Binh Thuan, renowned for its sprawling beaches and golden sand dunes, harbors a secret jewel known as Cu Lao Cau Island. This pristine island, resembling a stone battleship rising from the sea, captivates visitors with its magnificent natural beauty and unforgettable, unique experiences. If you’re seeking a novel destination, away from the city’s hustle and bustle, Cu Lao Cau is the perfect choice. This article provides the most detailed guide to exploring Cu Lao Cau Island in Binh Thuan, helping you plan a complete and memorable journey.
Introducing Cu Lao Cau Island: Binh Thuan’s Untamed Pearl
Cu Lao Cau, also known as Hon Cau Island, is located approximately 9km off the coast, belonging to Tuy Phong district, Binh Thuan province. This island stands out with its smooth white sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and diverse, vibrant coral reef ecosystems. The most distinctive feature of Cu Lao Cau is its granite rock formations with unique shapes, sculpted by nature over millions of years, creating a landscape that is both majestic and poetic.
Spanning a modest area of about 1.5km², Cu Lao Cau retains a rare, untouched, and simple charm. Tourism services here are not yet heavily developed, offering visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in nature, enjoy tranquility, and discover the wonders bestowed by creation. When you come to Cu Lao Cau, you can experience snorkeling to admire coral reefs, swimming in cool waters, exploring mysterious caves, and savoring fresh seafood caught by local fishermen.
Best Time to Visit Cu Lao Cau Island
The weather in Cu Lao Cau is distinctly divided into two seasons: the Southwest monsoon season and the Northeast monsoon season. The Southwest monsoon season (from January to May) is the ideal time to explore Cu Lao Cau Island. During this time, the sea is calm, waves are gentle, the sky is clear blue, and the sun is brightly golden, perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and island sightseeing.
The Northeast monsoon season (from June to December) brings rougher seas, larger waves, and strong winds. However, if you want to experience thrilling sensations and enjoy surfing, this can also be an interesting time. Nevertheless, you should check the weather forecast before going to ensure safety for your trip.
Getting to Cu Lao Cau Island
To reach Cu Lao Cau, you need to travel to Lien Huong town, Tuy Phong district, Binh Thuan. From Ho Chi Minh City or other provinces, you can choose the following means of transport:
- Bus: This is the most popular and economical option. Many high-quality sleeper bus companies operate the Ho Chi Minh City – Lien Huong route, with a travel time of about 4-5 hours.
- Train: You can take a train to Binh Thuan station (Muong Man) or Phan Thiet station, then take a bus or taxi to Lien Huong.
- Motorbike or Self-driving car: If you want to freely explore Binh Thuan, a motorbike or self-driving car is an excellent choice. The road to Lien Huong is quite easy to navigate, and the scenery along the way is beautiful.
From Lien Huong town, you can go to boat docks such as Ca Na or Lien Huong wharf to rent a boat or canoe to Cu Lao Cau Island. Travel time by boat is about 45-60 minutes, while a canoe takes only about 20-30 minutes. Boat or canoe rental prices vary depending on the type of vehicle and the number of people. You should contact service providers in advance to book and inquire about prices.
Boats transporting tourists to Cu Lao Cau Island
Discovering the Untouched Beauty of Cu Lao Cau: Unmissable Experiences
Stunning Beaches and Crystal-Clear Waters
Cu Lao Cau boasts numerous pristine, charming beaches with smooth white sand and crystal-clear waters. Bai Tien, Bai Tam Tien, Bai Nom, Bai Suoi Can… each beach possesses its own unique beauty, but they all share a common feature of peace and tranquility. You can freely swim, relax on the sand, or participate in water sports activities such as kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP).
Colorful Coral Reef Snorkeling
One of the most captivating experiences when visiting Cu Lao Cau is snorkeling to admire coral reefs. The coral reef ecosystem here is incredibly diverse and rich, with many rare coral species and colorful marine creatures. You can rent snorkeling masks, snorkels, or scuba tanks at service points on the island to explore the underwater world. Bai Rua and Hon Hai Canh are the most popular snorkeling spots in Cu Lao Cau.
