Hon Tam Island, Nha Trang: A Traveler's Guide

What Hon Tam is — and isn't

Hon Tam sits about 7 km southeast of Nha Trang (냐짱 / 芽庄 / ニャチャン)'s coastline, one of the larger islands in the bay and one of the few that's been developed without being completely paved over. The island belongs to Khanh Hoa province and operates primarily as a resort-and-day-trip destination run by the MerPerle Hon Tam Resort group, which controls most of the island's infrastructure.

Unlike Vinpearl (Hon Tre) across the bay with its theme parks and cable car crowds, Hon Tam leans quieter. There's no amusement park, no waterslides. What you get instead is a couple of decent beaches, a mineral mud bath complex, some forested hills, and the kind of afternoon where the loudest sound is someone ordering another coconut. It's not a wilderness experience — it's a managed island resort — but it hits a middle ground that Nha Trang's mainland beaches lost years ago.

Why travelers go

Nha Trang's city beach is fine for a morning walk, but the water quality and crowd density have pushed a lot of travelers toward the islands. Hon Tam draws people who want clean water and sand without committing to a full resort stay. Day-trippers make up most of the traffic. The mud baths here are a genuine draw — less hectic than the Thap Ba complex on the mainland and with better views. Couples and small groups tend to prefer it over the party-boat island-hopping tours that hit Hon Mun and Hon Mot.

Best time to visit

Nha Trang's dry season runs roughly from January through August, with March to June being the sweet spot — warm water, calm seas, minimal rain. July and August bring domestic tourism crowds and higher prices. September through December is the rainy season; seas get rough, boat cancellations happen, and some island services scale back. If you're planning around weather, aim for April or May. The heat is manageable, the bay is calm, and you won't be fighting for deck chairs.

How to get there

From central Nha Trang, head to Cau Da Port (also called Nha Trang Port), about 6 km south of the tourist strip along Tran Phu. A taxi from the main hotel area runs 60,000–80,000 VND.

From Cau Da, speedboats to Hon Tam depart regularly between about 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM. The ride takes roughly 10–15 minutes. Most visitors buy a package ticket that bundles the round-trip boat transfer with island entry. As of early 2025, day-trip packages start around 350,000–500,000 VND per person for basic beach access and boat transfer, going up to 800,000–1,200,000 VND for packages that include mud baths, lunch buffet, and water sports.

If you're coming from further afield — say, Da Nang or Hoi An — you'll fly or take a train to Nha Trang first. Cam Ranh Airport is about 35 km south of the city (taxi to Nha Trang center: 350,000–400,000 VND, or grab a fixed-price airport bus for around 60,000 VND). The Reunification Express train drops you at Nha Trang station, a 10-minute taxi from Cau Da Port.

Photo by Thang Nguyen on Pexels

What to do

Soak in the mineral mud baths

This is the main event for most visitors. Hon Tam's mud bath complex uses mineral-rich mud piped into individual and shared pools overlooking the bay. A soak session runs 20–30 minutes, followed by a rinse and time in the mineral water pools. It's genuinely relaxing and less industrial-feeling than the mainland alternatives. Budget around 250,000–400,000 VND if booked as an add-on, though it's often bundled into day packages.

Swim and do nothing at Bai Tru Beach

Bai Tru is the main beach on the island's west side — sheltered, relatively clean water, imported sand that's kept groomed. Lounge chairs and umbrellas come with most packages. The snorkeling directly off the beach is average (Nha Trang's coral has seen better decades), but the swimming is solid.

Rent a kayak or SUP board

Kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals are available on the beach, usually 150,000–250,000 VND per hour. The water on the sheltered side stays calm enough for beginners. Paddling along the island's shoreline gives you a better sense of its size — it takes maybe 30 minutes to kayak the western coast.

Walk the coastal trail

A paved path loops through part of the island's interior and along the southern coast. It's not a serious hike — maybe 2 km total — but it gets you away from the beach zone and into some actual greenery. You'll pass a few viewpoints looking back toward Nha Trang and out toward the other bay islands.

Visit Po Nagar on the way back

This isn't on the island, but it pairs well with a Hon Tam day trip. Po Nagar Cham Towers sit on a hill just north of Cau Da, about 3 km from the port. These 8th-century towers are among the best-preserved Cham religious sites in the country. Entry is 22,000 VND. Spend 30–45 minutes here on your way back into town.

Where to eat nearby

The island itself has a restaurant and buffet setup — acceptable but resort-priced and not worth writing home about. Save your appetite for the mainland.

Back in Nha Trang, track down a bowl of "bun ca" — Nha Trang's fish noodle soup, made with mackerel or snakehead, tomato-based broth, and rice vermicelli. It's a local staple you won't find done this way elsewhere. Quan Bun Ca 68 on Yen Ninh street is a reliable option, bowls around 35,000–45,000 VND.

Also worth trying: "nem nuong" Nha Trang-style — grilled pork sausage wrapped in rice paper with herbs and pickled vegetables. Nem Nuong Dang Van Quyen on Ly Thanh Ton has been doing it for decades.

Where to stay

Most travelers stay in Nha Trang and visit Hon Tam as a day trip. That said, MerPerle Hon Tam Resort offers overnight stays on the island — expect 2,500,000–5,000,000 VND per night for villas and bungalows depending on season and room class.

In Nha Trang itself, the Tran Phu beachfront strip has everything from 250,000 VND hostels to 3,000,000+ VND hotels. The area around Nguyen Thien Thuat street (the backpacker zone) has the densest cluster of budget and mid-range options.

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels

Practical tips locals would tell you

• Book packages directly through the Hon Tam Resort website or at Cau Da Port ticket counters. Third-party tour operators in the tourist strip mark up prices by 20–30% for the same product.
• Bring cash. Card acceptance on the island exists but is unreliable. ATMs are on the mainland only.
• Sunscreen before the mud bath. You'll be outside in direct sun during the soak. People forget this constantly.
• Go on a weekday. Weekends — especially in summer — bring domestic tour groups. A Tuesday in April is a different planet from a Saturday in July.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Booking a four-island tour thinking it includes Hon Tam. The cheap group boat tours (usually 150,000–250,000 VND) hit Hon Mun, Hon Mot, Hon Tam, and Hon Mieu — but the Hon Tam stop on those tours is often just a float in the water nearby, not actual island access. If you want to get on the island and use the facilities, book the dedicated Hon Tam package separately.
• Skipping sunblock because you'll be in the water. Nha Trang sun is aggressive year-round. Reapply after every swim.
• Assuming the last boat is flexible. It isn't. Miss the final return transfer (usually around 4:00–4:30 PM for day visitors) and you're either negotiating a private boat or staying the night.

Practical notes

Hon Tam works best as a half-day or full-day break from Nha Trang's mainland — it's not a destination you'd build a trip around, but it's a solid way to spend a day between exploring the city and heading north toward Hue or south toward Saigon. Pair it with Po Nagar in the morning and a bowl of bun ca in the evening, and you've got one of the better days Nha Trang offers.