Buzz
Must-visit Spots on Ly Son Island
1. Thoi Loi Mountain: Cave Pagoda (base of the mountain) – Hydroelectric Dam (mid-mountain) – Mountain Summit Trail.
Cave Pagoda: Following the asphalt road straight up the mountain, you will reach Cave Pagoda. After approximately 3 kilometers, there is an open space with a few local vendors and tourists. Motorbikes are parked here, and visitors continue on foot down the staircase leading to the temple below. Cave Pagoda, also known as Thien Khong Thach Tu (Heavenly Stone Cave Temple), was originally a large rock cave nestled in the heart of Thoi Loi Mountain. It was formed from prehistoric volcanic basalt. In front of the pagoda, there is a crescent-shaped lotus pond and ancient banyan trees that are hundreds of years old, with peculiar shapes and a statue of the Goddess of Mercy facing the East Sea. From the Goddess statue, descending the steps, you can see large coral reefs blending with the shimmering emerald sea.
Hydroelectric Dam: The road from Cave Pagoda to the hydroelectric dam closely hugs the tall mountain cliffs and is nicely paved with asphalt. About 200 meters into the dirt road leading to the hydroelectric dam, and due to the dry season, the water level in the reservoir is half of normal. Standing on the dam and looking in both directions, one side reveals the vast expanse of the azure sky, while the other side showcases the reservoir nestled in the mountain, highlighting the incredible human achievement in nature transformation.
2. Money Well Mountain: Guanyin Buddha Tower (base of the mountain) – Hollow Pagoda (summit) – Mouth of the ancient volcano
Guanyin Buddha Tower: Unlike the route to Cave Pagoda, there are no directional signs leading to Pagoda Hollow. Just proceed straight until the trail ends at Guanyin Buddha Tower. Right in front of Guanyin Buddha Tower is a wide coral reef terrace spanning about 1 square kilometer with varying depths called the Hollow Beach. The water here is incredibly clear, allowing visibility to the bottom. Even close to the shore, you can spot a few fish, occasionally encountering small schools swimming playfully.
Duc Pagoda: After inquiring, it was revealed that Duc Pagoda is situated on the backside of Money Well Mountain, above Guanyin Buddha Tower. To reach Duc Pagoda, you need to climb over 100 more steps from the statue of Guanyin. From the pagoda, looking in the direction of the Quan The Am statue facing the sea, you can clearly see the majestic ocean scene with boats anchored closely together.
Mouth of the ancient volcano: Remember to climb to the top of Liem Pagoda to witness the mouth of the ancient volcano, now transformed into a green grassy field shaped like a cauldron.
3. Spiritual Temple (on the way to Duc Pagoda), An Hai Village Temple, Truong Sa Fleet Monument (on the way to Cave Pagoda)...
Recommended itinerary
Day 1: Ly Son Island: Ferry Terminal – Cave Pagoda – Hydroelectric Dam – Thoi Loi Summit – Duc Pagoda – Gieng Tien Summit – Spiritual Temple
Day 2: Ly Son Island – Sa Ky Port
– Consider extending your stay by an additional day to take a boat to the small island for snorkeling amidst the coral reefs.
Additional information
1. Accommodation on Ly Son Island:
– Stay at Binh Yen, My Linh, Thuy Thach guesthouses, or Ly Son Hotel right across from the welcome gate. On the island, electricity is available only from 17:00 to 23:00 daily; for the rest of the time, residents use generators.
2. Getting around Ly Son Island:
– You can rent a motorbike at guesthouses. Fuel is available in small bottles throughout the island.
– Traveling from Big Island to Small Island: Boats depart at 8:00 AM and return at 2:00 PM on the same day.
– Tickets for the journey to Ly Son – Sa Ky Port are sold from 6:30 AM across from the welcome gate of Ly Son District.
3. Delicious dishes to try when in Ly Son:
– Ice cream sold on bicycles around the island is delicious and affordable (3,000 VND/piece). The ice cream has a fragrant aroma of milk and coconut.
– Duck vermicelli noodle soup across from Spiritual Temple – Only available from early afternoon until 5:00 PM.
– Various seafood such as sheep snail, moon snail, statue snail, palm snail, and those prepared with garlic. You can enjoy seafood at a seaside eatery: From the ferry bridge, turn left, then after about 200 meters, turn into a small alley on the left (you may ask locals for directions as the eatery is inside a residential house without a specific address). It's recommended to go for dinner around 6:00 PM.
– Sea urchin porridge and various snails at the pass on the way to Cave Pagoda, located 100m from the pagoda. Only available from evening until late night.
– Additionally, you can order guesthouses to cook meals, especially for lunch.
4. Garlic in Ly Son only has one season each year, lasting from October to February of the following year.
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Source: Mytour Travel Handbook – According to Baomoi
Refer to the list of hotels in Quang Ngai
MytourMarch 11, 2016
