Whale Island Travel Guide
Whale Island is a private resort in the Van Phong bay area of Khanh Hoa Province, a couple of hours north of Nha Trang. It is a good alternative to busy Nha Trang and is a quick speedboat ride away.
- What is It?
- An island off the coast to the north of Nha Trang.
- When to Go
- December through March has the best weather in Vietnam, especially for diving and snorkeling at Whale Island.
- Nearest Town
- Nha Trang, 2 hours to the south.
- Don't Miss
- the beach at Palm Gardens.
- Trivia
- Whale Island was named by the French in the 19th century.
The island is a nice place to go for relaxing and for activities, with canoeing, rowing, surfing and scuba diving all available. Wide beaches and amazing turquoise waters are the theme at Whale Island.
There are a few beaches on Whale Island, although those with kids should beware Cua Dai Beach as it has an intermittent whirlpool that has been known to drown people on occasion. The beach at Palm Gardens is safer. There are plenty of resorts on Whale Island, including the popular Golden Sands Resort, yet nightlife and shopping is pretty thin on the ground.
Travel to Whale Island - Getting There
Whale Island is only accessible by boat, with speedboats leaving from Vangia wharf to the north of Nha Trang. Nha Trang is home to the closest airport (under an hour from Ho Chi Minh City) and is also served by buses and trains heading north and south. Ho Chi Minh City Airport is 5 hours by bus from Vangia wharf.
