A Review of Ninh Thuan

7/27/2019 A Review of Ninh Thuan

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1. ADMINISTRATIVE AND TOURIST MAPS OF NINH THUANPROVINCE

2. AN OVERVIEW OF NINH THUANNinh Thuan Province lies south of the Central of Vietnam at the North latitude of

1101814-1200915 and the East longitude of 10800108- 10901425. NinhThuan borders on Khanh Hoa Province to the north, Binh Thuan Province to thesouth, Lam Dong Province to the west and the East Sea to the east.

Area: 3,360 square kilometers.

Population: 550,000 residents.

Administrative units: Phan Rang-Thap Cham Town and 4 districts includingNinh Phuoc, Ninh Hai, Ninh Son and Bac Ai.

3. THE MAKING HISTORY OF NINH THUAN PROVINCEIn the old days, Ninh Thuan was called Panduranga Administrative Unit underthe reign of the Champa kingdom. From the Le dynasty to the late Nguyendynasty, this land belonged to Thai Khang District (Khanh Hoa) and Binh ThuanDistrict, subject to a borderline division with different names such as district anddivision In the 17th year of King Bao Dais reign (1942), Ninh Thuan Divisionwas officially transformed into Ninh Thuan Province. Under the former Saigonregime (1954- 1975), Ninh Thuan consisted of 5 districts, 27 communes and 121hamlets.

After the Liberation Day of the South on April 30th, 1975, Ninh Thuan Provincejoined a merger with the provinces of Binh Thuan, Tuyen Duc and Lam Dong to

form Thuan Lam Province. In February 1976, Thuan Lam Province wasdissolved. Ninh Thuan, Binh Tuy and Binh Thuan entered incorporation intoThuan Hai Province. Since April 1992, Ninh Thuan Province has been re-established.

4. THE ROAD TO NINH THUAN PROVINCEPhan Rang-Thap Cham Town is 304 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City. Thefollowing means of transport are available for tourists:

By railroad: Trains from Sai Gon railway station to Thap Cham railway stationare available everyday. Ticket fare ranges from VND105,000 to VND190,000

depending on the class of seat (Meal costs are included). Tourists can buy traintickets at Sai Gon railway station at 1 Nguyen Thong, District 3, Ho Chi MinhCity; for door-to-door ticket delivery, please dial the telephone number (08)8436528. At Phan Rang-Thap Cham Town, tourists can contact Thap Chamrailway station at the address: Do Vinh Ward, Phan Rang-Thap Cham Town orcall (068) 834008 for door-to-door ticket delivery.


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with the shape of flame while the top of the angle tower is decorated with stonelotus bud. Inside the tower, King Po Rome is worshipped in the shape of eight-arm God of Shiva. In the past, next to the statue of Po Rome was the queens butit was stolen. The second queens statue at the rear room was in the samesituation. Despite being less graceful and elaborate than Po Klong Garai tower,

Po Rome tower proves to be a striking architectural work. Annually, theclothing-procession ritual takes place at Po Rome tower on the Kate New YearFestival.

Hoa Lai Tower:

Hoa Lai tower complex, also called Ba Thap (Three Towers), lies along NationalRoad 1A at Ba Thap Village, Tan Hai Commune, Ninh Hai District, 14 kilometersnorth of Phan Rang-Thap Cham Town. Built in the early 9th century, Hoa Laitower complex features a group of 3 towers. Unfortunately, the main tower fellinto collapse while the two remaining towers including North tower and South

tower are under severe deterioration. The remnant of the tower is the cube-shaped body of the tower that juts out from a part of square pedestal andsupports smaller layers. At present, sculpture patterns remain elaborate andbeautiful and are found on the arch of the gate, the buttress and the roof edgingof the tower.

