First published January 2019 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle
This post was last updated 5 years ago. Please check the comments section for possible updates, or read more on my Updates & Accuracy page.
INTRODUCTION | GUIDE | MAP | RELATED POSTS
Nam Du is a glistening archipelago of small tropical islands off the southwestern coast of Vietnam. Lying in the calm waters of the Gulf of Thailand, travel to Nam Du Islands is still in its infancy. Pioneered by young, Vietnamese ‘Instagram-backpackers’ just a few years ago, Nam Du Islands have been gaining a reputation as an off-grid beach retreat. A good percentage of my younger Vietnamese friends in Saigon have already been there and done it, as have a handful of expats, and some adventurous foreign travellers. But, for at least two of the last four years, since Nam Du opened to visitors, foreign travellers weren’t allowed on the islands. However, that’s all changed now, and Nam Du Archipelago is easily reached by regular ferries from the mainland, making independent travel to these beautiful and undeveloped islands absolutely possible for all nationalities. Nam Du is gorgeous, but already the impact of tourism and development is changing the islands, in many cases for the worse. It’s probably best to visit sooner rather than later.
Nam Du is a glistening archipelago of small tropical islands off the southwestern coast of Vietnam
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GUIDE: NAM DU ISLANDS
Below is my full guide to visiting the Nam Du Islands. I’ve divided this guide into categories, and then several sub-sections within those categories. Note that although all the places mentioned in this guide are marked on my map, the locations may not be exact, because Google Maps doesn’t work properly on Nam Du Islands, as it’s considered a border area, and therefore sensitive. The best time of year to visit Nam Du is from November to April, when the weather is generally dry and bright, and rainfall is light. It’s also advisable to visit on a weekday, and avoid weekends and public holidays, during which the islands can get very crowded. Plan to spend at least two nights on Nam Du, if not more. [Note: there are no ATMs on the islands: bring cash]
Click on a category below to read more about it:
CONTENTS:
MAP:
Nam Du Archipelago, Kien Giang Province
View in a LARGER MAP
Location & Background:
Below I’ve written a description of the location and topography of the Nam Du Archipelago, as well as some information about the current state of the environment, which is an increasing concern all across Vietnam:
The Nam Du Archipelago consists of over 20 islands, islets & rocky outcrops
The Nam Du Archipelago is at the western end of a small chain of islands drifting west of Rach Gia, a thriving port city on the mainland, in Vietnam’s western Mekong Delta region. The Nam Du Archipelago sits in the Gulf of Thailand, consisting of over 20 islands, islets, and rocky outcrops. The biggest of these is known as Hòn Lớn (Big Island), but is also referred to simply as ‘Nam Du’. This island is the centre for most of the tourism and infrastructure in the archipelago. Of the outlying islands, several are inhabited, including Hon Ngang, Hon Mau, and Hon Trung. All of these islands can be visited by tour boat, including some of the uninhabited islands, too (see Getting Around for details). Nam Du Island (Hon Lon) itself can only be reached by ferry from the mainland (see Getting There for details). Tourism is still in its infancy. Indeed, until very recently, foreign travellers weren’t allowed to visit, unless they had a special permit. These days, however, anyone can step on a ferry from Rach Gia and enjoy the Nam Du Archipelago.
Hon Lon is the largest of the archipelago’s islands, and also referred to simply as ‘Nam Du’
The islands are green and forested, yet rugged and rocky; the sea is calm and the colour of blue topaz. I like to think of the archipelago as Vietnam’s Aegean Islands. As such, Nam Du has gained a reputation for outstanding and untouched coastal scenery in recent years. Social media posts have spread the word, particularly among young domestic travellers, and nowadays, weekends and public holidays are crammed with Vietnamese visitors. But Nam Du, during the week at least, is still an off-the-beaten-track destination – you won’t find many foreign travellers here; or many travellers at all for that matter, providing you visit Monday to Friday. Google Maps doesn’t really work on the Nam Du Islands and tourist infrastructure is limited to several dozen local guest houses and a handful of mini-resorts. But, of course, things are set to change. If you really want to see the islands before the onset of major development (just like Phu Quoc Island 10-15 years ago), then you mustn’t delay your trip to Nam Du for long. Even today, one gets the feeling that, just a couple of years ago, the ocean would have been cleaner and the jungles greener than they are now, thanks to the inevitable impact of rising visitor numbers.
Visitor numbers (especially during the week) are still low & development is small scale
On the main island of Nam Du (Hon Lon), there’s only one road. This narrow, paved lane circumnavigates the entire island, passing almost all of the island’s beaches, attractions, places to stay and eat. It’s only about 15km in total, making it easily ridable by scooter (see Getting Around for details). In general, the western coast of Nam Du Island is more rugged, beguiling, enchanting, and pristine than the eastern. The interior of the island is mountainous and green. On the outlying islands, the main attraction is the white sand beach on Hon Mau, called Bai Chuong, and some fun (if not particularly impressive) snorkeling off the coast of a couple of the rocky, uninhabited islets (see Beaches & Activities for details). As is the case with all islands in Vietnam, prices are generally a bit higher than on the mainland. Food (with the exception of seafood), drink, and accommodation are all around 30% more than you’d expect to pay on the mainland.
Of the outlying islands, which can be visited by boat, the most popular is Hon Mau with Bai Chuong Beach
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Environment & Pollution:
It should be noted that, as beautiful, undeveloped, and serene as Nam Du currently is, it’s a very small and fragile place. Just like the Con Dao Islands, Nam Du is an extremely delicate environment: you can already see and feel the changes and the impact that tourism and development have had here. Even though the main island has only really seen significant visitor numbers in the last few years, and even though electricity is still limited to generators (which billow black smoke and leak black oil), and daily fast boats connecting the mainland have only been operating since fairly recently, the sea water and the beaches are already beginning to show signs of awful pollution from plastic and oil, and the interior forests are disappearing. But what can you do when everyone on the island suddenly has access to plastic containers and building materials, and hundreds of tourists (on weekends during the high season) come, see, eat, drink, and leave their trash behind?
Nam Du is small, and its environment is fragile: the advent of tourism is already making an impact
The infrastructure for garbage collection is slowly being implemented – there are trash bins, information signs, a daily trash car. But where does it all go: into a landfill on the island that just gets bigger, smellier, and more toxic with each year, just like those on Con Dao and Phu Quoc islands. The impact of plastic, building materials, and tourism in small, self contained places, like Nam Du, is so apparent and so fast that it’s shocking to see. I don’t have any answers, and, as a continual traveller, I’m obviously part of the problem, but the very least you can do it dispose of your trash responsibly, and, if possible, bring your own reusable containers for food and drink. At the time of writing, a landfill is being carved out of the forest on the western coast: I expect to see its ‘progress’ every time I revisit the island.
