VietNamNet Bridge – The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang has a number of islands worth visiting. One of the islands which visitors should explore is Hon Tre, where tourists can see a picturesque view of sea and mountain, learn about islanders’ lives and relax in a cool and fresh atmosphere.

A view of Hon Tre Bay

Hon Tre covers 430 hectares and belongs to Kien Hai District. It is also known as Rua (turtle) as it looks like a turtle swimming in the sea when seen from above.

Tourists from other places to Kien Giang should start the trip to Hon Tre from Rach Gia Port in Rach Gia City where boats make scheduled trips to the island between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Hiep An high-speed boat service is an option. It departs at 8:10 a.m. and costs VND65,000 (US$3) per person.

After an hour-long boat trip to Hon Tre, tourists can take xe om (motorbike taxi) at a fee of only VND5,000 to travel one kilometer to central Kien Hai.

Accommodation on the island costs VND100,000 to VND250,000 per room per night and tourists can spend VND100,000 hiring a motorbike for a full day to go around the island.

From the district’s center, there is a one-kilometer road crossing Hon Tre Island and leading to the sea. From this road, tourists make a left and go straight ahead around one kilometer to get to Chen (bowl) Beach.

People go fishing in Hon Tre Bay – Photos: Dang Hoang Tham

The beach has many rocks shaped like upside down bowls. After having a swim or relaxing under the shades of trees in cool breeze, tourists are recommended to buy fresh seafood from local fishermen and ask them to cook it on the spot.

Fishing is an interesting activity for visitors to Hon Tre. An ideal place for fishing is Bang Beach, about two kilometers from Chen Beach. Tourists should prepare fishing rods and buy small fish as bait at Hon Tre fish market.

For other destinations on the island, tourists should drop by Phuong Hoang Pagoda on Bac Dao Mountain at a height of 365 meters. There, they can see a pepper garden owned by an old man named Nguyen Van Tram. Apart from pepper, Tram grows jackfruit, mango, dragon fruit, and coconut trees.

At sunrise, tourists can hire small boats to travel along the shore and watch fishermen catching fish or visit floating markets to learn about daily activities of local people.

On the way to Hon Tre market, tourists can stop by Son Linh Temple in a cave where people worship the Buddha or Nam Hai whale temple to admire a whale skeleton which is 8.4 meters long and 3.8 meters wide.

The island has a new quay, making it easier for boats to moor. At the end of the quay, there is a church from where tourists can have a panoramic view of Hon Tre Bay and admire sunrise and sunset.

Dang Hoang Tham

SGT