Tickets
Hotels
Tours
Insurance
Trains
VietnamDescription and Is it Worth Visiting
20 kilometers north of Nha Trang and about 2 kilometers from the bay shore lies Monkey Island (Hon Lao Island), densely populated by monkeys living in the wild. During the Soviet-Vietnamese friendship, monkeys were bred on this island for shipment to the USSR. During the war, the work stopped and monkeys overran the entire island.
There are many monkeys on the island, but during the heat they may hide in the shade of trees. It's said that there are now over a hundred of them. Shows featuring monkeys and dogs are held three times a day. The tricks are mediocre, but worth watching.
But this island is interesting not only for the presence of monkeys. Enterprising Vietnamese have organized a cafe, a beach, created conditional gardens and a park on the island. On the beach you can rent a kayak for 100,000 VND, there's even a go-kart track deep on the island (90,000 VND), sunbeds and canopies are free. For the convenience of tourists, a road has been organized with special vehicles carrying visitors around the island.
If you come here as part of an excursion, you will be taken around the island a bit, you'll watch the monkey and dog show and return to shore. But if you come to the island on your own, you'll have the opportunity to walk around the island longer, swim, relax, and sunbathe on the local beach. But be very careful with the monkeys: they shamelessly steal and even forcibly take food and personal belongings from tourists. Do not leave your belongings unattended for even a minute. Sometimes monkeys can behave aggressively, especially if you start teasing them (see how to behave with monkeys, precautions).
A few words about the show. Unfortunately, local trainers are not too delicate with their charges, and during performances they often chase them with sticks. Also, the musical accompaniment is quite loud, which also does not have the best effect on the animals' behavior. And if you have a negative attitude towards such performances and forms of training, it's better not to watch the show. However, overall, the performance is quite interesting and amusing. Visiting the show is free, at the end the "performers" collect tips from tourists.
Feeding monkeys, despite some prohibitions, is still allowed. Follow the warnings posted everywhere on the island to avoid becoming a victim of primates. And no matter who tries to convince you that they are not aggressive here, don't believe them! First and foremost, these are wild animals and should be treated with caution. From our own experience, we'll say that it was here that one of us got scratched by a monkey's claws while trying to retrieve a backpack. The backpack was on a sunbed, there was no hint of food around, and we were simply walking on the beach. Draw your own conclusions.
Useful information for visiting:
- There is no separate excursion to Monkey Island or Orchid Island. Visiting the island is included in combined tours, for example, including a trip to hot springs or other islands (from 613,000 VND).
- When booking boat tickets at travel agencies or booking sites, they will be cheaper.
- Performances featuring monkeys and dogs take place at 10:00, 14:00 and 15:15, lasting 15 minutes.
- The last ferry from the island departs at 16:00!
- Monkey food (bananas, apples, papaya, carrots, cucumbers, seeds, nuts, cookies) can be bought on the island, but it will be cheaper to purchase at the pier before departure or at one of the local markets and bring it with you. Bring plenty!
- To make monkeys leave you alone, show them your empty hands and they will go away. Put all items (glasses, phones, caps) in backpacks and bags - don't think they're only interested in food.
🕐 Opening hours
The island is accessible 24/7, but you need to tie your visit to the boat operating hours. Boats depart from the pier to the island daily, from 07:30 to 15:00, every 30 minutes. The ferry ride takes about 20 minutes. The last boat from the island leaves at 16:00.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket prices
Visiting the island itself is free, you only need to get there by boat. Round-trip boat ticket, when purchased at the pier: adult - 180,000 VND (6.83 USD), children 100-140 cm tall – 100,000 VND (3.79 USD); children under 100 cm – free. When purchasing tickets at street travel agencies or booking online on sites like Trip.com (accepts Russian cards) or Klook, tickets are cheaper. Parking at the pier – from 10,000 VND (0.38 USD), outside – free.
🚶 How to get there
Monkey Island is located 15 kilometers from central Nha Trang (Monkey Island on the map). You can only get there by boat, which runs between the island and the Northern Pier Long Phu during the day from 07:30 to 15:00 every 30 minutes. The last return boat from the island leaves at 16:00.
In turn, you can get to the pier (Northern Pier of Nha Trang on the map) independently by rented transport, intercity bus, taxi, or with an excursion.
Finding this place during an independent trip won't be too difficult: the exit to the ferry (pier and ticket sales location) is very well marked and immediately visible when driving along the main road. Parking is organized, costs 10,000 VND (0.38 USD). If driving from central Nha Trang on QL1 road, you'll have to go 18 kilometers. If driving along the coast, you'll have to go about 22 kilometers, but the views along the way will be much more picturesque.
We also encountered information that city bus No. 2 should go to the Northern Pier Long Phu, but in reality we didn't see it on the road there, check everything on site.
Also see Nha Trang excursions with reviews, available for online booking on these trusted sites:
- 📷 Excursions in Nha Trang on Trip.com
- 📷 Excursions in Nha Trang on Tripster.ru
- 📷 Excursions in Nha Trang on Sputnik8.com
- 📷 Excursions in Nha Trang on GetYourGuide.com