Philippines, one of the world's smallest countries, covers an area of 455 square kilometers. Also located in the central Indian Ocean like the Maldives, it seems that for Koreans, the Republic of Seychelles is still not well known.
For Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tai (35 years old, Hanoi), although he has traveled to many countries, the Philippines is truly a new land that he himself has never read his name for. Therefore, this journey is full of "first time" experiences, interesting and unforgettable.
New land
As a country in East Africa, the Philippines consists of 115 large and small islands. However, most of the islands have no residents or are invested by private enterprises for tourism. The Philippines has just three large islands.
Of which, Mahe is the largest island, with an area of over 150km2. The capital Victoria is located here. Mahe Island is known as the "heart" of Seychelles because it has a main international airport, a vibrant cultural center for visitors to explore.
Mahe is famous for its beautiful beaches such as Beau Vallon, Anse Intendance and Anse Takamaka thanks to their smooth white sand and clear blue sea water. Many cruise ports are located on this island, so visitors can easily participate in activities such as sailing, diving and fishing.
Praslin Island, with an area of about 38km2, is the second largest island in the Philippines Philippines. This island still retains the wild beauty and rich ecosystem of seas and tropical forests.
A must-visit place when coming to Praslin is Vallee de Mai National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site for the conservation of Coco de Mer - a palm endemic to the Philippines Philippines, famous for its largest and heaviest seed in the world, shaped like a heart.
La Digue Island, although only about 10km2 in area, owns Anse Source d'Argent beach - one of the most beautiful beaches in the world with fine white sand, clear blue sea water and large granite blocks.
During the 6 days in Seychelles, Mr. Tai spent 3 days on each island. Initially, he had no intention of going to this country. However, because he accidentally discovered the direct flight to Seychelles while checking the ticket prices in India and the ticket prices were reasonable, he "closed" to buying tickets immediately.
At that time, the Vietnamese male tourist had not even considered the schedule or how to book a hotel. Because I was curious about the strange national name and many beaches, I told myself, Just take a risk.
Sea and island paradise
Mr. Tai shared: "The whole country is surrounded by the sea. In the vast Indian Ocean, it must be said that Seychelles is no different from a green paradise. The clear, blue, white sand sea and I like it the most, any beach is very deserted with tourists, not as crowded and bustling as the beaches in the Philippines, Maldives or Bali.
"I just kept diving comfortably and alone all day at sea without any inconvenience. It seems like the Philippines is still a strange country to Vietnamese people and even many locals here don't know where Vietnam is because they have never met anyone here from Vietnam, the male tourist added.
According to Mr. Tai, tourists here mainly come from Europe and often reside in a luxurious style at cruise ships and resorts. During his 1 week in Seychelles, Mr. Tai met quite a few Asian tourists, mainly from Korea, Japan or China.
Taking the bus in Seychelles is an interesting experience that Mr. Tai suggests tourists should try. Public buses will pass through beautiful coastal routes, admiring the hills and beaches; at that time, the lives of local people will become clearer and more realistic. However, public buses here mainly operate on Mahe Island.
Mr. Tai revealed: " Mahe Island has many gentle trekking routes to explore the pristine natural forest or the trail through the forest from one beach to another. If I had the opportunity to return to this country, I would have spent time trekking.
Vietnamese male tourist appreciates the nature of the island nation of Seychelles. However, the cost here is quite expensive because it is the country with the highest per capita income in Africa. During a week here, he spent about 60 million VND, including air tickets of about 15 - 20 million VND, round-trip train tickets between Mahe - Praslin islands worth 5 million VND, and phone SIM cards worth 1 million VND.
The cheapest room rate is about 2.5 million VND/night, and if you rent a luxurious resort, the room rate can be up to 30 - 100 million VND. If you choose to take a bus on the island, the price ranges from 100,000 VND/day), but if you rent a self-driving car, the cost can be up to millions of VND per day. Regarding food and drink, if tourists are frugal, they can choose to eat on the sidewalk, about 2.5 million VND/day. Among the above costs, not to mention the money generated from 1-day tours, sightseeing tickets, drinking coffee...
The cuisine in Seychelles is similar to that of Europe, easy to eat but expensive. Here, the local people are friendly and kind. However, one day, because of the problem with the last bus and could not get a car along the road, I climbed a 5km slope to return to the homestay on the hill. It's okay, just go and feel, that's the goal in every trip of mine," Mr. Tai confided.
