Everything you need to know before traveling to Binh Ba

Binh Ba is currently a highly sought-after destination. Those who have been cannot stop praising it, while those who haven't are eager to learn from the experiences of others.

Below are some valuable insights that Mytour has compiled for a smooth trip to Binh Ba Island!

Introduction to Binh Ba Island

Binh Ba is a small island, covering an area of over 3km2, located in Cam Binh commune, Cam Ranh city, Khanh Hoa province. It is 60 km from Nha Trang and about 390 km from Ho Chi Minh City. To reach Binh Ba, one must go to Ba Ngoi port. Ba Ngoi port is 15km from Cam Ranh airport, and Binh Ba is also 15km from Ba Ngoi port.

Previously, Binh Ba was a military island, restricting civilian access. Now, the regulations have been relaxed, but foreigners are still prohibited. This is also why Binh Ba Island has become famous! Additionally, if you don't want to be expelled from the island early, you should also avoid curiosity about military-restricted areas or engaging in disruptive or aggressive behavior.

As Binh Ba is under strict military management, it remains relatively untouched, with nature still retaining its raw beauty, untouched by human destruction. However, with the increasing number of visitors to Binh Ba, the infrastructure has not kept pace with the influx of tourists, resulting in the environment on the island not being as pristine as it once was.

When is the Best Time to Visit Binh Ba?

You can visit Binh Ba at any time, but ideally, it's best to go from March to September. Additionally, you should try to visit Binh Ba on weekdays because during holidays and festivals, the number of tourists flocking here is extremely high, making it difficult for you to fully enjoy the beauty of the island. Moreover, to avoid rushing, you should plan to spend at least 2 days on the island.

Means of Transportation

There are 3 ways to travel to Binh Ba: by plane, car, and motorbike.

By plane: There are numerous daily flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang. As soon as you land, there will be a long line of taxis waiting at Cam Ranh airport to take you to Ba Ngòi port. With just 15km distance, it takes a little over half an hour to reach your destination.

Note: You must time your flight and ferry schedules properly to avoid waiting endlessly at the port.

Vietnam Airlines

– Southern Region Office Tan Son Nhat International Airport

49 Truong Son, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City.

Tel: (84.8) 8446667 Fax: (84.8) 8485312 Sita : SGNAVVN

Email: [email protected]

– Reservation center via phone in Southern Region: 08-8320320

Jetstar Pacific Airline Ho Chi Minh City: (Opening hours: From 07:30 to 18:00)

– Ticket office, No. 01 Me Linh Square, District 1 (84-8) 8.258.101 (84-8) 8.258.102
– Ticket office, No. 4 Truong Son Street, Tan Binh District (84-8) 8.442.705 (84-8) 8.486.256
– Ticket office, No. 177 Vo Thi Sau Street, District 3 (84-8) 2.907.349 (84-8) 9.325.980

VietJetAir Ho Chi Minh City

– Tan Son Nhat International Airport
Tel: +84 (8) 3 547 4174
Fax: +84 (8) 3 848 9343

– VietJetAir Truong Son

Address: 2C Truong Son/48 Phan Dinh Giot, Ward 2, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City

Tel: 08 38 454 640
Fax: 08 38 454 643
Opening hours: 07:00 – Closing time: 21:00 (Open until 19:00 on Sundays and holidays)

– VietJetAir Nguyen Kiem

Address: 35 Nguyen Kiem, Ward 3, Go Vap District
Tel: 1900 1774
Fax: +84 (8) 6 266 7667
Opening hours: 7:30 – Closing time: 21:30 (Open until 18:00 on Sundays and holidays)

Car: High-quality vehicles, tour buses.

PHUONG TRANG

– In Cam Ranh: Address: Lot No. 0, Le Duan Street, Cam Loc, Cam Ranh (near Cam Ranh Bus Station).
Phone: Cam Ranh – (058) 626 0263

– In Nha Trang: Phone: 0583. 524.315
– In Ho Chi Minh City: Phone: (08) 38.375.570
Address: 272 De Tham, District 1. Phone: (08) 38.333.468
Address: 328A Le Hong Phong, District 10.

