Vietnam is home to lots of paradise islands with more than 4000 splendid islands. Some are really well-known like Con Dao, Phu Quoc, Cat Ba, but others are still hidden gems that need discovering. For nature lovers, you have to visit one of these top 10 paradise islands at least once in your lifetime.
1. Con Dao Island
Men are mesmerized by the beauty of nature, and men want to keep the nature for their own. However, here in Con Dao Island, men cannot change the beauty of this wonderful island but can only watch and adore. For anyone has the opportunity to visit Con Dao, one can adore the white beach spreads for miles enfolded by the crystal ocean. Following the white beach, long lines of coconut trees create the amicable green of paradise.
Coming to Con Dao Island, not only one can admire the beauty of nature, one can also taste and never forget the taste of nature. The saltines in the ocean’s culinary, the freshness of coconut milk, and many things more are awaited.
Meanwhile, there are so many activities can do here in this island. Miles of untamed beach are awaited one to discover. While one can dive oneself in the blue ocean, play with sea turtle or even dolphins, there are more about this island that one must know. The island is also a part of Vietnam history. It served as a prison camp in the French colonization, and also in the Vietnam War. Now, it is a footnote of history, a proof of what had happened in the past. This island is also the bury place of Vo Thi Sau, a hero in the war against the French before 1945.
2. Phu Quoc Island
While Con Dao is untamed and also the witness of history, on the west coast of Vietnam, Phu Quoc Island is more poetic. The island is like a dreaming girl in the vast ocean. The island is protected by a chain of smaller islands off the coast, so the waves are pacified while the sun is shining and the sand is white. Further inland, the tropical forests with their biological diversity spread even farther.
Meanwhile, food is an inseparable part of any tropical island. As the pearl of the crown jewel of islands in Vietnam, Phu Quoc has an extensive culinary list. Here, one can taste the boldness of the sea, the lightness of coconut or the explosion of flavors of the pineapple. As these are the tropical island must-have, Phu Quoc has the cuisines that no other places have. Cuisines like no other will stay with one forever, and rush one to come back for more. Tuna soup cake, sea urchins cocktail, grilled herring with lemon, herring rolls, boiled crab with lemon-pepper-salt sauce, crab bologna, grilled scallops, bare grilled Grouper and many more are cuisines that one cannot taste at anywhere else, and cannot forget.
3. Cat Ba Island
Cat Ba Island is composed of 367 islands including Cat Ba Island to the south of Ha Long Bay, off the coast of Hai Phong city. Cat Ba Island’s climate is cool, fresh and suitable for resort tourism. Most visitors come to Cat Ba to swim. In which, Cat Co 1 and Cat Co 2 are the two spacious beaches with flat sands so that it’s beloved by most travelers. If you want to explore more, you should hire a boat to visit Lan Ha Bay and swim at the sandy beaches in the bay, where the sea water is pure and the space is not very crowded.
Cat Ba is known for fresh seafood dishes like: “sam”, snout, lobster, snapper, squid,.. You can eat at restaurants in the area of Cat Ba Market. The price there is clearly marked.
With its cool climate, the average temperature is only 25 Celsius degree, many beautiful beaches and pristine forests, Cat Ba Island is not only an amazing relaxing spot, but also an ideal adventurous place for exploration enthusiasts.
4. Cu Lao Cham Island
Located about 15km from Cua Dai beach, Hoi An, Cu Lao Cham consisting of 8 different islands, Cu Lao Cham is gradually won the hearts of many tourists when it comes sea travel thanks to the peacefully pristine paradise-like beauty. Just after 15 minutes floating on the canoe from Cua Dai beach, you will be able to admire the charming island front sight. Lush forests, cool climate, wide beaches with vast sands stretching are familiar images of Cu Lao Cham.
The most amazing thing to do here is"pack breathing tube up and dive" with your group of friends to explore the blue ocean. Also, do not miss the opportunity to ride a bike on the roads winding through sand dunes and coastal fishing villages. Discover and experience jungle picnic amid the greenery will bring you moments that can never forget.
5. Nam Du Island
Nam Du (KienGiang) promises to be an extremely "hot" destination in this summer thanks to clear blue water, shady coconut trees on the sandy shores. Waking up a little earlier to hire a “xeôm” (motorbike with a driver) make a trip to the lighthouse. Here, you can admire the full paradise beauty of Nam Du Island, discover new angles and capture the most stunning pictures of your KienGiang discovery voyage.
