Buzz
Palawan in the Philippines not only boasts azure seas and white sands but also showcases vibrant coral reefs, lush tropical forests, and diverse ecosystems.
A Weeklong Adventure in Palawan for Vietnamese Young Couple
Trần Quang Phú, an office worker from Ho Chi Minh City, recently embarked on a 7-day Palawan exploration with a close friend. Here are Phú's reflections on their journey.
The Philippine archipelago comprises over 7,000 islands, categorized into three geographical regions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Palawan, situated in Luzon, ranks as the fifth-largest island in the Philippines, divided into two main areas: the northern region encompassing the Bacuit archipelago, San Vicente, El Nido, and Taytay, and the southern region comprising Tabon Caves and Brooke’s Point.
The northern half of Palawan showcases typical tropical marine features with its pristine white beaches and rich marine and plant life. However, it's the northern region that garners more attention, particularly El Nido and Taytay islands. Characterized by towering limestone cliffs and a plethora of marine life ranging from tropical fish to coral reefs and sea turtles, these islands are truly a paradise for nature enthusiasts.
Travel Logistics
Since Vietnam doesn't offer direct flights to Palawan, travelers must fly to the capital city, Manila, and then proceed to Palawan. Roundtrip ticket prices from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to Manila range from 3.4 to 4.6 million Vietnamese dong, depending on the timing and airline. From the Philippine capital, you can either take a boat or a direct flight to Palawan, with one-way ticket prices ranging from 1.2 to 1.8 million dong per leg.
For those with extra time and a desire to save money, opting for a detour is possible. After landing in Manila, head to Gate 14 to catch a bus to Clark Airport, with ticket prices around 380 pesos (170,000 dong), before continuing the journey to Palawan.
Itinerary
To save on costs, I chose a 10 p.m. flight, arriving in Manila at 3 a.m. After completing immigration procedures and finding transportation, I started the journey to Clark Airport at 6 a.m. to check-in and catch the next flight to Puerto Princesa Airport in Palawan.
From Puerto Princesa Airport, travelers can take a ferry directly to El Nido, covering a distance of 260 km and taking approximately 4 to 6 hours of travel time.
Below is my 7-day itinerary on the paradise island.
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City – Manila – Puerto Princesa.
Day 2: El Nido – Tour A.
Day 3: El Nido – Tour C.
Day 4: El Nido – Coron.
Day 5: Coron – Ultimate Tour.
Day 6: Coron to Manila.
Day 7: Manila to Ho Chi Minh City.
Firefly Watching in Puerto Princesa
Puerto Princesa Island is renowned for its Tour A, offering activities to explore the underground river priced from 2,000 to 2,200 pesos (around 800,000 to over 980,000 dong). Boat tour for firefly watching costs 1,100 to 1,300 pesos (approximately 500,000 to nearly 600,000 dong). Honda Bay tour is around 1,200 pesos (over 500,000 dong).
The underground river in Puerto Princesa is one of the longest underground rivers globally, stretching over 8.2 km. Having been on the river once, I decided not to go again. Since I didn't plan to stay in Puerto Princesa, I skipped the Honda Bay tour and only went for firefly watching.
This special tour starts after dinner, where tourists are taken to a mangrove forest by wooden boat. Fireflies prefer to feed on nectar, so they gather densely in the mangrove forest, twinkling like Christmas trees. As the boat navigates through the water, you'll witness the shimmering surface caused by these enchanting creatures.
The highlight is the sight of wooden boats rowing into a sky filled with twinkling stars reflected on the water. Firefly watching tours often return late, so you may not make it to El Nido on the same day.
The latest bus from Puerto Princesa to El Nido departs at 10 p.m. I stayed overnight and took an early morning bus to El Nido the next day, with a travel time of about 8 hours, costing around 500 – 600 pesos (approximately 220,000 – 260,000 dong).
Snorkeling to Explore Coral Reefs in El Nido
El Nido offers a variety of tours, the most popular being tours A, B, C, and D regulated by the authorities, each covering 5 destinations. Additionally, there are many private tours for snorkeling or beach hopping for tourists to choose from.