Trash, which is a problem all over Vietnam, is building up on Nam Du’s beaches, much of it plastic
Beaches, Bays, Islands & Activities:
There are two main things to do on the Nam Du Archipelago: explore the main island of Hon Lon (also referred to simply as Nam Du), and take a boat trip to some of the outlying islands. If you’re really pushed for time, 24 hours (taking the early morning boat from Rach Gia, and the mid morning boat back the next day) would be sufficient to make a circuit of the main island of Hon Lon. But, ideally, I’d recommend at least 2 days and nights on Nam Du: one to explore the main island; the other to take a boat trip to the outlying islands. With 3 nights, you have plenty of time to see and experience everything this archipelago has to offer. If possible, try not to visit on a weekend or public holiday, when the islands get very crowded. It really is a different (and more peaceful) experience if you visit on a weekday. Note: Although Google Maps doesn’t show Nam Du Island’s roads and landmarks, it’s still possible to use my map as a reference to get your bearings and an idea of the lay of the land. Just bear in mind that the pins and markers are obviously only approximate.
Exploring the main island by motorbike & taking a boat to the outlying islands are the main things to do
Nam Du’s main island is Hon Lon (‘Big Island’ in Vietnamese). Hon Lon occupies the western flank of the archipelago, with the port village of Bai Tret (also known as Cu Tron) sitting in a bay on the northeastern coast. I’ve written the following beaches and attractions on Hon Lon as if travelling clockwise around the island on the coast road, starting from Bai Tret. The best way to explore the island is by hired scooter (see Getting Around for details). There’s only really one road on Hon Lon, and this circles the entire island. It’s only about 15km in total, so riding a circuit of the island, without any stops, just takes around 20 minutes. But, of course, the whole point is that you do stop: for swims, picnics, exploration, and just to stand and admire the views and peace of the island.
The archipelago’s main island, Hon Lon (Nam Du) is rugged, green, and very attractive
Bai Tret Hamlet (Cu Tron): The island’s main port and the centre for food, drink, and accommodation, Bai Tret is built on a very narrow strip of land at the foot of forested hills rising sharply from the ocean. The boat pier is scruffy and busy; a jumble of ticket kiosks, seafood shacks, fishing boats, and cafes. The village itself is a warren of tight alleyways, crammed with concrete homes, eateries, local convenience stores, mini-wet markets, and cheap guest houses. Stock up on food and water here if you’re planning on exploring the island for the day. (See Food & Drink and Accommodation for details).
The main village of Bai Tret (also known as Cu Tron) is a small cluster of guest houses & shops
The settlement of Bai Tret (Cu Tron) is small but sprawls along the narrow strip of land to the south of the port. A tight, paved lane leads through the covered alleyways as they pass by fishermen’s dwellings, with the occasional humongous banyan tree towering above the corrugated iron rooftops. It looks like a slow, salty, labour-intensive existence: men working the boats and the nets, women keeping the house, the children free to roam the sandy lanes and yards, happily jumping from chicken coup to beach. The locals I met were extremely warm and friendly. It’s only in the last few years that foreign travellers have started to arrive. Mieu Ba Chua Xu is a small, ornate temple beneath a banyan tree, which is worth a quick visit. Trash is a problem, as it is everywhere in Vietnam, but especially in small coastal communities like this one. Common practice is to throw everything in the sea, partly because there is little awareness of the problems of garbage, but partly because local trash collection has only recently been implemented. As connections to the mainland have become better, visitor numbers have risen, the population has swelled, and plastic has become more common. Now, much of the coastline around Bai Tret is clogged with plastic. But, in general, away from the island’s hamlets, Nam Du’s coastline and interior is still clean and pristine.
Fish drying along the harbourfront in Bai Tret: unfortunately, the port is increasingly polluted
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Southeast Beaches: The coast road begins behind Bai Tret port with a steep ascent before bearing left (due south) along the shoreline. Winding south of Bai Tret, mostly along a precipice several metres above the wash, the road occasionally skirts the ocean, opening up views to rocky bays studded with coconut palms and tropical almond trees. These bays, in the southeast of the island, have a handful of fairly basic tourist developments on them (see Accommodation details). Unfortunately, although the pebbly beaches and bays between Bai Tret hamlet and the southern tip of the island are very beautiful, when you get close, they are rather tainted by trash. These small bays are perhaps best referred to by the names of the accommodations on them: for example, Phong Vu is a very pretty little beach, Bai Soi next door is also attractive, and lastly, Humiso is a wonderful ledge of land near the tip of the island. Stopping by for a drink and to admire the views is great, but you can’t ignore the trash. Some of it washes up and gets stuck on the rocks, but some of it is the result of visitors and locals discarding their waste on the beach. However, at some spots the litter is light enough to ignore, and the water is still very clear, and teeming with fish. Phong Vu is probably the best to swim at, Bai Soi is best for lunch, and Humiso is best for a drink in one of the hammocks overlooking the sea.
The southeast coast has several nice, pebbly beaches (this is Bai Soi), but there’s a bit of trash
Humiso is the nicest mini-resort to date: the position is great, huts are good, but trash is a problem
Humiso occupies an excellent position near the tip of Nam Du Island looking over outlying islands
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West Coast Beaches & Interior: The west coast of Hon Lon is the more rugged, attractive, beguiling, enchanting, and pristine side of the island. When the coast road rounds the southern tip of Hon Lon, the beaches, bays, air, sea, and light all appear to get clearer and, well, better. The road soars high above the sea, overlooking several small, lush islands to the south. The first beach on the southwest coast is Bai Cay Nho, a little, pebbly bay with clear blue water. But, just beyond this is Bai Cay Men, easily one of the most picturesque beaches in the country. This glorious white sand beach is fringed by leaning coconut palms, that appear to be kowtowing to the ludicrously turquoise waters. The surf is gentle, there’s a light sea breeze through the rustling palms, and trash (despite Cay Men being the most popular beach on the island) appears to be under control. A couple of low-impact wood-and-thatch huts serve fresh, utterly delicious, local coconuts – ask for a dừa lửa: it’s the sweetest and tastiest I’ve every had – as well as some seafood, light snacks, soft drinks, and beer. Best of all, you can camp here for virtually no money at all: surely, one of the best camping spots anywhere in Vietnam (see Accommodation for details). As you might have guessed, swimming at Bai Cay Men beach is wonderful.
The west coast of Nam Du Island is more rugged, attractive, pristine & beguiling, than the east coast
Bai Cay Men is that perfect, brochure beach: blue sea, white sand, coconut palms & excellent swimming
In the middle of the day Bai Cay Men can be deserted: you might have it all to yourself
As the road continues along the western coast, a couple of concealed pathways lead off to several nice bays of volcanic rocks, that are quiet, secluded and good for a swim or picnic. However, the nearby landfill might put you off. All along the coast, large tropical trees extend above the jungle canopy, looming over the road.
