New and unique Hon Cau

Untouched yet mysterious, Cu Lao Cau is affectionately called Hon Cau by local fishermen because of its abundance of seaweed. In recent years, alongside traditional destinations such as Co Thach Pagoda - Binh Thanh moss beach, the seven-colored rock beach, Lien Huong fishing village, etc., the Hon Cau island tourist route has become an attractive and novel destination, drawing in young people who love exploration.

Overnight camping

Cu Lao Cau Island, now part of Lien Huong commune, Lam Dong province, is located about 8 km from the mainland and 110 km from the center of Phan Thiet. In recent years, day trips or overnight stays to Cu Lao Cau have been widely advertised, attracting young people from many provinces and cities such as Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City to explore and register for the experience. With a length of only 1.5 km and an area of ​​about 140 hectares, it is completely isolated from the mainland and is described by tourists as a "green paradise" because of its stunningly beautiful and unspoiled scenery.

Most tourists prefer to stay and experience the area by camping and sleeping overnight.

Ms. Tran Thi Khanh Dung, from Phan Ri Cua commune, who specializes in taking tourists to Hon Cau island, said: “After Tet (Lunar New Year), the number of families and groups of friends from within and outside the province registering for tours to Hon Cau island has increased. Especially around April and May, when the weather is calm, island tourism will be even busier. If tourists want to stay overnight, tour operators will register with the border guard force to manage their stay on the island. They will also prepare tents and camping equipment on the beach or arrange suitable rooms because there is only one small hotel on the island.”

Every year on the full moon of the fourth lunar month, the island hosts a fishing festival that attracts a large number of locals and tourists who come to worship and visit.

It only takes about 30-40 minutes if you depart from Phuoc The or Lien Huong, and the beautiful small island will appear before your eyes, captivating nature lovers. Currently, many individuals and companies offer tours to Hon Cau, with quite specific and attractive itineraries, so tourists don't need to worry too much about transportation or food on the island. In addition, visitors can experience snorkeling to admire the diverse coral reefs with more than 234 species, paddleboarding, and enjoying fresh seafood…

Besides interesting check-in points that everyone who visits the island must see at least once, such as Yen Cave, Ba Hon Cave, Gia Long Well, the temple of the God of the South Sea, or the beautiful beaches and coral reefs, the Sea Turtle Conservation Area is also an attractive destination for tourists when they set foot on this island.

Boats from all over gathered together, creating a lively, festive atmosphere.

Participate in the fishing festival on the island.

If visitors come to Hon Cau during the full moon of the fourth lunar month, they will witness the bustling and lively atmosphere of the local fishermen celebrating the fishing festival. This is considered a traditional festival of the fishermen in Lien Huong coastal area, a festival of immense importance and spirituality to the people of this coastal region, attracting a large number of locals and tourists to worship and visit.

According to Mr. Tran La, head of the former Phuoc The commune's fishing village, there has long been an ancient temple on Cu Lao Cau island (estimated to be over 200 years old), whose builder is unknown. Fishing boats passing by the island often stop to light incense and pray for peace. Local people have repaired the temple many times and offered annual prayers, but the ancient temple had seriously deteriorated. In 2010, thanks to social mobilization from fishermen, the Phuoc The commune's fishing village was inaugurated in a more impressive and spacious manner.

Hon Cau Island is one of Vietnam's 16 marine protected areas and one of only three protected areas where turtles come ashore to lay eggs.

Every year on the 15th day of the 4th lunar month, locals and tourists from all over flock to Hon Cau Island to offer prayers and have fun. Boats from everywhere also gather there, creating a lively atmosphere like a festival. The fishing festival is associated with the custom of worshipping the Whale God (whale), expressing the fishermen's reverence for deities in general and the Whale God in particular.

Hon Cau Island is one of Vietnam's 16 marine protected areas, not only beautiful in its natural landscape but also highly valued for its biodiversity, showcasing a diverse range of aquatic organisms, benthic animals, seaweed, seagrass, coral, fish, invertebrates, mammals, birds, reptiles, sea turtles, etc. In July 2023, Hon Cau Island was classified as a provincial-level historical site.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/moi-la-hon-cau-432918.html