6. Ly Son Island
Ly Son Island is a part of Quang Ngai Province. Coming to Ly Son, one will see a graceful land where mountains and the seas are almost merged into one entity, where the sea and the sky have the same crystal and eternal blue. Ly Son is the place where the sky and the sea and the earth become one. But Ly Son has more to see. Here in the island of Ly Son, one can discover its amazing cuisines, the charm and holiness of temples deep in the mountains, the renowned wind graves, and for the most part, the warm and friendliness of the local people.
7. Co To islands, Van Don island
Co To Island is an archipelago located in the Gulf of Tonkin, including a large Co To Island, a small Co islands, the island of Thanh Lam, Tran and countless islands and small island. Coming to Co To, one will see the crystal clear sea reflects the mountain-islands scattered across the ocean. In Co To, besides swimming, one can visit natural forests, lighthouses, parks and memorial statues of Ho Chi Minh, wharf, fishing village, the bay, natural rocky, and many peaceful Northern style local villages.
Boat is the only way to get in Co To. The boat starts from Cai Rong town (Van Don – Quang Ninh).Boat will run through the Bai Tu Long Bay, to pass to Quan Lan Island and come to Co To island, each trip takes between 3 to 3.5 h depending on the weather.
Due to the military presence on the island a permit is required to stay on the island. The permit needs to be acquired in Ha Long city beforehand. If one arrive without a one will either be expected to pay a fine or be sent back to the mainland. However, this information does not apply to Vietnamese nationals.
8. Binh Ba Island
In 3 recent years, when it comes to domestic tourism, Binh Ba Island has been a very hot name, not only for the landscape but also the culinary richness which has captivated the hearts of almost travelers.
There are many beaches in Binh Ba. Among the most 7 popular beaches, there is only 3 ones you can reach by motorbike. They are Nom Beach, Chuong Beach and Nha Cu Beach. Nom Beach is a very wide sandy beach and reefs can sometime be found there. The majority of locals and tourists swim here because the sea is very clean. Chuong Beach is located about 30 minutes from the wharf. It is the only beach on the island to see sunset. Nha Cu Beach has many urchins so your legs can be stabbed in when swimming. But this park is really great in terms of the cleanliness.
Not only blue sea, white sand and romantic scenery, Binh Ba also attracts foodies by very distinctive cuisines. You don’t forget to visit Binh Ba market in the morning where you can find the best vermicelli, noodles, can cake, pancakes,quaivaccake,..All the dishes are so incredible at very affordable price.
9. Binh Hung Island
Whereas Bình Ba Island is rather well-known, another island in its vicinity named Bình Hưng Island is rather new and usually only circulated in the world of backpackers. From the dock on main land, it takes only about 5 minutes to get there; thus, you can always find a boat heading to the island. Binh Hung Island is highly recommended for those with adventurous mind as it is still safe from tourism exploitation and not very crowded with travelers.
It is advisable that you visit Bãi Nước Ngọt (Fresh Water Beach) during your trip here. That name derives from a small stream on this beach which is just next to the sea. Other attractions in this island can be Hòn Chút Lighthouse, Đá Trứng Beach and some other similar services as that of Bình Ba Island. Besides, you can also visit Bãi Kinh (Kinh Beach) – a gorgeous beach where the sea has 3 different colors with transparent water that you can actually see the sea bottom or the smooth white sand that can really blow your mind away.
10. Hang Rai
Hang Rai is located south of VinhHy Bay, about 35km from Phan Rang. It is the region including coral reefs, sea caves ranges to Beach. Hang Rai has unspoiled beauty that will make visitors astonished. Who has had the opportunity to set foot here will probably never forget this land. Hang Rai is like a sleeping princess in a the forest waiting for the prince to awaken, Hang Rai gracefully leans on mountainside and the immense sea giving tourists a rare wonder.
Hang Rai brings travelers superb feeling of being lost in the land of fairy tales with nearly perfect beauty. The pile of multiple -shaped stones creates numerous large and small magnificent caves. Hang Rai beach with water color changed according to the sun is a great opportunity for those who love art to satisfy his passion.
