What Dao Khi actually is
Dao Khi — literally "Monkey Island" — sits in Nha Phu Bay, about 18 km north of central Nha Trang (냐짱 / 芽庄 / ニャチャン) in Khanh Hoa province. The island covers roughly 30 hectares of hilly scrubland and has been operating as a tourism site since the early 2000s. It's home to over 1,500 long-tailed macaques that roam freely across the island, which is the whole draw.
The monkeys here aren't wild in the wilderness sense. They've been semi-managed for decades and are thoroughly habituated to humans. This is an eco-tourism park, not a nature reserve — there are circus-style animal shows, a small beach, and various activity stations scattered around the island. If you're expecting untouched jungle, recalibrate. If you want a half-day of something different from the beach-and-bar loop in Nha Trang, it delivers.
Why travelers go
Most visitors come for two reasons: the monkeys and the boat ride. The 15-minute crossing through Nha Phu Bay is pleasant, with views of the coastal hills and floating fishing villages. Once on the island, the macaques are genuinely entertaining — they'll approach you, steal anything shiny, and put on more of a show than the actual scheduled performances.
Families with kids tend to get the most out of Dao Khi. There's enough variety — animal shows, a small water park, kayaking, a short hiking trail — to fill three or four hours without anyone getting bored. Solo travelers and couples sometimes find it too structured, but if you skip the organized activities and just walk the trails with the monkeys, it has a different energy.
Best time to visit
The dry season from January through August is your window. March to May hits the sweet spot: warm but not yet at peak summer heat, and tourist numbers are moderate. The bay is calmest in this stretch, so the boat crossing is smooth.
Avoid September through December if you can. This is Khanh Hoa's wet season, and Nha Phu Bay gets choppy. Boat services sometimes cancel during heavy weather, and the island trails turn slippery. Weekends year-round are noticeably more crowded than weekdays — if you have flexibility, go on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning.
How to get there from Nha Trang
From central Nha Trang, head north on the coastal road toward the Nha Phu Bay pier area. You have a few options:
Taxi or Grab: About 20-25 minutes, 150,000-200,000 VND one way. This is the simplest approach. Have your driver take you to the Dao Khi boat pier (not the Hon Lao pier — they're different operations in the same bay).
Motorbike: If you've rented one, follow Nguyen Tat Thanh north out of Nha Trang until you see signs for Nha Phu Bay. Parking at the pier is around 10,000-20,000 VND.
Tour package: Most hotels in Nha Trang sell a combined Dao Khi day trip that includes transport, boat, entrance, and lunch for 350,000-500,000 VND per person. It's convenient but locks you into a group schedule.
The boat from the pier to Dao Khi takes about 15 minutes. If you go independently, the entrance fee (including boat transfer) runs around 200,000-250,000 VND for adults and 100,000-150,000 VND for children. Prices fluctuate, so confirm at the pier.
Photo by Nguyên Đoàn on Pexels
What to do on the island
Walk the monkey trails
The main loop trail takes about 40 minutes and winds through the macaques' territory. Early morning is best — the monkeys are active and the light is good for photos. Keep bags zipped and sunglasses secured. These animals are professional thieves.
Watch the animal shows
Shows run two or three times daily, usually featuring trained monkeys, dogs, and bears doing circus routines. Opinions vary — some visitors find them fun, others find the trained-animal format uncomfortable. They're included in the entrance fee, so you can decide on the spot.
Hit the beach and kayaks
The island has a small sandy beach on its southern side. The water is calm and warm, fine for a swim. Kayak rentals are available for around 50,000-100,000 VND per hour, and paddling along the island's coastline gives you a different perspective — plus you'll spot monkeys watching you from the rocks.
Hike to the viewpoint
A steeper trail leads to the island's hilltop, maybe a 20-minute climb. The panorama over Nha Phu Bay and the surrounding islands is worth the sweat. Bring water.
Try the zipline
There's a short zipline course that runs over one of the coves. It costs extra — around 100,000 VND — and lasts about 30 seconds, but it's a decent thrill if you're into that.
Where to eat nearby
The island has its own restaurant serving set meals — decent but unremarkable tourist-standard Vietnamese food. If you're on a package tour, lunch is usually included here.
A better move: eat before or after on the mainland. The stretch of road near the Nha Phu pier has a few seafood shacks where locals eat. Grilled "nem chua" (fermented pork rolls) are a Khanh Hoa specialty worth trying — tangy, chewy, and nothing like what you get in Hanoi. Fresh seafood — prawns, squid, clams — runs 80,000-150,000 VND per plate depending on what's in season.
Back in Nha Trang, the city's street food scene is solid. "Bun cha" spots have proliferated, and the local "[banh canh](/posts/banh-canh-vietnam (베트남 / 越南 / ベトナム)-thick-noodle-soup)" (thick tapioca noodle soup) with fish cake is a regional favorite you won't find done this way elsewhere.
Where to stay
There's no accommodation on Dao Khi itself — it's a day trip. Stay in Nha Trang:
- Budget: Hostels and guesthouses around Nguyen Thien Thuat street, 150,000-300,000 VND per night.
- Mid-range: Hotels along Tran Phu beachfront, 500,000-1,200,000 VND per night.
- Upper-range: Resort properties north of the city center, 1,500,000-4,000,000 VND per night.
Book directly where possible — prices on booking platforms are often higher than walk-in rates for mid-range spots.
Photo by Vo Huy on Pexels
Practical tips locals would tell you
- Don't bring food in open bags. The monkeys will swarm you. Sealed backpacks only.
- Wear shoes with grip. The trails are concrete in parts but dirt and rock elsewhere. Flip-flops are a bad idea.
- Bring cash. There's no ATM on the island, and card machines are unreliable.
- Sunscreen and water. Shade is limited outside the forested trails, and Khanh Hoa sun is aggressive.
- Go early. The first boat usually leaves around 8:00-8:30 AM. Beat the tour groups.
Common mistakes to avoid
Booking an overpriced combo tour that bundles Dao Khi with Hon Lao and other bay islands into an exhausting all-day rush. You'll spend more time on boats than actually exploring. If you want multiple islands, spread them over two days.
Teasing the monkeys. It seems obvious, but people do it constantly and get bitten. Bites mean a hospital trip and rabies shots in Nha Trang. The macaques are not pets — respect the teeth.
Expecting a full-day destination. Three to four hours is plenty for Dao Khi. Plan your Nha Trang day around it rather than building the whole day around the island.
Practical notes
Dao Khi works best as a morning trip paired with an afternoon back in Nha Trang — maybe hit the beach, explore the backstreets, or grab "ca phe sua da" at one of the local cafes. It's not a headline destination, but as a half-day detour from the Nha Trang routine, it earns its spot on the itinerary.
Last updated · May 23, 2026 · independently researched, never sponsored.
