What Hon Lao is — and what it isn't
Hon Lao is a 36-hectare island in Nha Phu Bay, about 18 km north of Nha Trang (냐짱 / 芽庄 / ニャチャン) in Khanh Hoa province. Most people know it as Monkey Island, and the name is earned: somewhere around 1,200 long-tailed macaques roam the place with the confidence of landlords. The island has been a tourist attraction since the late 1970s when a Soviet-Vietnamese research station bred monkeys here for medical testing. The lab closed, the monkeys stayed, and eventually someone had the idea to sell boat tickets.
Today Hon Lao is part theme park, part wildlife encounter, part beach stop. It's not a nature reserve — there are staged animal shows, a small water park, and concrete paths winding through the hills. If you're expecting untouched wilderness, recalibrate. But if you're up for a genuinely odd half-day trip that's hard to find outside Vietnam (베트남 / 越南 / ベトナム), it delivers.
Why travelers go
Honestly, it's the monkeys. They're everywhere — perched on railings, lounging on paths, rifling through bags left unattended for four seconds. There's something entertaining about watching a macaque steal a tourist's hat and negotiate its return. Beyond the animals, the island has a decent beach, viewpoints from the hilltop, and the boat ride across Nha Phu Bay is pleasant on a clear day. It's also one of the easier day trips from Nha Trang that doesn't involve scuba gear or a long drive.
Families with kids tend to like it. Solo travelers and couples usually pair it with a visit to Hon Thi (Orchid Island) or the Nha Phu Bay hot springs on the same boat route.
Best time to visit
March through August is your window. Khanh Hoa's dry season runs roughly February to September, with the driest, calmest stretch from April to June. The bay crossing is short — about 15 minutes — but choppy water during the northeast monsoon (October to December) can make it unpleasant, and some boat services reduce frequency. July and August are hot and crowded with domestic tourists, especially on weekends.
If you can swing a weekday visit in April or May, you'll have fewer crowds and comfortable 30-32°C weather.
How to get there from Nha Trang
The departure point is the Nha Phu Bay pier complex, located in the Phu Huu commune area north of Nha Trang. From the Nha Trang city center:
- Taxi or Grab: About 20 minutes, 120,000-150,000 VND one way. This is the simplest option.
- Motorbike: Head north on the coastal road (QL1A / DT1) toward Ninh Hoa. The pier is signposted. Free parking at the complex.
- Tour package: Most Nha Trang tour operators sell a "3-island" or "Monkey Island" combo for 250,000-400,000 VND per person, which includes the boat, entrance fee, and sometimes lunch. Convenient but less flexible.
The boat from the pier to Hon Lao takes about 15 minutes. If you go independently, a return boat ticket plus island entrance fee runs around 200,000-250,000 VND for adults. Kids under 1.3 m get a discount.
Photo by Nguyên Đoàn on Pexels
What to do on the island
Walk the monkey trail
A paved loop trail runs through the island's central hill area where the macaques concentrate. Early morning arrivals (before 10 AM) catch the monkeys at their most active. Keep sunglasses on your face, not on your head — they will grab them. Phones in zippered pockets. This isn't a joke; these animals are fast and experienced.
Watch the animal circus
Hon Lao runs scheduled shows — trained monkeys riding bicycles, dogs jumping through hoops, bears doing tricks. It's a polarizing experience. The shows are included in your entrance ticket and run at set times (usually 10 AM, 2 PM, and 3:30 PM — check at the gate). Some travelers enjoy it, others find it uncomfortable. Worth knowing what you're walking into.
Hit the beach
The island's south-facing beach is small but clean, with calm water good for swimming. Lounge chairs are available for rent at around 50,000 VND. It's nothing spectacular, but after sweating through the monkey trail, the water feels right.
Hike to the hilltop viewpoint
A trail leads up to the highest point on the island, maybe 100 meters elevation. The view across Nha Phu Bay toward the mainland and the surrounding islands is the best photo opportunity here. Takes about 20 minutes up.
Combine with Nha Phu Bay attractions
The same pier serves boats to Hon Thi (orchid gardens, ostrich riding — again, very Vietnam), and there are floating restaurants and hot spring pools in the bay area. A full day combining two or three stops is a solid use of time.
Where to eat nearby
Food on Hon Lao itself is basic — a few restaurants near the beach serve fried rice, grilled seafood, and instant noodles at tourist prices (80,000-150,000 VND per dish). It's fine but forgettable.
Better move: eat on the mainland before or after. The stretch of road near the pier has seafood shacks where locals eat. Grilled "nem chua" wrapped in banana leaf is a solid snack if you spot a vendor. For a proper meal, look for places serving fresh fish and shellfish — a plate of grilled scallops with peanuts and spring onion runs about 60,000-90,000 VND and is better than anything on the island.
Back in Nha Trang, the city's street food scene is worth a separate evening — "banh canh" with fish cake is a Khanh Hoa staple, thick noodles in a starchy broth that costs about 35,000 VND at local shops along Nguyen Thi Minh Khai street.
Where to stay
Nobody sleeps on Hon Lao — it's a day trip. You'll base yourself in Nha Trang, where accommodation covers every budget:
- Budget hostels/guesthouses: 150,000-350,000 VND/night. Concentrated around Nguyen Thien Thuat and Hung Vuong streets.
- Mid-range hotels: 500,000-1,200,000 VND/night. Many along Tran Phu beach road.
- Resorts: 2,000,000 VND and up. The Nha Trang beachfront has several international chains.
Photo by Vo Huy on Pexels
Practical tips locals would tell you
- Secure everything. Monkeys target plastic bags, hats, sunglasses, and anything shiny. Use a crossbody bag with a zipper. Don't bring food in visible packaging.
- Don't feed the monkeys by hand. There are feeding stations. Hand-feeding gets you bitten, and a trip to Nha Trang's hospital for a rabies shot is not how you want to spend your afternoon.
- Bring cash. No reliable ATMs on the island. Card acceptance is nonexistent.
- Wear shoes with grip. The paths get slippery, especially near the hilltop trail.
- Sunscreen up. Limited shade between the pier and the monkey trail sections.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Going on a weekend in summer. Vietnamese families flood the island Saturday-Sunday from June to August. It gets loud and cramped.
- Expecting a wildlife sanctuary. This is a commercial tourist attraction with trained animal shows and concrete infrastructure. Adjust expectations.
- Skipping the hilltop. Most tour groups don't go up. That's exactly why you should.
- Eating only on the island. Mainland seafood shacks near the pier are cheaper and better.
Practical notes
Hon Lao works best as a half-day trip from Nha Trang — leave by 8:30 AM, back by early afternoon with time to explore the city. It pairs naturally with a day visiting Nha Phu Bay's other islands. Budget around 400,000-500,000 VND per person for the full independent day trip including transport, tickets, and a meal.
Last updated · May 28, 2026 · independently researched, never sponsored.
