Hidden island off central Vietnam leaves foreign visitor enchanted

A small island off Vietnam’s central coast has captured the heart of a Romanian traveler who says he fell in love with the destination at first sight.

Even after returning three times, Mihai Constantinescu, 38, still finds himself mesmerized by the island’s untouched forests, white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters.

Mihai, a language teacher living in Ho Chi Minh City, has spent the past 18 years in Vietnam.

Passionate about travel and local history and culture, he has completed three cross-country journeys through all 34 provinces and cities across Vietnam.

His travel experiences, memorable encounters and scenic destinations are regularly shared in travel communities and on his YouTube channel, “Mihai Travel Vlog.”

Among the six famous islands he has visited from north to south - including Cat Ba, Cu Lao Cham, Ly Son, Phu Quy, Con Dao and Phu Quoc - Cu Lao Cham (Cham Islet) remains his favorite.

On one occasion, he was even stranded on the island for three nights because of heavy storms.

“Love at first sight”

Cu Lao Cham is an archipelago in the East Sea consisting of eight islands that still preserve a rich marine ecosystem.

The destination was recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve in 2009 and has become a favorite getaway near Da Nang for travelers seeking nature, rustic island life and outdoor activities such as swimming, camping and coral diving.

During his 18 years in Vietnam, Mihai had visited Hoi An and Da Nang many times, sometimes staying for months at a time.

From the mainland beaches, he would often spot a distant island on clear days.

“At first, I thought it was just a small island perfect for a day trip. I kept imagining spending a night there, waking up to ocean views, listening to waves, birds and insects,” Mihai recalled.

But it was not until just before Lunar New Year in 2022 that he finally made the journey.

At the time, he was traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi on a cross-country trip and stopped in Hoi An.

“People were still hesitant to travel after the Covid-19 pandemic. Hoi An felt unusually quiet, so I assumed the island would be even emptier.

“I imagined having the whole place to myself, surrounded by blue sea and white sand like Robinson Crusoe on a deserted island,” he said.

After asking locals for directions, Mihai rode his motorbike to the pier.

Instead of taking a 20-minute speedboat ride, he chose a 90-minute wooden boat journey so he could bring along his trusted motorbike.

“The moment I stepped off the boat, I fell in love with the island. Everywhere I looked, there were green mountains, white beaches and breathtaking sea views.

“I dropped my bags at the homestay and immediately went out to explore,” he said.

Riding along winding coastal roads, Mihai eventually reached stretches where there were no houses left, only wild shrubs and dense greenery.

At one point, he even encountered several large monkeys by the roadside.

“Since I was alone, I worried it might be dangerous to go deeper into the forest, so I turned back toward the center of the island. “Then I found a beautiful beach and walked down a few steps. In front of me was Bai Xep - white sand, crystal-clear water and not a single person around. It was impossible to describe with words,” he said.

Because of work commitments, Mihai stayed only one night during that first trip.

But memories of Bai Xep, Bai Ong, fresh seafood and evenings listening to waves from his homestay balcony kept drawing him back.

Stranded on the island because of storms

In August 2022, when his parents and sister traveled from Romania to visit him in Vietnam, Mihai decided to bring the family to central Vietnam to explore Hue, Hoi An and Cu Lao Cham.

Their original itinerary included one night on the island and three nights in Hoi An.

They arrived by speedboat on a beautiful sunny day.

“The beaches were so clear and blue that just looking at them made you feel happy,” Mihai said.

But that night, the weather suddenly changed and heavy rain swept across the island.

The following morning brought rough waves and strong winds.

“We couldn’t even leave the homestay because the storm was too strong. All boats were suspended while waiting for updates from authorities,” he recalled.

What was supposed to be a one-night stay turned into three nights, leaving the family unable to explore more of the island.

“But in a strange way, it became a blessing,” Mihai said. “We spent three full days together - waking up slowly, drinking coffee and sharing meals on the balcony just a few meters from the sea. I joked with my family: ‘Look at this. The people on the mainland are the ones trapped because they can’t come here. We’re the ones staying in paradise.’”

Most recently, Mihai returned to Cu Lao Cham for a third visit, staying two nights and spending his days riding around the island filming landscapes.

“I rode around the island at least three times. Each loop was about 20 kilometers. The first round was for scouting locations and finding good camera angles. The second time, I stopped dozens of times at beautiful viewpoints. The third time, I rode continuously with two action cameras mounted on the bike. I never felt tired because everything was just so beautiful,” he said.

While many visitors come to Cu Lao Cham for freediving, scuba diving or coral watching, Mihai prefers wandering around the island and swimming at Bai Ong, Bai Xep and Bai Chong.

According to him, the island does not yet have luxury resorts or upscale hotels, relying mostly on homestays and guesthouses.

“It’s perfect for people who truly appreciate raw, untouched nature,” he said. “I hope more travelers discover this place, but I also hope it never becomes over-commercialized.”

Mihai says his next island adventure in Vietnam will likely be Nam Du.