HA LINH

-In Cam Ranh: Address: 114 Hung Vuong Boulevard, Ba Ngoi, Cam Ranh.
Phone: Cam Ranh – 058. 626 0056
– In Nha Trang: Address: 14B Tran Hung Dao, Nha Trang City
– In Saigon: Phone: 08 350 75 345

PHUONG NAM

– Running Saigon – Cam Ranh – Nha Trang route:
+ Departure and return at Pham Ngu Lao Western Quarter.
+ Departures from Saigon and Nha Trang are both 8pm-9pm.
+ Sleeper buses.
– Transaction points:
+ Saigon: 275F Pham Ngu Lao. Tel: (08) 66540386
201 Pham Ngu Lao. Tel: (08) 66570386
+ Nha Trang: No. 3 Nguyen Chanh. Tel: (058) 6507677-625.8322
Suoi Tan, Cam Lam (058) 374 335
Cam Hoa, Cam Lam, QL1 (058) 386 3662
Bai Gieng 1, Cam Duc, Cam Lam, QL1. Tel: (058) 6284755
Town, Cam Duc, Cam Lam, QL1. Tel: (058) 3859267
Cam Thanh Bac, Cam Lam, QL1. Tel: (058) 3859752 – 2242290.
Cau Bac, Cam Thanh Bac, Cam Lam, QL1. Tel: (058) 3895376
44B QL1 Cam Ranh. Tel: (058) 3854232

HOA THUAN ANH

– Saigon – Cam Ranh – Nha Trang Route.
+ Saigon: Departure and return at 258A Le Hong Phong.
+ Running hours: Saigon: 20:30, Cam Ranh: 21:30, Nha Trang: 20:30.
– Can Tho – Nha Trang route departs from Can Tho on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 4:30 PM. New 36-seat high-quality sleeper buses.
– Contact addresses:
+ Saigon: 258A Le Hong Phong. Tel: (08) 62.722.955 – 62.725.001.
Intersection of Thu Duc 748-750 XL Ha Noi, District 9. Tel (08) 37.306.125.
+ Cam Ranh: 95 Hung Vuong. Tel: (058) 3 954 955 – 221 2955.
+ Nha Trang: 1/24 Tran Quang Khai. Tel: (058) 3524 471 – 3522 632.
+ Can Tho: 60 3/2 Street, Hung Loi, Ninh Kieu. Tel: (0710) 3888.688
+ Vinh Long: CoopMark Supermarket. Tel: (070)383 7838.
+ Long Xuyen: CoopMark Supermarket. Tel: (076) 3940011
+ Soc Trang: 5 Phu Loi. Tel: (079) 3614 858
+ Bac Lieu: 158 Hoa Binh, Ward 3. Tel: (0781)395 8555

CUC TUNG

– Running routes: Saigon – Ninh Hoa – Nha Trang – Da Nang; Vung Tau – Nha Trang; and Can Tho – Nha Trang.
– Premium sleeper and high-quality seating buses.
– Nha Trang ticket office: (058) 247.1999 – 625.5666
– Miền Đông bus station ticket office: (08) 3511.6863
– Departures from Miền Đông bus station in the morning and evening every hour (last departure at 10:30 PM).
+ Bus 79B-00001: Departs Saigon at 8:40 PM, arrives in Nha Trang at 9:40 AM. Phone: 0989.305.305
+ Bus 79D-8050: Departs Nha Trang at 10:15 AM, departs Saigon at 9:45 PM. Phone: 0904.447.373 – 0902.006.455.

MINH DUNG

– In Saigon
+ Saigon – Ninh Hoa Route: Departure times at both ends are 8 PM.
+ Saigon – Nha Trang Route: Departure times in Saigon: 9:45 AM, 9:30 PM, 10:30 PM.
– In Nha Trang: 8:30 PM, 9:30 PM.
+ Saigon – Cam Ranh Route: Departure time in Saigon: 1 PM.
In Cam Ranh: 10 PM.
Phone for ticket booking: (08) 35115234. Office (08) 3519.0519 – 37442744

THE SINH TOURIST (Sinh Café) (www.thesinhtourist.vn)

– In Ho Chi Minh City: 246 – 248 De Tham Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City – Phone: (08). 38367338-38376833
– Nha Trang: 90C Hung Vuong Street – Phone: (058).3524.329

MAI LINH (www.mailinh.vn)

– Address: 64 – 68 Hai Ba Trung Street, Ward BN, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Ticket booking: 08.9292929 (Ho Chi Minh City) or Mai Linh's agents
Nha Trang: 20A, Nguyen Thien Thuat Street, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa – Phone: (058).36255.888

Booking at Miền Đông bus station: The price is certainly cheaper than the mentioned bus companies, but the quality is also inferior.

Miền Đông bus station: 292 Dinh Bo Linh Street, Ward 26, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City
Phone: (08) 899 4056; (08) 898 4441; (08) 898 4442; (08) 898 4893
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.benxemiendong.com.vn.

