Not only famous for its pristine mangrove forests, Ca Mau also owns an island of poetic beauty located quite close to the mainland, which is Hon Khoai island. Discovering Hon Khoai Island – a beautiful tourist destination in Ca Mau will be an interesting journey because Hon Khoai has long been praised by domestic and foreign tourists as the most beautiful island in the southernmost part of the country.

By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Ca Mau Visitor Guide

1. Better to Know as a Tourist

Ticket:  The price is about 2,000,000 VND – 4,000,000 VND going and returning depending on the number of people.

Spend-time: One hour (approx)

Hours: Dawn – dusk 

Food: Yes     

Shop: Yes 

Parking lot: Yes

Blog: https://vemekong.com/hon-khoai-island-ca-mau/

Address: Hon Khoai is the name of a cluster of islands located in the southeast of Ca Mau cape in Tan An commune, Ngoc Hien district, Ca Mau province.

Added values: Hon Khoai Island Ca Mau, where nature is unspoiled, with a clear blue coast, a hundred-year-old lighthouse, etc., has become an attractive destination in the southernmost tip of the country.

Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from Hon khoai Island? Or maybe you found it too crowded here? We’ve got some ideas! Check out our list: Ca Mau Cape – The South Pole of Vietnam (111 km), Ca Mau City Bird Garden (3 km), Mui Ca Mau National Park (111 km), Thi Tuong Lagoon (42 km), Nam Can Mangrove Forest (57 km), Thien Lam Pagoda (9 km), Hon Da Bac Island (52 km)…

2. Travel Guide to Hon Khoai Island

Hon Khoai is more than 6 nautical miles (14.6 km) from the mainland and has an important position in terms of national defense and security.  This place is likened to a forward station guarding the airspace, the sea and the southwestern strip of land of the country.

If you take a train from Rach Goc (the gateway of Ngoc Hien district to the East Sea), after only 3 hours of crossing the sea, visitors can admire Hon Khoai – one of the most beautiful islands in the southernmost part of the country.

Hon Khoai Island consists of many small islands: Hon Khoai, Hon Tuong, Hon Sao, Hon Doi Moi, Hon Da Le.  Hon Khoai is the largest island with an area of ​​​​about 4km2 and is also the highest island above sea level at 318m.  In the past, this place was also known by many different names such as: Hon Giang Huong, Hon Doc Lap or Poulop Island in the French period.  However, because of the shape of a giant potato, the locals still call it Hon Khoai to this day.

Hon Khoai is an island of rocks, hills and primeval forests that are almost intact with many precious woods and rich flora and fauna, which has captivated many tourists.  According to the latest research, the flora in Hon Khoai has more than 1,400 species including fruit trees, timber trees, medicinal plants… Animals are also quite rich with monkeys, wild chickens, pythons, and white belly squirrels… and more than 20 species of precious birds.

Hon Khoai is known as the pearl island of the cape land, surrounded by forests and mountains, peaceful blue sea and time-tinted relics.  This place has become an attractive destination that tourists cannot ignore when coming to Ca Mau province.  In September 2013, Hon Khoai island cluster set a record for the closest island cluster to the equator.

On the island, there are 2 beaches, including Big Beach in the southeast and Small Beach in the north. Visiting Hon Khoai tourism, the boat carrying tourists will visit Small Beach, from there take a small boat to the shore about 50m.

The first time you set foot here, visitors will not be overwhelmed by the beautiful scenery.  The most unique feature of this island is the beaches with a lot of round pebbles like fancy goose eggs, mother nature also favors this place with the shade of three maple trees, casuarinas fluttering in the cool wind.  When spring comes on Hon Khoai, apricot blossoms bloom all over the island.

Hon Khoai has a long coastline, a place to anchor and shelter from storms for fishermen and a breeding and sheltering place for many marine species.  From small plankton species to aquatic species of high economic value such as: squid, lobster, mantis shrimp, etc. Hon Khoai beach has wide sandy beaches. When the tide is low, the sea is calm, visitors can walk on the sand to learn about the life of sea creatures and breathe the fresh air

3. What to Do –See – Eat at Hon Khoai Island

Following the spiral staircase to the lighthouse, the space opens up to azure blue, windy clouds in the distance… Above there is also a telescope, allowing you to look at the surrounding islands, or head to Ca Mau cape for a view to admire from afar the sacred cape of the end of the country.

In addition to the wild beauty, Hon Khoai is also a famous revolutionary feat in the Southwest region.  Here, on December 13, 1940, teacher Phan Ngoc Hien led the insurgent army to capture Hon Khoai, marking a brilliant milestone in the history of the struggle against foreign invaders of the army and people in the southernmost land of the country.  In 1990, Hon Khoai island was recognized as a national historical and cultural relic.

Traveling to Ca Mau, coming to Hon Khoai, you cannot ignore the specialties of the sea with extremely attractive dishes such as lobster, sea crab, grilled mantis shrimp…  The delicious and nutritious dishes have made the seafood dishes here an interesting highlight and left an unforgettable impression in the hearts of visitors.

What makes tourists remember Hon Khoai forever, is probably the sincere hospitality of the island soldiers, who day and night guard the sea and sky for the homeland island.  And surely when leaving, visitors will love the beautiful Hon Khoai even more.