Giant tropical trees loom over the coast road along the western side of Nam Du Island
A couple of hidden pathways lead down to attractive volcanic rock beaches, good for swimming
Further still, towards the northwest of Hon Lon, the roadside temple Dinh Nam Hai Ngu Than is the island’s centre for whale worship. A long tradition going back centuries, whales are worshiped by fishing communities as deities of the ocean, and they are believed to bring good luck to sailors. One of dozens of similar temples along Vietnam’s coastline, Dinh Nam Hai Ngu Than plays host to an assemblage of whale bones, including a near complete skeleton of a whale about 7 metres long, and several baby whale skulls. The temple looks out over Bai Ong Ngu fishing village, which is a beautiful, sheltered bay with a crust of brick, concrete and corrugated-iron dwellings around it. This is the main fishing hamlet on the island. It’s a hive of narrow alleys and friendly locals that’s worth exploring.
Dinh Nam Hai Ngu Than is a whale temple: there’s a large whale skeleton on display
Bai Ong Ngu is a tightly packed fishing hamlet whose narrow alleyways are good for exploring
After Ong Ngu village, the road veers east and up a steep slope, which then descends the other side back to Bai Tret port, thus completing the circuit of the island. But, just before reaching the top of the incline, a left turn (due north) rolls steeply downhill to Dat Do Beach. A crescent of sand backed by a lush, hilly headland encompassing a sky-blue bay, the setting is gorgeous. There’s construction of a high-end hotel at the northern end of this bay, but the southern end is accessible. There’s also a rustic guest house, called Kim Xoan (see Accommodation for details).
Bai Dat Do is reached via an extremely steep lane: it’s a pretty bay with clear water & green hills
Before the road descends back down to Bai Tret, a small turning on the right (due south) leads up into the jungle-covered interior of the island, all the way to the mountaintop lighthouse, military post, and communications mast. You may not be allowed to continue all the way to the top, but it’s still worth the detour to go as far as you can, because the views down over the entire island – indeed, the entire archipelago – are staggering. Note that the road is incredibly steep, and some bikes might struggle, especially with a pillion. You could walk, too, but it’s a reasonably hot, long, and steep trek. You should be able to get all the way to the entrance of the lighthouse, where you’ll be greeted by a troupe of very nice (and very young) army personnel. You could perhaps try asking to buy a ‘ticket’ to the lighthouse and see if that works, but if not it’s still well-worth the trip just for the views.
Ride up to the viewing point along the road to the lighthouse for majestic views over the island
Back in Bai Tret, the evenings are cool and perfect for walking along the seafront and exploring the hamlet. There’s a refreshing breeze, which blows up a bit of chop on the sea, causing the wooden hulls of fishing boats to bob out of time with each other. Meanwhile, the bright beam from the mountaintop lighthouse keeps circling the archipelago, like the eye of Mordor watching over the islands.
The west coast is a special place: even beaches as beautiful as Bai Cay Men remain undeveloped
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Outlying Islands & Boat Trips:
There are around 20 islands, islets and outcrops within the Nam Du Archipelago, encircling the main island of Hon Lon. A few are permanently inhabited, but most are completely isolated. It’s very easy, cheap, and really good fun to take a full- or half-day boat tour from Bai Tret out to the other islands in the archipelago (see Getting Around for details). These boat tours have set itineraries, which generally include the most interesting islands and best beaches. However, you can also hire a private boat for the day, but it will cost you a lot more (upwards of $100).
Full- & half-day boat trips to the outlying islands are good fun & very reasonably priced
Hon Mau Island: The most impressive and worthwhile stop on the boat tour itineraries – apart from the simple pleasure of being out on the waves and getting a different perspective on the archipelago – is Hon Mau. In the southeastern corner of the archipelago, Hon Mau is most notable for Bai Chuong Beach, a seam of white sand laid out under coconut palms and umbrella trees, with surf the colour of aftershave. The colours here are intense and blindingly bright. There’s an active fishing community of Hon Mau, but tourism is gradually taking over, with wood-and-thatch shacks and clapboard seafood restaurants setting up along the sand. The rest of the coast is pebble beach with a crust of trash. Indeed, if it weren’t for Bai Choung Beach – whose sands are kept relatively clean – there wouldn’t be much reason to visit to Hon Mau. But the colour of the water is special and the swimming excellent. Boats stop here for at least an hour, so there’s time to bathe in the ocean, drink a coconut, eat a snack, and explore the island on foot. If possible, get here early or in the middle of the day, because late afternoons often get very busy with large groups of domestic tourists, which involve a lot of beer and rice liquor and loud music. It’s all great fun, and you’ll probably get to join in, but it sure does make a mess of the beach. At the southern end of Chuong Beach is the fishing community. Simple wood, brick, and iron-sheet homes line a paved lane. Everything revolves around fishing, and it’s very labour intensive: cleaning and mending the nets, maintaining the boats, salting the fish. Men and women work together in groups, and there are animals everywhere – chickens, ducks, dogs, cats. It’s a friendly, fascinating community to stroll through – a glimpse into a life that, for me at least, is difficult to imagine.
Bai Chuong, on Hon Mau Island, is a strikingly beautiful white sand beach with turquoise water & palms
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Snorkeling & Other Islands: Although the coral around Nam Du isn’t spectacular, the sea is very clear and calm, making snorkeling a rewarding activity. However, the coral is severely damaged and mistreated by the local fishing and tourism industry, and none of it will last much longer. Most boat tours stop off the shores of Hon Bo Dap, a small, rugged, uninhabited island, for an hour of snorkeling beneath a sheer rocky cliff, where the coral is good enough to make it interesting. Other islands that are regularly visited on the boat tours include Hon Dau (also called Hon Trung) and Hon Ngang. I’m sure many more islands will open to tourism in the near future.
There are over 20 islands in the Nam Du Archipelago that can be visited by boat: some have decent coral
Accommodation:
As most travellers will need to spend a night in Rach Gia, on the mainland, before catching the ferry to Nam Du Island the next morning, I have included accommodation information for both Rach Gia and the Nam Du Islands below:
Nam Du Island has dozens of cheap guest houses & a handful of mini-resorts to choose from
Rach Gia Hotels: Rach Gia has a decent range of hotels and guest houses, including a string of cheap nhà nghỉ (local guest houses) conveniently located near the port, on Nguyen Cong Tru Street. Of these, Kiet Hong Hotel ($10 a night | MAP) is large, clean, and reasonably priced, just across the street from the boat pier. Rach Gia also has a couple of good value mid-range accommodations, including Hoa Binh-Rach Gia Resort ($40 a night | MAP), which is set in lush grounds only a short distance from the port. Rooms are well-equipped and come with balconies and bathtubs, and there’s a swimming pool, too. For more Rach Gia hotel options check Agoda.com.
