Stunning, pristine landscapes, coupled with white sand beaches have made Kien Hai island district in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang an irresistible tourist destination.
Kien Hai Island District consists of 23 big and small islands, 11 of which are inhabited. In total, land on the archipelago covers 2,460 hectares.
While the district is divided into the four communes of Hon Tre, Lai Son, An Son, and Nam Du, just three of them – Lai Son, An Son, and Nam Du – have recently emerged as popular destinations young Vietnamese hoping to make quick weekend escape trips.
Hon Son in Lai Son Commune, located about 65 kilometers off the west coast of Kien Giang’s capital city of Rach Gia, is just a 1.5-hour express boat ride from the mainland.
Meanwhile, Hon Lon in An Son Commune and Nam Du Island in the namesake commune are just roughly 40 minutes from Hon Son by high-speed boat.
Tourism activities in Hon Son, Hon Lon and Nam Du are aplenty, with swimming, diving, exploring coral reefs, fishing, and trekking amongst the most popular activity choices for visitors.
As for beaches, Bang and Cay Dua Nam on Hon Son Island offer white sands and pristine waters.
Nearby, Ma Thien Lanh Mountain offers a bird’s eye view of the area at its 450 meter high peak.
Trails for motorbike rides and trekking are quite short, about 14 kilometers in Hon Son, and ten and seven kilometers in Hon Lon and Nam Du, respectively.
A major factor in the islands’ rising tourism popularity are the affordable services with accommodation ranging between VND200,000 and VND600,000 (US$8.66-26) per night and a wholesome, substantial meals for up to six people costing just VND500,000-700,000 ($21.66-30.32).