Cổ Thạch Beach

Cổ Thạch Beach occupies a stretch of coastline in Bình Thạnh commune, Tuy Phong district, in the northern part of Bình Thuận province, roughly 90km north of Phan Thiết and Mũi Né (around 300km, 6-7 hours, from Ho Chi Minh City). The beach is defined by a field of naturally multicoloured granite boulders and pebbles (reds, purples, yellows, greys), shaped by coastal erosion and tides, that extends from the shore into the shallow water.

The most photogenic section, sometimes called Bãi Cà Dược, was recognised by the Vietnam Records Book in 2011 as the rock beach with the greatest variety of shapes and colours in the country.

From roughly late October through April, and at its single best in March, the rocks also carry a vivid green moss coverage that has made Cổ Thạch one of the more circulated images of the Bình Thuận coast in Vietnamese travel photography - the combination of colourful stone, green moss, and clear tide pools is what draws photographers specifically.

Development remains fairly light compared to Mũi Né further south, though it's worth knowing the beach isn't quite as untouched as it once was: small restaurants and stalls (including a weekend night market) have appeared along the shore in recent years, and with them, a more visible litter problem than the beach used to have, especially near the market. Chùa Hang (also called Cổ Thạch Pagoda), a hilltop temple more than 100 years old with sweeping sea views, sits right by the beach, and the whale-worship shrine Lăng Ông Nam Hải, around 200 years old, and the small fishing port of Bình Thạnh village a few minutes away round out the area's low-key cultural stops.

Cổ Thạch Beach is located in Bình Thạnh commune, roughly 90km north of Phan Thiết/Mũi Né, and around 300km (6-7 hours by road) northeast of Ho Chi Minh City. By motorbike from Phan Thiết or Mũi Né, follow Highway 1A north toward Tuy Phong district, then the coastal turn toward Bình Thạnh - budget around 1.5-2 hours each way rather than treating it as a quick add-on.

From HCMC, the drive is several hours north on Highway 1A; flying into Phan Thiết or a nearby city and continuing overland is another option for those coming from further afield. The beach is directly accessible from the coastal road - a short path leads from the roadside to the boulder field.

The boulder field extends along the beach for several hundred metres and out into the shallow water for 50-100 metres at low tide. The granite surface shows its natural colour year-round and carries a green moss coat in the cooler months, with the formations creating natural channels, pools, and platforms. The tide pools hold small marine life - sea urchins, small fish, crabs - visible in the clear water between the rocks.

Beyond the boulder zone the beach opens into a more conventional sandy stretch. The overall atmosphere is generally quiet outside weekends and the peak of moss season, when the beach draws noticeably more visitors, including many coming specifically for photos.

An hour or so of walking and scrambling covers the main formation. The surrounding landscape is typical northern Bình Thuận: sparse scrub, fishing villages, and a semi-arid character before the coast transitions to wetter conditions further south.

Cổ Thạch is a photography destination first and a beach destination second - the coloured, moss-covered boulders are the reason to come, and the light conditions at sunrise or on overcast mornings are significantly better than in flat midday sun. The beach fits naturally into a coastal ride between HCMC and Mũi Né, or as a northern extension of a Mũi Né base, though the distance (65-90km one-way from Mũi Né) means it's a genuine excursion rather than a casual stop.

Go in with realistic expectations about development: it's quieter and less built-up than Mũi Né, but roadside stalls and the litter that's come with them mean it's no longer the completely untouched beach some older write-ups still describe. Carry extra supplies and plan the visit around the tide and the light rather than just the calendar.