In Rach Gia, there are decent accommodation options conveniently located near the ferry port (pictured)
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Nam Du Hotels:
Most places to stay on the Nam Du Islands are in the budget or mid-range category. There are dozens of guest houses in Bai Tret (also known as Cu Tron), the port village on the main island (Hon Lon), and a few basic resorts scattered around the island, too. A couple of the outlying islands also have rustic accommodation options. Like most islands in Vietnam, accommodation rates are around 30% more than you’d expect to pay for similar standards on the mainland. Bear in mind that weekends and public holidays can get extremely crowded with domestic travellers. If possible, it’s best to avoid travelling to Nam Du during these times. But if you do, booking accommodation in advance is essential. Note: as Google Maps does not ‘work’ on the island, the pins and markers on my map are only approximate:
Most of the guest houses on Nam Du are in Bai Tret hamlet; the mini-resorts are spread along the coast
Bai Tret Port & Village: The main port, where the ferries from the mainland dock, is also the main accommodation hub for the Nam Du Islands. Bai Tret Port (also referred to as Cu Tron) is a small village clustered around the boat pier, and most of the buildings here are now local guest houses. Spread around the pier and alleyways, there are dozens of little guest houses (nhà nghỉ), and hostel rooms (nhà trọ). The latter are cheaper than former, but are generally smaller, pokier, and not as clean. So, unless you’re really on a tight budget, go for the nhà nghỉ. There are dozens to choose from, but I particularly liked the following:
• Nhung Nam 2 Guest House [MAP]; Tel: 02973 830 800 | 300,000-500,000vnd: In a prime position right on the harbourfront, this is a new building with very clean, comfortable but simple rooms. Seaview rooms come with balconies overlooking the port (500,000vnd). The cheaper rooms are at the back (300,000vnd). Great value for double occupancy, and you can’t beat the location.
Nam Nhung 2 guest house has clean, simple rooms right on Bai Tret’s harbourfront
• Huynh Hoa 2 Guest House [MAP]; Tel: 0919 11 55 43 | 250,000-500,000vnd: On the left as you come from the harbourfront road and turn onto Bai Tret’s ‘high street’ (it’s just an alleyway, really), this fairly large guest house has clean, bright, simple rooms, some with balconies looking over town. There are rooms with four beds, which would be good for a group of travellers sharing.
• Thuy Kiep Guest House [MAP]; Tel: 02973 830 853 | 250,000-450,000vnd: A litlle further up the ‘high street’, this is another simple, clean, quiet local guest house. It’s breezy, shady, and calm.
A typical guest house (nhà nghỉ) room in Bai Tret hamlet on Nam Du’s main island, Hon Lon
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Around Nam Du Island (Hon Lon): Along the coast road which circles the main island, several small resorts cater to the growing number of domestic travellers who visit Nam Du from the mainland. These accommodations are all by the sea, and generally nicer than the guest houses in Bai Tret. The places below are reviewed in order as if going clockwise from Bai Tret around the island:
• Khanh Vy Guest House [MAP]; Tel: 093 290 5920 | 300,000vnd: Just a few minutes out of Bai Tret village, this otherwise rather ordinary guest house is raised above the sea, giving it great views out over the ocean.
• Thao Thuong Camp [MAP]; Tel: 098 538 8885 | 600,000vnd+: Don’t be fooled by the name: ‘camp’ and ‘homestay’ get thrown around hither and thither in the Vietnamese tourism industry. All it really means is ‘small scale’. Thao Thuong Camp is a little collection of tightly packed, colourful bungalows right on an attractive stony bit of coast. It’s comfortable and cosy, but the property is fairly cramped and the whole set-up is designed for selfie-snapping Vietnamese youth. The bungalows are made of corrugated iron and glass which get very hot: most guests had the curtains closed and the air-con on full blast all day. It’s absolutely fine for a night with friends, but I wouldn’t say it’s particularly good value for money.
Thao Thuong Camp is nice enough but a bit cramped and hot. Prices are OK if sharing
• Phong Vu Guest House [MAP]; Tel: 0919 138 3690 | 300,000vnd: With a good position on a pebbly beach, Phong Vu is lush and very attractive. Set in the shade of coconut palms with the sea lapping at a picturesque boat pier, the accommodation here is basic but acceptable, considering the location. Concrete or wooden rooms are arranged in a line along the seafront. Sadly, the litter on the beach and in the ocean is such that it may put off some foreign guests (Vietnamese customers appear to have a higher tolerance for trash-strewn beaches). If it’s kept clean, Phong Vu is a lovely spot.
Phong Vu Guest House has OK rooms in a good position on a pebbly bay, but there’s some trash around
• Bai Soi Beach [MAP]; Tel: 02973 830 853 | 350,000-500,000vnd: On the next little bay down from Phong Vu, Bai Soi Beach is a similar property on a similar pebbly beach. However, the rooms and the restaurant at Bai Soi are better than Phong Vu, but the trash is worse. Some of it appears to by flotsam and jetsam washed up on the tide, but some of it appears to be household and picnic trash. Either way, with the beach in its current condition, Bai Soi is a bit sad, even though it’s a beautiful little bay with leaning palm trees. Rooms are in wooden huts by the sea.
Bai Soi has decent rooms on a nice, pebbly beach but garbage is rapidly building up
• Humiso Nam Du [MAP]; Tel: 093 566 9968 | 400,000-800,000vnd: Close to the southern tip of the island, Humiso is the most resort-like accommodation to date on Nam Du. Set on a beautiful patch of coastline and climbing up the lush hillside behind, with views over the outlying islands, Humiso has a range of attractive-looking, wooden-and-thatch accommodation. A-frame bungalows, sleeping 2-4 people (600,000-800,000vnd), are a bit of a tight squeeze inside, but generally fine. But the ‘star-gazing’ wooden cabins, which have transparent sloping roofs so you can look out at the sky, might be great on a clear night (despite the lack of privacy from outside eyes looking in) but are certainly not very practical when it’s 35°C during the middle of the day. The cheapest rooms (400,000vnd for double occupancy) are hexagonal cabins, stacked together like a three-dimensional puzzle. Sadly, trash from the resort and its customers is starting to ruin this property, and there’s something rather seedy about it, too: much of the litter strewn outside the rooms included condoms and empty blister packs of medical supplies. It sure is a pretty spot, but it’s becoming a victim of its own success: the selfie-hoards – who line up to take photos on the swaying hammocks overlooking the ocean – are taking their memories away with them, but leaving their litter. And the resort is struggling to maintain itself: an oil-powered generator – leaking all over the road – is constantly whirring away and chugging black smoke into the blue sky.
