Trek to the top of Ma Thiên Lãnh mountain for a panoramic view of Hòn Sơn Island.

HCM CITY — Kiên Giang’s Hòn Sơn Island, located between Hòn Tre Island and Nam Du Archipelago, is a new destination for a summer retreat, with beautiful white sandy beaches and imposing mountains.

Considered one of the most beautiful islands in Kiên Giang, Hòn Sơn is a new hidden gem for nature-loving tourists. With its pristine beauty, graceful beaches reflecting the vast ocean, Hòn Sơn appears as a sparkling jewel surrounded by coconut groves, with a wild look.

With limited infrastructure, islanders are highly sensitive to the environment, and use eco-friendly paper straws at coffee houses.

The best time to visit Hòn Sơn Island is from May to December when weather conditions allow for calm seas and fresh, cheap seafood.

To reach the island, fly to Rạch Giá Airport from Hà Nội or HCM City, then catch a VNĐ140,000 (US$6) hour-and-a-half speedboat ride from Rạch Giá Pier. Alternatively, you could also travel by traditional ferry for VNĐ90,000 (US$3.9), which takes around 3.5 hours. — VNS