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Ba Hòn Đầm Islands

Ba Hòn Đầm is a cluster of three small islands in the Bà Lụa Archipelago, Kiên Lương - undeveloped, rarely visited by foreigners, and reached by a 30-minute boat from Kiên Lương pier, with clear water, rocky coves, and basic overnight options on the island.

🏝️ Remote Islands🤿 Snorkeling🚣 Boat Trip🏕️ Island Camping
🧭 Get Directions

Overview

Best Time to Visit
📅 Nov - May (dry season with calm seas and good visibility for snorkeling; wet season Jun - Oct brings rough conditions and unreliable boat access)
Entry Fee
🎟️ Free; boat ticket from Kiên Lương ~200,000 VND/person or charter 1,700,000 - 2,500,000 VND
Opening Hours
🕐 Open daily; boat access dependent on sea conditions
Address
📌 Quần đảo Bà Lụa, Kiên Lương, Kiên Giang

Things to Know

👥Crowds
Relatively quiet on weekdays; busier on weekends and holidays
🥾Difficulty
Rocky and pebbly beaches require caution; sharp rocks can cause foot injuries. Not ideal for young children or elderly
🚶Accessibility
Limited modern amenities; remote location requires self-sufficiency. No convenience stores on island; bring necessities from mainland
🌤️Seasonal
Best visited November onwards for calm seas. Avoid stormy weather; don't sleep in tents during heavy rain and wind
ABOUT THIS PLACE

What Makes Ba Hòn Đầm Islands Special

Ba Hòn Đầm sits within the Bà Lụa Archipelago - a group of over 34 islands covering roughly 70 km² of sea between Hà Tiên and Phú Quốc in Kiên Giang province. The name refers to three specific islands: Hòn Đầm Dương, Hòn Đầm Đước, and Hòn Đầm Giếng - each with a distinct coastal character, from sandy coves to pebble beaches to rocky shoreline. The islands are constructed from Paleozoic sedimentary rock, giving them a different texture from the limestone karsts of Hạ Long or the granite boulders of Côn Đảo. What draws visitors is the combination of clear Gulf of Thailand water, minimal development, and the unusual feature of being able to swim freely between the three islands due to the shallow water connecting them. The Bà Lụa Archipelago as a whole remains one of the least-developed island groups in Kiên Giang - a province that has seen Phú Quốc transform beyond recognition over the past decade.

How to Get There

🚗 Getting There

Ba Hòn Đầm is reached from the Kiên Lương pier in Kiên Lương town, Kiên Giang. From Ho Chi Minh City, buses to Kiên Lương depart from Miền Tây bus station - the journey takes around 10 hours by overnight coach (150,000 - 250,000 VND), or 6 hours by motorbike. From Rạch Giá city, Kiên Lương is approximately 60km west along Highway 80 - about 1.5 hours by road. At the pier, tàu cao tốc runs out to the islands for around 200,000 VND per person with a crossing time of about 30 minutes. Groups can charter a private boat directly at the pier for 1,700,000 - 2,500,000 VND depending on season. Motorbikes can be stored at local houses near the pier for around 15,000 VND per night.

What to Expect

👀 On the Ground

Each of the three islands offers something different. Đầm Dương has the best swimming conditions - calm water and a sandy entry. Đầm Đước has a distinctive multi-coloured pebble beach that makes for strong photography. Đầm Giếng has a longer wild sandbar and a more remote feel. The water between the islands is shallow enough to wade or swim across in dry season, making it possible to move between all three without returning to the boat. Seafood can be collected directly from the reef or eaten at basic restaurants on the island. Accommodation is limited but present - Little Garden Bungalow at around 250,000 VND per night is the most established option, with camping also available.

Travel Tips

🧳 Tips

Kiên Lương is not on the standard tourist circuit and Ba Hòn Đầm appears on almost no foreign-language travel resources - which is the point. The comparison with Phú Quốc is instructive: same province, same Gulf of Thailand water, fundamentally different experience. The Bà Lụa Archipelago also includes Hòn Heo - the largest island in the group, with old-growth forest, a pagoda (Sơn Hải Tự), and unusual basalt rock formations worth visiting if mày has an extra half-day. The overnight option on Ba Hòn Đầm is worth taking seriously - sunrise on the island before any day boats arrive is a different experience from the midday visit most people do.

Insider Tips

Based on real traveler experiences and commonly mentioned advice from multiple visitors.

Bring your own food from mainland markets and negotiate cooking fees with island operators for better value
Visit during low tide to walk between the three connected islands; time your visit accordingly
Pack insect repellent, blankets, toiletries, and snacks as island shops have limited stock and high prices
The departure point is the Kiên Lương pier (bến tàu Kiên Lương) in Kiên Lương town - not from Rạch Giá or Kiên Hải island. Tàu cao tốc runs out to the islands for around 200,000 VND per person
For groups, chartering a private boat at the pier costs around 1,700,000 - 2,500,000 VND depending on season and boat size - worth it for flexibility to island-hop between the three islands
Ba Hòn Đầm is made up of three distinct islands: Đầm Dương (best for swimming), Đầm Đước (colourful pebble beach, good for photos), and Đầm Giếng (long wild sandbar) - each has a different character
Overnight options on the island include Little Garden Bungalow (~250,000 VND/night) and basic guesthouses - camping is also possible. Staying overnight to catch sunrise before day visitors arrive is strongly worth it
The three islands are close enough to swim between in calm conditions - the water is shallow between them, which is part of what makes Ba Hòn Đầm unusual compared to other island clusters

FAQ

Common questions from travelers who've visited this place.

What are the boat ticket prices and operating hours?›
Boat tickets from Tiến Triển pier: 300,000 VND return (250,000 VND same-day). Island entrance fee: 30,000 VND per person. Boat ride takes approximately 30 minutes.
What accommodation options are available?›
Rooms range 700,000-1,700,000 VND for two people. Budget tents available around 40,000 VND per person. Air conditioning operates limited hours (6 PM-6 AM); bring fans or water misters for daytime.
What activities can we do on the island?›
Catch crabs, oysters, sea urchins, clams, and squid. Walk between islands at low tide. Fish from the pier. Swim in clear seawater. Bioluminescent algae visible at night (weather dependent).