Dr. A. Yersin's office is located. Photo: Bui Toan

Mr. Doan Quang Duc, 38 years old, a resident of Nha Trang, chose to experience visiting Hon Ba peak with his family on the weekend. Starting in the morning, he drove his personal car from Nha Trang to Suoi Dau intersection. Then he went to a tourist area in Hon Ba, booked a tour to visit the mountain by bus.

During the tour, the travel agency will arrange an open-top bus to take his family to the top of the mountain. The road up the mountain is about 37 km long, winding and steep. However, the route was completely built by a private company, with full signs and rescue routes, so Mr. Duc rated it "quite safe".

Along the way to the top, visitors will be able to see dense forests and streams flowing through the mountains. The higher you go, the cooler the climate becomes. Some places are covered in fog, allowing visitors to feel the majesty of this place.

Inside the office of Dr. Alexandre Yersin, many documents about his life and career are displayed. Photo: Bui Toan

Mr. Duc said that before, going to Hon Ba was quite difficult because this is a strictly protected area, you have to ask permission from the authorities to visit, the roads are also difficult to travel and have many potential dangers.

"Now, with just a ticket price of 300,000-900,000 VND per person, tourists can visit Hon Ba and experience many services of the tourism agency," said Mr. Duc.

After more than 40 minutes of travel, visitors will reach the top of Hon Ba at an altitude of 1,578 m, where the highlight is the working house of Dr. Alexandre Yersin. This is a work ranked as a National Monument by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2023.

The two-story ancient house was built by Dr. Yersin in 1914. He lived, researched, and grew rare medicinal plants here. This place is closely associated with the doctor's life and career of scientific research and medicine serving people.

"In addition to visiting and learning about the documents of Dr. Yersin's house on Hon Ba peak, visitors can visit the flower gardens, relax, and enjoy the fresh air here," said Mr. Duc.

Tourists experience off-road vehicle riding at the tourist area at the foot of Hon Ba mountain. Photo: Kong Forest

At 12 noon, Duc's family will go down to the tourist area near the foot of the mountain to bathe in the stream, experience off-road driving, and zipline. Regarding food, visitors will experience a rice buffet; eat a variety of dishes such as grilled chicken, roasted pork,...

Anh Duc suggests that tourists who want to learn more about the life of scientist Yersin at Hon Ba can book the tour "Following the footsteps of doctor A. Yersin" for 965,000 VND/person. Places to visit in the tour include: Yersin Museum, A. Yersin Park, Hon Ba, doctor Yersin's tomb, and Oceanographic Museum.

According to Mr. Duc, to fully experience Hon Ba peak, visitors should go between June and August because there is less rain, less fog, and when reaching the top of the mountain "it will be less cold and less dangerous".

"This is one of the interesting hot tourist destinations near Nha Trang, suitable for families who want to travel for the day but still want to experience a variety of activities," said Mr. Duc.

Not only suitable for families, Hon Ba is also an option for many runners participating in VnExpress Marathon Libera Nha Trang 2025. The race is expected to gather 13,000 athletes, taking place on the morning of August 24 on the coastal route through Tran Phu Bridge, Tram Huong Tower and Luong Son Pass. The event concludes the summer series of VnExpress Marathon, targeting runners who like to combine sports with tourism.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/kham-pha-hon-ba-da-lat-cua-pho-bien-388470.html