Humiso has a great location & a range of different rooms at reasonable prices, but there’s trash around
• Camping on Bai Cay Men Beach [MAP]; 50,000vnd: By far and away the most romantic night you could possibly spend on Nam Du Island is to camp on the white sand, under the swaying palms, right next to the amethyst wash, on Bai Cay Men Beach. On the southwest coast of the island, tents can be rented (50,000vnd) from the thatched huts lining the beach. Or, if you have your own tent, it’s basically free (just ask permission first). Pitch your tent right on the sand or back from the beach on a wooden platform under a thatched roof. Do it now, while you still can: this is the kind of beach that developers will pay millions for, as they have done on Phu Quoc Island and elsewhere in Vietnam already. It’s just too good to last, so don’t wait. There’s a bit of refuse around the edges of the bay, but not enough to distract from the general beauty of this beach.
Camping on Bai Cay Men beach is wonderful: either rent a tent or bring your own
• Kim Xoan Guest House [MAP]; Tel: 0915 777 738 | 300,000vnd: There are a couple of fairly basic nhà nghỉ (guest houses) in the fishing village of Bai Ong Ngu, but it’s not really worth staying here. However, down a steep lane between Bai Ong Ngu and Bai Tret, follow the signs to Kim Xoan Guest House on Bai Dat Do beach. Although the little cabins on the seafront are weathered and a pretty run-down, the position is fantastic. Bai Dat Do beach is very scenic and boasts turquoise water. There’s some trash around, of course, and at the time of writing there was ongoing construction at the far end of the beach, which will apparently be the first high-end resort on Nam Du.
Kim Xoan Guest House has a good location on Dat Do Beach even if it’s a bit run down
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• Other Islands: [MAP]: A couple of the outlying islands have little guest houses on them, and camping is also a possibility – you just need to have your own equipment and hop on one of the daily tour boats to get to and from the main island. The most practical island to stay on is Hon Mau, where beautiful Bai Chuong Beach has hammocks for the night, or there’s a small guest house in the fishing hamlet: Nhà Nghỉ 5 Vạn (0773 831 555; 250,000vnd).
There’s a guest house on Hon Mau Island near Bai Chuong Beach or you could camp
Food & Drink:
All dining options on Nam Du are informal, casual joints: there are no Western-style restaurants or Western food. Obviously, being an archipelago, main meals (and even snacks) are all about seafood. But there are also bánh mì (filled baguettes) and xôi (sticky rice) stalls, and noodle soup and rice eateries here and there, offering the usual hearty, fresh, inexpensive Vietnamese ‘common fare’. Island specialties include dried fish and oysters, local candied tamarind (either sour or sweet), and coconuts, all of which are available along the seafront near the boat pier. The majority of food and drink options are in the small village of Bai Tret. But there are a handful of other food outlets spread around the island.
Nam Du is famous for its fresh, inexpensive seafood, but there are a few other dining options, too
Bai Tret Port & Village: Along the seafront, near the boat pier, and lining Bai Tret’s main ‘street’ (it’s an alleyway, really) is where you’ll find most of the island’s food and drink offerings.
Seafood: As the sun sets, tables and chairs are laid out on the quay by the ferry pier. Diners arrive, the beer flows, and fresh, live seafood of all varieties is sold by the kilo from buckets of salt water at incredibly reasonable prices (especially when compared with the inferior seafood at inflated prices that you find on Phu Quoc Island, just to the north of Nam Du). There’s a string of about a half dozen informal seafood restaurants here. The seafood is fresh, inexpensive, and simply cooked and presented. Choose from live sea urchins, grouper, tuna, shrimp, slipper lobster, oysters, sea snails, clams, cockles and much more. As an example, a couple of large grilled sea urchins and a plate of grilled scallops costs under $5 (100,000vnd). There are several restaurants to choose from: personally, I enjoyed Minh Sang.
Seafood at the waterfront restaurants in Bai Tret hamlet is fresh, cheap & delicious
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Other Food: During the mornings, bánh mì (filled baguettes) and xôi (sticky rice) vendors ply the harbourfront and main alleyways. A couple of the quayside cafes also offer cơm tấm (broken rice and grilled pork) and noodle soups. However, my favourite place to eat on Nam Du Island is an excellent little quán cơm phở (rice and noodle joint) on Bai Tret’s main alley, called Yen Nhi. Try the bún bò Huế for breakfast, it’s extremely good – meaty, colourful, tasty, rich, and spicy. For lunch, they serve decent rice, meat, and vegetables. There’s a small local market where the seafront lane meets the main alleyway in Bai Tret. Also, a couple of grocery stores sell biscuits, water, and other snacks that are good to take with you on a trip around the island.
A very good rice & soup eatery, called Yen Nhi, in Bai Tret hamlet is great for breakfast & lunch
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Coffee & Coconuts: There are several cafes in Bai Tret, some of which are on the quayside, that are very nice in the afternoon, when the fishing boats are leaving for the night, the harbour is calm, and the sun is setting. The coconuts on Nam Du Island are among the best I’ve ever had: make sure you try one. Ask for a trái dừa lửa uống liên – a small, reddish coconut with sweet water, that you can drink almost in one go.
Fresh coconuts from the island’s thousands of palm trees are sweet, delicious & refreshing
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Around Nam Du Island:
There’s very little in the way of food and drink around the island. But most of the accommodations outside of Bai Tret have restaurants serving snacks or meals. In particular, Bai Soi and Humiso, in the southeast of the island, have decent food and excellent locations. There are a few shops and snack vendors in Bai Ong hamlet, in the northwest of the island, too. Some of the outlying islands have informal seafood restaurants, especially the ones that are frequented by tour boats. On Bai Chuong Beach on Hon Mau Island, for example, there are lots of seafood and drinks shacks. Finally, the thatched huts under the palm trees on Bai Cay Men Beach have excellent coconuts fresh from the trees.
Several on the mini-resorts around Nam Du Island have restaurants & a couple of the islands, too
Getting There & Around:
*Please support Vietnam Coracle: If you use the links & search boxes below to book your transportation to Nam Du Islands, I make a small commission. All my earnings go straight back into this website. Thank you.
Nam Du Island is reached by boat from Rach Gia, a large, coastal city in the southwestern Mekong Delta region. There are several transportation options to get to Rach Gia, either from Ho Chi Minh City or from other hubs within the Delta region. And there are several ferry companies that operate boat services between Rach Gia and Nam Du Island. Once on the island, you can hire motorbikes to circumnavigate the main island, or small boats to explore the other islands in the archipelago:
The only way to reach Nam Du is by boat from the mainland city of Rach Gia, in the Mekong Delta
By Bus: From Ho Chi Minh City, there are buses throughout the day (and night) to Rach Gia. Journey time is roughly 6 hours, and the general level of comfort on sleeper coaches is pretty good, unless you’re particularly tall. Prices are around 150,000-250,000vnd ($7-$10) one-way. Futa is one of the more popular buslines, but there are many others serving this route, including the Thien Thanh Limousine, which offers lots of space and comfort. Note that buses to/from Ho Chi Minh City usually stop at Rach Soi Bus Station, just south of central Rach Gia. Rach Gia is also connected to most other urban hubs within the Mekong Delta and beyond. There are regular bus services, for example, to Can Tho and Ben Tre (leaving from Rach Soi Bus Station), and Ha Tien (leaving from Rach Gia Bus Station, near the centre of town). You can check bus services, schedules, prices, and book tickets on Baolau.com or use the search box below.
