The most beautiful islands in Vietnam, from north to south, are Cat Ba and Co To near Ha Long Bay, the Cham Islands off Hoi An, Ly Son off Quang Ngai, Hon Mun in Nha Trang Bay, Hon Kho near Quy Nhon, Phu Quy off the south-central coast, and Phu Quoc and the Con Dao islands (including Con Son) in the far south. Phu Quoc is the most famous island in Vietnam and the easiest to reach from India, while Con Dao and Co To are quieter and wilder.
Vietnam has a coastline of about 3,260 km and thousands of islands and islets, with caves, jungle, fishing villages and coral reefs. This guide from Vietnamtour.in lists the Vietnam island names worth knowing, what each island is best for, how to reach it and when to go.
The 10 Vietnam islands, with their region and gateway, at a glance:
| # | Island | Region | Best for | Gateway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cat Ba | North (Hai Phong) | Lan Ha Bay, national park, kayaking | Hanoi or Ha Long |
| 2 | Co To | North (Quang Ninh) | Wild beaches, cliffs, quiet stays | Speedboat from Van Don |
| 3 | Cham Islands | Centre (Da Nang) | Snorkelling, day trips | Speedboat from Hoi An |
| 4 | Con Son | South (Con Dao) | History, beaches, diving | Flight from Ho Chi Minh City |
| 5 | Hon Mun | South-centre (Nha Trang) | Coral reef snorkelling and diving | Boat from Nha Trang |
| 6 | Hon Kho | South-centre (Quy Nhon) | Clear water, rocks, quiet beaches | Boat from Nhon Hai |
| 7 | Phu Quy | South-centre | Remote beaches, fishing life | Boat from Phan Thiet |
| 8 | Phu Quoc | South (An Giang) | Resorts, beaches, theme parks | Direct flights from India |
| 9 | Ly Son | Centre (Quang Ngai) | Volcanic landscapes, garlic fields | Speedboat from Sa Ky port |
| 10 | Con Dao Islands | South (Ho Chi Minh City) | Untouched nature, turtles | Flight from Ho Chi Minh City |
Several provinces merged on 1 July 2025, so some islands now belong to new provinces or cities, shown in brackets.
Cat Ba Island
Cat Ba is the largest island in the Ha Long Bay area, in Hai Phong, with a national park of limestone hills and jungle and the calm waters of Lan Ha Bay, part of the Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2023. It is the best island in northern Vietnam for kayaking, hiking and boat trips among limestone karsts.
Visitors explore Cat Ba by motorbike or bicycle, passing fishing villages, caves and fields, and the national park has trails to viewpoints over the forest. Cat Ba town has hotels for every budget and is the base for Lan Ha Bay cruises.
Co To Island
Co To is a quiet island group in Quang Ninh, made up of about 50 large and small islands, reached by a 1–1.5 hour speedboat from Van Don, known for its wild beaches, sea cliffs, lighthouse and fresh seafood. It is 1 of the least developed islands in the north, with homestays and small resorts.
Visitors walk to the lighthouse, cycle the coast road and relax on beaches such as Hong Van and Van Chay. The island is best from April to September, as boats can stop in strong winds in winter.
Cham Island
The Cham Islands (Cu Lao Cham) are a group of 8 small islands about 15–20 km off Hoi An, a protected marine area reached by a 30-minute speedboat from Cua Dai, popular for snorkelling, beaches and day trips. The islands are part of a UNESCO biosphere reserve, with coral reefs and a small fishing village on the main island.
The best months are March to September, when the sea is calm; from about October to January, boats are often suspended because of storms. Most visitors join a day tour from Hoi An or Da Nang with snorkelling and lunch included.
Con Son Island
Con Son is the largest and only densely inhabited island of the Con Dao archipelago, known for its French-era prisons, now historic sites, and for some of the most unspoiled beaches and coral reefs in Vietnam. It is about 1 hour by air from Ho Chi Minh City, and since 1 July 2025 Con Dao has been a special zone of Ho Chi Minh City.
History buffs visit the prison sites and Hang Duong Cemetery, while nature lovers swim, snorkel and dive from quiet beaches such as Dam Trau. Island-hopping trips visit the smaller islets and the turtle-nesting beaches of the national park.
