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The Khanh Hoa Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has just issued an urgent document, requesting travel agencies to completely cease all activities related to organizing tours, brokering and promoting tourism in the Binh Ba, Binh Hung (Hon Chut) and Mui Hoi island areas to ensure national security and defense.
Although the ban on tourism development in areas belonging to the Cam Ranh military base has been in effect for many years, spontaneous business activities and misleading advertising on social media platforms remain a complex issue. The latest move by authorities in Khanh Hoa province shows a determination to thoroughly address these violations.
The decision to tighten management by the Khanh Hoa Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is directly based on Decision No. 04/2025/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister on the regulations ensuring security and safety of the Cam Ranh military base, combined with Official Letter No. 6207 (May 2026) of the Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee on ensuring security in border areas including Binh Hung, Bai Kinh and Vinh Hy.
According to Clause 1, Article 21 of Decision No. 04/2025/QD-TTg, the following areas: Mui Hoi, Binh Ba Island, and Hon Chut (Binh Hung Island) are completely prohibited from conducting or developing any type of tourism.
To ensure strict enforcement of the law, the authorities have specific requirements for each entity. Travel agencies and transportation companies must urgently review and cease all passenger transport activities, refrain from developing tour programs, and completely remove all advertising content related to these two islands.
At the same time, the Khanh Hoa Provincial Tourism Association must support the strengthening of propaganda and closely monitor its members and travel agency branches to prevent illegal tour brokerage activities. The Nam Cam Ranh commune government must organize on-site inspections and apply strict penalties to individuals and organizations that intentionally violate regulations within its jurisdiction.
A trend has emerged on social media: traveling to Binh Ba and Binh Hung islands – "pristine islands that only Vietnamese people are allowed to set foot on."
Binh Ba Island (approximately 3 km2) and Binh Hung Island, located in the Cam Ranh Bay area, are renowned for their pristine beauty and crystal-clear waters. Recently, on major social media platforms, many travel groups have been continuously spreading videos and posts tagged with the slogan: "A pristine island only Vietnamese people are allowed to set foot on." This media hype has created a trend of "unauthorized backpacking" among young people, stimulating demand for makeshift boat rentals, accommodation, and food services in the area.
In fact, this ban has been in place since 2015. By 2024, the People's Committee of Cam Ranh City (before the merger) had also requested the removal of all online promotional information for Binh Ba - Binh Hung islands. However, due to profit motives and the demand from individual tourists, clandestine business activities persist, directly impacting national security and defense management in this strategic area.
The Khánh Hòa provincial authorities' demand to crack down on unauthorized tours and remove misleading advertising is a necessary step to maintain law and order. For the travel-loving community, access to official information is crucial for building safe and civilized itineraries.
Tourists are advised against purchasing tour packages or unlicensed boat services to Binh Ba, Binh Hung, and Mui Hoi islands. Instead, Cam Ranh Bay and the surrounding waters of Khanh Hoa still have many legal destinations with well-developed infrastructure to cater to the recreational needs of tourists.