Ngoan Muc Mountain Pass:

It can be said that Ngoan Muc is among the most spectacular passes in Vietnam.Its name, which means Spectacular, in part, indicates its fascinating beauty.The pass is 18.5 kilometers long with its average slope of around 90. Lookingdown from the pass, tourists can see an abrupt abyss. The zigzag mountain pass

looms behind rows of pine-trees and cars look like tiny toy ones running slowlydown the pass. Far from the distance, Phan Rang plain and winding Cai Riverare within range of vision. The picturesque scenery on the pass is a mixture ofwildness, magnificence, elegance and romanticism, arousing tourists greatamusement. Ngoan Muc pass is actually deserving of its name.Vinh Hy Bay:

Lying in Vinh Hy Village, Vinh Hy Commune, Ninh Hai District, 40 kilometersnorth-east of Phan Rang-Thap Cham Town, Vinh Hy Bay is ranked one of themost beautiful bays in Viet Nam besides Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh, CamRanh Bay and Van Phong Bay in Khanh Hoa. Vinh Hy is a natural bay with wild

and magnificent scenery that is characterized by dangerous sheer cliffs on oneside and immense blue ocean on the other. At the mouth of the gulf are splendidcoral reefs; a diving 15 meters in depth offers tourists a face-to-face view of themultiple color shades of coral reefs looking like undersea petals. Tourists canstop at Ba Dien bathing-place lying in the middle of the bay for both sea bathingand mountaineering. Tours to Vinh Hy Bay involve a trip to Mt. Chua naturalreserve and Lo O stream- a past revolutionary base across a poetic suspension


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bridge. With its ability to offer tourists a feeling of discovery and relaxation, VinhHy Bay is a key attraction of Ninh Thuan tourism.Sa Kai Waterfall:

Sa Kai waterfall is around 35 kilometers northwest of Phan Rang-Thap ChamTown, Ninh Son District. The waterfall lies next to the root of Ngoan Muc

mountain pass and Da Nhim hydroelectric plant. The place offers wild naturallandscape, interminable, thick green forests and waterfall with gleamingly whitefoams, which creates an ideal ecological tourist site. Coming here, tourists willfind themselves immersed in the nice natural scenery and enjoy the moments ofpeacefulness amidst the immense spectacle of Truong Sons imposing mountainsand forests.Phuoc Dinh Moving Dunes:

An area of roughly 10 square kilometers, northwest of Mui Dinh (Dinh Cape) iscovered with the sand dunes with a height of 20-30 meters following oneanother. Because the dunes either penetrate deep into the mainland or recede

towards the sea in 2 seasons every year, they are called moving sand dunes. Seenfrom the slope, the wind whirls the sand into small vortexes, toss up and thenthrow them towards sheer slopes. Hidden from the mist of sand hanging in theair, the peak of dunes dimly looms in the flaming sunbeams of the late afternoon.Right at the root of the high dunes, streams are winding their way to the sea. Thestreams that do not change their direction in time are blocked by sand dunes,forming small lakes with fresh and clear water that gives tourists more strengthto keep going across mountain ranges ahead. The ideal time for excursion of thesand dunes is at dawn or sunset.

Nam Cuong White Dune:

Besides Phuoc Dinh moving dunes, Ninh Thuan hosts many other famous sandhills like Nam Cuong dune with strips of white sand running up and downalong the coast. The white dune is dotted with ranges of cactus including theones with plump trunks, and rows of poplar bending themselves ahead of thewind in the distance. Like in a fairy tale, sometimes the Cham girls with waterdecanters on their head appear, crossing the dune in a lissom gait, which makestourists feel as if they were lost in some desert of Africa.

Phuoc Hai Red Dune:

If the white shade of Nam Duong dune dazzles tourists eyes, the red shade of

Phuoc Hai dune will arouse tourists surprise and amusement. Its fortunate foranybody to encounter the master of the red dune- that is Nhong Cat (LeiolepisReevesii Gray) (Nhong Cat is a species of gecko but in larger size and normallyfound under the sand). Just at the mere sight of the human, these small niceanimals broaden their necks as if they wanted to ask Where are you from?

Thuong Stream:


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The currents stream out and pour down from stone crevices, forming smallercurrents that murmur around trees and pebble slopes. In general, Thuong streamcovers various areas. Some only record the existence of stone jaws and smallstreams flowing slowly below. Some hosts plenty of trees casting a shadow overthe spring, very suitable for a spring bath.

