Guidance on Transportation from Saigon to Beautiful Islands in Kien Giang

Understanding the price ranges and booking methods for buses and boats will make your journey to the stunning islands in Kien Giang such as Nam Du, Ba Lua, Hai Tac, Hon Son, Phu Quoc as easy as pie.

Guidance on Transportation from Saigon to Beautiful Islands in Kien Giang

Transportation to Hon Son Island

Hon Son Island, also known as Hon Son Rai (because there used to be many rays here), belongs to Lai Son commune, Kien Hai district, Kien Giang province. Hon Son Island is situated between Nam Du Island and Hon Tre Island, considered one of the most pristine and charming islands in Vietnam.

There are two ferry trips from Rach Gia to Hon Son every day, departing at 8:15 AM. If traveling from Ho Chi Minh City, it's recommended to book the midnight bus departing at 12:00 AM, arriving at Rach Gia bus station around 6:00 AM. Take a transfer bus to the ferry terminal, which takes about 30 minutes. Upon reaching the ferry terminal, purchase tickets, then explore the area for breakfast and relaxation before boarding. This way, you save on hotel costs and don't compromise on sleep. If you're staying elsewhere, make sure to arrive at the ferry terminal at least an hour before the scheduled departure.

It's advisable to call the ferry company in advance to book tickets. You can consider contacting ferry companies like Ngoc Thanh, Duc Trung, Thanh Tu, etc., to make reservations.

1. Thanh Tu Ferry

• Route: 1 trip per day

• Duration: approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes

• Ticket office/phone: 0773.868619

The earliest ferry departs around 8:15 AM, but it's recommended to arrive at the ferry terminal earlier. During peak times, the ferry may depart earlier than scheduled once it reaches full capacity. Tickets cost 90,000 VND and can be purchased at the terminal or onboard while waiting. Payment is made during ticket checks.

2. Duc Trung Ferry

• 1 trip per day

• Duration: approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes

• Ticket office/phone: 0773.254256

Departs around 8:30 AM, with a capacity similar to Thanh Tu Ferry. Ticket price is 90,000 VND.

3. Ngoc Thanh Ferry

This is a high-speed boat with a ticket price of 140,000 VND, taking approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Ngoc Thanh contact: 0773691888

4. Superdong: 0773877742

Transportation to Bà Lụa Archipelago

Bà Lụa Archipelago (also known as Bình Trị) with over 40 islands lies in the sea of Kiên Lương district, Kiên Giang. Bà Lụa Archipelago remains relatively untouched with fewer strong winds and waves, making it a sought-after destination for exploration and experiences. Many travelers refer to this archipelago as the 'Little Ha Long' of the South.

From Ho Chi Minh City, to reach Bà Lụa Archipelago, you can take a bus to Hà Tiên and then get off at the Ba Hòn intersection (or travel to Hà Tiên and take a taxi or motorbike taxi to Ba Hòn intersection).

Bus companies from Saigon to Hà Tiên:

• Kumho Bus:

Pick up and drop off at Lê Hồng Phong station and Miền Tây bus station (with free shuttle service between these two locations).

Departure times:

* Miền Tây bus station at 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 3:30 PM, 9:00 PM, 10:00 PM.

* Hà Tiên bus station at 7:50 AM, 11:00 AM, 8:20 PM, 9:10 PM, 10:30 PM.

Contact for ticket booking:

Ticket prices: seat: 170,000 VND/ticket, bed: 200,000 VND/ticket

Miền Tây bus station (Ho Chi Minh City): (08) 3752.7878; Lê Hồng Phong station: (08) 3833.8180 – 3833.8190.

In Hà Tiên: (077) 3.95.97.97

• Phương Trang Bus:

Departure times:

* Miền Tây bus station: 7:15 AM, 8:45 AM, 9:45 AM, 6:00 PM, 6:45 PM, 7:15 PM.

* Hà Tiên bus station: 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 8:30 PM, 9:45 PM, 10:30 PM.

Contact for ticket booking:

Ticket prices: Bed: 200,000 VND/ticket

* In Ho Chi Minh City:

– Hotline: 0838.309.309

– Office at 328A Lê Hồng Phong – District 10 – Ho Chi Minh City.

– Office at 260 Lê Hồng Phong – District 5 - Ho Chi Minh City.

– Ticket counters 22, 23, 31 Miền Tây Bus Station – Ho Chi Minh City.

* In Hà Tiên:

– Hotline: (077) 3. 66 88 66

– Office at Hà Tiên Bus Station.

From the Ba Hòn intersection, move towards the Hang Pagoda tourist area. Purchase tickets for the Bà Lụa Archipelago ferry at the pier.

Additionally, you can reach here by motorcycle following the suggested routes below:

Take National Highway 1 through the Mỹ Thuận Bridge, then continue on QL80 to Rạch Giá and down to Ba Hòn Đầm (from here, take the ferry to the islands of Bà Lụa).

