How do you get to Ly Son Island?

A speedboat ferry from Sa Ky port (Quang Ngai province) — 205,000–237,000 VND (~$8–9.50, April 2026, takes 30–35 minutes and costs); Sailings a day — several (there are); The port by taxi from Quang Ngai town — 20–30 minutes; Since 2022 a direct ferry from Da Nang — 2–3 hours (also runs).

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Ly Son Island: volcanoes and garlic in 2026

One of Vietnam's largest volcanic islands, where garlic grows on basalt and an old pagoda sits in a cave in the rock. Ly Son is 10 square kilometres of land some 30 km off the coast of Quang Ngai province. Five extinct volcanoes, black cliffs, turquoise water and zero resort sprawl.

Updated 17 July 20267 min read

Aerial view of a Ly Son fishing village with houses, garlic fields and boats in the bay — Ly Son — a volcanic island about 30 km off the Quang Ngai coast

The island was formed 25–30 million years ago by erupting basalt volcanoes. Today the craters grow garlic that sells well above the mainland price, and the national flag flies from the highest volcano. Tourists are still rare here — this is not Phu Quoc or Cat Ba, and you will barely hear English. But that is exactly why Ly Son is worth the trip: a working fishing-and-farming island that hasn't been repackaged for anyone.

Short answer: take the speedboat from Sa Kỳ port (30–35 min, ~$8–9.50), rent a motorbike, and give it one to two days — Thoi Loi peak and the To Vo arch, a boat over to Be Island, garlic fields and the night market. Best March–September; winter storms can strand you.

The natural volcanic To Vo sea arch on Ly Son Island — The To Vo Arch — a natural volcanic gate and Ly Son's signature photo spot. Photo: minhphuc_99kdd, Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Five volcanoes and black cliffs

Ly Son is not a palm-fringed tropical postcard. It is a raw volcanic landscape: black basalt, sheer cliffs, wind off the sea. Beautiful — just in a different way.

Thới Lới peak — the island's high point. On top sits a crater with a freshwater lake and a national flagpole. The 360° panorama takes in the sea, the garlic fields below and neighbouring Be Island on the horizon. The climb is 30 minutes on foot or 10 minutes by motorbike up the switchbacks.

The Cổng Tò Vò arch — a natural volcanic gate right at the water's edge. It is the island's top photo spot and, since 2025, a national monument. At sunset, when the sun drops straight through the arch, everyone with a camera gathers here.

The Hang Câu cliff — a tall wall on the rim of the Thoi Loi volcanic ring. There is a view of the sea from the edge and a wild black-pebble beach below.

Hang Cu beach and To Vo archway on the northwest part of the island of Ly Son are the leading attractions, but unfortunately, they don’t provide much more than a photo opportunity. … there is a strong likelihood they will have to traverse piles of trash to get the picture they wantDarren Barnard, VnExpress International, 2024

Hang cave pagoda — a temple set into a seaside cliff on Ly Son Island — Hang Pagoda — a temple set in a cave under the cliff. Photo: Kim Yong Soo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

The Chùa Hang pagoda — an old temple set deep in a cliff cave and a national monument of Vietnam. At the entrance a statue of Guanyin faces the sea. It is quiet, cool and smells of incense. Free to enter.

The island has dozens of pagodas and shrines, plus the seaside Âm Linh Tự shrine and a small museum devoted to the Hoang Sa naval flotillas — the crews sent from Ly Son centuries ago to chart and defend the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. That history still runs deep here, and it is why the island matters to Vietnam far beyond its garlic.

The kingdom of garlic

Harvested garlic drying on mats along the Ly Son Island waterfront — The garlic harvest is dried right by the sea — a Ly Son trademark sight. Photo: Kim Yong Soo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Ly Son is nicknamed the "kingdom of garlic" for good reason. Some 300 hectares of fields grow garlic and onions on volcanic basalt mixed with sea sand and fed with seaweed. It is a rare combination.

Tỏi Lý Sơn is "pearl garlic." The cloves are small with a pearly sheen, and the flavour is sharper and richer than usual. Locals swear it cures everything, from a cold to high blood pressure. On the island a kilo starts around 200,000 VND (~$8, April 2026), well above the mainland price.

Planting season is September–October and the harvest is in March. If you land between planting and harvest, you will see the checkerboard fields: brown basalt alternating with white sand and green shoots. Farmers haul the coral sand up from the shore by hand every couple of years to keep the top layer alive — the whole system is stubbornly manual, which is half of why the garlic costs what it does.

Garlic salad (gỏi tỏi) is Ly Son's signature dish — thinly sliced garlic with seafood, herbs and fish sauce. Try it at the night market.

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How to get to Ly Son

Volcanic cliff on Ly Son with a drop, wild beach and the national flag on the summit — Ly Son's volcanic coast: tall cliffs, turquoise water and a flagpole on top. Photo: minhphuc_99kdd, Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Most ferries leave from Sa Kỳ port in Quang Ngai province. From Quang Ngai town it is about 20 km by road to the port, 20–30 minutes by taxi.

Ferries to Ly Son Island: routes, journey time and prices
Route	Time	Price
Sa Ky → Ly Son (speedboat)	30–35 min	205,000–237,000 VND (~$8–9.50)
Da Nang → Ly Son (speedboat)	~2.5 h	from 590,000 VND (~$24)

The Sa Ky fare is as of April 2026. There are several sailings a day, and the timetable shifts with season and weather, so check it at the port the day before. Summer and holidays add extra runs. Buy tickets a day ahead in peak season, and get to the port 45–60 minutes before departure.

