Rough Guide to Vietnam - Jan Dodd [181]
The south–central coast | North to Son My | Quang Ngai and around |
Practicalities
The junction of Quang Trung with westward-pointing Hung Vuong effectively forms central Quang Ngai. Trains arrive 3km west of town along Hung Vuong, while the bus station is a little over 500m south of the centre, and 50m east of Quang Trung on Le Thanh Ton. Quang Ngai Tourist is 150m north of Hung Vuong at 310 Quang Trung (055/381 7811; www.quangngaitourist.com.vn), though there’s rarely anyone there; the post office is about 100m west of the highway, at the junction of Hung Vuong and Phan Dinh Phung. Internet access is unusually difficult to find; try 634/01 Quang Trung, down an alley off the main road. There’s an ATM at the Hung Vuong Hotel, and several others along Quang Trung.
There’s nowhere outstanding to stay in Quang Ngai, though there are a few reasonable mid-range options and a new four-star place is currently being built to the west of the bridge heading north out of town. Once the town’s best choice, the Central at 784 Quang Trung (055/382 9999, www.centralhotel.com.vn; US$31–50) is getting a bit tatty, though it does have a pool and tennis courts. Alternatives include the Hung Vuong (055/371 0477, www.hungvuong-hotel.com.vn; US$31–50) at 45 Hung Vuong, which has better-value rooms, some with carpets and bathtubs, or the My Tra (055/384 2985, ks-mytra@dng.vnn.vn; US$21–50), just north of the bridge across the broad Tra Khuc River: some rooms here have great views of the river, and it’s away from the bustle of the town. Budget travellers should head for the friendly Kim Thanh (055/382 3471; US$10 and under–20) at 19 Hung Vuong, where the rooms are basic but clean.
As with accommodation, places to eat are also limited in Quang Ngai, though the My Tra hotel’s open-air terrace restaurant looking out across the river makes a nice enough setting. The food is rather ordinary in all the hotels, so you’re better off heading for the Bac Son, next door to the Kim Thanh hotel, which serves decent Vietnamese staples. The local speciality is chicken and rice, which is very well prepared at Nhung Com Ga at 474 Quang Trung. At 7 Hung Vuong, you’ll find a stall selling ram, barbecued shrimp or meat folded in rice paper and then dipped in a tasty peanut sauce.
The south–central coast |
Travel details
The south–central coast | Travel details |
Trains
Dieu Tri to: Da Nang (7 daily; 5–6hr); Ho Chi Minh City (7 daily; 12hr 30min–15hr 30min); Hué (7 daily; 8–10hr); Nha Trang (7 daily; 4–5hr).
Muong Man to: Da Nang (6 daily; 12–17hr); Ho Chi Minh City (9 daily; 3–5hr); Hué (6 daily; 14–18hr); Nha Trang (9 daily; 4–6hr).
Nha Trang to: Da Nang (7 daily; 9hr–12hr 30min); Hanoi (7 daily; 24–32hr); Ho Chi Minh City (7 daily; 7hr 10min–11hr 15min); Hué (7 daily; 12hr–16hr 10min).
Thap Cham to: Da Nang (6 daily; 12hr 25min–13hr 30min); Ho Chi Minh City (5 daily; 6hr 40min–7hr 30min); Hué (5 daily; 16–17hr); Nha Trang (9 daily; 1hr 30min–3hr).
The south–central coast | Travel details |
Buses
Bus stations are gradually becoming more organized, with ticket desks and scheduled departures. However, it is still almost impossible to give the frequency with which buses run because of the large number of private minibuses that ply more popular routes, and depart only when they have enough passengers to make the journey worthwhile. Off the highway, to be sure of a bus it’s advisable to start your journey early – most long-distance departures are between 5am and 9am, and few run after midday. Journey times can also vary; figures below show the normal length of time you can expect to take by public bus.
Ba Di Bridge (Quy Nhon) to: Plei Ku (4hr).
Mui Ne to: Ho Chi Minh