Travel Experience to Ly Son Island on a Budget, Independence Guaranteed

Explore the untouched beauty of Ly Son Island and discover its unique cultural blend of Sa Huynh, Champa, and ancient Vietnamese civilizations. Forbes magazine (USA) voted Ly Son as one of the ten most beautiful beaches in Vietnam in 2019. Dive into the detailed guide for budget and independent travel to Ly Son to prepare for your journey to this stunning archipelago.

1. Where is Ly Son Island?

Ly Son is the only island district of Quang Ngai province, located 15 nautical miles northeast of the mainland. This island is the remaining trace of five active volcanoes that erupted 2-3 million years ago, covering a natural area of 10.39 km². With its captivating beauty, Ly Son is surrounded by beautiful white sandy beaches, stretches of majestic black volcanic rocks from the shore to the vast sea. Additionally, the island preserves historical relics from volcanic eruptions and hosts various unique traditional festivals.

Ly Son Island, Quang Ngai

Ly Son Island is enveloped by the mighty sea, featuring dormant volcanic peaks.

2. Best Time to Visit Ly Son?

The best time for independent travel to Ly Son is from April to August. During this period, the weather is pleasant with sunshine, mild winds, and calm seas, providing ideal conditions to explore the island. Alternatively, you can visit from December to April when Ly Son enters the season of green moss clinging to the impressive rocky shores. In addition, the third lunar month hosts the unique ritual of the Hoang Sa soldiers' boundary recognition.

3. Guide on How to Quickly Get to Ly Son Island

Here are detailed and convenient ways to travel to Ly Son, making your exploration more complete.

From Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City: Book a flight to Chu Lai Airport (Quang Nam) and then travel to Sa Ky port (47 km from the airport) by taxi, motorbike, or car. Vietjet currently offers many attractive flight deals to Quang Nam and various domestic destinations, making your Ly Son Island trip simple and convenient.
From Sa Ky port: After reaching the port, take a high-speed boat to Ly Son Island, Ly Son district, with a travel time of about 30 - 45 minutes. Ensure you have the necessary personal documents to purchase a round-trip ticket. If you experience seasickness, consider taking medication, avoiding heavy meals, and not drinking carbonated water before boarding.

4. Self-Guided Travel to Ly Son – Where to Go, What to Do?

Based on the travel experience of nature enthusiasts, consider visiting interesting locations such as Hang Cau, Cong To Vo Gate, Duc Pagoda, and Mu Cu Islet. Below are detailed insights into these destinations for you to explore.

4.1 Check-in at Cong To Vo Gate

Situated on the eastern side of Ly Son Island, this location is considered an iconic symbol of the island's beauty. Cong To Vo Gate, a 20-meter-long and over 2-meter-high stone gate, is believed to have formed from volcanic eruptions two million years ago. The ideal time to visit is during sunset, as the fading sun leaves behind purple and orange hues, creating a breathtaking natural painting as it filters through the rock crevices.

Cong To Vo Gate on Cu Lao Re Island

Cong To Vo Gate features a unique blend of black, brown, yellow, and gray, reminiscent of the island's earthy tones.

4.2 Stroll Through Hang Cau

In your Ly Son travel itinerary, don't miss Hang Cau, located at the foot of Thoi Loi Mountain. Here, you'll be overwhelmed by the majestic natural scenery, with unique rock formations on one side and white sandy beaches, crystal-clear water, and scattered rocky reefs on the other. At Hang Cau, immerse yourself in activities like kayaking and coral reef snorkeling.

4.3 Visit the Garlic Fields

Ly Son is known as the "Garlic Kingdom" with extensive garlic fields covering approximately 550 hectares. Witness the beauty of the garlic fields in February, March, or September, where the greenery of the crops, the sea, the sky, and the brown color of the soil atop Thoi Loi Mountain create a harmonious blend.

4.4 Explore Hang Pagoda

This over 400-year-old pagoda sits on the slopes of Thoi Loi Mountain, standing proudly on magnificent rock formations. The pagoda courtyard is adorned with ancient banyan trees and a statue of Goddess Quan Am with a panoramic view of the sea. Inside the pagoda, you'll find altars dedicated to Buddha and other revered figures associated with the island, carved on natural stone. From Hang Pagoda, gaze into the distance to capture the vast beauty of Ly Son Island, featuring expansive garlic fields, white sandy beaches, and the vast sea and sky.

