Ly Son is an island district of Quang Ngai province. Ly Son island district consists of 3 islands: Cu Lao Re (Big Island), An Binh island commune (Small Island) and Mu Cu island, located about 30 km from the mainland. With the advantage of pristine scenery and economical travel costs, in recent years, Ly Son has always been a destination chosen by many tourists.
Best Time to Visit Ly Son Island
With two distinct rainy and sunny seasons, the best time to travel to Ly Son is from April to August. During this time, the weather is stable, with little rain and sunshine. However, you should avoid going during the peak season from April to June to avoid the crowds. September to December is the rainy season, with storms and rough seas. From late December to April is the season when green moss covers the rocky beaches along Ly Son beach.
Note, you need to monitor the weather before departure to avoid being stuck on the island for several days due to rough seas, monsoons...
Move
The main means of transportation is by boat from Sa Ky port. There are many high-speed boat companies taking tourists to Ly Son island with ticket prices ranging from 300,000 - 340,000 VND (round trip). Remember to bring your ID card or driver's license to buy tickets. Travel time from the port to the island is about 35 minutes.
From Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, visitors can book a flight to Chu Lai Airport for about 1,200,000 VND one way, with a flight time of 1 hour and 30 minutes. The airport is about 42 km from Sa Ky Port. You can take a taxi for about 350,000 VND one way, or take a bus that stops at Quang Ngai City to save money.
In addition, visitors have the option of flying to Da Nang, from here take a taxi or train to Quang Ngai City, round trip ticket price is 180,000 VND. The port is 20 km from the city center.
Accommodation
In Ly Son, there are many motels, hotels, homestays, with an average price of 200,000 - 400,000 VND per night. For tourists who prefer a youthful style of accommodation, they should choose Bep's House homestay, Be Ecolodge or DHT Hang Cau motel.
In addition, visitors can refer to Ly Son Pearl Hotel & Resort with sea view.
Visitors can experience a night on Be Island. Suggested homestays are Ly Son Bungalow with colorful wooden houses, XaLaBin with high-rise rooms with sea views or Gio Bien.
Top Attractions in Ly Son
Big Island
Tourists can rent an electric car for 300,000 VND per trip to explore around the island. In addition, they can rent a motorbike for 150,000 VND per day to visit.
Thoi Loi Peak
This is one of the five dormant volcanoes of the island district, with a rocky outcrop overlooking the sea. The mountain is about 170 m above sea level and the top of the mountain is a giant basin, with a freshwater lake supplying water to the island district. There is a 20 m high national flagpole here, a favorite destination for many tourists when coming to Ly Son.
Garlic field
From Thoi Loi peak, you can also spread your eyes to admire the vast green garlic fields . Garlic is also a famous specialty in Ly Son, not only used as a spice but also processed into many delicious dishes, including garlic salad.
Hang Cau
Hang Cau has vertical cliffs on one side and a beach with fine white sand on the other. Under the influence of wind and waves, the cliffs take on unique shapes, and near the shore are colorful coral reefs. In Hang Cau, suggested activities are snorkeling and kayaking.
To Vo Gate
Another iconic destination of the Big Island is To Vo Gate, on the east side of the island. This is actually a stone gate, over 2 meters high, located by the sea. Locals believe that lava erupted from a volcano 2 million years ago, solidified when it met seawater, creating this uniquely shaped arched gate. Surrounded by black lava rocks.
The best time to visit To Vo Gate is at sunset, when the sun is slowly disappearing behind the horizon and the rays of light are shining through the cracks in the rocks. However, the gate is often crowded with tourists, making it difficult to take photos. Recently, the area has been littered with tourist waste.
Hang Pagoda
The temple is over 400 years old, located in a large cave halfway up the mountain near To Vo gate. It worships Buddha and those who reclaimed the island. The large temple yard is surrounded by ancient trees, where the statue of Bodhisattva Guan Yin is located overlooking the sea. Inside the temple are altars carved from natural stalactites and Cham Pa relics. The mountain road leading to the temple is also one of the beautiful sightseeing spots, with views of garlic fields and peaceful villages.
