Ly Son Island
Ly Son island is a district of Quang Ngai Province in Central Vietnam with 10km2 area of land and the population is around 20,000. It lies about 30 km off the coast. Ly Son was a five-calderaed volcano, as early as 25-30 million years ago. Everywhere on this island, from twisted cliffs weaved together to black rocks that divide fields there are indications of volcanic activities. The landscape is dramatic and stunning due to its extinct volcanoes whose short treks offer spectacular views.
Lon Island, Be Island and Mu Cu Islet make up Ly Son. Cu Lao Re or Lon Island is the middle part of this island. An Binh Island’s beach or Be Island would take your breath away. The smallest and least inhabited one among them is Mu Cu Islet situated at the east end of Lon.
Normally warm weather prevails throughout the year on Ly Son but occasionally there may be torrential rains and storms; however there are two seasons which include dry season (March through August) and rainy season (August-March) (September – February). From June to September when it is hot sunny and humid it would be perfect for water sports such as swimming, scuba diving and snorkeling in Ly Son island’s waters when it becomes nice for tourists to practice these activities. It will be warm enough for harvesting garlic during December through February hence making it an ideal period to spend time in the field since they have temparate climate.
Five dormant volcanoes sit within Ly Son (though scientists believe there are dozens more in the area—some beneath the sea). They were known as Wood (Hon Soi), Fire (Gieng Tien), Earth (Hon Vung), Metal (Hon Tai), and Water respectively by ancient peoples living here (Thoi Loi). Among other characteristic features tuff rings can be found on Thoi Loi and Gieng Tien, scoria cones on Hon Soi and Hon Vung, as well as a lava-rich slag cone (Hon Tai).
It is nothing short of breathtaking for visitors. Imagine rock structures twisted bizarrely out of shape. There are also solid volcanic cliffs that display traces and configurations of red magma’s former movements. Icy clean beaches in front of jagged black rocks along with sparkling water provide the perfect background. Some rocks such as the “beach rocks” are only found on Ly Sony.
Furthermore, an encircling ring of reefs surrounds the island. It contains plenty of aquatic life as well as some fossilized coral formation complexesis known to have existed there too. A ‘cemetery’ of huge ‘mill corals’ which have no counterparts elsewhere along Vietnam’s shoreline was discovered by scientists here. Snorkel in Ly Son because it has some of the purest waters in Vietnam.
Ly Son Island - Introduction
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Ly Son Island Travel Guide
Best Time To Visit Ly Son Island
Because of Nha Trang’s pleasant and warm climate, it can be visited at any time of year. Usually in May, summer starts with sunshine and warm weather making it more appropriate for natural tourism such as eco-tourism, ocean tourism and water sports; other months are good for tourists to visit cultural and historical sites such as Ponagar temple tower, Bao Dai king villa, Vinpearl and the Nha Trang aquarium.
In southern Vietnam almost all the area becomes water due to monsoon winds during half of the year but Nha Trang has only four “wet months” from September to mid-December yet a reason to think about a trip to Nha Trang. For the first eight months of the year this seaside town enjoys great weather so January through August is a good time to start your vacation on Nha Trang.
How To Travel To Ly Son Island
Getting to Ly Son Island is a bit tough and complicated, as multiple modes of transportation are required. There is no direct route to the island from Sa Ky Port other than by ferry or speedboat.
Therefore, you must first arrive in Sa Ky Port, where you can purchase speedboat tickets. Tickets should be purchased in advance to guarantee a seat during the busiest season (June – September).
The fare for the Sa Ky – Ly Son route is 178,000 VND per person and 160,000 VND per passenger for the return trip. It takes about 35 and 40 minutes. A speedboat can hold approximately 70 to 80 passengers.
Depending on the waves, the speedboat ride is fairly fast and a bit bumpy and choppy. If you are prone to seasickness, be careful to take motion sickness medication before boarding.
How To Travel Around Ly Son Island
Since Ly Son Island is very small, renting a motorcycle is the ideal method to explore it. The daily cost is between 100,000 and 150,000 VND. Additionally, there are a few taxis on the island. Choose this option if you are traveling with children.
Ly Son is a pretty small island and can be easily traversed by rented motorbike, bicycle, taxi or electric bus. The dimensions of the island are roughly 6km from east to west, and 2km from north to south, so the distances are very small. Despite its size, Ly Son has plenty of roads leading to most corners of the island.
The northwest coast is the only area that isn’t really reachable by road. Everywhere else on the island has a narrow paved lane or dirt path to it. However, some of these roads (especially the ones leading up to the volcanic peaks) are controlled by the military, and therefore off limits.
Attractions & Things To See
When touring Ly Son Island, the first stop is always to Thoi Loi. The road from the foothill to the summit of the mountain is somewhat zigzag and windy, therefore tourists frequently rent electric vehicles to go there. However, some visitors choose to ride motorbikes so that they can stop along the ascent to take panoramic photographs of the entire island.
Around the mountain are numerous scenic locations, including as the Lighthouse, Hang Pagoda, and the National Flagpole… After traversing a difficult pass to reach the summit of the mountain, the tourists will be astonished by the breathtaking view of the surrounding natural surroundings.
From above, the sea and sky appear to merge, creating a magnificent paradise on Earth. On top of the mountain lies a freshwater lake, which you can use to rinse your face and hands of perspiration.