Take National Highway 1 to the An Hữu crossroad, turn right towards TP. Cao Lãnh –> Hồng Ngự –> Tân Châu –> Châu Đốc –> Tịnh Biên (follow N1) –> Hà Tiên –> Ba Hòn (or you can also take the N2 route Châu Đốc –> Tri Tôn (follow N2) –> Kiên Lương –> Ba Hòn.)

Means of transport to Nam Du Archipelago

To reach the Nam Du Archipelago, you need to go to Rạch Giá – Kiên Giang. The most convenient means of transportation is a bus departing from the Western Bus Station, costing around 150,000 – 170,000 VND per ticket. It is advisable to take the 23:00 trip to arrive in Rạch Giá at 6:00 the next morning.

To continue the journey to Nam Du, take a high-speed boat, round-trip ticket priced at approximately 440,000 VND per person. If the sea is rough with a level 6 or higher, the boat will not operate.

Explore some ferry companies from Rạch Giá to Nam Du Archipelago

• Ngọc Thành (High-speed boat)

Schedule: Rạch Giá – Nam Du

Departure times: Rạch Giá at 8:15 AM and Nam Du at 12:15 PM

Travel time: 2 hours

Ngọc Thành: 0773691888

• Hồ Hải (Regular boat)

Schedule: Rạch Giá – Nam Du

Departure times: Rạch Giá at 9 AM and Nam Du at 10 AM

Travel time: 5 hours

Phone: 077 3863019

If you catch the 8:15 AM boat, it will arrive at Hòn Lớn in the Nam Du archipelago around 11 AM.

Superdong

Schedule: Rạch Giá – Nam Du

Departure times: Rạch Giá at 7:20 AM and Nam Du at 10:15 AM

Travel time: 2 hours

Phone: 0919664660

Transportation to Pirate Island

Pirate Island in Kiên Giang is considered an intriguing destination from its very name. In reality, it's an archipelago of 16 islands, with the largest being Hòn Tre (Hòn Đốc), located in Tiên Hải commune, Hà Tiên district. It is about 28 km from the coast of Hà Tiên and 40 km from Phú Quốc Island.

The only way to get to Pirate Island is to buy tickets at the Hà Tiên pier.

On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, there are 2 boat trips from Hà Tiên to Pirate Island and 2 return trips from the island to Hà Tiên, departing at 9 AM and returning at 2:30 PM. On regular days, there is only one boat trip each day at 9 AM from Hà Tiên and 2:30 PM from Pirate Island. Therefore, plan your time accordingly. It's advisable to call the Hà Tiên pier in advance for information.

Arrive 30 minutes early to buy tickets, priced from 40,000 VND/one-way. If you bring a motorbike, an additional 30,000 VND per bike is charged. The boat trip from Hà Tiên takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, arriving at Nam Beach on Pirate Island.

Contact for ticket booking: 98 Cách Mạng Tháng 8, P.Tô Châu, Thị xã Hà Tiên, Kiên Giang (200m from the pier)

Phone: (077.3)60 65 69 or the new area code (0297.3)60 65 69

Transportation to Phu Quoc Island

Phu Quoc is a beautiful archipelago deep in the Gulf of Thailand, belonging to Kien Giang province. Located in the southern waters of the motherland, Ngoc Phu Quoc Island is the largest island in Vietnam and also the largest in the group of 22 islands here. Crystal-clear sea, peaceful streams, and unique seafood are the excellent advantages of Phu Quoc tourism.

Transportation to Phu Quoc is mainly by plane, high-speed boat, or ferry. Below are the options to get to Phu Quoc depending on different departure points:

Hanoi – Phu Quoc: Vietnam Airlines operates one daily Airbus flight from Hanoi to Phu Quoc departing at 8:40 AM and arriving at 10:45 AM. The return flight departs from Phu Quoc at 11:35 AM and arrives at 1:40 PM.

Ho Chi Minh City – Phu Quoc: Approximately 500 km away, you can travel by plane or a combination of car + high-speed boat from Rach Gia to Phu Quoc.

– Airplane: Vietnam Airlines operates 17 daily flights with ATR aircraft and 1 flight with Airbus. Viet Jet Air also operates 1 daily flight with Airbus. The flight time is 50 minutes.

– Car + High-speed boat from Rach Gia to Phu Quoc: Phuong Trang, Kumho, and Mai Linh are high-quality bus companies specializing in passenger transport on the HCMC – Rach Gia route and vice versa, with a travel time of 6 to 7 hours depending on traffic density.

Can Tho – Phu Quoc: You can travel by plane or combine car + high-speed boat from Rach Gia to Phu Quoc.

– Airplane: Vietnam Airlines operates 1 daily flight with ATR aircraft departing from Can Tho to Phu Quoc at 1:00 PM and arriving at 1:45 PM. The return flight departs from Phu Quoc at 11:35 AM and arrives at 12:20 PM.