Tourists snorkeling to see coral reefs at Cu Lao Cau Island
Exploring Mysterious Caves
Cu Lao Cau not only has beautiful beaches but also hides many mysterious caves, formed by the erosion of sea waves and wind. Yen Cave, Ba Hon Cave, Cau Cave… are famous caves that you can explore. Each cave carries a unique beauty and is associated with interesting legends.
Admiring the Unique Beauty of Hon Cau
Hon Cau, also known as Bai Ca, is a large rocky beach located in the south of Cu Lao Cau Island. This place gathers many granite boulders with all sorts of strange shapes, stacked on top of each other, creating an incredibly impressive landscape. You can climb onto the rocks to admire the panoramic view of Cu Lao Cau Island from above and take unique photos.
Camping and Enjoying the Night on the Island
If you want to experience a full night in Cu Lao Cau, camping is a great option. You can rent tents and necessary equipment from local residents or tourism service providers. Waking up amidst pristine nature, watching the sunrise over the sea, and enjoying a BBQ dinner by the beach will be unforgettable memories.
Camping overnight on Cu Lao Cau Island
Cu Lao Cau Cuisine: Fresh Seafood Flavors of the Sea
When you come to Cu Lao Cau, you cannot miss the opportunity to enjoy fresh seafood, prepared in local style. Famous specialties here include:
- Gáy Fish (Threadfin bream): This fish has white, sweet, and very fragrant meat, often prepared into dishes such as grilling, steaming, and sour soup.
- One-Sun Dried Squid: Fresh squid is dried under one sun, retaining its natural sweetness and chewiness, usually grilled or deep-fried.
- Ốc Vú Nàng (Areola Snail): A rare snail species with sweet, crunchy, and fragrant meat, often grilled with scallion oil or steamed with lemongrass.
- Sea Urchin: Also known as Cau Gai, with a characteristic fatty taste, often eaten raw with mustard or grilled with scallion oil.
You can enjoy fresh seafood at restaurants and small eateries on the island or buy directly from fishermen and prepare it yourself. In addition, you can also ask locals to prepare meals according to your request with local specialties.
Accommodation in Cu Lao Cau: Homestays and Guesthouses
Currently, accommodation services on Cu Lao Cau Island are not yet heavily developed. However, you can still find some simple, clean homestays and guesthouses managed by local residents. These accommodation options are usually concentrated in the Bai Huong and Bai Ngang areas. If you want a more comfortable experience, you can choose hotels and resorts in Lien Huong town or Mui Ne and travel to the island for the day.
Suggested Itinerary for Exploring Cu Lao Cau 2 Days 1 Night
To have a complete exploration of Cu Lao Cau Island, you can refer to the following suggested itinerary:
Day 1:
- Morning: Travel from Ho Chi Minh City or other provinces to Lien Huong town, Binh Thuan.
- Noon: Have lunch in Lien Huong and travel to Cu Lao Cau Island by boat or canoe.
- Afternoon: Check in to a homestay or guesthouse, free time to swim, explore Bai Tien, Bai Nom.
- Evening: Enjoy fresh seafood, camp, and stargaze on the island.
Day 2:
- Morning: Wake up early to watch the sunrise over the sea, snorkel at Bai Rua or Hon Hai Canh.
- Noon: Have lunch on the island and check out.
- Afternoon: Travel back to the mainland, visit Co Thach Pagoda (if time permits), and depart back to Ho Chi Minh City or other provinces.
Combining a Trip to Cu Lao Cau with Nearby Tourist Destinations
Besides Cu Lao Cau, Binh Thuan has many other attractive tourist destinations that you can combine exploring on your trip:
- Co Thach Pagoda: An ancient pagoda located near the sea, famous for its unique seven-color rocky beach.
- Mui Ne: A resort paradise with flying sand dunes, beautiful beaches, and luxurious resorts.
- Bau Trang (White Lake): A freshwater lake amidst sand dunes, likened to the “Little Sahara” of Vietnam.
- Ke Ga Lighthouse: Vietnam’s oldest lighthouse, located on a small island offshore.
Co Thach Pagoda near Cu Lao Cau
Conclusion
Cu Lao Cau is a precious gem of Binh Thuan tourism, possessing pristine, majestic beauty and unique travel experiences. Hopefully, with this detailed guide to exploring Cu Lao Cau Island in Binh Thuan, you will have more useful information to plan a memorable trip. Come and feel the beauty of this island, you will certainly not be disappointed!