[Some travel agents in Ho Chi Minh City, Rach Gia & Nam Du can arrange bus-boat packages: the ticket includes transfers from the bus station to the boat pier and on to Nam Du Island]
By Air: It’s also possible to fly between Ho Chi Minh City and Rach Gia Airport on a daily propeller flight operated by VASCO, a part of Vietnam Airlines. There’s one flight a day in both directions departing in the early morning. Flight time is less than 45 minutes. One-way airfares are around $1,200,000vnd ($50). You can check flight schedules, prices and book tickets on Baolau.com or the Vietnam Airlines website.
Search & Book: Type your travel dates below & click ‘Search’ to find current ticket prices & availability for buses & planes between Ho Chi Minh City & Rach Gia:
Rach Gia can be reached by bus (from Saigon & Mekong Delta hubs) or by air (from Saigon only)
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GETTING TO NAM DU ISLANDS:
By Boat: The only way to get from the mainland to Nam Du Island (Hòn Lớn) is by boat. All boats leave from Rach Gia Port. There are currently at least three different ferry companies operating fast boat passenger services to Nam Du Island. These are: Phu Quoc Express (don’t be fooled by the name), Superdong, and Ngoc Thanh.
The duration of the voyage varies slightly depending on the boat and weather conditions, but in general it takes 2.5 hours between Rach Gia and Nam Du. Most boats to Nam Du also stop at Hon Son Island (also known as Lại Sơn) on the way, and sometimes Hòn Trê Island, too. The boats are comfortable, with coach-style seating, outside deck-space, life jackets and rafts. At present, there are no car ferries to Nam Du, but this is a good thing, because the island is far too small and fragile to accommodate large vehicles. However, at the time of writing, it is possible to take your motorbike or bicycle on the Phu Quoc Express fast boat, but not on any of the other services.
There are at least three different ferry companies operating fast boat services to Nam Du Island
Sailing schedules change depending on the season, time of week, weather, and demand. Therefore, the times given below should be treated only as an indication: they are not set in stone. But, in general, you can guarantee at least one sailing a day (usually in the morning) in both directions from each of the three main boat operators. There are almost always extra sailings on weekends and during high season (December-April).
All the fast boats have comfortable, air-conditioned, coach-style cabins and outside deck space
Buying tickets is fairly straightforward. There are ticket offices for all boat operators at the port in Rach Gia and along 3 Tháng 2 Street near the intersection with Trần Thủ Độ Street, which is very near Rach Gia Port. On Nam Du Island, the ticket offices are clustered around the boat pier. It’s also possible to book boat tickets through most accommodations in Rach Gia and Nam Du. Booking in advance is advisable in high season, especially if you want to take your motorbike. More details (although, again, not necessarily accurate) can be found on the boat operators’ websites (see below) and bookings can also be made through Baolau.com.
*Key: PQE=Phu Quoc Express; SD=Superdong; NT=Ngoc Thanh
RACH GIA → NAM DU
Departures: 6.30am (PQE), 7.30am (SD), 7.30am (NT) daily*
Duration: 2.5 hours
Passenger Ticket: 200,000-250,000vnđ, discounts for seniors, children, disabled
Motorbike Ticket: around 200,000-250,000vnd (Phu Quoc Express only)
Websites: PQE: www.pqe.com.vn | SD: www.superdong.com.vn | NT: www.ngocthanhexpress.com or BOOK HERE with Baolau.com
*At least one sailing daily by each ferry operator (usually in the morning); extra sailings in high season (November-April) & weekends
NAM DU → RACH GIA
Departures: 10.00am (PQE), 11.00am (SD), 11.30am (NT) daily*
Duration: 2.5 hours
Passenger Ticket: 200,000-250,000vnđ, discounts for seniors, children, disabled
Motorbike Ticket: around 200,000-250,000vnđ (Phu Quoc Express only)
Websites: PQE: www.pqe.com.vn | SD: www.superdong.com.vn | NT: www.ngocthanhexpress.com or BOOK HERE with Baolau.com
*At least one sailing daily by each ferry operator (usually in the morning); extra sailings in high season (November-April) & weekends
Search & Book: Type your travel dates below & click ‘Search’ to find current ticket prices & availability for fast boats between Rach Gia & Nam Du Island:
Generally, there’s at least one sailing a day in each direction on each of the ferry operators
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GETTING AROUND NAM DU ISLANDS:
By Motorbike & Mini-bus: The main island of Nam Du (Hòn Lớn) is ideal for exploring by motorbike (or bicycle, but I couldn’t find any for rent). If you didn’t bring your own motorbike with you on the boat from the mainland, they can be rented from most guest houses and hotels from around 150,000-200,000vnd per day. There’s only really one road on Nam Du, which circumnavigates the entire island and is only about 15km in total. Thus, riding a circuit of the island only takes about 20 minutes on a motorbike, without any stops. But, of course, the whole point is that you stop for swims, picnics, and just to stand and admire the views and peace of the island (see Beaches & Activities for details). Although Google Maps doesn’t show Nam Du Island’s roads, it’s still possible to use my map as a reference to get your bearings and an idea of the lay of the land and the roads. Just bear in mind that the map pins and markers are only approximate, not exact. Although the road is paved and in pretty decent condition, it’s quite narrow, extremely steep in places, and the corners can be gravelly, which makes it easy to skid: be careful. Traffic is almost non-existent, but local drivers are the most trigger-happy with their horns than anywhere else I can remember in Vietnam. There aren’t any gas stations on the island, but rental bikes come with a full tank, and the distances are so short you won’t need to refill. If, for some reason, you do need to top up, gas is sold in bottles in Bai Tret. In high-season and on weekends, there’s a daily tourist shuttle-bus that circumnavigates the island (50,000vnd).
Riding a circuit of Nam Du by motorbike is a hugely rewarding way to see the main island
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By Boat: A boat trip to the outlying islands is a must-do activity when visiting Nam Du. The Nam Du Archipelago consists of over 20 islands, islets, and rocky outcrops. Although Nam Du (Hòn Lớn) is the largest island with the biggest population, several other islands are also inhabited, including Hon Ngang, Hon Dau, and Hon Mau [view map]. All of the above mentioned islands can be visited by boat on cheap and easy half- or full-day tours. Even some of the uninhabited islands, which are small, rugged, green and forested, are included on these boat tour itineraries (see Beaches & Activities for details).