Motorcycle:

Considering the relatively long distance, you should carefully consider your health condition, weather, and the condition of your 'warrior' to avoid unfortunate incidents on the way or arriving exhausted at the destination. From Ho Chi Minh City, ride along National Highway 1A (heading North). Along the way, you will pass through Phan Thiet (Binh Thuan), Phan Rang – Thap Cham (Ninh Thuan)...

It's best to park your motorcycle at Ba Ngoi port, parking lots, or with acquaintances, and then explore the island on foot. First, if you want to bring your motorcycle to the island, you have to rent a private boat. Secondly, the island is small, and you can walk around it in a few circles. However, if you want to explore further corners, you can rent a motorcycle.

Operating hours of boats from Ba Ngoi port to Binh Ba

 From Ba Ngoi port, the only means of transportation to Binh Ba island is by boat.

Boats operate from Ba Ngoi port to Binh Ba daily. Ticket price: 25,000 – 30,000 VND/person (depending on the type of passenger boat).

Boat Schedule:

– From Ba Ngòi to Binh Ba: 7:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 1:30 PM, 4:00 PM.
– From Binh Ba to Ba Ngòi: 5:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 4:30 PM.

If you charter a boat, the departure time is determined by the charterer.
– Contact for chartering boats: 0976.789.186 (Mr. Hau) or 0944.506.371 (forgot the name).

Accommodation

There are plenty of guesthouses on the island, mostly well-equipped. The usual price is 100,000 VND/person on weekdays (prices may double or even triple on weekends). Among the guesthouses, the most famous is Mr. Bay Ho's guesthouse (0983 858 941), located right next to Nom beach, with rooms overlooking the sea, clean, and fully equipped (except for refrigerators).

Ms. Dung's guesthouse at 0972332202, accommodation price is around 70,000 VND/night, meals at 70,000 VND/meal. Ms. Tuyen's guesthouse at 0914.493.793, or Ms. Tuyen's mother's phone number at 0962.466.528. The spacious and cool guesthouse can accommodate about 40 guests, with about 7 bathrooms/ WC.

If you want to save more, don't need many amenities, just need accommodation, you can stay in a homestay, the price is only half of the guesthouse price. In homestays, there is Mrs. Ut Tang's place (0918 948 953). You can ask Mrs. Ut Tang or ask anyone in the Nom beach area to find a whole house. Additionally, there is Mrs. Ngoc Tu, phone number: 0942016958. Spacious, airy, clean, and fully equipped house. Near the market and beaches. Suitable for groups of about 20 tourists. Around 1 million VND/day.

You can contact in advance so that when you get off the boat at the port, someone will pick up your motorcycle and take you to the guesthouse right away. The locals on this island are very relaxed and friendly, you can hop on the back of a motorcycle and then decide whether to stay or go elsewhere without anyone being annoyed or arguing. Moreover, almost everyone will be enthusiastic about guiding you with many interesting things.

Food

Binh Ba is famous for lobster island and fresh seafood, so we must not miss this specialty. You can ask the tour organizer to both take a boat to the beaches and eat on the raft. Here, there are lobster and green shrimp, each type has 2 price levels: boiled lobster prices range from 400,000 to 600,000 VND/kg, live lobster: 1,400,000 VND/kg – 1,800,000 VND/kg. The price of shrimp depends on the day, the season, but it will definitely be cheaper than elsewhere by 30% to 50%.

However, you shouldn't eat too much, save it for dinner. If you want to organize a party combined with karaoke, there will be someone to take care of everything. If you want to 'challenge yourself' a bit, then you should go to the market and organize a seafood buffet for yourself. Around 4 – 5 PM, you should go to the ferry area, walking along there, there will be many places selling seafood.

There are many types of lobsters, shrimp, fish, sea snails, sea cucumbers, abalones, clams, squid,... Ask for prices and choose the most suitable ones for yourself, then ask the shop to prepare them. You can sit and eat right at the shop or ask them to bring it to Nom beach so you can eat while admiring the sea. They will lend you everything from stoves, pots to chopsticks, your job is just to borrow a tarp (ask the guesthouse) and find the most suitable spot, then enjoy eating, singing!

Moreover, there are many eateries selling delicious and cheap dishes such as banh canh/fishcake noodle soup (fried or steamed), grilled meat vermicelli, noodles, pasta, hu tieu (Vietnamese noodle soup), smoothies, grilled rice paper... The prices of these dishes range from 10k to 20k, quite tempting, right? Alternatively, guesthouses will also cook rice for you if requested, but the price for a portion of rice is quite expensive (80k - 90k/portion) compared to the quality and not outstanding.