Tan My A Hot Mineral Water Bathing-place:

Located in the national road linking Ninh Thuan to Lam Dong, Tan My A hotmineral water rises from Mt. Hon Ba with a height of 45 meters and flowsthrough a system of 300C water containers. Here, over 20 hot mineral pools areready for service. Making a soak in the hot mineral water for 45 60 minutes,tourists will feel healthy. The hot mineral water is scientifically proven to offer aneffective treatment of rheumatism.

Tien (Fairy) Waterfall:

32 kilometers northwest of Phan Rang-Thap Cham Town along National Road27A, a cascade makes its appearance amidst magnificent forests and mountains.The waterfall pours down from above and stretches itself out, looking like silversilk ribbons filled with dubious mists of spray. Its Tien (Fairy) waterfall. Indeed,the waterfall depicts fairyland landscape, deserving of its name. The subtlefragrance of forest pervades the air; the perfume of the sky and the earth goeswith the wind; the flocks of butterfly hover about colorful woodland flowers; thesong of wild birds joins the choir with the sound of cascading; and thesurrounding atmosphere is so pure Tien waterfall is an ideal rendezvous forlovers of natural life.

6. NICE BEACHESNinh Chu Beach:

Regarded as one of the nine most beautiful beaches in Vietnam, Ninh Chu beachcovers a length of over 10 kilometers and features a graceful sickle-shaped curve.Very green rows of poplar meander along the coast with white fine sand banks.Next to them are the mountains of Da Chong, Tan An and Ca Du, and Nailagoon full of fish and cuttle-fish, which gives birth to a harmonious and strikingnatural scene.

Ca Na Beach:

Ca Na beach has long become one of Vietnam marine tourisms most popularand fascinating attractions. The sea water of Ca Na beach describes turquoiseblue and is added more beauty by heaving billows crashing onto rough rocks;some large rocks close to the coast are smoothly polished by sea waves, lookingspectacular. A sea-bathing at Ca Na beach will soon chase way all sorrows andtroubles of the daily life. In addition to cool, clear and blue sea water, touristswill have a chance to unveil the secrets of the underwater world characterized by


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white coral reefs and fish of various color shades swimming here and there inflocks. Ca Na beach lies very close to National Road 1A in Phuoc DienCommune, Ninh Phuoc District, 34 kilometers south of Phan Rang-Thap ChamTown and 304 kilometers north of Ho Chi Minh City, near the boundary withBinh Thuan Province.

Da Vach (Cliffs) Beach:

Da Vach beach is characterized by its natural imposing great cliffs which calmlybar violent billows as though conveying some song of Ninh Thuan people livingin a scorching sandy region. Tourists with adventurousness will surely enjoytheir trip to Da Vach beach to challenge their courage.

Ca Tien Beach:

Ca Tien beach covers a length of 38 kilometers. Thanks to its wildness, the beachis compared with a naive and virginal country girl. The beach features sapphireseawater, sparkling white sand bank and rows of green coconut-palms gentlysloping to the sea. The arrival of violent winds leads to the appearance of the seawaves with gleamingly white crests, which will surely fill lovers of surfing withgreat excitement. Coming to Ca Tien beach, tourists will find out a shelter of theirown full of the happy things of life.

Tuan Tu (Handsome) Beach:

Hidden from behind Tuan Tu Cultural Village, Ninh Phuoc District, Tuan Tu is afascinating beach, deserving of its name. The strips of very white sand followsone another, stretching as far as the eyes can see; the sea waves crashing ontooffshore coral reefs suddenly turn into ripples upon their approach to the coast.

Mothers, children and cowards can find it safe and friendly to take a sea bathinghere.

7. TRADITIONAL FESTIVALSMbang Kate Festival (The Commemoration of The Father):

Annually, Mbang Kate festival is held in the early 7th month according to theChams calendar at Po Klong Garai tower or other Cham towers. The festivallasts for 3 days, starts with the tower rites followed by village festivitiesincluding football competition, musical contest, brocade weaving contest andfinally ends with family celebrations. Mbang Kate festival is considered the Tet

holiday of the Cham (New Year Festival) aimed at performing ritual offerings todeities, heroes and ancestors.

