5 Best Islands to Visit in Vietnam

Vietnam is located in the Indo-China Peninsula in Southeast Asia, with the coastline of more than 3,000 kilometers long. Apart from the seaside cities of Mui Ne, Nha Trang and Da Nang, there are many attractive islands waiting for people to come. Here are the 5 best islands that you can’t miss when you travel to Vietnam.

 

1. Phu Quoc Island

Phu Quoc Island

Phu Quoc Island, located at the southernmost tip of Vietnam, has a land area of approximately 600 square kilometers and is the largest island in Vietnam. It has an international airport and is the only visa-free destination in Vietnam. Phu Quoc Island belongs to Kien Giang Province and is a unique tourist paradise, which northern part is a UNESCO-listed Phu Quoc national park.

 

On Phu Quoc Island, you can go fishing, snorkeling, swimming, and strolling on the sand beaches. Phu Quoc Island is rated as one of the top 10 most beautiful diving resorts in the world, one of the top three honeymoon destinations in the world, and the third place for the best travel destination in 2014 by National Geographic magazine. The beach here is very original and stunning and it is a good choice for a holiday.

 

Location: Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam

How to get there: You can easily get to Phu Quoc Island from Ho Chi Minh by flight. The flight time from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc Island is about one hour.

 

2. Cat Ba Island

Cat Ba Island

Cat Ba Island is the largest island in Ha Long Bay, about 45 km east of Haiphong City and 50 km south of Ha long City. Cat Ba Island’s climate is cool, fresh and suitable for resort tourism. The spacious beaches named Cat Co 1 and Cat Co 2 are great for sunbathing and swimming during the summer months. A beautiful place to visit, Cat Ba Island is well worth stopping by.

 

Cat Ba Island is not only an amazing relaxing spot, but also an ideal adventurous place for exploration enthusiasts. There are 9,800 hectares of virgin forest in Cat Ba Island. It is one of several famous nature reserves in Vietnam and home to many precious trees and breeds a variety of rare birds and animals. The island itself is a fantasy world of shimmering jungles, soaring limestone peals, exotic bays and hidden covens. Cat Ba island is an excellent place for outdoorsy travelers.

 

Location: It is located 45 km east of Haiphong City and 50 km south of Ha long City

How to get there: The easiest way to travel here is by ferry from Hai Phong City or Ha Long City

 

3. Con Dao Islands

Con Dao Islands

Con Dao Islands are an archipelago of 16 islands in the southern part of Vietnam. Con Dao is about 179 km far from Vung Tau, 230 km from Ho Chi Minh City and 165 km from Can Tho. In 1984, Con Dao Islands became a nature reserve named Con Dao National Park. Tourists can enjoy the beautiful scenery, stunning beaches and untouched coral reefs.

 

Island-hopping and diving are popular activities on Con Dao Islands, where you can explore most of the uninhabited islets and spot various wildlife such as green turtles, Hawksbill turtles, barracudas, moray eels, and dugongs. Visiting the prison museums will open your eyes as there was once held thousands of political prisoners.

 

Location: Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province, South Vietnam

How to get there: You can easily reach the island by taking a plane from Saigon (daily flights) or the ferry from Vung Tau city (12 hours).

 

4. Cham Islands

Cham islands

Cham islands are located 20 kilometers east of Hoi An and was once the route of the ancient Maritime Silk Road. The scenery here is very original and gorgeous, with blue sea water and beautiful corals and algae, which is very suitable for snorkeling. A nature reserve was established in 2003 and joined the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in May 2009.

 

Lots of visitors come to the islands for beach-hopping, snorkeling, scuba diving or swimming the day away. The visibility from July to September is 15 to 30 meters, which is the best time to dive. Cycling around the island on its beautiful coastal roads is the best way to explore the beaches.

 

Location: Tan Hiep, Hoi An, Quang Nam, Central Vietnam

How to get there: Take a daily ferry from Hoi An City, it is only 2 hours ride away.

 

5. Binh Ba Island

Binh Ba Island

Binh Ba Island, also known as the “Lobster island”, lies in Cam Ranh Bay about 60 km south of Nha Trang City. Binh Ba island is famous for its limestone caves, pristine beaches, colourful reef systems and fresh seafood lobsters. Nom Beach, Chuong Beach and Nha Cu Beach are the most 3 popular beaches you can reach by motorbike, where travelers can spend hours just lounging on the beach and enjoying the yummy local specialties.

 

The best time to visit Binh Ba Island is from March to September on dry season, with sunny days and hot weather. Not only blue sea, white sand and romantic scenery, Binh Ba Island also attracts foodies with its unique food. When you go to Binh Ba, you cannot miss the Lobster here.

 

Location: Cam Binh Commune, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam

How to get there: The best way to get there is by boat from Ba Ngoi Pier, which is 15 km southwest of Cam Ranh Airport.

 

 

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