Da Nang is deep in its rainy season now. It’s the kind of rain that doesn’t seem to stop. It pours, it drizzles, it pauses just long enough for the sun to peek out, and then it pours again 😀. These endless rainy days make me miss the sunshine so much. Somehow it recalled the beautiful sunny day few years ago that my colleagues and I decided to escape, to run away from the city’s noise and reconnect with nature.
We wanted somewhere close to the sea, peaceful, and a little wild. That’s how we found Bãi Đá Beach, also known as Rock Beach or Obama Rock Beach. If you’re wondering why it’s called Obama, honestly, I have no idea. Some people say that vendors in the area made up the name to attract curious visitors, and guess what, it worked. People come because of curiosity about the name, and stay for the beauty.
So, come along with me to discover this hidden gem!
Bãi Đá is located at the far end of the Son Tra Peninsula. Just follow Google Maps straight to “Bãi Đá Beach,” and you’ll find it easily. It has so many rocks of many different shapes and sizes, surrounded by calm blue waters and gentle breezes. And it's a kind of unspoiled beach, not too touristy.
We met up at a colleague’s house and rode there together on motorbikes. It took about 40 mins, but we weren’t in a rush. The ride itself was part of the fun, not challenging at all.
We packed everything we needed for a mini beach barbecue: marinated meat, vegetables, corn, mushrooms, fruit, paper plates, water and even charcoal for grilling.
When we arrived, we parked our bikes and wandered around to soak in the view before renting a bamboo hut to rest and eat. We shared the hut with other groups as it is a big one. There are a few restaurants and water activities around. You can rent a hut like we did, bring your own food, or simply order there if you prefer to travel light.
By around 11am, we fired up the grill. The cooking area was small, so we had to take turns grilling, one person fanning the charcoal while the rest prepped and chatted. The smell of the meat, laughter, and sea breeze, oh, it was simple happiness.
After an hour or so, we were finally ready to dig in. And yes, we were starving! The food was so good, and we drank some Strong Bow which are light alcohol drinks. Maybe, everything tasted better by the sea and around friends.
As true Vietnamese, we couldn’t skip a little nap after lunch. With full stomachs and the sound of waves nearby, everyone fell asleep quickly before heading into the water.
By the time we went swimming, the beach was a bit more crowded. Some people learnt to swim, others rode jet skis, some took photos. The scene was vibrant, but the beauty of the beach is even more lively and vibrant. The sky and water were blue and clear. Many giant rocks with interesting shapes, as well as the round small ones. That was when we felt so close with nature, so relaxing.
We swam, played, and of course, I took a few photos to save the memory.
That was our little retreat. It may sound simple, but it was incredibly fun and relaxing. We enjoyed the beautiful nature, had good food, and a good bonding time together.
I can’t wait for sunny days to come back for more little adventures like that one. Or even just to go to Bãi Đá again, maybe there are some changes now. But I am sure it is still a very beautiful hidden gem to me.
How about you? Have you done something fun lately? Please share it with me :))
All photos were taken with my phone.