Cha Ban Festival (The Commemoration of The Mother):

Cha Ban is another festival of the Cham for making offerings to the MotherGenie- PoInu Nugar and the Earth Genie who provided the Cham farmers withbumper harvests. The festival is held at Po Klong Garai tower or Ponaga templein the 10th month according to the Chams calendar.


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Rija Nugar Festival:

Rija Nugar Festival, also called the festival of homeland, proves to be a specialone since both the Cham of Brahmanism and the Cham of Ba Ni religion(nationalized Islam) join in the festival on one designated day (Thursday orFriday of the first week of the first month according to the Chams calendar).Thats why Rija Nugar festival conveys the nationhood and popularization,which makes the festival similar to the Viets Lunar New Year Festival. Thecontent of the festival is involved in dancing, music and songs glorifying deifiedkings and heroes that represent greatly cultural and artistic values. Rija Nugarused to be a big festival but today, it is a small one.

Jon Jang Festival (Emperor Shen Nong-praying festival):

Since Ninh Thuan Provinces particular weather involves in scorching sun,winds and severe lack of rain, the Cham attach themselves to the custom of rainpraying to ask Emperor Shen Nong and other deities for bumper harvests. The

festival takes place at Po Klong Garai tower and Po Rome tower for two days inthe 4th month according to the Chams calendar. After the festival comes to anend, the villagers flock together to Da Nhim dam, Cam River dam to perform theritual of praying for rain.

8. TRADE VILLAGES AND PRODUCTSBau Truc pottery making village:

Located in Phuoc Dan Commune, Ninh Phuoc District, Bau Truc pottery makingvillage is among the worlds rare remaining ones that are engaged in producingancient pottery. Although today, one know to use turning tables for pottery

modelling, the Cham craftsmen still use their skillful hands and primitive toolsto make pottery. Another trait of Bau Truc is that the Cham craftsmen rely on aspecial kind of clay that is taken from the banks of Quao River and mixed withsand according to their own blending proportion and techniques depending onthe size and type of products. The Cham potters place clay on a chock and havean absorbent piece of coarse cloth go around the designated clay in order toshape the orifice of pottery. Next, they use a shell to scrape off clay inside, curvethe shoulder and body of the pottery from inside out so that the pottery gets afine round. The patterns on the pottery are painted by means of a tiny twig orbamboo trunk. Water-colors for decorating the surface of the pottery result from

a mixture of the clay featuring the red of blood, Dong fruit (a kind of Vietnamesefruit), and decandrous persimmon. Bau Truc pottery offers a full range of choiceincluding cauldron, earthenware pot, kettle, oven, large glazed earthenware jar,small jar, basin, vase

My Nghiep brocade weaving village:

Most of the Cham villages transmit the occupation of brocade weaving to oneanother. And My Nghiep trade village is the most outstanding of all thanks to its


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bone of Nhong is soft like cartilage while its skin is crispy; however, whenprepared, the skin of Nhong is discarded because of its ugliness. Ninh Thuanpeople normally make 7 dishes from Nhong including baked Nhong, roastedNhong, steamed Nhong, grilled chopped Nhong, Nhong gruel, Nhong cookedwith Chinese melon. According to gastronomers, the most delicious dish of

Nhong is its gall and egg. The gall of Nhong is greasy and has a buttery taste andthus, is considered as a great delicacy of the past. Most of specialty restaurantsand eateries in Phan Rang-Thap Cham Town offer Nhong dishes worth aroundVND15,000 VND30,000 per plate.

Mai fish mixed salad:

Mai is a kind of small fish like anchovy. Its flesh is very limpid, destitute ofblood. Done Mai represents no fishy smell. There are 2 types of Mai fish mixedsalad: dry fish salad and wet fish salad. The flesh of Mai is left uncooked andmixed with spicy vegetables and roasted groundnuts. And then, a few drops of

lemon juice are needed to make the flesh done to a turn and soaked with spices.The dish is served with baked Banh Trang (rice pancake). That is dry mixedsalad. For wet mixed salad, the flesh of Mai is soaked with a special kind of saucemade of groundnuts and ground sesame and then rolled with spicy vegetables inrice pancakes. The flesh of Mai is sweet, tough and crispy and is a specialty ofNinh Thuan coastal area.