Duc Pagoda
Duc Pagoda is located on the cliff of Gieng Tien Mountain, one of the island district's extinct volcanoes. The pagoda was newly built in 2008 with 3 shrines. Visitors climb 100 steps along the mountainside to reach the pagoda. In front of the cave is a 27-meter-high statue of Bodhisattva Guanyin facing the sea, called Quan Am Dai.
Am Linh Temple
About 500m west of Ly Son port, this is a place to worship the ancestors who had contributed to the island's exploration and the Hoang Sa soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the past. Many valuable documents related to the marine soldiers and relics about the history of the formation of Ly Son island are also solemnly preserved here. Every year, the temple organizes many important worshiping ceremonies, especially the ceremony to commemorate the Hoang Sa soldiers in the third lunar month. Right next to the temple is a large sandy beach, where you can stop to watch the blue sea and enjoy the cool breeze blowing.
Small Island - Hon Mu Cu
Little Island
The island is also called An Binh island commune, the area is small but the scenery and sea water are as beautiful as Big Island. Big Island is about 3 nautical miles from Small Island, if you go by wooden boat it will take more than 30 minutes, but by speedboat it only takes about 10 minutes. To go to Small Island, you can rent a whole canoe for 2,500,000 VND, or go separately for 80,000 VND per person. Round trip ticket price for the same day.
The boat from Ly Son port to Be Island departs at 7am, 11:20am is the last trip of the day. The boat from Be Island to Big Island departs from 10am to 2:20pm. The trips are 20 minutes apart. If you buy a single ticket at the port, according to regulations, each person can only buy 2 tickets. You must have the ID card or passport of the buyer and the person being purchased on your behalf. Tickets are sold starting at 6am.
Coming to Be Island, you will feel like stepping into a new paradise with only blue sea and golden sunshine. This place is also ideal for watching the sunset.
Hon Mu Cu
During your stay in Ly Son, visitors should wake up early to go to the most beautiful sunrise viewing spot on the archipelago. Hon Mu Cu is located about 3 km east of the center of Big Island. Because it is uninhabited, the landscape is still very pristine and the air is fresh.
Round-trip ticket price from Big Island to Small Island is 80,000 - 100,000 VND. If you are traveling in a large group, you can choose to rent a private boat for 800,000 VND. After arriving at the island, visitors can choose electric car, tuk tuk or motorbike taxi for 50,000 VND per trip.
Mural Village
Near the port of Be Island is the mural village , with colorful murals. This is one of the favorite photo spots for tourists, although it is not as big and beautiful as other mural villages in the country.
Ngang Beach
With its crystal clear turquoise water, Ngang Beach is affectionately called the "Maldives of Vietnam" by many tourists. There are rocky outcrops and rocky coves near the shore with many colorful fish species that can be clearly seen when tourists swim or wade.
Snorkeling is an experience not to be missed when visiting Be Island. The price for renting diving gear and fresh water bathing is 110,000 VND per person.
Near the beach is the Love Bridge, with an entrance fee of 5,000 VND per person. The water here is clear, you can clearly see the moss and coral, suitable for tourists who love taking pictures.
What to Eat in Ly Son
Restaurants are concentrated along the port, some suggested restaurants are Phat Hai restaurant, Khoi Chieu restaurant... In addition, there are also Dai Hang seafood rice and Ut Ngoc restaurant.
Ly Son's specialties are mainly seafood , especially king crab, lobster, abalone, devil fish, fish cakes... Some other specialties are garlic salad , seaweed salad, crab vermicelli soup , black beauty watermelon, elephant snails, gai leaf cake... Visit the dry food stalls on the island to buy garlic and dried seafood as gifts.
