Setting foot on the island
The high-speed train departed at 6:35 am, taking Ms. Nguyen Thi Truc Phuong's group of friends (residing in Can Tho City) to Hon Son port after only about 90 minutes of surfing. Stepping onto the boat, the dry sun of the sea breeze and the scene of dozens of fishing boats bobbing on the clear water, seeing through the small schools of fish swimming close to the shore, immediately helped Ms. Phuong dispel all fatigue.
The female tourist excitedly shared: "This is not the first time I have come to Hon Son, but every beautiful sea season, this island has its own unique attraction. Few people know that this place possesses fresh air and a strangely simple and gentle rhythm of life.
After receiving the motorbike and moving to a beachfront homestay in Bai Nha area to check in and rest, the group started a food tour (culinary discovery) with herring salad wrapped in rice paper, sour fish soup and ginger-steamed squid locally.
According to Ms. Truc Phuong, the great plus point that helps Hon Son score points in the hearts of tourists is the simplicity and friendliness of the local people. The hospitality is evident from the smile of the motorbike rental attendant, the enthusiasm of the homestay owner to the approachable service of the eateries.
There is no scene of soliciting or overcharging, all services here are clearly listed, bringing a feeling of peace of mind and relaxation to those who want to find a place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city" - Ms. Phuong said.
Wandering in the pristine sea and sky
The journey to explore Hon Son continues in the afternoon with the experience of riding a motorbike to conquer a coastal road of about 16km embracing the island. The road takes visitors through majestic cliffs, lush green coconut groves and views of the vast ocean.
The first stop is Yen Ngua peak, an ideal place to capture the panoramic view of the beach from above with the deep blue patches of the ocean. At about 4 pm, the group arrived at Bai Bang beach, the beach known as the most beautiful in Hon Son. This place owns smooth white sand with gentle waves. In the afternoon sun, immersing yourself in cool water is an extremely refreshing experience, the members of the group also did not forget to check-in with the "legendary coconut trees" leaning against the sea.
As the group's "cashkeeper", Ms. Le Dinh Phuong Uyen (currently a teacher in Can Tho City) expressed: "Sea tourism here is too clean and safe, convenient. For families with mid-range incomes, choosing Hon Son for a short vacation is completely reasonable. The cost for a self-sufficient trip only ranges from 1,500,000 to 2,500,000 VND per person, but the experience received is beyond expectations".
As the sunset fell, the moment of riding a motorbike along the beach to watch the summer sunset touched the emotions of everyone. Ms. Phuong's group did not forget to stop by the local market to personally choose fresh seafood that had just been caught ashore such as sea urchins, snails, giant shrimp, crabs... at "delicious - nutritious - cheap" prices and then bring them back to homestay for processing.
That evening, the members gathered around the charcoal stove, enjoying seafood amidst the murmuring waves, starting to confide about life and work.
Awakening potential
Stepping into the second day, the active members of the group woke up at 6 am to participate in the trekking challenge to conquer Ma Thien Lanh peak, Hon Son's highest mountain with a height of about 450m above sea level. Although the road has many quite steep stone steps that require flexibility, when reaching the peak at about 8:30 am, everyone was excited.
From San Tien, the entire vast Southwest sea scene, tiny boats like bamboo leaves floating on the turquoise sea surface are all captured in sight. This is a great camera angle to observe the daily changes in the appearance of this island.
After getting off the mountain, the group of friends stopped at a coastal coffee shop with a rustic space to chat and relax. Here, Mr. Than Thanh Luan (a member of the group, currently doing freelance business) shared his perspective: "Currently in Hon Son, tourists rarely see the splendor of high-class resorts or massive concretization projects. However, this wildness, simplicity and originality promises to be the most effective "medicine" to heal the soul for urban people. I realize that if this place knows how to develop resort tourism, it will become even more famous in the near future.
Before ending the journey, the group of friends did not forget to visit coastal souvenir shops to buy a few boxes of specialty tamarind ice in boxes or dried fish as gifts for relatives. At exactly 11 am, the group checked out for homestay, enjoyed the famous garlic steamed chicken to replenish energy before boarding the high-speed train at 12:30 pm to return to the mainland.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Truc Phuong shared: "The short trip ended, but the aftertaste of a pristine, peaceful and hospitable Hon Son still lingers in our hearts. 2 days and 1 night not only opens up an ideal "healing" space with affordable costs, but also shows the strong development potential of Hon Son".
