Top 10 Tropical Islands To Visit In Vietnam

What are the best tropical islands to visit in Vietnam?

Vietnam certainly is a paradise for island lovers, with hundreds of islands and islets scattered along its coastlines. Here are some of the most stunning Vietnamese tropical islands to add to your Vietnam bucket list.

Cat Ba island

Cat Ba island is the largest island in the Cat Ba archipelago and has a typical landscape of Ha Long Bay with limestone mountains and calm blue waters.

There are plenty of places to visit and things to do on Cat Ba Island. Boat tours, kayaking, hiking, and much more activities.

The scenery is breathtaking, and the lack of infrastructure will make you feel like you are back in time riding through the lovely countryside.

Cat Ba bucket list

• Take Lan Ha Bay cruise and see Cai Beo ancient floating village.
• Visit Trung Trang cave
• Explore Quan Y Hospital cave
• Trek Cat Ba national park
• Watch the sunset at Cannon fort

Co To island

Co To is an archipelago located east of Van Don island, Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. 

As one of the most beautiful islands in the Gulf of Tonkin, Co To attracts many tourists by its pure and peaceful beauty. The island has many beautiful beaches and attractive natural landscapes.

Visiting the island, you can rent a motorbike for about $10/ day, explore the scenery, and enjoy delicious seafood.

Cham islands

Cu Lao Cham is another great island to visit in Vietnam. The island is located 30km south of Da Nang and about 20 nautical miles from the ancient town of Hoi An.

The easiest way to visit Cham islands is to book the Cham island 1-day tour. With the tour, you can go snorkeling, swimming, and seeing the vibrant coral reefs up close. Also, you can visit a local fishing village and see how the island life.

Ly Son island

Ly Son Island in Quang Ngai is probably one of the unique tropical islands in Vietnam as it was formed by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. 

The island owns several untouched beaches, a beautiful coastline, and many temples. There are three islands here: Big Island (Cu Lao Re), Dao Be (An Binh Island), and Mu Cu Islet.

The best time to travel to Ly Son is April to August, with two distinct rainy and sunny seasons. At this time, the weather is pleasant with less rain.

You should avoid visiting the island from September to December because it’s the rainy season. There will be storms and rough seas.

Hon Tam island

Hon Tam is an ideal destination in Nha Trang for those who love ecotourism and relaxation. The island still retains many pristine and pure beauty along with eco-services.

Visiting Hon Tam island, you can try the mudbath and relax on the beach. You can also try watersports such as water motor, parachute, or kayak.

Also, it’s an ideal place to participate in diving and watching coral or try walking underwater.

Phu Quy island

As Binh Thuan province’s most remote island district, Phu Quy island has a wild and beautiful landscape.

This small island is located 120 km away from Phan Thiet city, and it takes about 4 to 6 hours to get there by boat.

Phu Quy island is peaceful and quiet, suitable for those who need tranquility away from the noise and bustle. The island is very rich in marine flora and fauna, and you can see colorful coral reefs when diving here. 

Although there’re no big-chain hotels on the island, you can find small homestays and guest houses. The people on the island are very friendly and likable. 

The island is not big, and if you rent a motorbike, you can go around the island in just one day.

Places to explore in 1 day:

• Cao Cat Mountain
• Island flagpole
• Phu Quy lighthouse on Cam mountain
• Ong Van An Thanh fish temple
• Wind power field
• Ngu Phung embankment bank

Note: Foreign visitors were used to be restricted to the island because of political, geographic, and sovereign sensitivities. However, since September 2020, foreigners can go to Phu Quy island without a permit from the provincial police.

Con Dao island

Con Dao is an archipelago located off the South coast of Vung Tau. The island is beautiful with white sand, clear pristine beaches, and green coconut palms.

Also, Con Dao island has an important part in Vietnamese history. Here, you can see the French colonial prisons and learn more about the Vietnam war.

Phu Quoc island

Phu Quoc is a beautiful island located in the Gulf of Thailand, in Kien Giang province. Sandy beaches, beautiful scenery, and delicious seafood make this land an attractive destination that you should visit.

Top places to visit in Phu Quoc

• Starfish beach
• Ong Lang beach
• Pepper farm
• Phu Quoc bee farm

Nam Du island

Nam Du Island also belongs to Kien Giang province. You can take a ferry from Rach Gia (Kien Giang) to Nam Du island, and the journey takes about 2.5 hours. 

What we love about Nam Du island are its wild and untouched features. We enjoy watching the sunset, trying the island hopping tour, and exploring the beautiful scenery here.