Ninh Thuan chicken rice:

Coming to Phan Rang-Thap Cham Town, tourists should not miss the chance torelish chicken rice. There are 2 famous eateries including Duc chicken rice eateryat 11 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street (available in the morning) and Hai Nam chicken

rice eatery at 17 Le Hong Phong Street near Phan Rang market (available all daylong). Chicken rice is prepared from the chicken that are raised in the garden,and especially once laid eggs to ensure that the flesh is sweet and not tough.

Water morning glory stir-fried with garlic:

For other localities, water morning glory stir-fried with garlic is a very commonrural dish. However, for Ninh Thuan, this kind of dish is ranked among localspecialties. The stem of water morning glory here is very big with a diameter ofaround one centimeter, soft and crispy. When stir-fried, the stems of watermorning glory turn fresh green. Dotted with aromatic white garlic, the dish

features special and attractive taste.11. ACCOMMODATION

Thong Nhat Hotel (two-star):

Address: 343 Thong Nhat Street, Phan Rang-Thap Cham Town.

Tel: 068. 825406 827201; Fax: 068. 822943

Huyen Trang Hotel (three-star):


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Address: 16-4 Street, Phan Rang-Thap Cham Town.

Tel: 068. 833309 835838; Fax: 068. 835836

Email: [email protected]

Ninh Thuan Hotel (two-star):

Address: 1, 21-8 Street, Phan Rang-Thap Cham Town.

Tel: 068. 824273 824282; Fax: 068. 822142

Sai Gon Ninh Chu Hotel (two-star):

Address: Khanh Hai Commune, Ninh Hai District.

Tel: 068. 873900; Fax: 068: 873023

Trang Ha Hotel:

Address: 560 562 564 Thong Nhat Street, Phan Rang-Thap Cham Town.

Tel: 068. 822606 822488

Phong Lan Hotel (two-star):

Address: 74 Yen Ninh, Binh Son Beach, Phan Rang-Thap Cham Town.

Tel: 068. 890027 890160 890156; Fax: 068. 890216

Ca Na Hotel:

Address: Kilometer 1589, National Road 1A, Phuoc Diem, Ninh Phuoc District.

Tel: 068. 861616 861320; Fax: 068. 861320

Email: [email protected] Thang Hotel:

Address: 430 Ngo Gia Tu Street, Phan Rang-Thap Cham Town.

Tel: 068. 822494 835899

Binh Minh Hotel:

Address: Yen Minh Street, Khanh Hai Town, Ninh Hai District.

Tel: 068. 874226

Hieu Hang Hotel:

Address: Yen Minh Street, Khanh Hai Town, Ninh Hai District.

Tel: 068. 873052

Mai Ly Hotel:

Address: Ba Don Quarter, Khanh Hai Town, Ninh Hai District.

Tel: 068. 873204


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Hoa Hiep Hotel:

Address: Ninh Chu Tourist Resort, Khanh Hai Town, Ninh Hai District.

Tel: 068. 873568

Tu Hien Hotel:

Address: 44 Yen Ninh, Khanh Hai Town, Ninh Hai District.

Tel: 068. 873114

Hoan Cau Tourist Resort:

Address: Ninh Chu Beach, Phan Rang-Thap Cham Town.

Tel: 068. 890077 890500; Fax: 068. 890252


Den Gion Tourist Resort:

Address: Ninh Chu Beach, Phan Rang-Thap Cham Town.

Tel: 068. 874223 (6 lines); Fax: 068. 874431 874049


My A Tourist Resort:

Address: National Road 27, Tan Son Commune, Ninh Son District.

Tel: 068. 854575

Hon Co Ca Na Tourist Resort:

Address: National Road 1A, Ca Na, Ninh Phuoc District.Tel: 068. 860998 980999; Fax: 068. 860997


12. SPECIALTIES AND SHOPPING

Returning home after a trip to Ninh Thuan, in addition to photographs, touristsshould not miss the chance to pick up local specialties as a gift to their relatives.