And there are many interesting experiences ahead, it is important that we want to learn and discover it.  If you are a lover of sea and island nature, then pack your backpack and go to Hon Khoai Island right away.

4. Free Itineraries from VeMekong

As a local travel expert, we have some ideas for you to think about.

From Ca Mau city center:

Route 1:

Route 2:

Route 3:

If you do not have much time left, it is easy to check out spots in one full day by boat or with bike or with motorbike and car. But there are much more than tourist sites like these in Ca Mau. Make sure you have more time to feel and explore more about the hidden gems and the culture, food, night life, wildlife and forest as well. Top tip: Stay in a homestay nearby, so you have more chances to visit it and surroundings. If you are looking for the package Ca Mau daily tour with local, you can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

5. Google Maps of Hon Khoai Island

Google Maps made a name for itself helping people travel from one place to another, avoid traffic (You probably know the route from your hotel to the gas station by heart, but what you can’t be sure about is gridlock), measure a distance, get back to the hotel on time, share the location…

6. Visit Hon Khoai Island by yourself

Solo traveller? Travelling on your own means you will get out of any difficult situations by yourself. This, in turn, leads to more satisfying travel experiences and helps you improve your problem-solving skills. These days we rarely get the chance to sit with ourselves and simply be. That’s why you should consider the time you spend alone on your trip as a gift.

It is possible for solo travellers to use google maps and do it alone. But sometimes they need to update local maintained roads and bridges which close and lead you a longer road than the road from Google maps. It is just about the time. It takes more time to find the correct garden to come. Adventure is always fun. Wifi is strong in Ca Mau village! The locals find it hard to speak English as well. Top tip: Sticking to one canal and keeping going along it which gives you more things to see and avoids getting lost. Contact vemekong.com to hire a car, scooter with English-speaking-guide or cycling tours in Ca Mau.

7. Responsible Travel and Advice Hon Khoai Island

Don’t get us wrong. But we assure you that you totally agree with us. “Do not give candy and things to the children when you plan to visit any local villages”, the kids will leave the school and follow the sweets and later they find some things to give you or sell to you. The garden is a little forest, don’t pick and touch the flowers or fruits without the local’s smiles. We deal with traveling green and leaving green behind, not plastic. Top tip: Vemekong.com is one of the companies that care a lot about responsible travel and local respectation.

8. Amazing Video flycam/drone of Hon Khoai Island (4k) 

If a picture says a thousand words, it stands to reason that the video says many times more. 

9. Incredible Tips for Photography, Specialists, KOLs, Media and Influencers 

To get the best of the best for your unique writing, featuring, photo, video and insider’s stories. We do recommend you to have a local travel expert, the one who always gets more ground information and makes sure every single element is solved perfectly. The Vemekong (very exclusive Mekong) team is your priority choice. Email and have a private talk with them to customize your journey smoothly, personal and the most ultimately amazing. You can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

10. Pro Tips 

Because Hon Khoai is an island near international waters, you must ask permission from the border guard station to come here.

Visitors to the island must report through the border guard station and can only visit a limited number of areas.

Filming and photography are also closely monitored to avoid revealing military secrets.

There are many monkeys on the island so you need to be careful.

There is no shortage of fresh water on the island, so you don’t need to bring a lot of fresh water to the island.

You can stay in a homestay which is near the riverside, this will help you out the best option. Then you can hire a scooter, car or bike and explore it by yourself. There are many local homestays in the mangrove forest near Ca Mau cape and near U Minh Ha forest. Both of these places are super green for staying and forget the world.

If you plan to extend your travel to Ca Mau homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.

Visit Ca Mau or do any customized tours, please choose reputable providers with boat trips equipped with lifebuoys, jackets, motorcycle and cycling tours with the helmets and. Safety is a priority! Choose Ca Mau responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.

Ca Mau food & drink guide ranges from street food, authentic, fancy to fusion foods. As a tropical land of many fresh vegetables and homegrown gardens, which always make Ca Mau cuisines fresh, close to nature and very traditional. If you are a food lover, don’t hesitate to put other bites onto your food lists such as Banh tam ga cay (Silkworm rice cake with curried chicken), grilled Vop clams with salt and pepper, grilled snakehead fish, grilled mudskipper fish, stone crab roast with salt, young bee salad, Ba Khia – A traditional food in Ca Mau, Ca Mau crab is a must-eat…

Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunblock, scarf to wear when visiting temples, pagodas, and the cathedral.

Bring the raincoat if you’re planning a trip to Ca Mau in the rainy season, as Ca Mau always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.

Ca Mau tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Ca Mau City Bird Garden, Ca Mau Cape – The South Pole of Vietnam, U Minh Ha National Park, Mui Ca Mau National Park, Monivongsa Bopharam Pagoda, Thien Lam Pagoda, Ca Mau Floating Market (totally no more), Cao Dai Temple In Ca Mau, Nam Can Mangrove Forest, Quan Am Ancient Temple, Memorial of President Ho Chi Minh, Watch the Sunrise and Sunset at Ca Mau Cape, U Minh Forest, Thi Tuong Lagoon, Khai Long Tourist Area, Hon Khoai Island, Hon Da Bac Island,

Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Ca Mau province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!

“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.

Thank you