Discover 5 best islands in Vietnam

With thousands of islands, islets, and atolls, one could spend a lifetime exploring the stunning coastline of Vietnam. Picture-perfect to behold, the pristine turquoise waters that border the idyllic sandy beaches beckon alluringly. While the sun glints off the surface of the sea, below the waves, the rich underwater ecosystems teem with life, making scuba diving and snorkeling an unforgettable experience.

Quan Lan

Very much off the beaten path, Quan Lan is a world away from the frenetic streets of Vietnam’s main cities. Despite being in Ha Long Bay, it is sparsely populated and sees relatively few tourists. A quiet, peaceful place, Quan Lan Village has one street full of bars, restaurants, and hotels. Apart from that, there are just pockets of activity and life around the island. With its laidback way of life, just wandering around and taking in the beautiful scenery is the main thing to do if you’re not lounging on one of Quan Lan’s fantastic beaches.

Binh Ba Island

Lying just twenty kilometers off the mainland, Binh Ba Island is absolutely gorgeous and well worth heading to if you have the chance. Relatively easy to get to, it is also known as Lobster Island because of the large, tasty crustaceans that you can find here. While the residential part of Binh Ba is a tightly packed mess of houses, there are still lots of secluded and peaceful areas of the island that aren’t too far away. Its two main beaches are lovely to lounge upon, and the beautiful waters that border them are picture-perfect. The reefs around the island make for some great diving spots.

Tuan Chau Island

Lying only eight kilometers away from famous Ha Long Bay and its gateway point Ha Long City, Tuan Chau Island has loads of fun and entertaining activities on offer and is a great place to kick back and relax. With many different hotels, resorts and villas to choose from, as well as numerous dining options, visitors to the island will never be bored. Although artificial, the beach is perfect for taking in the sun and there are lots of water sports for you to partake in, with jet skiing and kayaking being particularly popular. Everything imaginable is available here, and lucky visitors can enjoy rock climbing and deep sea fishing before watching a circus performance or martial arts show. With spectacular Ha Long Bay just a short trip away, Tuan Chau Island an ideal beach holiday destination.

Co To Island

One of the most beautiful places to visit in the north of Vietnam, Co To Island is popular with local tourists but as yet, is relatively undiscovered by foreigners. With stunning beaches bordered by pristine, turquoise waters, the island is home to some distinctive rock formations at Cay My, which are well worth visiting. While Van Chai beach is particularly lovely to kick back and relax on, more adventurous holidaymakers may prefer to go rock climbing or hiking in the interior of the island. With lots of accommodation and dining options on offer catering to every budget, Co To island is an easy and attractive place to visit with a range of incredible vistas.

Phu Quy

Blissfully undeveloped and untouched, Phu Quy is mainly made up of fishermen’s villages. As such, there is a delightful, laidback vibe and it is a lot less touristy than many other islands in Vietnam. Rocky in places, with undulating sand dunes and hills in others, the island is best viewed from the lighthouse at Cam Mountain. Here, you will also find the delightful Linh Buu Pagoda, which is well worth visiting. As most of the island is relatively untouched by tourism, the beaches are uncrowded and often empty; it is very easy to arrange boat trips to nearby deserted islets.

See more: Northern Vietnam and the most amazing destinations

Source Touropia

10 most beautiful islands in Vietnam

Vietnam owns some of the most beautiful yet underrated islands ever in Southeast Asia. Once visiting these islands, you would never regret your decision.

1. Cat Ba Island

Spending the night on a traditional junk boat floating through Ha Long Bay is a quintessential Vietnamese experience that you need to add to your agenda, especially if it means a visit to Cat Ba Island. With limestone pillars jutting out of the surrounding emerald waters, and jungle terrain protected by national park status covering most of the island, this island is a hot-spot for travellers, but don’t let its popularity deter you.