– Car + High-speed boat from Rach Gia to Phu Quoc: Phuong Trang and Mai Linh are 2 high-quality bus companies specializing in passenger transport on the Can Tho – Rach Gia route and vice versa, with a travel time of 3 to 3.5 hours depending on traffic density.

• From the airport to Duong Dong Center/Dinh Cau area by taxi takes about 20 minutes. Phu Quoc has 2 largest taxi companies, SASCO and Mai Linh, both operate on meters, ensuring safety and convenience for tourists.

Rach Gia – Phu Quoc: The distance is approximately 120 km, and you can travel by airplane or high-speed boat:

– Airplane: Vietnam Airlines operates 1 daily flight from Rach Gia to Phu Quoc departing at 7:30 AM and arriving at 8:10 AM. The return flight departs from Phu Quoc at 8:45 AM and arrives at 9:25 AM.

Overland route from HCMC to Rach Gia:

• From the passenger pick-up point on Le Hong Phong Street, District 10, there are buses:

– Mai Linh. Phone: 08 39292929

– Phuong Trang. Phone: 08 3833 3468

Or, if departing from the Mien Tay bus station, there are Kumho Samco, Ba Dung, Tuyet Hon, and Chau Ha buses.

• The bus will arrive at the Rach Gia bus station (Kien Giang). The ticket price is around 120,000 – 150,000 VND per one-way ticket, and the travel time is approximately 6-7 hours.

• It's advisable to buy a ticket for a 45-seat bus, providing a comfortable sleep. To save time, choose a bus departing around 10 PM, arriving in Kien Giang at 5 AM. Before getting off the bus, ask the driver for the location of the shuttle bus to board without additional charges. Don't get caught by motorcycle taxis; head straight for the shuttle bus. Upon boarding, inform the driver that you want to go to the pier for the Phu Quoc ferry.

– High-speed boat: Superdong operates sea routes from Rach Gia to Phu Quoc and vice versa. Morning departures at 8:00 AM, and afternoon departures at 1:00 PM, with a sea travel time of 2.5 hours.

• Superdong Ferry: Address: 14 Tự Do Street; Vinh Thanh; Rach Gia. Phone: 077 877742 – 077 877 741.

HCMC – Ha Tien – Phu Quoc: Approximately 45 km, you can travel by high-speed boat or ferry.

Road trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Ha Tien: Saigon to Ha Tien buses include:

Phuong Trang Bus: ticket price 170,000 VND.

Departure times:

* Mien Tay bus station: 7:15 AM, 8:45 AM, 9:45 AM, 6:00 PM, 6:45 PM, 7:15 PM.

* Ha Tien bus station: 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 8:30 PM, 9:45 PM, 10:30 PM.

* In Ho Chi Minh City:

– Hotline: 0838.309.309

– Office at 328A Le Hong Phong – District 10 – Ho Chi Minh City

– Office at 260 Le Hong Phong – District 5 – Ho Chi Minh City.

– Ticket counters 22,23, 31 Mien Tay Bus Station – Ho Chi Minh City

Kumho Bus: ticket price 190,000 VND.

* Route from Ha Tien to Ho Chi Minh City

– Departure times: 07:50, 11:00, 13:00, 20:20, 21:10, 22:30. Phone for ticket booking: 077.3.959797 – 077.3.959696

* Route from Ho Chi Minh City to Ha Tien

– Departure times: 09:30, 11:00, 15:30, 20:30, 21:30, 23:00. Phone for ticket booking: 08.3.7527878 – 08.3.9225112 – 08.3.9225113

Tuan Nga Bus: ticket price: 165,000 VND/ticket

* In Ho Chi Minh City:

– Hotline: 0946 79 00 55 – 0962 57 11 99

– Office at 7 Pham Huu Chi – Ward 12 – District 5 – Ho Chi Minh City.

– Ticket counter at Mien Tay Bus Station – Ho Chi Minh City.

* In Ha Tien:

– Hotline: 0773. 95 45 45 – 0969 19 11 77

– Office at Ha Tien Bus Station.

– Ferry: Departure from Thanh Thoi Ferry Terminal (Ha Tien), stopping at Da Chong Port (Bai Thom, Phu Quoc). The ferry has a large capacity and can carry various types of cars. The ferry journey takes a little over 2 hours. From Da Chong Port to the center of Duong Dong town is about 20km; you can take a local ferry or motorbike taxi (taxis are a bit challenging to find in this area).

– High-speed boat: Superdong I and Superdong II depart from Ha Tien to Phu Quoc at 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM; from Phu Quoc to Ha Tien at 8:30 AM and 1:30 PM daily. The high-speed boat Hong Tam also operates on this sea route, departing from Ha Tien to Phu Quoc at 1:30 PM and from Phu Quoc to Ha Tien at 8:30 AM daily. The sea journey takes 1 hour and 20 minutes. Some boats for you to choose from:

 Tieu Lam (compiled)

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Reference: Travel guide Mytour