Since 2022 a speedboat also runs direct from Da Nang (operator Phú Quốc Express; check the schedule before you go). It costs more and takes longer, but it is handy if you would rather skip the detour through Quang Ngai.

Getting to Quang Ngai

From Da Nang: train (3–4 h, from 100,000 VND) or bus (3 h, from 120,000 VND)
From Ho Chi Minh City: a flight to Da Nang plus a bus, or the direct train (12–14 h)
From Hoi An: a bus to Quang Ngai (2 h, from 80,000 VND)

The big airport with international flights nearby is Da Nang; for a full city guide see our Da Nang guide, or read up on Quy Nhon a little further south.

Be Island — the little neighbour

Be Island beach with colourful round basket boats and black basalt rocks — Be Island — clear water and coral 7 km off Ly Son. Photo: Đôi Ta Đi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Seven kilometres north of Ly Son lies the tiny island of Đảo Bé (An Binh). The people who live here are mostly fishermen, and there is no tourist infrastructure at all.

Why go: the water is so clear you can see the bottom 10 metres down. Coral reefs sit right off the shore, so you can snorkel without a mask — goggles are enough. White sand, silence. Spend 2–3 hours here, then head back to Ly Son.

A boat to Be Island runs from 150,000 VND (~$6) per person in a group. You can arrange one at the Ly Son pier in the morning — boats leave once they fill up, and the last one back is usually mid-afternoon, so don't dawdle over lunch. Bring your own water and shade: there are a couple of drink stalls and nothing else.

At Ly Son, one can find greater peace and quiet on Be Island, a 20-minute boat ride away from the … main islet of Ly Son. Here, there is more beach area to enjoy and a much-welcomed absence of trashDarren Barnard, VnExpress International, 2024

Clear water over a shallow reef off the Ly Son shore, seen from a rock — Clear water over a shallow reef off the Ly Son shore. Photo: minhphuc_99kdd, Wikimedia Commons, public domain

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Where to stay and what to eat

Where to stay

There are no five-star hotels here — just guesthouses and mini-hotels along the main road.

Accommodation prices on Ly Son Island
Type	Price / night
Homestay	from 150,000 VND (~$6)
Guesthouse	200,000–400,000 VND (~$8–16)

Book ahead in summer (June–August) — rooms are scarce and domestic tourists fill everything.

Food

Boiled Vietnamese crabs on a table — a typical dinner on Vietnam's islands — Seafood is the backbone of the cooking on Vietnam's islands

The night market is the place to have dinner: garlic salad, sea urchins (nhím biển), crab and grilled fish.
Seafood on Ly Son is cheaper than on the resort islands: a portion from 50,000 VND (~$2).
Sea urchins are a specialty, in season from March.

A basalt reef in shallow water from above, white terns over the turquoise sea — The shallows around the island — this is where the sea urchins on the night-market tables come from. Photo: minhphuc_99kdd, Wikimedia Commons, public domain

When to go, what to bring and how long to stay

Best time: March–September. The sea is calm and ferries run regularly. October–February brings storms, cancelled sailings and days when the island is cut off entirely.

Getting around: motorbike only. Rental is 100,000–150,000 VND a day (~$4–6). You can ride around the whole island in 30 minutes. The roads are narrow but smooth.

What to bring: plenty of cash (ATMs on the island are few), sunscreen and a snorkel mask (hard to buy locally). English is barely spoken, so a translation app helps.

How long you need: one to two days is plenty. One full day covers Thoi Loi and the arch in the morning, Be Island midday and the night market in the evening. A second day leaves room for the pagodas, the garlic fields and an unhurried swim.

The honest downsides: infrastructure is minimal, almost no one speaks English, and food choices are limited. This is not a resort — it is an adventure.

Ly Son is one of the most unusual islands in Vietnam — and one of the country's places tourists still skip. The nearest mainland town is Quang Ngai; Quy Nhon lies further south down the coast, and Da Nang has the big airport and the direct ferry.

Current as of April 2026. Prices and conditions can change — double-check before you travel.

FAQ

A speedboat ferry from Sa Ky port (Quang Ngai province)205,000–237,000 VND~$8–9.50, April 2026takes 30–35 minutes and costs
Sailings a dayseveralthere are
The port by taxi from Quang Ngai town20–30 minutes
Since 2022 a direct ferry from Da Nang2–3 hoursalso runs

Morning: Thoi Loi peak for the view over the volcano, then the To Vo sea arch. Midday: a boat to Be Island for snorkelling and the beach. Evening: the night market with garlic salad and sea urchins. With a second day, add Hang Pagoda, the Hang Cau cliff and the garlic fields.

Ly Son "pearl garlic" grows on volcanic soil topped with sea sand — a rare combination. The flavour is stronger than ordinary garlic and the cloves have a pearly sheen. A kilo starts around 200,000 VND (~$8, April 2026). A good souvenir to take home from Vietnam.

March–September. The sea is calm and ferries keep to schedule. March is the garlic harvest, when the fields turn golden-green. Summer (June–August) has the clearest water for snorkelling. In winter (October–February) storms can cut the island off.

Yes, but these are not resort beaches. The best swimming is on Be Island (clear water, coral). On Ly Son itself you can swim near the port and at Hang Cau, but the shore is rocky. This is an island for volcanoes and garlic, not for a beach holiday.