Mun Island
Hon Mun is a small island about 10 km off Nha Trang, at the centre of Vietnam’s first marine protected area, with coral reefs, colourful fish and clear water that make it 1 of the best snorkelling and diving spots in the country. It is a stop on most Nha Trang island-hopping tours.
The calmest months for diving are February to September, and dive centres in Nha Trang run trips for beginners and certified divers.
Hon Kho Island
Hon Kho is a small island off Nhon Hai, about 20 km from Quy Nhon, known for its clear turquoise water, granite rocks and quiet beaches, reached by a short boat or basket-boat ride. It is a popular half-day trip from Quy Nhon for swimming, snorkelling and photos.
The best time is March to August, when the sea is calm and the water clearest.
Phu Quy Island
Phu Quy is a remote island about 120 km off Phan Thiet on the south-central coast, reached by a 2.5–3 hour fast boat, with white-sand beaches, clear water, fishing villages and very few foreign visitors. It suits travellers who want an off-the-beaten-path island with cheap seafood and quiet roads.
Boats run less often in rough weather, so a flexible return date is useful.
Phu Quoc Island
Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s largest and most famous island, off the south-west coast near Cambodia, with long white-sand beaches, luxury resorts, the Hon Thom cable car, VinWonders and Vinpearl Safari, and direct flights from India. Since 1 July 2025 it has been a special administrative zone of An Giang province.
Phu Quoc offers sunsets on the west coast, snorkelling around the southern islands such as May Rut Ngoai Island, night markets and resorts for every budget. The island’s sights are ranked in the guide to the places to visit in Phu Quoc, and the best time to visit is November to April.
Ly Son Island
Ly Son is a volcanic island about 30 km off Quang Ngai, reached by a 30–60 minute speedboat from Sa Ky port, known for its green garlic fields, volcanic craters, sea cliffs and the To Vo rock arch. Its beaches are rocky in places, but the viewpoints and coastal scenery are dramatic.
Ly Son is best from March to August, and its temples, local seafood and budget guesthouses make it a good 2-day trip.
Con Dao Islands
The Con Dao Islands are an archipelago of 16 islands off the south coast, most of them uninhabited and protected as a national park, with untouched coral reefs, sea-turtle nesting beaches and quiet coastal roads. They are reached by a 1-hour flight from Ho Chi Minh City or by boat from Vung Tau.
The best months are March to September for calm seas and diving, and turtle nesting can be seen from about May to October on the protected islands. The archipelago’s beaches, history sites and hotels are covered in the guide to Con Dao Island, and its reefs feature in the guide to scuba diving in Vietnam.
How to Choose an Island in Vietnam
The best island in Vietnam depends on the trip: Phu Quoc for resorts and families, Con Dao for nature and diving, Cat Ba and Co To for the north, and the Cham Islands, Hon Mun and Hon Kho as easy day trips from Hoi An, Nha Trang and Quy Nhon. The island’s region also decides the best months: the south is best from November to April, and the central and northern islands from about March to September.
The northern islands each have their own guide, from Cat Ba Island to Co To Island, while day trips from Hoi An are covered in the guide to the Cham Islands and snorkelling near Nha Trang in the guide to Hon Mun Island. Travellers adding Hon Kho can compare where to stay in Quy Nhon.
Plan an Island Holiday in Vietnam
The islands in Vietnam range from resort islands like Phu Quoc to wild, quiet islands like Co To and Con Dao, and the best plan matches the island to the season and to how far you want to travel. Phu Quoc is the easiest for Indian travellers, with direct flights, while the other islands combine with a mainland city such as Hanoi, Hoi An or Ho Chi Minh City.
Vietnamtour.in has planned Vietnam trips for more than 428,000 Indian travellers since 2015. Island lovers can compare the Phu Quoc tour package options and the Vietnam beach holidays, couples the Vietnam tour package for couples, and travellers planning a longer route the Vietnam tourism packages from India. To plan your island holiday, share the travel dates, group size and departure city in the form below, and a Vietnamtour.in expert will match you with the most beautiful islands in Vietnam for your season.
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