Discover Geoje Island – the Newest Travel Destination in South Korea for Vietnamese Travelers

Oedo-Botania Paradise Garden, located on Geoje Island, was once featured in the movie 'Winter Sonata'.

Geoje Island – A New South Korean Travel Destination for Vietnamese Tourists

Most Vietnamese travelers choose to visit South Korea in autumn, winter, or spring to admire the beauty of golden leaves, snowy landscapes, or cherry blossoms. However, during peak seasons, tourists may encounter crowded attractions. If you plan to explore South Korea this summer, instead of the bustling capital Seoul, the city of Busan, or Jeju Island, consider the islands in the south, including Geoje Island, for a peaceful vacation.

Geojedo or Geoje Island is the main island of Geoje city, located on the southern coast of Gyeongsangnam Province. It is the second-largest island in South Korea, after Jeju. With an area of 382.44 km², Geoje Island consists of numerous large and small islands with turquoise coastlines and picturesque scenery. Geoje is connected to Busan by an 8.2 km-long bridge and an underwater tunnel, making transportation convenient.

If you only have 1-2 days to explore Geoje, visitors should consider visiting the following destinations recommended by the Korea Tourism Organization:

Hakdong Mongdol Beach

Known for its unique feature of a 1.2 km-long stretch of pebbles instead of white sand, Hakdong Mongdol Beach is often referred to as the black pearl beach due to its resemblance to precious black pearls. It is the largest pebble beach in ginseng country. Domestic tourists typically visit this spot in summer, especially on weekends, for relaxation and family bonding.

At Hakdong Mongdol, it's common to see couples strolling hand in hand along the coastline, young people skipping pebbles, or families joyfully building stone castles with their children. They often bring thin mats to lie on the pebble beach, sunbathe, listen to the gentle lapping of waves, or admire the sunset. Many young people even camp overnight to wake up to the first rays of sunlight.

In mid-February, Hakdong Mongdol becomes even more beautiful and romantic as wild camellias bloom along the coastline. From June to September, visitors may spot fairy pittas. Besides underwater activities, tourists also have the opportunity to savor delicious seafood, especially freshly sliced fish at restaurants around Hakdong Mongdol.

Windy Hill

This destination is a must-visit for tourists exploring Geoje. Seen from Dojangpo Port, the giant windmill atop the hill serves as a landmark for identifying Windy Hill. Upon reaching the hilltop, visitors will be mesmerized as if gazing at a peaceful painting with a vast expanse of grass and the deep blue sea in the distance. Named 'Windy Hill' for its refreshing breezes that dispel the summer heat, this place offers a tranquil retreat. In spring, the surrounding tea flower forest blooms vibrantly. From any spot on the hill, visitors can capture delightful photographs.

In recent years, Windy Hill has gained popularity among foreign tourists after being featured in famous Korean dramas such as Eve’s Garden (2003, SBS) and Merry-Go-Round (2004, MBC). It has also been a filming location for the reality show 1 Night 2 Days (KBS).

Oedo-Botania Botanical Garden

For fans of the Winter Sonata drama, the Oedo-Botania Botanical Garden is a fascinating experience as it was the setting for the final reunion scene of actors Bae Yong Joon and Choi Ji Woo. The charming white villa nestled against the mountain is also the house depicted in the film inhabited by Bae Yong Joon's character.

Oedo-Botania is located within the Hallyeo Maritime National Park, offering breathtaking views of the crystal-clear sea. It is about 4km from Geoje Island. To reach this paradise garden in the middle of the sea, visitors take a 20-minute boat ride from Gujora Port.

Stepping into Oedo-Botania, visitors are immersed in a 132km² botanical paradise boasting over 3,000 plant species, including 50 species of cactus, American agaves, and hundreds of rare flowers from around the world. This Mediterranean-style garden was not created by chance. In 1969, Mr. Lee Chang-ho first came to the island to seek shelter from strong winds and waves while fishing. Over the next 30 years, he and his wife meticulously built and transformed the uninhabited island into a heavenly garden with stunning landscapes as seen today.

Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, visitors to Oedo-Botania feel like they are living slowly amidst nature and amidst stone sculptures, red-tiled villas, and Roman-style columns. Everyone strolls slowly along the 1.3 km-long trail to breathe in the fresh air and explore the various themed plant species. Visitors particularly enjoy the pathway named “Stairway to Heaven,” reminiscent of the Western Venus Garden, with meticulously pruned retinispora trees.

Haekumkang Island

While traveling by boat to the Oedo-Botania Botanical Garden, tourists have the opportunity to admire another natural beauty of Geoje, which is the rocky island and natural caves of Haekumkang. It is considered the second famous scenic spot in Geoje and has been an ecological conservation area since 1971.

Haekumkang features majestic rock formations, intriguing shapes, sculpted by the sea waves and time. Amidst the towering cliffs is the Cross Rock Cave with randomly stacked stones forming a cross shape, regarded by Koreans as a 'masterpiece of nature'.

Geoje Island Historic Park

In the early 1950s, Geoje was a place where about 170,000 prisoners of war were held during the Korean War, including North Koreans and over 20,000 Chinese. The prison camp closed in 1953 and was later transformed into a historic park in 1997.

The park exhibits numerous war artifacts scaled equivalent to the originals for people to visit and learn more about the country's history. Realistic models of prisoner-of-war camps with tents, barbed wire, observation towers, communal living quarters, etc., are also displayed.

This historic park was a filming location for the movie The Last Witness (2011). Visitors can watch a clip of the historical film about the Geoje prisoner-of-war camp to better understand the intensity of South Korea's past wars.

Note: Vietnamese tourists can choose Vietnam Airlines flights to Busan city, then travel by car to Geoje Island. There are no trains in Geoje, so tourists must rely on buses to explore famous attractions such as Hakdong Mongdol Beach, Windy Hill, Geoje Island Historic Park, and take a boat to Oedo-Botania Botanical Garden. To avoid any difficulties during the trip, it's essential to research each bus route and ferry terminal before embarking on the Geoje Island tour.

Source: Quynh Nhu/Vnexpress

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Reference: Travel Guide Mytour