4.5 Admire the Scenery from Duc Pagoda

From the main port of Ly Son Island, turn left onto the winding coastal road to reach Duc Pagoda. Perched on the cliffs of Gieng Tien Mountain, one of the dormant volcanoes in the island district, this ancient temple is covered in moss. The temple courtyard, located just outside the main hall, features a 27-meter-tall statue of Goddess Quan Am. From Duc Pagoda, take in the panoramic view of Ly Son Island, with rugged cliffs on either side, the expansive sea in front, and the sky painted in vibrant hues, creating a stunning natural masterpiece.

View of Duc Pagoda from Above

From the peak of Duc Pagoda, you can admire the entire scenery of Ly Son Island.

4.6 Sunrise at Hon Mù Cu

Located about 3km east of the center of Ly Son Island, Hon Mù Cu is often called the "orphan island" due to its separation from the island's center and the almost nonexistent population. However, the natural scenery here exudes a pristine beauty and refreshing atmosphere. Especially, when traveling to Ly Son Island, don't miss the breathtaking moment of witnessing the beautiful sunrise on the coastline of Hon Mù Cu.

5. Indulge in Delicious Ly Son Specialties Before Heading Home

Based on the experience of traveling to Ly Son, to savor delicious and enticing local specialties, explore the seaside market or dine at your accommodation for a unique and affordable culinary experience.

5.1 Garlic Salad

While garlic is considered a specialty of Ly Son, garlic salad will surprise you with its unique and delicious taste. Chefs take the garlic stems, clean them, lightly boil them, then mix them with a little sugar, herbs, and crushed peanuts. The finished product, garlic salad, is crispy and refreshing, with a mild garlic aroma complemented by the richness of peanuts and a spicy dipping sauce, creating an unforgettable flavor.

Ly Son Garlic Salad

A rustic garlic salad with a unique and captivating taste.

5.2 Trumpet Shell Snails

These rare and hard-to-find snails are considered the most delicious seafood you should try when traveling to Ly Son. The best trumpet shell snails are large, about the size of an outspread hand and weighing around half a kilogram. You can enjoy boiled or steamed trumpet shell snails to fully experience their freshness, tenderness, and crunchy texture.

5.3 Seaweed Porridge

Rated as the top-notch porridge on Ly Son archipelago due to its nutritional value and unique flavor. Seaweed porridge has a slightly fatty, fragrant taste of seaweed, coupled with the spiciness of pepper. This dish will captivate you with its irresistible combination of salty, spicy, and sweet flavors, deeply infused into each ingredient.

5.4 Sea Moss Salad

Despite its simple preparation by locals, this dish carries the essence of the sea. Fresh sea moss is soaked in clean water (changing the water several times), then cut into bite-sized pieces and mixed with chopped basil, garlic-chili fish sauce, lime juice, and seasoned to taste. When enjoying this dish, you will be conquered by the salty, sour, spicy, and sweet flavors soaked in each ingredient.

5.5 Emperor Crab

This crab, known as the specialty of Ly Son, is hailed by locals as the king of crabs. Its unique appearance features a thick and hard shell, with a bright yellow color that is eye-catching. To fully appreciate the delicious aroma of Emperor Crab, you can enjoy it steamed with a special dipping sauce.

6. Frequently Asked Questions When Traveling to Ly Son

For more information about your self-guided trip to Ly Son, consider some frequently asked questions that many young travelers are interested in:

6.1 What should I pay attention to when traveling to Ly Son?

Travelers should note several points, such as bringing personal documents, mosquito repellent, seasickness medicine, sunscreen, checking the weather forecast before going to the island, booking plane tickets, and accommodation 1-2 months in advance.

6.2 How much does it cost to travel to Ly Son independently?

The cost of self-guided travel to Ly Son is approximately 2,800,000 VND per person. However, this cost may vary depending on the itinerary and mode of transportation chosen by the traveler.

6.3 What should I buy on Ly Son Island as souvenirs?

Visitors can purchase dried seaweed, Ly Son black garlic, dried garlic, dried seafood, peanut brittle candy, Tra Bong cinnamon, nem Nhum (sea anemone salad), etc., as souvenirs when traveling to Ly Son.

Traveling to Ly Son Island independently allows travelers to discover the extremely attractive beauty of nature, culture, and people in this archipelago. It is hoped that all these experiences will provide you with useful information before you "pack your bags" and embark on this beautiful journey to Ly Son Island.

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