Ke Ga Lighthouse

Ke Ga was built at the end of the 1890s by French engineers on a small islet of piled granite a few hundred metres off a quiet stretch of the Binh Thuan coast. The tower is cut stone rather than brick, tapering to the lamp room, with keepers' quarters and water cisterns at its foot and frangipani trees planted long ago among the rocks. Basket boats and small motorboats run across from the beach when the sea allows. The islet itself takes minutes to walk: rounded boulders, tide pools, cactus and a light that still works. Behind, the shore is a string of coconut plantations and unfinished resort walls.

What you actually see

• The stone tower - a tapering granite lighthouse built at the end of the nineteenth century.
• The keepers' quarters - low buildings and water cisterns at the base of the tower.
• The boulder islet - rounded granite blocks, tide pools and old frangipani trees.
• The crossing - a short motorboat or basket boat run from the beach, sea state permitting.

When to go

November to April is calm and dry on this coast; from about June the wind gets up and crossings are cancelled more often. The morning sea is usually flattest. Boatmen work from the beach and negotiate a return fare, so agree the price and the waiting time before setting out. Access to the tower stair depends on the day and the keepers.

Honest expectations

The crossing is the weak link: it is called off in any swell, the price is negotiated on the spot and the boats are basic. On the islet there is no shade beyond the buildings and the granite radiates heat. Climbing the tower is not always permitted. The beach behind is scruffy in places, with abandoned resort construction along the shore.

Nearby

The fishing village at Ke Ga and the beaches and dunes towards Mui Ne to the north.