Phan Rang & Thap Cham Travel

Best time to visit 

In Phan Rang-Thap Cham, the wet season is hot and overcast; the dry season is warm, windy, and partly cloudy; and it is oppressive year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 22°C to 32°C and is rarely below 19°C or above 34°C.

Based on the beach/pool score, the best time of year to visit Phan Rang-Thap Cham for hot-weather activities is from early January to early April.

Check the below table for the general idea of Phan Rang-Thap Cham weather throughout the year.

Phan Rang-Thap Cham’s current weather and 7-day forecast

PHAN RANG–THÁP CHÀM WEATHER

Here are top things to do in Phan Rang Thap Cham:

Po Ro Me Cham Tower

Po Ro Me is one of the most atmospheric of Vietnam’s Cham towers, thanks in part to its isolated setting on top of a craggy hill with sweeping views over the cactus-strewn landscape. The temple honours the last ruler of an independent Champa, King Po Ro Me (r 1629–51); his image and those of his family are found on the external decorations. It's 18km southwest of Phan Rang.

The temple is still in active use, with ceremonies taking place twice a year. The rest of the time it’s locked up, but the caretakers at the foot of the hill will open the sanctuary for you. Consider leaving a small donation with them, and don’t forget to remove your shoes.

The occupants of the temple aren’t used to having their rest disturbed, and it can be a little creepy when the bats start chattering and swooping overhead in the confined dark space. Through the gloom you’ll be able to make out a blood-red and black centrepiece – a bas-relief representing the deified king in the form of Shiva. Behind the main deity and to the left is one of his queens, Thanh Chanh. Look out for the inscriptions on the doorposts and a stone statue of the bull Nandin.

Note the flame motif repeated around the arches, a symbol of purity, cleansing visitors of any residual bad karma.
The best way to reach the site is with your own motorbike or by xe om. The route is quite tricky. Take Hwy 1 south from Phan Rang for 10.5km. Then turn right (heading southwest) at the turn-off to the dusty village of Hau Sanh, where you take another right turn (southwest again) to Po Ro Me, a further 2km away.

Po Klong Garai Cham Towers

These imposing Cham towers date from the end of the 13th century. Built from brick as Hindu temples, they stand on a platform at the top of Cho’k Hala, an exposed granite hill. It can be furnace-hot here.

Over the entrance to the largest tower (the kalan, or sanctuary) is a beautiful carving of a dancing Shiva with six arms. Note the inscriptions in the ancient Cham language on the doorposts. These tell of past restoration efforts and offerings of sacrifices and slaves.

Inside the kalan's vestibule is a statue of the bull Nandin, vehicle of the Hindu god Shiva. Nandin is also a symbol of the agricultural productivity of the countryside. To ensure a good crop, farmers would place an offering of fresh greens, herbs and areca nuts in front of Nandin’s muzzle. Under the main tower is a mukha-linga sitting under a wooden pyramid. Liquor is offered and incense burned here.

Inside the smaller tower opposite the entrance to the sanctuary you can get a good look at some of the Cham’s sophisticated building technology; the wooden columns that support the lightweight roof are visible. The structure attached to it was originally the main entrance to the complex.

Po Klong Garai is just north of Hwy 20, at a point 6km west of Phan Rang towards Dalat. The towers are on the opposite side of the tracks to Thap Cham Train Station. Some of the open-tour buses running the coastal route make a requisite pit stop here.

Cham Cultural Centre

This large modern structure is dedicated to Cham culture. There's some superb photography of Cham people, village life and customs exhibited here, as well as paintings, pottery, traditional dress and agricultural tools. There are also numerous souvenir stalls.

It’s a good reminder that while the Cham kingdom is long gone, the Cham people remain in the region. It's located below the Cham towers.

Bau Truc Village

This Cham village is known for its pottery and you’ll see several family shops in front of the mud and bamboo houses. It's around 4km northwest of Phan Rang's centre, off the main road to the Cham temples. The Cham Cultural Centre has set up music classes here so villagers can learn to play traditional Cham musical instruments (drums and the saranai flute). A heritage trail is also being developed.

Quang Cong Pagoda

The 135-year old Quang Cong Pagoda is a colourful Chinese temple in the town centre.

Budget options

Phu Quynh Hotel 

Add: 186 Ngo Gia Tu Street, Phan Rang, Vietnam

Phu Quynh Hotel is located in Phan Rang. This 2-star hotel offers a shared lounge and a concierge service. The accommodation provides a 24-hour front desk, airport transfers, room service and free WiFi.

Guest rooms are equipped with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a fridge, a kettle, a shower, a hairdryer and a wardrobe. At the hotel each room has a private bathroom with free toiletries.

Hotel Minh Quang 

Add: Street 16/4, Group 4, My Hai, Phan Rang, Vietnam

Hotel Minh Quang provides beachfront accommodation in Phan Rang. This 2-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage space. The hotel also provides free WiFi and free private parking.

