Vietnam’s islands have long been a top choice for travelers, not only for their pristine and majestic natural beauty but also for the unique and unforgettable experiences they offer. With a long coastline and thousands of islands and islets, Vietnam boasts countless attractive destinations, promising you a memorable vacation. Let’s explore these “emeralds” of the Vietnamese sea and enjoy the most wonderful moments.
Ideal Time to Visit Vietnam’s Islands
Choosing the right time to visit the islands is crucial for a perfect trip. Vietnam has a coastline stretching from North to South, and each region has its own distinct weather patterns. However, in general, the climate on the islands is quite cool and pleasant year-round. Therefore, you can travel to Vietnam’s islands at almost any time.
Summer, from April to August, is the ideal time to enjoy the clear blue waters, participate in water sports, and explore the beauty of the coral reefs. This is also a suitable time for families with young children to vacation. However, you should avoid going on weekends or major holidays as tourist crowds are usually very large. If you cannot arrange another time, be proactive in booking accommodations, train and bus tickets, and research information about attractions in advance to save time.
Ideal time to travel to Vietnam islands
Top 9 Most Beautiful Islands in Vietnam for an Amazing Trip
Vietnam boasts countless beautiful islands with unique charms. Below is a list of 9 of the most popular islands, promising you unforgettable island travel experiences:
1. Co To Island – Quang Ninh: Emerald Green Paradise
Co To Island is one of the most attractive island destinations in Northern Vietnam. You can spend 1 to 2 days exploring all the beauty of this island. From Hanoi, it only takes about 4-5 hours of travel and a few hundred thousand VND to reach Co To. You can even travel by motorbike along National Highway 1A – 18 to Quang Ninh and from there to Co To Island.
Coming to Co To, you will immerse yourself in the clear blue water, enjoy the fresh air, and explore famous destinations such as Cau My Rock Beach, Co To Lighthouse, Co To Church, Hong Van beach, Van Chay beach, Thanh Lan Island, Small Co To Island, etc. Besides, you also have the opportunity to enjoy many delicious specialties such as abalone, Cu Ky crab, and razor clams.
Co To Island, Quang Ninh, Vietnam
2. Ly Son Island – Quang Ngai: Pearl in the Eastern Sea
From May to September, the weather in Ly Son is very beautiful, suitable for diving and visiting attractions. To get here, you can buy a plane ticket, travel by bus or private car to Da Nang. Then, continue to Quang Ngai and buy a high-speed train ticket to the island.
When you come to Ly Son Island, you cannot miss To Vo Gate located close to the sea, a symbol of the island. In addition, Hang Pagoda located in the Northeast of Thoi Loi Mountain and Duc Pagoda located on Gieng Tien Mountain are also famous spiritual destinations. If you want to see the panoramic view of the island, you can climb to the top of Thoi Loi Mountain, the highest mountain here.
3. Ky Co Island – Binh Dinh: Maldives of Vietnam
If you love island travel, don’t miss the island paradise of Ky Co. Just a 25 km canoe ride from Quy Nhon city, you will reach the most beautiful island in Binh Dinh. The clear blue water blends with the white sand and the color of the rocks to create a colorful natural picture.
Coming to Ky Co, you can soak in the cool water, participate in adventurous games and take beautiful “virtual living” photos. This is definitely one of your most memorable island travel experiences.
Ky Co Island, Binh Dinh, Vietnam
4. Phu Quoc Island – Kien Giang: Pearl Island
Phu Quoc is one of the largest and most beautiful islands in Vietnam. It is famous for its fine white sand beaches, clear blue waters like jade, and diverse ecosystems. Phu Quoc is not only a stopover for domestic tourists but also attracts many international visitors.
Coming to Phu Quoc, you can swim, snorkel, visit Phu Quoc prison, explore traditional fishing villages and enjoy fresh seafood. In particular, do not miss the opportunity to experience the longest sea-crossing cable car in the world with nearly 8km.
Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang, Vietnam – Fresh seafood
5. Binh Ba Island – Khanh Hoa: Lobster Island
Khanh Hoa is an ideal destination for those who love island travel. Coming to Khanh Hoa, you can travel to Binh Ba Island at a very low cost. Similar to other islands, you can easily immerse yourself in the clear blue sea, participate in activities such as coral viewing, fishing and especially enjoy fresh seafood.
The most famous specialty here is lobster. You can go to the lobster rafts and enjoy delicious grilled lobster, which is fragrant, sweet, and chewy. Because tourism here is not yet highly developed, you can choose to stay at homestays or bring tents to camp overnight.
Binh Ba Island, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam
6. Binh Hung Island – Khanh Hoa: Pristine Emerald
Clear blue sea, beautiful scenery, and friendly people are what you can feel when traveling to Binh Hung. This is an island belonging to Cam Binh commune, Cam Ranh city, Khanh Hoa province. Just 15km from Khanh Hoa city, you can reach one of the most beautiful islands in Vietnam.
Coming here, you can clearly see the beautiful coral reefs under the clear blue water. On the beach are many rocks with different shapes and colors creating a wild but beautiful scene. You will also feel excited when exploring many seafood farms and enjoying delicious dishes.
7. Nam Du Island – Kien Giang: Wild Beauty
Nam Du Island is an island tourist destination mentioned by many tourists when setting foot in Kien Giang. To get to this beautiful tourist destination, you need to be in Rach Gia city, Kien Giang province at 6 am to catch the high-speed train to Nam Du.
The best time to come to Nam Du is from December to March, when the sea is quite calm and less likely to cause seasickness. At that time, you can go to Hon Lon, a beautiful bay located in the Gulf of Thailand. This place has rows of old green coconut trees, fine white sand beaches and interesting activities such as squid and fish catching or coral viewing. In addition, you can also take a small boat to visit Bai Chet, Bai Ngu, Hon Dau, Hon Mau…
Nam Du Island, Kien Giang, Vietnam – Seafood dining
8. Phu Quy Island – Binh Thuan: Hidden Gem
Phu Quy Island is also known by many other names such as Cu Lao Thu or Cu Lao Khoai Xu. Just 100km southeast of Phan Thiet city, you can admire the beautiful natural scenery here.
Coming to Phu Quy, you can swim at Doi Dua beach, Bai Nho or Trieu Duong Bay, explore fishing villages and enjoy fresh cuisine such as sea cucumber, snail… Phu Quy is definitely an island tourist destination you should not miss.
9. Cat Ba Island – Hai Phong: Green Pearl of the North
Cat Ba is the last island tourist destination on this list. The most attractive point of Cat Ba is its rich natural scenery with 367 large and small islands, mountains, sea, forests, caves, and pristine beaches.
To get to Cat Ba, visitors can use many means of transport such as motorbikes, buses, private cars or planes to Hai Phong, then take a taxi to Binh wharf and take a boat to the island. Coming to Cat Ba, you can experience the pristine beaches of Lan Ha Bay, visit Monkey Island, snorkel and see corals, visit Cat Ba National Park or explore caves.
Cat Ba Island, Hai Phong, Vietnam – Pristine beach
Conclusion
Vietnam has many beautiful and attractive islands, each with its own unique beauty. Island tourism will definitely bring you unforgettable experiences. Plan to explore these “green paradises” and enjoy the most wonderful moments.