A quick break near the beach refreshes visitors for their afternoon cruise.
The cruise docks at Lao Island – where the largest troop of monkeys in the country lives. “The first monkeys were bred here in the late 1970s, and a troop of over 1,200 monkeys now thrives here. Monkeys are special to the island, and people refer to it as Monkey Island rather than its original name now,” the island manager says.
The monkeys are used to visitors now, and fruit and sweets are available for them to feed the animals. “We ask each visitor to only give one piece of fruit to the monkeys, because up to 1,000 tourists visit the islands every day, and the monkeys could get fat and sick.”
The island also offers rubber rafts and kayaks for those who wish to explore the forests on the five islands on a two-day trip. Christina Julia from Russia says she enjoys her time on the islands, the seafood and exploring the coral reefs.
“The service here is so good. Fresh seafood, ocean air, sunshine, green forests and naughty monkeys have created an unforgettable time for me. It’s been a great tour for me and my friends,” Julia says.
Nguyen Thi Thu Thao says she spent two days and one night with friends on a summer vacation. “I really had a great time relaxing on the islands’ sandy beaches. We enjoyed lobster and explored the five islands during the trip,” Thao said. “Nha Trang has built a reputation for its pristine beaches, but it was the isolated islands that attracted me. I hope to come back with my family one day,” she says.
According to tour company Long Phu, the site welcomed 170,000 tourists last year, 27,000 of whom were foreigners. Ly Thi Nhu Le, a tour operator, says Russian tourists account for the majority of visitors to the islands during the second half of the year.
Summer is the best time of year to visit the islands, when up to 1,000 tourists a day flock to the idyllic setting.
Day trips to the island cost from VND 380,000 (US$18) per person.
Source: http://news.com.vn
