What it is
Po Sah Inu is a small cluster of three Cham towers perched on a hill called Ba Nai, about 7 km northeast of Phan Thiet's center. Built between the late 8th and early 9th centuries, the complex was dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and to Princess Po Sah Inu, a figure in Cham oral history. The towers belong to the Hoa Lai architectural style — the oldest surviving form of Cham brick construction, predating the more famous towers at Po Nagar in Nha Trang (냐짱 / 芽庄 / ニャチャン) or My Son near Hoi An.
What remains are three structures in varying states of preservation. The main tower (about 15 meters tall) still holds its original sandstone linga-yoni inside. The brickwork is the real draw: no mortar visible between the joints, a construction technique that still puzzles researchers. The site was classified as a national monument in 1991.
Why travelers go
Most people passing through Phan Thiet are headed to Mui Ne (무이네 / 美奈 / ムイネー)'s sand dunes and beaches. Po Sah Inu offers something different — a quiet 45 minutes away from resort territory. The hilltop location gives you a wide view over Phan Thiet's rooftops and the coastline. It's compact enough that you won't spend half a day here, but substantial enough to feel worth the detour.
For anyone interested in Cham heritage, this is one of the more accessible sites in southern Vietnam (베트남 / 越南 / ベトナム). My Son requires a half-day trip from Hoi An, and Po Nagar sits in urban Nha Trang surrounded by traffic. Po Sah Inu is smaller but also quieter, and you'll often have the place nearly to yourself on weekday mornings.
Best time to visit
The dry season from November through April is ideal. Mornings between 6:30 and 8:00 give you the best light for photography — the towers face east, and early sun hits the brick surfaces directly. The Kate Festival (usually in October, following the Cham calendar) brings ceremonies and traditional music to the site if your timing lines up.
Avoid midday visits year-round. The hill has almost no shade, and temperatures along this stretch of coast hit 34-36°C regularly from March onward. The rainy season (May to October) doesn't make the site inaccessible, but the hilltop path gets slippery.
How to get there
From Phan Thiet city center, Po Sah Inu is about 7 km northeast along the coastal road (Nguyen Thong Street heading toward Mui Ne). A Grab bike costs around 25,000-35,000 VND one way. A taxi runs 60,000-80,000 VND.
If you're staying in Mui Ne (about 15 km away), a Grab bike is 50,000-70,000 VND. Many Mui Ne tour operators bundle Po Sah Inu into a half-day trip with the Fairy Stream and fishing village for around 200,000-300,000 VND per person — decent value if you don't want to arrange your own transport.
From Saigon, the most common route is a bus to Phan Thiet (around 4-5 hours, 150,000-200,000 VND on Phuong Trang or Sinh Tourist). Trains also run to Phan Thiet station, about 4 hours, tickets from 120,000 VND for a hard seat.
Photo by Serg Alesenko on Pexels
What to do
Walk the tower complex
The entry fee is 15,000 VND. Start at the main tower (Thap Chinh) and look for the carved sandstone doorframe — one of the best-preserved examples of early Cham decorative stonework in this region. Inside, the linga-yoni altar is still used for Cham religious ceremonies. The two smaller flanking towers are partially ruined but show the same mortarless brick technique.
Check the small exhibition room
At the base of the hill, a single-room display holds Cham artifacts found during restoration — ceramic fragments, pieces of carved sandstone, and a few reproduction panels explaining the Hoa Lai style. It takes five minutes but gives context that makes the towers more interesting.
Photograph the coastline from the hilltop
The view from behind the towers looks south over Phan Thiet harbor and east along the coast toward Mui Ne. Morning light works best. Bring a wide lens if you have one — the towers against the coastal backdrop is the classic composition.
Visit the Cham community nearby
The Cham ethnic community in Phan Thiet is small but present. On the road approaching the towers, you'll pass a few shops selling Cham-style woven textiles and pottery. Quality varies, but the handwoven scarves (around 80,000-150,000 VND) make reasonable souvenirs.
Combine with Phan Thiet fishing harbor
The harbor is 5 km south of the towers. Early morning (5:30-6:30) is when boats come in and the wholesale market runs at full speed — chaotic, photogenic, and one of the most authentic working-harbor scenes on this coast.
Where to eat nearby
Phan Thiet is known for "banh canh" — specifically banh canh cha ca, a thick tapioca noodle soup with fish cake. Quan Banh Canh Ghe on Nguyen Hien street does a version with crab that costs around 45,000-55,000 VND per bowl. It's about 4 km from the towers toward the city center.
The other local specialty worth seeking is "banh xeo (반세오 / 越南煎饼 / バインセオ)" Phan Thiet style — smaller, crispier than the Saigon version, often filled with shrimp and bean sprouts. Street-side stalls along Trung Trac street sell them for 8,000-12,000 VND per piece.
Where to stay
Most travelers base themselves in Mui Ne (15 km east) where accommodation ranges from 200,000 VND dorm beds to 3,000,000+ VND resort rooms. If you prefer staying closer to the towers and Phan Thiet proper, guesthouses along Nguyen Thong Street run 250,000-400,000 VND per night for a clean air-conditioned room. Mid-range hotels near the harbor area cost 500,000-900,000 VND.
Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels
Practical tips locals would tell you
- Wear shoes with grip. The brick path up the hill gets polished smooth and is genuinely slippery, especially after rain.
- The site closes at 17:00. Last entry is around 16:30.
- If you visit during Kate Festival, arrive early. The ceremony draws local Cham families and the small hilltop fills up fast.
- Bring water. There's no vendor on the hill itself, only at the parking area below.
- A sarong or long pants is respectful if entering the main tower — it remains an active worship site for the local Cham community.
Common mistakes to avoid
Skipping it entirely because Mui Ne guides call it a "15-minute stop" — give it at least 45 minutes to walk slowly, read the panels, and sit on the hilltop. Visiting at noon when the exposed hill is brutally hot. Expecting the scale of My Son or Po Nagar — this is three towers, not a sprawling complex. Set expectations accordingly and you'll appreciate what's actually here: some of the oldest standing Cham architecture in Vietnam, in a setting that hasn't been overly manicured.
Practical notes
Po Sah Inu works best as a morning stop combined with Phan Thiet's harbor and a banh canh (반깐 / 粗米粉汤 / バインカイン) breakfast, before heading to Mui Ne's beaches for the afternoon. Budget 60-90 minutes total including the drive from town. It's a small site, but one of the few places along this coast where you can touch something genuinely old.
Last updated · May 19, 2026 · independently researched, never sponsored.
