A recent trip to Ly Son Island in central Quang Ngai Province became an unforgettable experience for Vu Thu, originally from Dien Bien and now working in Hanoi, and her three close friends.
The group spent four days and three nights on the island from April 27 to 30 to celebrate Thu’s 25th birthday.
Arriving on Be Island during a fully booked holiday rush
From Hanoi, the group traveled for 16 hours by coach to Sa Ky Port before taking a 40-minute high-speed boat ride to Ly Son’s main island.
The exhausting journey left all four women tired and seasick.
“On the way to the island, the weather was gloomy and looked like rain, which made us even more worried,” Thu recalled.
But the moment they arrived and saw the crystal-clear sea, cool ocean breeze and peaceful scenery, all exhaustion seemed to disappear.
After checking into their accommodation, the four friends eagerly rode motorbikes around the island to explore famous attractions including Thoi Loi Peak, To Vo Gate and Hang Pagoda.
Thu and her friends visit Hang Pagoda on Ly Son Island.
On the second day, the group traveled by boat to Be Island, also known as An Binh Island, famous for its untouched beauty and emerald waters that have earned it the nickname “the Maldives of Vietnam.”
True to its reputation, the tiny island felt peaceful and unhurried.
Life there appeared simple and rustic, with small houses facing the sea to welcome sunlight and ocean winds.
Most local residents make a living through fishing, farming vegetables, onions and garlic. In recent years, some households have also started operating homestays and tourism services.
Thu and her friends rented motorbikes and wandered around the island, stopping at scenic spots including seaside almond trees, colorful mural walls and blooming bougainvillea-lined paths.
The group arrived during peak travel season, when every homestay on the island was fully booked.
Be Island is known for its untouched scenery and emerald waters.
Hoping to experience local island life more closely and sleep beside the beach to catch the sunrise, the four women decided to look for camping tents instead.
“We found the home of Ms. Ha and Mr. An, a couple who rent camping tents on the island. Ms. Ha was incredibly friendly and enthusiastically introduced different tent options and beautiful camping spots,” Thu said.
“At that moment, it started raining, and she immediately told us that if the rain became too heavy, we could sleep inside their home instead of staying outside near the cold and dangerous sea.”
An island dinner that felt like family
The seafood dinner shared with the island family became the most memorable moment of the trip.
At first, the four young women hesitated because they did not want to inconvenience the family.
But by midday, after hours of traveling and exploring, they were exhausted and still unable to find a place to rest.
When they returned to ask for help, Ms. Ha welcomed them warmly and sincerely.
Later that afternoon, before the group headed out again, Ms. Ha invited them back for dinner.
“She told us they had freshly caught island snails that evening and wanted to cook them for us. They were so kind and open-hearted that we couldn’t refuse,” Thu said.
When the group returned, Ms. Ha was busy preparing dinner while Mr. An arrived carrying a large bag of snails freshly collected from the sea - a species none of the women had ever seen before.
Oc cu, a local specialty sea snail found around reefs and coral beds on Ly Son Island. Photo by Linh Trang
He explained that they were “oc cu,” a local sea snail typically found around rocky reefs and coral beds.
The shell was rough-textured with spiral patterns in shades of blue-gray, white-green and reddish orange. The snail’s thick circular operculum shimmered like mother-of-pearl, earning it nicknames such as “moon snail” and “jade eye snail.”
The dinner table was filled with fresh seafood and a light bitter melon soup.
Ms. Ha patiently taught the four guests the proper way to eat the snails.
Because the snail’s operculum remains tightly attached after boiling, diners have to tilt the shell slightly and gently tap it repeatedly against the table until the shell loosens. The meat inside is firm, chewy and naturally sweet.
During dinner, the couple celebrated Thu’s birthday and shared stories about life on the island, including periods of electricity shortages and freshwater scarcity, when residents sometimes had to buy water transported from the main island at prices of VND200,000-VND300,000 (US$8-US$12) per cubic meter.
The group woke up at 4:30am to watch the sunrise over Be Island.
They also spoke about their love story and their livelihoods farming onions and garlic while relying on the sea to survive.
“Only after coming to the island did we realize how precious freshwater is. Yet they still told us to use it comfortably,” Thu recalled.
That night, the rain stopped and cool winds swept across the beach, so the group decided to camp by the sea.
“Mr. An chose the camping spot and helped set up the tent. Ms. Ha prepared blankets and pillows because she worried we might get cold. Their thoughtfulness deeply touched us,” Thu shared.
Thu was delighted with her 25th birthday journey on Ly Son Island.
The next morning, when the group prepared to leave Be Island, the couple came all the way to the pier to say goodbye.
Although they had only spent one day together, the four young women felt emotional, as if they were parting with family members.
“As we left the island, Mr. An told us: ‘Think of this place as your home. Come back and visit once every year.’ That unexpected encounter turned our trip into a beautiful memory I will probably never forget,” Thu said.
For Thu, Ly Son is an ideal destination thanks to its striking landscapes, friendly locals, delicious food and reasonable costs.
The total cost for the four-day trip was around VND4.5 million (US$175) per person.
Beyond the seaside camping experience, Thu especially enjoyed trying freediving - an underwater sport in which divers rely on a single breath without oxygen tanks.
“With the help of professional divers, I managed to overcome my fear of water and truly explore the sea,” she said.
Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
.svg){kind=icon}
