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If you're someone who enjoys solo journeys, exploring new lands, and cherishes tranquil environments to experience a laid-back life amidst serene natural landscapes without the hustle and bustle of urban life, then plan a trip to Hon Dau Island, a relatively secluded tourist destination of Hai Phong. Here, travelers will have the opportunity to leisurely enjoy moments as they wish and experience breathtaking natural scenery or architectural landmarks intertwined with the ups and downs of history.
What's interesting about traveling to Hon Dau Island, Hai Phong
Hon Dau Island, Hai Phong is an island located in the Gulf of Tonkin within the Do Son tourist area, favored by many domestic tourists for travel. This is one of the famous tourist spots in Hai Phong likened to a paradise at the edge of the mortal world because of its fairy-like beauty. When traveling to Hon Dau Island, Hai Phong, travelers will enjoy an exciting vacation in the quiet space of intertwining trees amidst the enchanting green of the mountains and the gentle sound of waves lapping against the rocky shore.
Most of Hon Dau Island remains untouched, with dense forests covering almost the entire island. Surrounding the island are large rocky beaches. Travelers can stroll along the paths here to admire the mainly pristine forest consisting mainly of banyan and pine trees, or visit the Nam Hai Dai Vuong temple area, which includes a lighthouse and some other historical relics.
Nam Hai Dai Vuong Temple
Nam Hai Dai Vuong Temple is located right next to the pier. So when visiting Dau Island, visitors should first come to offer incense at the Nam Hai Dai Vuong Temple. This is a temple that has been built for a long time and is therefore very sacred.
Legend has it that anyone who comes to the island and dares to take anything from the island, even a leaf, will be punished by the deity and must return it to find peace. For this reason, over hundreds of years, Hon Dau Island has still retained its majestic beauty. Every year, on the 8th - 9th - 10th of February (lunar calendar), fishermen from the coastal areas of North Vietnam gather on Dau Island to offer rituals, praying for the Nam Hai Dai Vuong deity to bless them with favorable weather, peaceful lives, and abundance.
Hon Dau Lighthouse
Besides the Nam Hai Dai Vuong temple, when visiting Dau Island in Hai Phong, travelers cannot miss the ancient lighthouse on the island. The Hon Dau Lighthouse, built on the highest peak of the island in 1898, is one of Vietnam's century-old lighthouses. Designed by French architects, its mission was to guide ships into Hai Phong port during the years of French colonization in Vietnam.
Also due to the remarkable presence of the lighthouse, intertwined with the historical ups and downs of this Hai Phong land, Hai Phong locals often refer to Hon Dau as the 'Island of Lights'. Today, the lighthouse is used as a historical museum on the island.
The lighthouse is a five-story tower, with the lantern tower in the middle resembling an ancient fortress rising amidst the island. The top of the lighthouse is 140 meters above sea level. When visiting the lighthouse, travelers can climb the 125 spiral steps to reach the top of the tower. Here, they can enjoy the relaxing feeling of welcoming the salty sea breeze and gaze out to see the vastness of the Hai Phong sea, experiencing the immense expanse of the ocean and sky.
Some Tips for Traveling to Dau Island
When joining a budget tour to Dau Island in Hai Phong, travelers will marvel at the landscapes on the island, leaving them astonished. Although there are no smooth white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, Dau Island remains a sought-after destination for travelers to immerse themselves in pristine nature and spiritual realms that warm the heart. Some essential tips that travelers should note before planning their trip to Dau Island are:
To reach Dau Island, travelers must travel to Nghieng Pier, Do Son, located about 20km from Hai Phong City. Here, travelers can rent a boat to Dau Island for approximately 100,000 VND round trip.
Currently, on the island, there is only the Dau Lighthouse management area that provides services for overnight stays on the island at a relatively cheap rental price ranging from 200,000 to 300,000 VND per night, so travelers do not need to worry about where to stay if they want to stay on the island.
On Hon Dau Island, there are no luxurious dining services for overnight visitors such as restaurants or eateries. Therefore, when traveling to Dau Island, visitors need to prepare their own food before going to the island. Based on the experience of those who have been to Dau Island, it is recommended to bring along light snacks such as fruits, pastries, drinks, etc., to organize a BBQ with grilled food amidst the vast sea and forest or set up camp, picnic amidst the natural surroundings of Dau Island to feel the free atmosphere of the sea and island.
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