Grape: As a quintessence and compensation for the scorching sun and toughwind of Ninh Thuan, the local varieties of grape prove to be tasty and watery.Remarkably, Ninh Thuan offers a variety of long green grape on a par with thatof temperate zones. Its products from grapes including vintage wine, grapehoney, grape malt contain abundant nutrients.

Garlic: Garlic is another famous produce of Ninh Thuan. Garlic is commerciallyavailable at markets and tied up in bundles of around 0.5 1 kilogram, lookinglike a white flower. Ninh Thuan garlic is characterized by its aromatic tinysegments; the most delicious garlic of all is found at Van Son, Ninh ThuanProvince.


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Fermented meat rolls: Despite being little known, Ninh Thuan fermented meatroll is deservingly ranked among the nations most delicious ones. Since beingprepared with more pork skins than others, Ninh Thuan meat rolls are naturallycrispy without any use of chemicals. Meat rolls are tied up in leaves of ChumRuot (Tree Gooseberry/Otaheiti Gooseberry- A rare fruit tree with bright green

double leaves. Clusters of yellow fruits are born on tree trunk and branchs. Canbe eaten fresh with salt to minimize the acidic taste, or made into ajelly). Bundling up meat rolls requires great meticulosity since one have to covermeat rolls with overlapped small leaves. Chum Ruot leaves produce a kind offerment helping meat rolls get an earlier ripeness and anti-mould. Uponrelishing fermented meat rolls, tourists are advised not to throw away all of theleaves but retain some leaves most inside because a mixture of meat rollscrispness and fragrance and Chum Ruot leaves tartness offers a fantastic taste.Ninh Thuan hosts some famous meat rolls businesses such as Ngoc Van at 26/26,21-8 Street, Phan Rang-Thap Cham Town; Dinh Y at 38 Doc Lap Street, Phan

Rang-Thap Cham Town; Quoc Hung at Yet Kieu Street, Phan Rang-Thap ChamTown.

Fish sauce: Ninh Thuan fish sauce has long been renowned across the country.Local fish sauce is mainly made of anchovy according to trade secrets incombination with modern manufacturing process. Ninh Thuan fish saucerepresents glossy yellow, clearness, distinctive aroma and sweetness lingering onthe tongue Therefore, Ninh Thuan fish sauce not only entertains a closeattachment to the daily life but also is an ideal gift for tourists upon their arrivalin this beautiful coastal area.

In addition to the aforesaid specialties, a variety of dried seafood such as driedcuttle-fish and dried fish are on sale at Phan Rang-Thap Cham market at cheapprice.

No souvenir is more meaningful than the Chams nice brocade items such aswallets and bags or Bau Trucs elegant fine-art pottery The above outstandingspecialties aim to show Ninh Thuan peoples sentimental attachment to touristsrelatives and friends.

13. SHOPPING ADDRESSES

Hung Thao Supermarket:

Address: 281 Ngo Gia Tu Street, Phan Rang-Thap Cham Town.Tel: 068. 839153

Bau Truc Production, Trading & Service Co., Ltd:

Address: 50 21-8 Street, Phan Rang-Thap Cham Town.

Thien Thanh Grocery:

Address: 576 Thong Nhat Street, Phan Rang-Thap Cham Town.


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Tel: 068. 825192

14. NECESSARY ADDRESSES

Trade & Tourism Department:

Tel: 068. 822904 826048.

Planning & Investment Department:

Tel: 068. 824901

Land Survey Department:

Tel: 068. 830657 - 838653

Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development:

Tel: 068. 822714

Bank for Investment & Development:

Tel: 068. 822709 823435

Ninh Thuan Post-office:

Tel: 068. 824430

The Provincial Hospital:

Tel: 068. 822661 823659

Ninh Thuan Radio & Television Station:

Tel: 068. 823454 824206

Thap Cham Railway Station:Tel: 068. 888084

Bao Viet Ninh Thuan (Ninh Thuan Branch of Vietnam Insurance Corporation)

Tel: 068. 822980

Coach Station:

Tel: 068. 822926

Taxi:

Tel: 068. 890890

Ninh Thuan Tourist Company:

Tel: 068. 836405


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A Review of Ninh Thuan

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