Every early morning, from around 5:30 to 7:00, there is a market right at the pier. Fishing boats, squid fishing boats will return and many people will sell seafood right there, mainly fish and squid, at quite cheap prices. If you want to buy more types of fish, especially triggerfish, wait until 8:00 in the morning when the fish will come up more. Usually, in the morning before leaving Binh Ba, people will go to the market to buy seafood and pack them to take home. Here, there are already available coolers and the sellers will give you ice and marinate the fish, pack them for you.

Activities

During the day: Beach bathing and coral watching

– A must-do activity when traveling to Binh Ba is to rent a boat to visit the beaches and snorkel to see corals. Usually, the price for a boat trip to all beaches is 1 million - 1.2 million VND/trip depending on the place, so if you go in a group, it will be more economical. Although it's called 'snorkeling to see corals', you don't necessarily have to dive. Just wear a life jacket and lie on a float, put your face down in the sea, and you can see it already, so don't hesitate to try it even if you don't know how to swim! Remember to bring swimming goggles for easier swimming and diving, because wearing unfamiliar goggles for diving can be difficult and uncomfortable.

– Moreover, you can still see corals without getting into the water. Occasionally, at Nha Cu beach when the tide is low, colorful coral reefs will bask in the sun, allowing you to walk and admire, touch, and enjoy them.

– Despite numerous beaches, typically, visiting 7 beaches, among which 3 beaches accessible by motorbike are Nom Beach, Chuong Beach, and Nha Cu Beach. Nom Beach: This is a very wide sandy beach with submerged rocks. Most local people and tourists swim here because the sea is very clean and clear. Chuong Beach: Located about 30 minutes' walk from the port bridge. This is the only beach on the island where you can watch the sunrise. Nha Cu Beach: This beach has many sea urchins, so you may get stung while swimming. However, this beach can be said to be excellent in terms of cleanliness and clarity of the sea water.

– Therefore, if you have plenty of time, you should only rent a boat to visit the remaining 4 beaches, firstly because the boat rental price will decrease (around 600k), secondly because you will have more time to swim and see corals at each location. Remember to request equipment (life jackets, floats, diving goggles) and guides to see corals in the most beautiful spots.

– Additionally, there are also catering services on shared boats with boat rentals (contact the tour organizers at guesthouses near the pier on Binh Ba Island, or ask any local).

Renting a motorbike, exploring the island

– After swimming, coral viewing, the equally exciting part is renting a motorbike to explore the island. The bike rental price is 100k/day, with many places offering bike rentals on the island and all guesthouses providing this service. Start your motorbike trip early in the morning to Chuong Beach to watch the sunrise, then ride to explore all the mountain passes. There are many places that will give you beautiful views, especially the 3 highest points in the North, South, and East directions. You will have the opportunity to observe the panoramic view of Cam Ranh Bay, admire Turtle Island, coast guard patrol boats, small fishing boats, or the overall view of the island's residential area.

– Old relics such as bunkers, artillery bases, mountain-side tunnels... are also worth visiting.

– At Nom Beach, there is a small park area with many trees planted, and nearby, you can rent hammocks. A refreshing nap under the cool shade, swaying to the sound of waves and sea breeze, is truly delightful. The hammock rental price is only 5k each (with a footrest available for 50k each), well worth a try!

Evening:

– The first fun activity you should try in the evening is crab hunting. There are many crabs around the beaches of Binh Ba Island, so you can take a flashlight to hunt crabs at night, which is very enjoyable. Especially, you can enjoy delicious fried crab meat afterwards.
– In the evening, if you're with a group, you can contact Mr. Tung Rau (0969 819 797) to organize a seafood party + karaoke on the beach, which will be fantastic.

– Another interesting activity is to contact local boat owners to go shrimp or squid fishing. Some tour companies also organize this, or you can simply ask any local on the island, and it won't be difficult to find the right place.

To have the most complete experiences when traveling to Binh Ba, don't forget to immediately select from the exciting tour options below!

Binh Ba 2 Days 2 Nights Tour: Explore Cam Ranh Bay 

Binh Ba 2 Days 2 Nights Tour: Binh Ba – Hot Spring Bathing – Resort Stay

Five Peaks 3 Days 3 Nights Tour: Binh Hung – Binh Lap – Binh Chau – Binh Tien – Binh Ba

Linh Dan (Comprehensive)

***

Reference: Travel guide from Mytour