Boat trips to the outlying islands are a must-do activity when visiting the Nam Du Archipelago
Boat trips to the outlying islands are easily arranged through your accommodation, and leave from Bai Tret village. Full-day tours (250,000vnd per person) leave at around 7.30am and return around 5pm; half-day tours (150,000vnd per person) leave at around 7.30am and return around 12noon, or leave around 1pm and return around 5pm. The cost, which is very reasonable, includes the boat, snorkeling equipment, any entrance fees, and even an on-board meal: usually rice porridge with seafood. Tour itineraries change from time to time, but as a general outline: half-day tours take in Hon Mau (including the wonderful Bai Chuong beach), and Hon Bo Dap island for snorkeling beneath the large cliffs; full-day tours follow the same itinerary, but also include stops at Hon Dau, Hon Ngang, where’s there’s a large fishing community, and Hon Lo, a tiny islet (see Beaches & Activities for details).
Most of the tour boats are attractive, wooden, two-deck vessels offering reasonably prices daily tours
The boats are attractive wooden double-deck vessels, which can accommodate dozens of passengers on benches on the covered lower-deck and open-air upper deck. Safety is not bad: there are plenty of life jackets, but the gas cooker arrangement at the stern looked very dodgy to me, and the crew threw all their trash in the sea, as did some of the passengers. There can be a surprising amount of chop out on the ocean and the boat tilts and turns a fair bit: bring travel sickness pills if you’re prone to seasickness. The majority of passengers are Vietnamese groups, couples, or families, all of whom thoroughly enjoy the experience. The boat engines are quite loud: a good tip is to sit on the upper deck, where it’s significantly quieter, the views are great, and it catches more of a breeze.
The boat trips are a lot of fun: highlights include Hon Mau Island & standing on the top deck at dusk
Weather:
Like Phu Quoc, Nam Du is best visited in the southern dry season: November to April. During these months, the skies are generally clear, the sea calm, and the colours luminous. However, I personally prefer going during the shoulder months: October/November and April/May. At these times, the weather is still good (but with more of a chance of some rain) and the visitor numbers low, meaning you can enjoy the islands in peace: as long as you visit on a weekday, not a weekend. July to September is the wet season, when prevailing winds from the west bring monsoon rains from the Indian Ocean. The sea can be rough and winds high, meaning that boats to the islands are often cancelled. But this doesn’t mean you can’t visit during these months, and it certainly doesn’t rain all the time. You just need to have time and patience in order to allow for possible cancellations and rainy days.
It’s possible to visit Nam Du Island any time of year, but the best weather is November-April
Disclosure: I never receive payment for anything I write: my content is always free and independent. I’ve written this guide because I want to: I like these islands and I want my readers to know about them. For more details, see my Disclosure & Disclaimer statements here
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Nam Du:
Thanks for the inspiring report on Nam Du. We live in Phu Quoc and were in Nam Du at the beginning of April. Recently there have been direct ship connections between Phu Quoc and Nam Du again. We can recommend the Hotel Palace to those who – like us – value a little comfort and, above all, peace and quiet. It is not in the main town, but off the main road directly on the west coast, with a fantastic view from the balcony. The hotel has its own ship and offers various tours, of course it also rents out mopeds. Normally we avoid mopeds and prefer to hike, but Nam Du is really not suitable for hikers. A tour of the island by moped makes sense here; however, the road inside the island in the direction of the lighthouse is quite steep and slippery because of the gravel surface (note: before taking over the moped, be sure to check the tank level and the condition of the brakes. We met two couples on the way who had to push their moped because the tank was empty was). The hotel building itself is a bit monstrous, but the atmosphere is more familiar and the quiet is soothing. We followed Tom’s recommendation and went there in the middle of the week; In addition, we had expressly reassured us by telephone beforehand that there would be no noise pollution from karaoke or loud pop music. Breakfast is modest; There is no sugar-free yoghurt, nuts or muesli, we had asked about it beforehand. We simply took these things with us, because we attach great importance to a well-kept breakfast.
Andreas and Tuyet
Hi Andreas & Tuyet,
Thank you for your trip report from Nam Du. That sounds like an interesting new hotel to try. I’m glad you enjoyed your time on the island and used scooters to get around. I’m sure the islands are changing very fast, especially now that the pandemic is over.
Best,
Tom
Hey Tom,
Thanks for the great guide! Do you know if they are still allowing foreigners without the need of a permit? I couldn’t find any information and was worried that the whole covid situation has changed things regarding foreigners.
I am thinking of going there for Christmas. I do have a resident card.
Thanks in advance!
Ben
Hi Ben,
As far as I know it’s still possible for foreign travellers to visit Nam Du Islands as long as you have a visa or resident card and a dated stamp of your last date of entry into Vietnam in your passport. You’ll likely have all of these documents checked before boarding the boat.
However, a good way to find out for certain would be to call one of the boat companies: Superdong, Phu Quoc Express, Hoa Binh and asking them.
I hope this helps,
Tom
Thanks. Great guide to Nam Du. Seafood is the cheapest I’ve seen in Vietnam! I am catching Superdong direct to Phu Quoc from Nam Du today. Everyday at 1530. How good is that.
Greg
Hi Greg,
Wow, that’s amazing news – thanks so much for the update – what a great island hopping route.
Tom
Hi Tom, awesome post once again – thanks so much. Do you know if is possible to visit Hon Son via ferry and then after a few days continue onwards to Nam Du, or does one have to return to the mainland and buy another ferry ticket to Nam Du that transits at Hon Son? Thanks so much! 🙂
Hi Iga,
Yes, you can do that easily – almost all the boats run: Rach Gia-Hon Son-Nam Du and back again the same way. You have to buy the tickets separately though. It’s not difficult to do, as long as you’re not travelling on a weekend or public holiday 🙂
Tom
Hi Tom, Thanks for all this great info. I will be going to Nam Du in April although it will be public holidays and very busy I am sure I will enjoy it. Cheers, Caroline
Hi Caroline,
Thanks, I hope you enjoy it, but yes it will probably be pretty crowded 🙂
Tom
Hi Tom,
I am very happy that I have found your webpage! Since several days I was trying to find a way to travel to Nam Du for my holidays in April and I was very disappointed when I read that foreigners need a permit to get there. When I understood correctly it is no problem anymore to get on the island and I hope it won’t change in the next weeks.
Thanks for all your information on this web page! Do you know any divers base in the islands?
Kind regards,
Michelle
Hi Michelle,
Yes, foreign visitors can still travel to Nam Du without any problems at the moment.
I don’t know if there are any divers based there – not as far as I know, but it’s worth asking around when you’re there.
One thing to note is that if you’re visiting in April try not to coincide with King Hung’s Day or Reunification/Labour day – the islands will be extremely busy then.
I hope you enjoy the islands,
Tom
Dear Tom and fellow travellers
I just spend 3 days on Nam Du and your guide was a great help.
