A scenic area in the southern coastal province of Khánh Hòa, Vân Phong looks like a sleeping beauty on an endless sea.

From the city of Nha Trang, we travel 80km north, until we reach Vân Phong on a beautiful, sunny day.

The bay is known as an ensemble of many small gulfs and multi-shaped islands.

The most recognisable island is Bịp Island, also named Điệp Sơn (Mountain of Butterfly Island), with 83 households with limited access to electricity and fresh water. 

Parting of the sea: The road under the sea level in Điệp Sơn island. — Photo vivudulich.top

The island consists a group of three smaller islands and the journey to explore the island starts from Vạn Giã Town. After an hour on sea, dreamy Điệp Sơn Island began to form on the horizon.

The most staggering thing about the island is the unique and stunning road a metre under sea level, which is 700m long and connects the middle island with the Mountain of Butterfly Island.

“Strolling on this road brings about extreme excitement, a thrill and a bit of scare when we walk among the infinite ocean. I really like to watch the fish swimming on the two sides and wave to boats passing by,” said my travel partner Nguyễn Thanh Thúy.

Tranquil: Hòn Ông (Whale Island) in central Khánh Hòa Province. — Photo Phượt.com

We spent a short time on Điệp Sơn Island before heading to Ông Island (The Whale Island). Different from other tourism islands in the fact it is uninhabited, we only found a resort called Whale Island Resort, which provides all services on this island.

Environmental protection is a taken seriously on the island, showed by the signboard my friend read saying, “no fishing or bird hunting are allowed on the island”.

I think the island is created for sea lovers, who would like to explore unspoilt, desolated and pristine destinations, or who wish to temporarily escape the suffocating urban life, as well as newlyweds on honeymoon. 

A couple from New Zealand who were vacationing there told me the island was nine or 10 stars in terms of style and location.

Greenery: The scenery of Hòn Lớn Island. — Photo ivivu.com

Staying several days on the island, we hired a boat to reach Đầm Môn Peninsula. With a total area of 128 squ.km, including 20 islands and a primival forest, Đầm Môn Beach is silent, calm and fresh. Since it is covered and protected by Hòn Gốm and Hòn Lớn peninsulas, big waves rarely hit the beach. 

Across the peninsula, we headed to Sơn Đừng (or Xuân Đừng) Hamlet. A small one with only ten households, the hamlet is home to the Đàng Hạ ethnic minority, whose ancestors are Malaysians or Indonesians who were shipwrecked on the island in the 18th or 19th century.

The hamlet has no roads, as people travel across the sand. As for the beach, I have never seen anywhere so picturesque, probably as it was devoid of visitors.

Magnificent: The Điệp Sơn Island. — Photo zing.vn

What is odd here is you can find fresh water from the beach’s sand. Taking a few steps from the sea, digging sand close to the salt water, fresh water will rise in the small hole. Not far from the beach is Lách plain, a breathtaking site of coral and stone.

Northwest of Vân Phong Bay is Hòn Gốm Peninsula, a natural complex of small mountain ranges and sand dunes. Hòn Gốm looks like outreached hands treasuring the diamond of Hòn Lớn (Big Island). The island covers and protects Vân Phong Bay so ships can shelter from big storms.

We finished our trip by boating to Twins Cape at Hòn Gốm. Bearing the name because of two stones pointing to the East Sea, we couldn’t take our eyes from the imposing view of the bay and the stone masterpieces.

To me, Vân Phong Bay should be known as the Mother of islands instead of Sleeping Beauty, as the beauty of this place is far from hidden. — VNS