In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Vietnam
Lý Sơn
Spend 2 nights on Lý Sơn if you have a spare day for garlic fields, a volcano crater lake and empty beaches; skip if you only have 3 days for the Central Coast.
Lý Sơn is a volcanic island off Quảng Ngãi, reachable by speedboat from Sa Kỳ port. It offers a quieter alternative to the tourist islands: garlic terraces, a freshwater crater lake, a cave pagoda and a handful of seafood spots. Two nights let you see the main sights and relax; one night is enough if you arrive early and leave late.
- Country
- Vietnam
- Best months
- Feb–Aug
- Avoid
- Oct–Dec (typhoon season, rough seas)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- VND
- Money
- VND in small notes (10k–100k) for stalls, markets, xe ôm and tips at spas.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₫500,000–800,000 excl. bed · Mid ₫800,000–1,500,000 excl. bed · High ₫1,500,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Viettel, Vinaphone and Mobifone sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport and a face photo are required for registration.
- Emergency
- Police 113 · Fire 114 · Ambulance 115
- Plugs
- Types A, C, F · 220 V · 50 Hz · Two-pin sockets take flat US pins and round European pins; UK plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and cafés: Nothing; leave small change if you like.; Sit-down restaurant: Round up or 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Grab / taxi: Round up; tip in the app if you want.; Spa and massage: ₫50,000–100,000 to the therapist directly; some spas ask for more.; Guide and driver on a day tour: ₫100,000–200,000 per person for the guide, about half that for the driver.; Hotel porter: ₫20,000–50,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Bottled and filtered water everywhere; hotel refill stations are common. Café ice is factory-made.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in cities and hotels; squat toilets and no paper in rural stops and on long buses — carry tissues. Old plumbing: paper in the bin.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Speedboat Sa Kỳ – Lý Sơn, one way | ₫200,000 (check) |
| Motorbike rental, per day | ₫150,000–200,000 |
| Seafood meal (grilled fish, rice, vegetables) | ₫80,000–150,000 |
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | ₫10,000 |
| Coffee (local style) | ₫15,000–25,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- VCL · Chu Lai Airport
- Nearest airport; flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City; then taxi or bus to Sa Kỳ port (about 30 km (19 mi))Nearest airport; flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City; then taxi or bus to Sa Kỳ port (about 19 mi (30 km))
Typical fares
- Speedboat Sa Kỳ → Lý Sơn
- about ₫200,000, about 1 h (check)
- Motorbike rental, per day
- ₫150,000–200,000
- Tuk-tuk island tour, half day
- ₫300,000–500,000 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Rent a motorbike (about ₫150,000–200,000/day) or hire a tuk-tuk for the day. The island is small: the main road circles it in about 1 hour by bike.
See and do
Known for
- Garlic fields (February–March harvest)
- Thới Lới volcano and lake
- Chùa Hang (cave pagoda)
- Cổng Tò Vò (archway at sunset)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Quảng Ngãi | Speedboat from Lý Sơn to Sa Kỳ port, then bus or taxi (about 30 km (19 mi))Speedboat from Lý Sơn to Sa Kỳ port, then bus or taxi (about 19 mi (30 km)) | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Around the port
- Most guesthouses and hotels; walking distance to restaurants and bike rentals.
- East coast (An Bình beach)
- Quieter, with a few homestays and beachfront spots; need a motorbike.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Xin chàosin chow |
| Help me! | Cứu tôi với!kuh-oo toy vuh-ee |
| 1, 2, 3 | một, hai, bamoht, hai, bah |
| How much is it? | Bao nhiêu tiền?bow nyew tyen |
| Please take me to this address | Làm ơn chở tôi đến địa chỉ nàylahm uhn chuh toy den dee-ah chee nay |
| Excuse me! (to a younger server) | Em ơi!em uh-ee |
| I have a booking | Tôi đã đặt phòngtoy dah daht fong |
| What time? | Mấy giờ?may zuh |
| Thank you | Cảm ơnkahm uhn |
| Call the police! (113) | Gọi cảnh sát! (113)goy kahn saht |
| 4, 5, 6 | bốn, năm, sáubohn, nahm, sow |
| Too expensive! | Đắt quá!daht kwah |
| I booked a Grab | Tôi đặt Grabtoy daht grab |
| I'll have this one | Cho tôi cái nàychaw toy kai nay |
| Do you have a room free? | Còn phòng không?kon fong khohm |
| Now | Bây giờbay zuh |
| No, thank you (street sellers) | Không, cảm ơnkhohm, kahm uhn |
| Fire! Call the fire service! (114) | Cháy! Gọi cứu hỏa! (114)chai! goy kuh-oo hwah |
| 7, 8, 9, 10 | bảy, tám, chín, mườibay, tahm, cheen, muh-ee |
| Come down a bit | Bớt đibuht dee |
Say it for greetings, prices and 'no ice'. Show the screen for addresses, allergies, medical problems and anything you need done exactly — a wrong tone on those costs more than the embarrassment of pointing at a phone.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Nod and smile; handshake with men, let women offer first; avoid: Hugs and cheek kisses with people you have just met
- Names: Title plus given name — 'Anh Nam', 'Chị Lan' — the given name comes last; avoid: Calling someone by the family name alone (Nguyễn, Trần)
- Handing things: Both hands, especially money, cards and gifts to older people; avoid: Tossing things across a table
- Conversation: Expect questions about age, marriage and income; they place you, not pry; avoid: Raising your voice or correcting someone in front of others
- Temples and pagodas: Covered shoulders and knees; step over the raised threshold; enter by the right-hand door; avoid: Sitting with your back to an altar; climbing statues for photos
- Photos: Ask first, especially in minority villages; avoid: Paying children for photos — it keeps them out of school
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring fruit, tea or sweets; accept at least a drink; avoid: Pointing your feet at people or the family altar
- Beckoning: Palm down, fingers waving towards you; avoid: Curling one finger — it is used for animals
Scams and watch-outs
- Speedboat tickets sell out on weekends and holidays: book at least one day ahead via the port website or your hotel.
- No ATM on the island: bring enough cash (VND) for accommodation, food and bike rental.
- The volcano crater lake (Hồ Thới Lới) has no shade: bring water and sun protection.
Lý Sơn is safe; the main risks are motorbike accidents on the narrow roads and dehydration on the volcano hike. No serious crime reported.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Lý Sơn yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Garlic fields (February–March harvest)
- Thới Lới volcano and lake
- Chùa Hang (cave pagoda)
- Cổng Tò Vò (archway at sunset)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Sa Kỳ port official ticket booking: cangsaky.vn/dat-ve/
- Wikivoyage: Lý Sơn, revision 5239925 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5239925
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/ly-son). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.