More than just Ca Mau Cape

A view of Khoai Islet seen from the gravel beach.

Vietnam’s southernmost province of Ca Mau is well known for its cape which is frequented by tourists, both domestic and international.

But Ca Mau has other places for travelers to visit and one of them is Hon Khoai (Khoai Islet).

Early in the morning when fishing villagers along the Rach Goc River are still asleep, the eastern horizon turns reddish to remind people of a new day on the beautiful islet.

About 25 kilometers from the mainland of the Rach Goc estuary, it takes visitors nearly two hours to reach the islet by boat. On the way there, travelers can see the vivid scenery of the blue sea, the yellow sunlight and the green mangrove forests from afar.

The boat passes by some other islets like Doi Moi (tortoise shell), Tuong (elephant), and Sao (star), and rocky isles with unusually shaped rocks which look like towering animals.

The boat calls on Nho (small) beach southwest of the islet. The beach is so shallow that travelers can get ashore on a smaller boat. However, the beach is primitive and attractive thanks to luxuriant trees, limpid sea water and tender waves. A lovely egg-stone beach lined with casuarina trees will please tourists at the right side of the beach.

Although the island is unpopulated, visitors there are still greeted by service people and border guards. They are always ready to tell guests stories about the islet, life, storms and even homesickness.

Some young tourists are eager to climb up a mountain road to visit the lighthouse on top of the islet through forests rocks, and red soil. Tourists may be amazed at many kinds of tropical trees there such as an ancient tree with a diameter of around seven meters, ironwood, pine, and others along the mountain slope.

Moreover, they also enjoy twitter voices of birds around black tram fruits above and fragrance of magnolia spreading out the air. Tourists can stop by small springs to mirror themselves on the limpid water.

People in charge of the lighthouse are also willing to tell tourists about their daily life on the islet. They always serve as enthusiastic tour guides and introduce guests a stele next to the lighthouse to commemorate Hon Khoai revolution in 1940, some old prisons built by the French, even rich mango and jackfruit gardens nearby and vegetables.

Going down the mountain on a shady road to the eastern side, the Lon (big) beach comes into view. Some tourists pamper themselves in cool and clean water among sparkling waves, others just lie down on white sand to watch the faraway islets in the sunlight, fishing boats going up and down between forests and mountains. The scenery is like a luxurious resort.

In addition, the island is still an ideal place for environmentalists and scientists given its rich source of fresh water and a diversity of flora and fauna. An officer also tells tourists about the primitive forest on Khoai islet with many valuable medicinal herbs like multiflorous knotweed, fungus and cinnamon twig, and animals like varan, python and squirrel.

Tourists finish the trip with a dinner with braised fish, sour soup, boiled crab, and sticky rice alcohol. They will never forget the relaxing time with the beautiful scenery, friendly people on the islet.

(Source: SGT)