For ferrying my motorbike I was quoted 140.000 VND Rach Gia > Nam Du; for (shorter) trip Nam Du > Hon Son 180.000 VND and for Hon Son > Rach Gia 200.000 VND. It’s no fixed price. It all depends on the staff and guys (un)loading the Phu Quoc Express boat at the port. There’s not much room for negotiations, pay what they ask or your bike will be left behind in the port.
Construction work on Bai Dat Do is going on and the area around Kim Xoan Guesthouse looks more like a warzone with lots of demolished houses and debris.
Just before the final descend to Bai Tret is the local school on your right hand. Immediately right next to the school is a small lane leading up to the entrance of the school but is continues to the northern part of Nam Du. It’s a small and in parts very steep, but beautiful road. After a few kilometres a guesthouse under construction with a few bungalows on a small rocky bay. The road continues along the eastern shore until you reach the northern tip of the island where a few very basic houses line the road. There the road ends and it’s same way back. I was told the last part of this road was only finished 2 months ago.
The boattrips seem to vary in itinerary. I visited only 2 islands; Hon Trung and Hon Mau and 30 minutes for snorkelling off Hon Bo Dap.
Because all ferries make a stop at Hon Son, I decided to go and have a look. I was very pleasantly surprised and after 5 days at Hon Son, I must say I liked it even more then Nam Du.
Where the coastline of Nam Du is more rough and rugged and the road goes high above the shoreline, Hon Son’s coastline (and interior) consists mainly of huge boulders. A 16 km good quality concrete road circulates the entire island and at most places you can just walk straight from the road down to the boulders and into the ocean. The road is at a much lower level compared to Nam Du. In the centre of the islands there’s another road connecting north and southside of the island. This one going over the top of the hills and with spectacular view over the harbours and ocean.
Hon Son is much cleaner. No plastic garbage along the roads or in the sea, no foam boxes littered around the island. The new garbage disposal plant is nearly finished. Hon Son is connected by 24 km powerline to the mainland. In 2020 all islands, including Nam Du need to be connected to mainland electricity grid. Hon Son has a huge potential for tourism. Number of domestic tourists rose from 10.000 to 50.000 between 2016 and 2018. But still it feels much more relaxed as Nam Du. The main cluster of hotels are around the harbour where the ferries dock, but scattered along the entire coastline guesthouses are (being) build. Nam Du has one (yes, pretty) sand beach, Hon Son has several. Bai Bang is the prettiest and most developed with free to use (if you take a drink) sunbeds and umbrellas.
Hon Son is cheaper. Good rooms in harbour-area for 250 K. If Nam Du is 30 % more expensive then mainland, I think Hon Son only about 10%. Sea urchins for 7K and big oysters for 8K a piece at a roadside stall on the northern side of the island. Nice couple, He was diving…she was preparing and serving.
If you plan to go back to Rach Gia on a Sunday, book your tickets in advance. When I wanted to buy my return ticket on a Saturday, all boats (coming from busy Nam Du) where sold out. I had to stay an extra day (no punishment)
One last word about Rach Gia. Also for most tourists it maybe doesn’t look very appealing at first sight, it’s well worth spending an extra day. North and south of the city huge new areas are being build. Especially the southern part is fascinating. Thousands of (shop)houses in luxury, ordinary or simpler style. Modern or classic architecture. Hotels are planned, boulevards already build, a playground and even a driving range to practice your golf skills. A completely new town. If you like to experience the old and the new drive the next 20 km loop. You can do it in 1,5 hours…. But also keep you busy half a day.
Follow the new boulevard southwards and zig -zag your way through the new city. At the end the ocean boulevard makes two 90 degrees curves and you cross a new bridge. Another 90 degrees left turn and take the first small concrete road to the right. Within 250 meter the environment turns from completely new and modern to the old countryside. A beautiful small road lined with palm trees going through plantations and ricefields. Follow the road until you can only go right (there is a small ferry crossing right in front of you) and the road continues through a sometimes only 2m small lane nearly through the houses. On your right hand a busy channel. At the end of the road you can go right, over a small steep bridge, but go left After 50 m a café with a concrete platform into the river at the crossing of two channels. The view is better then any floating market. Ladies rowing passengers to the other side, cargoships with bricks, small boats with coconuts, fishingboats. Any thing you can imagine will pass.
If you continue the road northbound, you eventually get back (with a little help of Google Maps) to the same bridge and head back to town.
Hi Bob,
Thank you for the updates and information.
That’s very interesting news about the little road to the north of Nam Du Island – I’d love to try that.
I totally agree with you about Hon Son Island – I fell in love with it and have written a guide which is just about to be published – when it’s finished it will be available here.
Thanks again,
Tom
Hi Tom.
Thanks for this amazing report.
A question. What location (Hon Son or Hon Trung) would you advice me for snorkeling from shore?
I am pretty tight with time so I can’t visit both locations.
Thanks!
Hi Francesco,
I think if you have to choose between Hon Son and Nam Du for snorkeling, I would choose Nam Du. Bear in mind that snorkeling in Vietnam isn’t world class: it’s fun, but nowhere near as good as other destinations in Southeast Asia. However, the Con Dao Islands is great.
Best,
Tom
Thank you very much Tom.
Yeah, Con Dao is on my list! 🙂
I forgot to mention that I am going to be there in December… That’s why I was a bit unsure if you should back up Con Dao with Nam Du, in case the sea in Con Dao gets too rough to enjoy the corals…
Thank you Tom for your advice.
I just happily supported your work on this website. <3
Hi Francesco,
Yes, that’s absolutely right: December is usually the windy and rough season on Con Dao Islands, but the water should be calm and clear on Nam Du Islands.
Thank you very much for supporting my site – it’s much appreciated.
Best,
Tom
Hi Jason,
We’re flying to Vietnam from the UK next month and are interested in going to the Nam Du Islands. I’m reading mixed reports online about whether foreigners are now allowed in the area. What is the latest on this please? Will we need to get a permit?
Thanks,
Mike
Sorry, I meant Tom, not Jason!
Hi Mike,
Yes, foreigners are allowed on Nam Du Islands now – it’s not a problem anymore (unless of course things change again for some reason). But for now, as explained in the introduction on this page, foreigners can easily visit the islands.
Tom
Do you remember when foreigners are allowed on Nam Du Island?
Hi Lala,
Foreign visitors are allowed on Nam Du Islands now – it says this in the guide on this page.
Tom
tom, i love your blog. have read and enjoyed many of your posts but this one was particularly helpful in planning a last-minute beach trip. really looking forward to it. thanks!
Hi Jason,
Thanks, I’m glad to hear that. I hope you enjoy the islands.
Tom
Wow, Thanks again Tom.
This post is nearly too good to be true. I just decided last week to visit Nam Du end of february and started some research. Now all extensive information in one file. I will be a happy user.
Thanks, Bob. I hope it’s useful when you’re on the islands.
Tom