VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam has over 3,000km of coastline and thousands of islands. Here are the most beautiful islands for nature lovers in the country.

Con Dao 

Con Dao has white beaches spreading for miles enfolded by the crystal ocean. Lining the beach, long lines of coconut trees create a green paradise.

Coming to Con Dao Island, one can admire the beauty of nature but also the freshness of coconut milkand other culinary delights.

There are so many activities on the island. Miles of untamed beach await discovery. While you can dive in the ocean, or play with sea turtles or even dolphins, there is more about this island than just sand and sea. 

The island is also a part of Vietnam history. It served as a prison camp in 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 burial place of Vo Thi Sau, a hero in the war against the French before 1945.

Phu Quoc 

While Con Dao is untamed and also a witness to history, Phu Quoc Island is more poetic. 

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.

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-haves, Phu Quoc has cuisine like no other. 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 unforgettable dishes. 

Ly Son 

Ly Son Island is a part of Quang Ngai Province. Coming to Ly Son, you will see a graceful land where mountains and the seas seem to merge, where the sea and the sky have the same crystal blue. 

Here in the island of Ly Son, one can discover its amazing cuisine, the charm and holiness of temples deep in the mountains, the renowned wind graves, and for the most part, the warmth and friendliness of the local people.

Co To, Van Don 

Co To Island is an archipelago located in the Gulf of Tonkin, including large Co To Island, small Co islands, the island of Thanh Lam and Tran,and countless small islands.

Coming to Co To, you will see the crystal clear sea reflecting the mountains and islands scattered across the ocean. 

In Co To, besides swimming, you can visit natural forests, lighthouses, parks and memorial statues of President Ho Chi Minh, wharves, fishing villages, the bay, rocks, and many peaceful Northern style local villages.

A boat is the only way to get in Co To. The boat starts from Cai Rong town (Van Don – Quang Ninh). Boats run through the Bai Tu Long Bay, pass Quan Lan Island and come to Co To island. Each trip takes between 3 to 3.5 hours depending on the weather.

Due to the military presence on the island, a permit is required to stay. The permit needs to be acquired in Ha Long city beforehand. 

Phu Quy 

Located in central Vietnam, about 103km from Phan Thiet City, Phu Quy District is an ideal tourist destination for holiday-makers as it houses 10 small islands, with Phu Quy Island being the biggest in pristine condition.

The locals call it Hon Thu or Mackerel Island, because from the southwest direction, the islet looks like a cod emerging from the sea.

Phu Quy has preserved its natural features – the warm sand glistens with shells and coral and the water is teeming with sea life. 

This tiny islet has huge unexploited tourist potential. It still has no rated hotels, but one can enjoy a peaceful night under the starry sky and explore nearby caves. 

You can eat fragrant corn cobs and fresh fish grilled over a roaring campfire. Coconut orchards provide shade for camping and coconut milk for meals. Diving is also a possibility. 

According to locals, the sea floor around Phu Quy is covered with coral and rocks that are home to many sea creatures.

The island is surrounded with white sandy beaches and nine islets, of which Hon Tranh, Hon Den, Hon Trung are attractive aqua tourist spots.

Binh Ba 

Binh Ba Island, about 60km from Nha Trang, is a relatively new destination on the tourist map. The name Binh Ba derives from the outpost position of the island on Cam Ranh Bay: it’s like a front door of the bay. 

As one of the places welcoming the earliest dawn in Vietnam, Binh Ba attracts travelers who like the wild beauty of the island.

The unique features are stunning coral reefs and sea diving. With unspoiled coral, low sea level, and pure blue water, the Nha Cu Beach in Binh Ba is a perfect place to see the coral reefs and swim with colorful fish.

In addition, those adventurers can go along the mountainside to explore such untouched relics as artillery, and bunkers. 

Those who prefer natural beauty can take a small walk along the seashore to collect colorful snail shells, and look at the grandeur range of stones, cliffs or exotic caves. 

If possible, climb to the top of the radar station to have a gorgeous bird-eye's view of Binh Ba Island.

Cu Lao Cham 

In May 2009 UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An was created which includes Hoi An Ancient Town, most of metro Hoi An, the river inlet, the ocean between Hoi An and Cham Islands as well as the islands.

Humans have inhabited Cu Lao Cham for at least 2,500 years. These where holy islands to the Cham people.

The Cham are a Malayo-Polynesian people who originally settled in Sa Huynh, Central Vietnam, around 200 B.C. The Champa Kingdom was created in Hue region around 200 A.D. and lasted until 1835.

What appeals to tourists in Cham Island is its wide variety of leisure activities in a picturesque and pristine setting. 

Traditional forms of recreation range from swimming on crystal-clear beaches, sunbathing on long-stretching white-sandy coast to exploring the forest. 

For those who are interested in marine life exploration activities, there are available facilities for water sports like: swimming, water skiing, paragliding, kayaking, kite flying, boat racing and scuba diving. 

This kingdom of aquatic animals is a collection of marine algae, sea grass, sea creatures and especially coral reefs.

Nam Du 

Located 52 miles West Coast of Rach Gia city in Kien Giang province, Nam Du Island has become an attractive destination for tourists. 

The archipelago stretches over two communes of An Son and Nam Du with a population of 10,000 people working in fishing and sea-related services. 

Formed from a volcano, it has numerous six-meter creeks which are advantageous for transportation. As it is endowed with high mountains, Nam Du also is suggested as a great spot for offshore fishermen to flee rough storms.

Nam Du Island is not only famous for its natural beauty, but also local products are extremely rich. One can go fishing in the morning to eat all day. In addition, seafood here is very cheap, and easy to buy at fishermen’s nets. 

At the end of Nam Du journey, one cannot miss to visit the Nam Du lighthouse. This is the highest point of the island. Here, one can observe the panoramic scene of this place. One will never forget the moment of seeing dawn or a dreamy sunset.

Binh Hung 

When one arrives the island, one will immediately be attracted by the color of the blue sea and white sandy beaches. 

The beaches here are not long and wide as Mui Ne or Nha Trang but they are always clean and pure to the bottom. 

Sea is shallow, gentle and one just wade out a few tens of meters, water up to the chest, one will see coral beneath.

The people on the island live by fishing, especially nourishing lobster. The house is located in close proximity to the sea direction. Far away, busy shipping trade in fishing ports. The roads around the village are clean.

Ba Lua 

Ba Lua Islands also called Binh Tri Islands. The island population of about 45 islands, large and small offshore Kien Luong District, Kien Giang Province. Ba Lua Islands are also referred to as the “Ha Long” of the Mekong Delta.

The most well-known islands are situated together, Hon Gieng, Hon Duoc and Hon Duong, forming a shallow bay. During low tide, people can wade through the bay from one island to the other as the water is only 80cm deep. Only a few families live on the islands.

The islands are covered by yearly blue and tranquil beach. The water is so clear that one can see fish swimming under the sea. Sometimes, one will see friendly dolphins dancing, racing and tumbling around the boat. 

The islands also have a lot of rare medicinal plants and precious animals like birds, pythons, snakes creating biological diversity. 

The peaceful atmosphere here is an ideal space for people to enjoy the life and make their best spirit.

VNN/Vnflavor