Nam Du Island has been an ever-popular destination in recent years. With its combination of natural beauty, delicious food, and friendly people, Nam Du is a favorite among those who want to wander and explore new lands.

Nam Du is the furthest archipelago of Kien Hai district in Kien Giang province, located more than 80 km by sea from Rach Gia. Nam Du means "going south". From Rach Gia city, after a 2-hour sea ride, the Nam Du archipelago will appear before visitors with its dreamy, clear blue beaches and pristine, peaceful beauty.

Twenty-one islands of varying sizes, skillfully arranged by nature, form a stunning archipelago in the middle of the sea, giving Nam Du its captivating charm of unspoiled wilderness and tranquility. Among the 11 inhabited islands, some are densely populated, such as Hon Cu Tron, Hon Ngang, and Hon Mau, while others, like Hon Nom, Hon Dau, and Hon Dung, are home to only a few dozen households. The islands, large and small, are interspersed, creating a picturesque landscape, often referred to as the "Ha Long Bay of the South," and given other beautiful names such as "the deserted island in the South" or "the mermaid" in the middle of the ocean. Most of the islands here are associated with fascinating legends, further piquing visitors' curiosity and desire to explore and learn more.

My first destination on my exploration of Nam Du was Hon Lon (Big Island). Upon arriving at Hon Lon, tourists often rent motorbikes to explore the unique coastal road, and I did the same. My stop that morning was Cay Men Beach, considered the most beautiful beach in the Nam Du archipelago. Walking on the fine white sand, splashing in the clear blue water, or simply lying on the beach and admiring the old coconut trees, all my worries seemed to melt away with the waves.

A distinctive feature of the beaches in Nam Du is the relatively long, shallow stretches near the shore, requiring a short walk to reach the water. However, this makes them ideal spots to relax and unwind in the cool water, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere free from strong winds and large waves.

In the afternoon, I ran along the coastal road, filling my lungs with the salty sea air carried on the breeze. I stopped along the way to gaze into the distance, admiring the picturesque and charming scenery of small houses nestled together, boats anchored on the clear blue water, and in the distance, the lighthouse situated 296 meters above sea level. From the top of this lighthouse, the entire Nam Du archipelago lay before me like a magnificent painting.

The next day, I set off again to explore Hon Mau Island. Spanning over 200 hectares, Hon Mau is an island with great potential for developing resort tourism, boasting many stunning beaches such as Bai Chuong with its long stretches of white sand and turquoise waters, comparable to world-renowned beach paradises like the Maldives and Boracay… The sand is so smooth underfoot that you can clearly see schools of small fish swimming playfully. Perhaps paradise couldn't be more beautiful than this.

In contrast to Bai Chuong is Bai Bac, also known as Bai Da Den (Black Stone Beach), a beach of colorful rocks with diverse patterns, sparkling with thousands of glittering stones waiting to attract the attention of visitors from near and far. On Hon Mau Island, there is also Bai Nam, with calm waves and gentle breezes year-round, a place for trade and boat anchorage, and Bai Nom, charming with its rows of lush green coconut trees providing shade…

Hon Ngang is a popular choice for tourists wanting to explore the life of the islanders. It can be said that this is the most prosperous and densely populated island in the Nam Du archipelago. Most of the locals make their living from fishing and raising grouper and snapper in cages. If you want to learn about cage fish farming, don't hesitate to take a stroll around the island. The presence of tourists doesn't disrupt the lives of the islanders; they consider visitors an integral part of their lives. Therefore, every time I visited a family on the island, I was warmly welcomed with a friendly and familiar attitude, like welcoming a long-lost relative back home. Any questions I had about life on the island were answered enthusiastically by the locals, the only thing being... I couldn't quite understand the coastal accent.

I asked permission to visit the fish cages at sea, and the fishermen happily agreed. Walking precariously on the wooden planks, watching the schools of fish in the cages frantically snapping at the bait, was one of the most unforgettable experiences of my trip to Nam Du.

With a four-day trip, I've only explored a small part of the Nam Du archipelago. But I will return a second and third time, because Nam Du has left me with a longing to return. The fine sandy beaches, the crystal-clear turquoise waters, the rows of coconut trees swaying gently on the sand, and the kind smiles of the local people will forever be beautiful memories of my trip to Nam Du.