I opted for tours A (450,000 dong) and C (500,000 dong) as they were recommended as the most beautiful. Although the tours are regulated, boat operators may add or remove destinations, so it's best to book with one provider to avoid itinerary overlap. Make sure to inquire about the schedule before purchasing a tour.
The tours typically start early in the morning, with vehicles picking up guests and heading to the beach to board boats to the islands. It's advisable to use waterproof sunscreen, wear a hat, and take motion sickness medication if needed, as the boat rides can be quite lengthy.
For sea tours, guests are provided with snorkeling masks and life jackets but no water shoes (rental price around 20,000 dong per day). Rock climbing tours require a guide to avoid getting lost and ensure visitors don't litter on the island.
Apart from island tours, there are many exciting activities like kayaking, snorkeling to explore coral reefs... The scenery in El Nido is stunning with crystal-clear waters, but regardless of swimming abilities, wearing a life jacket is advisable. Guides in Palawan are very accommodating, so you can ask for assistance if you're not proficient in swimming or diving.
The Philippines is heavily influenced by American culture, so European or American cuisine is quite popular. Here, European dishes like Greek-style meatballs, Italian pizza, or Mexican tacos, tachos, and tortillas are widespread. You can also try local dishes like common rice or seafood, priced around 200 pesos per dish (approximately 90,000 dong).
As for accommodation, on the first night, I stayed at Cliffside Cottages, a 5-minute walk from the beach, with fan-only rooms and mosquitoes. The next day, I moved to Sheryl May Inn, staying on the upper floor, where there were no mosquitoes but the rooms were smaller.
Exploring Shipwreck Bay in Coron
From El Nido, travelers can take a high-speed boat or a plane to Coron. High-speed boats operated by Philmal and Montenegro depart daily in the morning, with a travel time of about 4 hours, costing around 750,000 dong per person.
Tours in Coron are also categorized as Tour A, B with varying levels, priced from 400,000 – 700,000 dong per tour. Opt for premium tour packages to visit more bays, quality boats, and beautiful coral reefs. Visitors on tours in Coron will visit many crystal-clear lakes formed from seawater mixed with freshwater, especially Kayangan Lake.
The waters around Coron are home to about 20 sunken Japanese warships. Travelers can choose additional tours to shipwreck bays for snorkeling and sightseeing. Besides scuba diving, the sudden thrill of seeing a gloomy shipwreck emerge right below while in the middle of the sea is a surprising and exhilarating experience.
Additionally, Coron features the Maquinit hot spring and 743 steps for tourists to climb to the summit of Mount Tapyas and admire the island from a height of 210 meters above sea level. You can also experience shooting tours, priced around 1.2 million dong for 5 types of guns with 50 bullets or visit the deep island zoo, observe fireflies in the evening.
In Coron, I booked a room at Busuanga Seadive Resort. It's a hotel floating amidst the sea, with boats right next to the dining table. Coron Island isn't too large for visitors to experience the peaceful life here.
Some Important Notes
Filipinos use the peso: 100 pesos is equivalent to 44,000 dong.
If you're shopping, don't hesitate to negotiate for half the price.
The 'specialty' of Palawan tourism is diving, so it's advisable to learn swimming before coming here.
A 4G SIM card is essential, you can find free SIM card counters right at the airport. The service packages range from 100 – 300 pesos. During my 7 days here, I used a 100-peso package (equivalent to 44,000 dong), which was comfortable.
When visiting Palawan, opt for tours. Otherwise, you'll have to arrange boats, meals, permits, and routes yourself, which can be very complicated. Tours usually last 1 day, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with pick-up and drop-off directly at your hotel. The tour includes one meal, but it's advisable for tourists to bring some snacks.
Souvenirs in Palawan are not particularly outstanding or sophisticated. You can return to Manila and visit the Kultura area for a wide variety of affordable options.
The Palawan government places great emphasis on environmental protection. Littering, especially plastic, is prohibited.
Source: Quang Phú/ Vnexpress
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Reference: Travel guide Mytour
MytourJune 7, 2019