Sunny Hotel 

Add: 63 Nguyen Van Troi, Phan Rang - Thap Cham, Phan Rang, Vietnam

Featuring a terrace, Sunny Hotel is situated in Phan Rang. Boasting family rooms, this property also provides guests with a children's playground. The accommodation features a 24-hour front desk, airport transfers, room service and free WiFi throughout the property.

All rooms are fitted with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a fridge, a kettle, a bidet, a hairdryer and a desk. At the hotel the rooms have a wardrobe and a private bathroom.

Mid-range options

Hacom Galaxy Hotel 

Add: D13, KĐT Bien Binh Son - Ninh Chu, 16/4 street, My Binh ward, Phan Rang, Vietnam

Hacom Galaxy Hotel has a restaurant, bar, a shared lounge and garden in Phan Rang. Boasting family rooms, this property also provides guests with a terrace. The accommodation features a 24-hour front desk, airport transfers, room service and free WiFi throughout the property.

All rooms are fitted with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a kettle, a bidet, a hairdryer and a wardrobe. The private bathroom is fitted with a shower and free toiletries.

MiA Phan Rang Hotel 

Add: Tran Nhan Tong Area K1, Kinh Dinh, Vietnam

Situated in Kinh Dinh, MiA Phan Rang Hotel has a shared lounge, garden, terrace, and free WiFi throughout the property. This 3-star hotel offers a concierge service and valet parking. The accommodation features a 24-hour front desk, room service and currency exchange for guests.

All rooms are fitted with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a fridge, a kettle, a bidet, a hairdryer and a desk. The rooms have a wardrobe.

The area is popular for hiking, and car hire is available at the hotel.

Deluxe option

Saigon - Ninh Chu Hotel & Resort 

Add: Yen Ninh Street, Khanh Hai Town, Ninh Hai District, Phan Rang, Vietnam 

Just 4 km from Phan Rang City, Saigon-Nihn Chu Hotel and Resort offers a pool and a private beach overlooking the South China Sea. All rooms include free Wi-Fi.

In addition to satellite TV, the air-conditioned rooms at the Hotel Saigon-Nihn Chu are equipped with a minibar. Beautiful garden, pool or sea views can be enjoyed from all rooms.

Guests can play tennis on the hotel’s private court or relax by the outdoor pool. A 24-hour front desk and foreign currency exchange offer convenience.

The Seaview Restaurant serves Vietnamese and Western cuisines with a view of the ocean.

The stretch of Ninh Chu beach next to the Sai Gon Hotel has a bunch of local restaurants with live seafood in bowls and tanks for reasonable prices.

Various roadside stalls serve up pho, bun, and com tam (broken rice with grilled pork chop).

The hoards of goats you see wandering roads are served in the restaurants as de.

Le Napoli

Add: 56 Yen Ninh Street, Ninh Hai Town. 

Owned by an expat, this Italian restaurant serves a variety of clay baked, thin crust pizzas as well as carbonara and bolognaise. There is also a large selection of ice creams of the menu. 150,000 dong for a pizza.  

Thuy Tien

Add: Khánh Hải, Ninh Hải District 

A seafood restaurant that is popular with the locals and very reasonably priced. The staff don't much speak English but the menu is mostly translated, and every dish has a picture. Average $3. 

Vegan restaurant

Add: Ton Dan street in the town centre

As of 2019, there is a clean, cheap, and tasty vegan restaurant next to Nhà Trọ Bình Dân t & t. It does not have a listing online yet. There is another vegan restaurant two doors to the right that does have a Google listing, but the one to the left to have better quality food and kinder staff. The menu is only in Vietnamese but it will serve you well to learn the main dish names if you are vegan or vegetarian: 'com' is rice, 'chien' is fried, 'chay' is vegetarian/vegan (used typically in Vietnam to refer to Buddhist restaurants - no egg, garlic, onion etc). 'Pho' is the typical noodle soup, 'bun' refers to a different noodle soup (we found 'bun' to be usually more flavourful than 'pho'). 'Goi cuon' is fresh spring rolls. Those are just a few main terms. Most dishes are 15,000 - 35,000 VND as of August 2019.

Get in

There are infrequent buses from Nha Trang, Da lat, Phan Thiet (Mui Ne), and Saigon, usually one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

We recommend you check the latest bus schedule and price via rome2rio.com

There is a train station (it is listed online as Ga Thap Cham) with daily service from both the south and north. The main train line in Vietnam stops in Ga Thap Cham. A taxi from the train station to the centre of Phan Rang-Thap Cham should cost approx. 100,000 VND as of 2019.

Get around

This is a populated capital taxi and xe om (motorcycle taxis) can usually be found.

Most hotels will rent out motorbikes/scooters for 100,000-200,000 VND/day. While the town is quieter than most, the main roads can get quite busy, so be confident in your abilities if you choose this option.