Located in the coastal road connecting between Binh Dinh and Phu Yen provinces, Bai Rang Beach does not have any fancy resort hotels surrounding and just more than 10 households living there. I was lucky to have a day enjoying the beach and watching the local fishing. It was a short time but full of happiness.
Our friends and I decided to camp on the beach before leaving Quy Nhon for Nha Trang. We luckily found an ideal place to camp and it only takes about an hour and a half to get there from the city center. Bai Rang is a little-known destination for many, but those who visit the beach will definitely fall in love with its wild and poetic beauty and the lovely people.
Bai Rang seems like an idyllic little island to me. It is nestled between two majestic mountains, with coconut trees swaying with the winds, a stretch of white sand, the blue sea, and rocky outcrops which makes it an ideal romantic retreat.
I had just arrived at the beach and was in awe of it. This secluded little spot seems not too busy. The water was so blue and huge waves were crashing against the sand. The wind blew my hair around me and when I closed my eyes for just a second, I could feel the sand in between my toes. Well, it's been a while I have this feeling. Don't need to wait too long, after putting on some sun cream, I jumped into the sea right away.
The scenery appears more stunning when the fishermen are just back from the ocean. These men are an integral part of their families. By selling their day's catch, they can feed for themselves and their children. Speaking with them, I know a few families who live near the sea depend on fishing as their main source of income. The fisherman goes out on boats a few times per day to catch and sometimes they come back with no fish at all. Sometimes, they have so many fish that they can sell them to markets.
I can feel the simple happiness of these fishermen because they are living how they want to live. They don't have to worry about the stress of work that some people are faced with or working much longer hours making much more money. The women stay home to take care of the children, while the men go out on the water.
After swimming, I returned to my camping spot and a group of children approached and asked me a cute question: Where are you from, auntie? Then they offered me to play the game with them.
Oh my, I love those innocent faces with their beautiful eyes and bright smiles. There was a thought that popped into my head: this group of dwarves comes to the rescue of me (the sleeping princess) on the sea (not in the forest), haha. This group breaks the quiet atmosphere and brings much joy to me. Whenever I see a child giggling and playing, my childhood memories come flooding back. The innocence of a child's laughter is the best sound I've heard in the day and their voice makes me want to go back in time.
These kids seem very curious about tech stuff (phone and GoPro) and asked me if they can help me to take pictures. It's so cute how the little boy tried to take pictures of the elder sister. This moment stole my heart ❤️
These children are actually part of a big family of 10. While awaiting their father's return from the sea, they wanted to play with me. When it got darker, all the children followed their parents home and all the fishermen left the beach. The atmosphere suddenly became so quiet and the sunset was beautiful, but I miss their voice and their smile.
When the night came, we all started cooking and enjoyed the night together. We had a blast. We slept under the stars on our cozy little beach tents and woke up to the sound of waves crashing on the shore. The following day was cloudy, but the beach was still beautiful. After climbing some rocky cliffs, we found a spot to sit and enjoy the tide for hours.
Whether you visit the central, want to relax with breathtaking scenery, or learn about the local fishermen's lives; this is the perfect place to go! Dogs running through the sand, children playing, fishermen returning from the sea, and waves crashing onto the shoreline are what make the memories of the trip so unforgettable. My heart feels so full when I write this post and think of them.