Below is a three-day itinerary for visiting Langkawi Island, Kedah State, Malaysia, as suggested by a Vietnamese person with more than 10 years of experience working in tourism in Langkawi.
Langkawi is suitable for Vietnamese tourists who have "traveled too much" and want to immerse themselves in nature on their next trip, away from mass tourism. The people here are friendly, the cuisine is rich, the primeval forest is almost completely preserved and there are many duty-free shops.
Day 1:
Morning, noon:
Visitors take a domestic flight from Kuala Lumpur or Penang to Langkawi Island, which takes 30-45 minutes depending on the departure point, the night before to rest and prepare for the island tour the next morning.
On the first day, visitors go to Maha Square in Kuah Village and enjoy panoramic views of Langkawi's sea from the observation deck of Maha Tower.
In the local language, "maha" means omnipotent. The tower is considered a symbol of confidence and courage and also honors Mahsuri, a beautiful woman who lived in the area in the 18th century. Legend has it that when Mahsuri's husband went to war, she was falsely accused of adultery by the village's bad guys. When she was executed, her blood turned white instead of red, symbolizing Mahsuri's innocence.
Maha Tower is located in the center of the island, near luxury shops of international brands. Many cafes, food stalls, and souvenir shops are open at the foot of the tower, suitable for visitors to visit and sip drinks. At night, the tower is lit up with electric lights, standing out in the night.
Today, the Maha Stupa and Mahsuri's Tomb, located 10 km from Kuah Village, are two tourist attractions in Langkawi.
For lunch, visitors can eat at Dee Thai restaurant, which specializes in Thai cuisine. Some dishes that suit Vietnamese tastes include fried eggs, sour fish soup, tom yum, steamed fish, stir-fried morning glory, and steamed clams with soy sauce. The restaurant has two floors, located on Persiaran Bunga Raya Road, Kuah Village.
Langkawi cuisine is a fusion of Malaysian, Chinese, Indian and Thai cuisines, creating a unique blend of flavors. Whether you are a vegetarian, a seafood lover or a meat eater, you will find something to satisfy your taste buds. In addition to local restaurants, visitors can visit Japanese or Russian restaurants.
Afternoon, evening:
The Skybridge Cable Car, located in Oriental Village, a popular tourist and shopping area in the northwest of the island, is the next stop. The 2.2km cable car takes visitors from the foot of Mount Machinchang, one of the highest mountains on the island, to the top. Visitors are taken to an altitude of more than 700m and on clear days, can see the picturesque bay below.
Upon arrival, visitors continue to visit the Skybridge. The 125-meter long, curved bridge is suspended in the sky with a panoramic view of Langkawi Island and the Andaman Sea.
The cable car and 3D art museum at the foot of the mountain cost 85 ringgit ($20) for adults and 65 ringgit ($15) for children. Opening hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. If you want to walk to the glass bridge, you will pay an additional 6 ringgit for adults and 4 ringgit for children. You can take a train to visit, the tickets are 16 ringgit ($3.7) and 11 ringgit ($2.6) respectively.
In the evening, visitors visit the beach area in Chenang to watch the night sea, watch the fire dance shows of the locals and have dinner at the square of the same name. There are many shops selling local goods, supermarkets and duty-free shops.
Day 2:
Morning, noon:
It would be a shame to miss out on a trekking tour or a mangrove tour in Malaysia, or an eagle feeding tour. A 3-5 hour tour, including lunch, starts at $260 per person.
In 2007, the Langkawi archipelago was awarded UNESCO Global Geopark status, the first Global Geopark in Southeast Asia. The island’s pristine nature, clear blue waters, long stretches of sandy beaches and picturesque bays are its attractions, according to the Langkawi Tourism Authority website.
According to tour guide Nghi Dat, who has been to Langkawi more than 10 times, guests can book a tour from Vietnam or buy a day tour when arriving on the island. The tour includes the experience of exploring islands, coves and visiting beautiful places in Langkawi Geopark to watch birds, forests, and immerse themselves in wild nature. Guests are picked up by speedboat and include pick-up and drop-off services at the hotel. Accompanying guests are local guides.
On this tour, you will visit Dayang Bunting Island in the Langkawi archipelago and trek to Tasik Dayang Bunting Lake. You can spend an hour here admiring the tranquil lake surrounded by lush green forests and mountains or take a dip in the lake’s clear waters. According to local legend, those who bathe in the lake will gain increased health.
Then, visitors continue to Pulau Singa Besar (Big Lion Island) to see eagles flying at close range. Visitors do not need to get on a boat to the island because the boat will float on the water. The final destination is Beras Basah Island, where visitors can sunbathe and enjoy the salty taste of the sea at the pristine beach of Pulau Beras Basah.
Afternoon, evening:
Visit Wat Tham Kisap, the most sacred and famous temple on the island.
The temple’s main tourist attraction is its elaborately carved Buddha statues, hidden in a quiet alley. Visitors, dressed modestly, can walk around the temple to admire the statues and take souvenir photos.
In the evening, visit Dragon Dynasty Seafood Restaurant, a restaurant specializing in Chinese cuisine and seafood. Address: Lot 106, Batu 1, 07000, Pulau Kuah Kedah. After that, you can visit supermarkets and large stores to shop. Langkawi is famous as a duty-free destination, as most necessities on the island are tax-free. Chocolate products are a popular gift for many Vietnamese visitors and are bought as gifts because they are "delicious and cheap".
Day 3:
Morning, noon: After breakfast at the hotel, visitors visit Langkawi Agro Tech Park to learn about the tropical plants grown in the garden as well as enjoy a free buffet of fresh fruit picked from the garden. The entrance fee to the garden is 40 ringgit (9 USD) for guests aged 13 and above and 25 ringgit (6 USD) for children aged 4-12. Children under 4 years old are free of charge.
After that, tourists have lunch at Pentai Chenang area near the airport and board a plane to Kuala Lumpur or Penang, from there fly back to Vietnam, ending the tour.
Getting to Langkawi and getting around the island:
From Vietnam, visitors can fly on the route Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi - Kuala Lumpur - Langkawi. Visitors can visit the capital of Malaysia for a few days before flying to Langkawi Island to enrich the journey.
On the island, the most convenient means of transportation is to order a Grab or rent a self-driving car and contact the hotel where you are staying to book the service. The price to rent a motorbike is about 25-30 ringgit (6-7 USD) a day. "The price of gasoline in Malaysia is very cheap, so the car rental service is also cheap," Nghi Dat said. However, he still recommends that Vietnamese visitors rent a car with someone to take them because they need an international driver's license to be able to drive on the island.
According to figures from the Langkawi Tourism Department, the island currently has more than 500 hotels, hundreds of dining establishments, 250 duty-free shops and more than 800 attractions.
Langkawi is still a new destination for many Vietnamese tourists. In addition to traveling independently, visitors can book tours at travel agencies in Vietnam to receive support for travel schedules, sightseeing destinations, and dining. The tour price for the 4-day, 3-night Vietnam - Langkawi itinerary is about 12-13 million VND.
VN (according to VnExpress)Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/ba-ngay-o-dao-mien-thue-langkawi-393475.html
Comment (0)