If you want to spend time lazing by the water, be sure to visit Cat Co 1 and Cat Co 2 beaches during your stay on the island. If active adventures are your calling, be sure to visit Cat Ba National Park and enjoy a day of trekking, caving, and rock-climbing.

2. Phu Quoc Island 

Phu Quoc is a Vietnamese island where you come to do absolutely nothing. This dreamy island is located near the coast of Cambodia and is home to the very best marine life in Vietnam, and Phu Quoc is the ideal place to get acquainted with puffer fish, crustaceans, anemones, moray eels, and other sea creatures found below the surface.

The options are to snorkel or dive, or you can laze about on the powdery white sand beaches, especially those at the north of the island that is far less crowded than those in the south. And let’s not forget about the must-try seafood dishes that will delight food lovers.

3. Con Dao Islands

This archipelago of 16 islands might be famed for its crystal-blue waters, superb hiking trails, and scuba diving spots, but the islands’ other claim to fame is the infamous Con Son prison that housed multiple political prisoners from the colonial and wartime years.

Today, the prison stands as a sombre reminder of the past, yet the combination of flawless scenery and dark history make Con Son island a must-visit destination.

4. Ly Son Island

If you’re not a beach-goer, or if you prefer visiting smaller towns and uncovering unique cultural experiences, make sure you check out Ly Son, also known as The Kingdom of Garlic thanks to its most famous crop. Across Ly Son, you’ll smell garlic everywhere, you’ll see garlic growing in neat little rows planted in the volcanic soil, and you’ll undoubtedly taste garlic in most dishes, as it’s a feature of almost all meals on the island.

5. Nam Du Island

If you want to escape the modern grind, Nam Du Island gets our vote as one of the best places for an island escape. But be careful, as Wi-Fi is hard to find, phone service is almost non-existent, and electricity will not be available 24/7. So if you do make it to Nam Du, be prepared with a book and find yourself a spot under a palm tree to relax.

6. Binh Ba Island

Binh Ba Island, or Lobster Island, is the place where foodies go to enjoy copious amounts of fresh seafood while relaxing on the smooth, white sand beaches. Just 15 kilometres south of Nha Trang, this island has yet to be hit with a tourism boom so you can enjoy the local experiences without battling the crowds that other destinations struggle with combating.

During your stay, don’t miss the morning Binh Ba market, where you can find the best fresh seafood; a true culinary treat.

7. Cham Islands

This little cluster of eight islands near the coast of Hoi An was once closed to the public and heavily-guarded, but today they host many avid divers and snorkelers for both overnight stays and short day trips.

If an overnight stay doesn’t interest you, spend time in Hoi An, as it’s the only place in Vietnam where you can sample the oh-so-delicious Cao Lau and Com Ga.

8. Ba Lua Archipelago

Some might refer to the Ba Lua Archipelago as the Ha Long Bay of the South, but it’s just as impressive in its own right. The area consists of three large islands (Heo islet, Ngang islet, and Nhum Ba islet) and several smaller ones, and when the tide is low, visitors can walk over the sandbars to explore another island.

9. Whale Island

Either before, during, or after your next tour through Vietnam, you need to make time for a visit to Whale Island; especially if you are a scuba diver! Located just an hour’s drive north of Nha Trang, you’ll find the idyllic Whale Island, and it’s most famously known for its incredible scuba diving spots for all abilities.

Between April and July, whales and whale sharks make their way to the archipel ago to feed on krill and plankton, and the area is also home to an abundance of clownfish in their anemones, grouper, trevally, and snapper, to name a few.

10. Binh Hung Island

Remote, wild, and beautiful, Binh Hung Island is a place reserved for spirited adventures. First of all, there are no commercial hotels on this island. At all. If you want to stay a night or two, you’ll need to make friends with the locals to organise accommodation. It might be a little trickier to reach this destination that other islands on our list, but trust us when we say it’s worth it.

See more: The 11 Most Relaxing Island Getaways in Vietnam

Source: tourradar