Just off the coast of Vietnam, around 40km away from the popular Phu Quoc Island lies a hidden tropical paradise. The Nam Du Archipelago. Made up of 21 islands and islets, out of which only 11 are inhabited. You can come here to experience the perfect tropical island life. Blessed with pristine beaches, lush green forests, stunning rocky cliffs, and colorful coral reefs without the crowd that is usually found in most tropical islands, Nam Du is worth a visit.
Visiting Nam Du used to be difficult. International tourists needed special permits. Nowadays, anyone can just hop on a ferry from the mainland and head on over to the islands.
By Boat
Boats are the only way to visit Nam Du Islands. You can catch a boat from Rach Gia Port. There are two kinds of boats you can take. The fastest one is the speedboat which will take 2.5 hours to reach Nam Du. The other one is a ferry boat which will take 3 hours. A ticket will usually cost around 200,00 to 250,000 VND depending on the operator. The main operators of boats between Nam Du and Rach Gia are Phu Quoc Express Boat, Superdong Speed-boat, and Ngoc Thanh Ferry.
By Plane
There are flights from all major cities including Ho Chi Minh City or Phu Quoc to Rach Gia Airport. After landing you can take a cab or xe om to the port. A one-way ticket will cost around 1,200,000 VND. You can book your flight ticket here.
By Bus
There are overnight buses that travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Rach Gia almost every day. It will take around 6 hours to reach Rach Gia. A bus ticket will usually cost around 150,000 to 200,000 VND. Get your bus tickets here.
Once you are in Nam Du, you can rent motorbikes to get around the main island of Nam Du. You can ask your hotel or guest house for motorbikes. It will cost around 200,000 VND per day. To get from one island to the other, you can travel by boat. There are boat tours of the neighboring islands. You can rent boats if you are part of a big group.
Nam Du experiences two distinct seasons - the wet season from April to November and the dry season from December to March. During the wet season, rain and thunderstorms are common which make the sea difficult to navigate. The best time to visit Nam Du is during the dry season from December to March. The weather during these few months is pleasant and warm with clear skies making it perfect for snorkeling and island hopping.
Nam Du is home to 21 islands and islets. Out of which only 11 are inhabited. The biggest island is the Nam Du island or as it is sometimes called, Hon Lon. This island is the most developed and has multiple restaurants and accommodations for tourists. The island is home to stunning palm tree beaches such as Bai Cay Nho, Phong Vu, Bai Soi, Dat Do Beach, etc. Around 30 minutes away by boat from Hon Lon lies another island, the fishing hub of Hon Ngang, the most populated island. It is home to around 900 households. You’ll find crystal clear waters and stunning scenery anywhere you go on the island. Other islands you can also check out are- Hon Mau with its white-sand beaches. Hon Dau with its colorful coral reefs, and beautiful coastline. Hai Bo Dap, an island made up of two smaller islets connected by a unique natural stone bridge. Everywhere you go in the Nam Du Archipelago, you’ll be blessed with stunning views of the ocean, beautiful beaches with clean, crystal clear blue waters, and friendly locals.
The crystal clear waters of the Nam Du Archipelago make it great for snorkeling. There is plenty of marine life and colorful corals to keep you occupied for hours. You can go snorkeling as part of a tour group or go on your own. Besides snorkeling, you can also try your hand out at fishing. There is plenty of fish around the islands. Most of the villages in Nam Du are home to fishing villages. These villagers go out every morning to catch fish. You can accompany them or go fishing on your own by renting a boat.
The islands in Nam Du have plenty of forest coverage and hills which makes them perfect for trekking. One of the best places to go trekking is in Nhum beach. There is a small trekking path that leads to the rocky beach. On the way, you'll come across dense forests teeming with all kinds of wildlife. You can also hike up the hills to get a great view during sunrise or sunset.
So, there you have it, the best things to do in Nam Du Island as well as the best time to visit, how to get there, and how to get around the islands. The islands in Nam Du are majestic and hardly see any high tourist footfall making it perfect for a tropical escape.
Reach out to BDATrip, the one-stop-shop for all your Vietnam travel needs to get a personalized tour of Nam Du Island. We also provide online Vietnam visa services, tours, hotel bookings, flight bookings, and more.
