Vietnam is a small country located in the Southeast part of Asia, but there is more about this sub-tropical country than just food and cheap-traveling – marvelous islands.

Vietnam has over 3000 km of coastline and approximately more than 4000 islands. Each island has its own features like old temples, fishing villages, greenwoods all year round, and of course, beautiful beaches.

If you’re a nature lover, you cannot miss Vietnam islands because the landscapes there are indeed breathtaking.

Many well-known islands have undergone tremendous development, creating a wide array of luxurious resorts and hotels, restaurants, funky nightlife locations, and other facilities.

There are also other islands for locals and travelers who like to challenge themselves. Below are 5 of the best islands in Vietnam that I think you should pay a visit when spending your vacation here.

BEST Things To Do in Vietnam &Complete Guide (Inforgraphic included)

[2019] 17 Astounding Places To Visit In Vietnam & Chosen By Tourists

Let’s check it out!

Top 3 Islands To Visit In Vietnam

Phu Quoc (Kien Giang)

Phu Quoc, also known as the biggest island in Vietnam, is a part of Kien Giang Province as Phu Quoc District. This peaceful tropical paradise floats on the warm sapphire water in the Gulf of Thailand. It takes about 50 minutes to travel  from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc by plane.

Phu Quoc Island VIETNAM IN SEPTEMBER

With a perfect combination of both natural and man-made elements, you and your family will never feel bored since there are always fun activities to do in Phu Quoc. Here in this beautiful island, you can enjoy calm beaches, majestic sunsets and sunrises, as well as year-round-green forests.

It is an ideal place for those who are planning to go on a romantic honeymoon, or simply just want a getaway from the hustle and bustle of urban life.

Apart from fun beachside activities, you should also consider visiting fishing villages, nature parks, and Buddhist pagodas. All these destinations can be easily approached by motorbike, taxi or tour bus.

I really enjoy my last trip to Phu Quoc with my boyfriend. We had a fun time staying at an ordinary homestay instead of expensive resorts and hotels.

We spent the first day enjoying the sunset and sunrise of Phu Quoc, and it was an amazing experience since we both are sun-worshippers. 

The next days were all about riding on a motorbike across the parks and evergreen forests in Phu Quoc to admire the wonderful nature of this island.

Me and my boyfriend enjoyed our last moment in Phu Quoc at a floating restaurant called Rach Vem in a fishing village with the same name.

I highly recommend this restaurant for your next trip to Phu Quoc. They served us with excellent fresh seafood, and the staff was very friendly as well.

We left this idyllic island feeling so happy because we had so much fun together without having to spend too much money. It was also a bit sad going back to our busy daily life in Ho Chi Minh, though.

Phu Quoc island is definitely a must-visit during your time in Vietnam. From October to early November would be the best time to visit because these months feature the perfect combo for your trip: not a lot of visitors and reasonable prices!

Best Things to Do in Phu Quoc for First-Time Travelers

Con Dao (Ba Ria – Vung Tau)

I bet not many of you have heard about Con Dao. Being isolated from the mainland, Con Dao is a hidden gem that few tourists know of.

Con Dao Islands are an archipelago, consisting of 16 distinct islets. It is located in Ba Ria – Vung Tau as Con Dao district, just off the southern coast of Vietnam.

You can get to Con Dao within an hour flight from Ho Chi Minh City.

con dao prison

Each islet of this archipelago offers different experiences for visitors. There are some with beautiful beaches while others have evergreen trees and year-round pleasant weather.

The largest and only inhabited island of Con Dao Islands is Con Son (also known as Con Lon). What is so special about this island is that it once held Vietnamese prisoners of war during their struggle for independence against the French.

You can visit prison cells and notorious tiger cages at most prisons in Con Son Town. Many people come to Con Son to pay respect and send their prayers to Vo Thi Sau – a heroine who was executed by the French when she was only 18.

Asides from this fairly dreary part of the island, Con Son has many little known beaches waiting for you to discover. You can spend a whole day here watching sunrise and sunset, sunbathing, swimming and enjoy good dining on fresh seafood.

Renting a motorbike and driving around the island seem to be a good idea if you want some privacy as well as enjoy incredible sceneries of the island.

Scuba diving is also a fun activity to do when visiting Con Dao Islands. When diving in the ocean, you will get to see beautiful creatures as well as those with bizarre shapes. You can also explore the other inhabited islets of Con Dao Islands.

Since Con Dao is a part of a national park, you have to get the permission from Con Dao National Park Headquarters first before planning on doing any activities here.

It would be best to visit Con Dao from November to February since this is a dry season.

What are the best things to do in Con Dao?

Hon Tre (Khanh Hoa)

Hon Tre island, also known as Bamboo island, is located just off the coast of Nha Trang – one of the most popular cities for tourism in Vietnam.

Nha Trang

Hon Tre is famous for its massive aquarium, shopping centers and other varieties of modern facilities since Vinpearl Amusement Park – one of the best amusement parks in Vietnam built by Vingroup Cooperation – is a part of it.

There are plenty of ways to get to Hon Tre, but as a local of Nha Trang city, I highly recommend taking canoes or boats. The price is reasonable, plus you can get to the island quickly and at the same time admire the beauty of this island from far away.

If you’re a nature lover, don’t worry because hiking up to the peak of Hon Tre mountain would be the ideal option for you. From high above, you can take a panoramic view of the whole island and Nha Trang city. What a glorious scenery!

Besides, Bai Soi is a must-visit when you come to Hon Tre. The feeling you get when having your first steps on the pebbles with bare feet is just hard to explain. It’s like getting feet massage, but even better!

You can also do scuba diving here. Diving courses are offered to those who have never done it before but still want to give it a try. Under the water, you can see coral reefs with vivid colors, fish, and invertebrate creatures as well.

Dining at Hon Tre is rather limited with restaurants set within Vinpearl complex including an amusement park, resort, and luxury hotel. Nevertheless, you can still find cheap local food at a market close to the pier such as pho, bun bo, or banh cuon.

The ideal time to visit Hon Tre would be  from mid-February to May, when the weather is fairly stable.

In Conclusion

Vietnam has always been known for beautiful beaches and coastlines, but the islands are also one important factor that helps Vietnam get the recognition it deserves.

Above are the three best islands that I think you should pay a visit on your next trip to Vietnam. If you want to share your experience in this beautiful country, comment down below. I’d appreciate that very much!

Thank you for reading!