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Hòn Tằm Island

Hòn Tằm is Nha Trang Bay's most developed private island - a resort island a short speedboat ride offshore with white sand beaches, water sports, and Vietnam's largest island-based hot mineral mud bath complex, though at a real cost in crowding, gated resort access, and inflated food prices.

Private Island ResortWhite Sand BeachMineral Mud BathsBoat Tour
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Overview

Best Time to Visit
Feb - Sep (dry season, calm water, best visibility); avoid Tết and major holidays if you want a quieter, less surge-priced visit
Entry Fee
From 2026, tickets are sold as whole-island packages rather than separate zone tickets: basic beach entry from around 350,000 VND/adult; mud bath only roughly 350,000-490,000 VND; full combo packages (round-trip boat, buffet lunch, and either mud bath or beach amenities) roughly 700,000-1,040,000 VND/adult depending on what's included. Prices surge during Tết and major holidays (up to ~990,000 VND for the top package). Child pricing is based on height (roughly 1-1.39m)
Opening Hours
Boats run frequently through the day, roughly every 20-60 minutes from around 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with the last return crossing around 4:30-5:00 PM for day visitors - check current times when booking, since the schedule can change and varies by source
Address
Hòn Tằm, Vịnh Nha Trang, Khánh Hoà

Things to Know

Crowds
Peak times are mid-morning onwards as boats bring in more visitors, including large Chinese tour groups; arrive on the 7-8 AM boat for a noticeably quieter beach
Accessibility
Entrance requires a paid ticket (pricing restructured in 2026 - see entranceFee for current tiers). English-speaking staff are limited, with most communication in Vietnamese or Chinese. The island is divided into gated resort sections with restricted paths between them. Boat schedules are limited to a handful of departures per day - check before visiting

About This Place

What Makes Hòn Tằm Island Special

Hòn Tằm - Silkworm Island - is a roughly 90-110 hectare island (estimates vary by source) about 7km off the coast of Nha Trang, developed as a private beach resort under the MerPerle Hòn Tằm brand, with a 5-star resort offering overnight stays in beachfront bungalows and villas for those who want to extend beyond a day trip. It's the most developed of the bay's islands, effectively split into two character areas - Zone A, centred on the mud bath complex, and Zone B, centred on beach and water activities - though as of 2026 tickets are sold as bundled whole-island packages rather than separate zone-specific tickets, so check what a given package actually includes. The main beach runs over 1km of sand with the usual resort water-sports lineup, while the mud bath side is marketed as the largest hot mineral mud bath complex on any island in Vietnam - a terraced hillside facility with individual soaking tubs set under trees, an infinity mineral pool, a jacuzzi, and water massage therapy. Beyond the beach and mud baths, the island also holds Hoàng Hoa Thôn, a small cluster of five houses said to be over 100 years old, and a Seawalker underwater walking activity that lets visitors see the coral without diving certification. The island has two main beaches: the western beach facing Nha Trang city, with the resort facilities, water sports, and restaurant strip; and the quieter eastern beach facing the open sea, reachable by a short walk across the island. The waters around the island are calm enough to support pearl farming nearby, and are part of the Nha Trang Marine Protected Area - the same zone as Hòn Mun - with coral snorkeling available from the rocky headlands, though the quality is secondary to Hòn Mun's dedicated dive sites. Hòn Tằm draws a genuine mix of independent travellers and large tour groups (Chinese and domestic Vietnamese tour groups are both common, typically arriving from around 9-10 AM), which shapes the on-the-ground experience as much as the beach or mud baths do - this is a polished, sometimes crowded resort day rather than a quiet island escape.

How to Get There

Getting There

Since 2024, speedboats to Hòn Tằm depart from the new Nha Trang Tourist Port (also called the Vinpearl port), near the former Cầu Đá pier site in Vĩnh Nguyên ward, southern Nha Trang - about 15-20 minutes by taxi or Grab from central Nha Trang. The crossing itself takes roughly 7-10 minutes by speedboat. Boats run frequently through the day, roughly hourly or more often, from around 8 AM, with the last return crossing for day visitors around 4:30-5 PM. Arrive at the port 15-20 minutes before your scheduled departure to check in. Day tickets, including the boat transfer, are best booked online in advance (ideally at least a day ahead, especially on weekends or holidays) to skip the paper-ticket queue at the port, though tickets are also available at the port ticket office or through a travel agency.

What to Expect

On the Ground

The main western beach has a long sandy shore with sunbeds, umbrellas, beach bars, a swimming pool, and water sports equipment - jet skis, banana boats, kayaks, and snorkeling gear available for hire. The beach is clean and the water calm in the dry season, though it fills up with sunbeds and activity noise (jet skis in particular) as the morning boats arrive. The mud bath complex is a separate, genuinely distinct experience - warm mineral mud soaks, an infinity pool, and water massage in a landscaped hillside setting, popular enough with visitors that some come specifically for this rather than the beach. Resort restaurants serve buffet or set-menu lunches at prices most visitors find high for what's offered. The eastern beach is accessible by a roughly 15-minute walk across the island - less developed, facing the open sea, and noticeably quieter than the main beach. Snorkeling from the rocky points at either end of the western beach gives access to some coral and reef fish, though this isn't the island's strong suit - the Seawalker activity, which lets visitors walk along the seabed in a diving helmet without certification, is a popular alternative way to see the coral up close. Hoàng Hoa Thôn, a small cluster of five houses said to be over 100 years old, is a quieter cultural corner of the island worth a short detour, and the pier itself has become something of a photo spot in its own right.

Travel Tips

Tips

Hòn Tằm suits travellers who want a full-service beach and spa day with easy logistics more than those seeking an untouched island escape - the short boat transfer, developed beach, and now-headline mud bath complex make it one of the most effortless resort-island days available from Nha Trang, provided you go in accepting the crowds, the gated resort segments, and the inflated food prices as part of the deal. It's a reasonable fit for couples, families, and travellers who specifically want the mud bath experience; it's a weaker choice for anyone prioritising quiet, uncrowded scenery or serious snorkeling, both of which are better found elsewhere in the bay - Hòn Mun for reef quality, or a quieter island altogether if crowds are the main concern. For travellers prioritising snorkeling or diving quality specifically, Hòn Mun's marine reserve remains the better destination, and the two islands can be combined on a single boat tour.

Insider Tips

Based on real traveler experiences and commonly mentioned advice from multiple visitors.

Arrive early (7-8 AM) to experience the beach before crowds and beach chairs take over the sand
Check the boat schedule in advance, since only a handful of departures run per day to and from the island
Budget for high resort prices - food and drinks are significantly marked up (a juice can run around 90,000 VND)
The mud bath complex here is a genuine standout, not a gimmick - billed as the largest island-based hot mineral mud bath facility in Vietnam, built into a hillside with soaking tubs under trees, an infinity mineral pool, a jacuzzi, and water massage therapy. If that's part of the appeal for you, budget for it separately, since as of 2026 it's sold as its own ticket tier or bundled into higher-priced combo packages
Ticket pricing was restructured in 2026 - the old separate Zone A/Zone B system is gone, replaced by whole-island package tiers (beach-only, mud-bath-only, or combined). Compare the actual package contents rather than just the headline price, since what's included varies a lot between tiers
Arrive on the first morning boat (around 8 AM) for the quietest beach experience - crowds, including large Chinese tour groups, build steadily through mid-morning and beach chairs fill up fast
Food and drinks on the island are noticeably overpriced for what you get (a simple juice can run around 90,000 VND) - it's the trade-off for a captive resort audience, so factor it into your budget or eat before/after on the mainland
English is limited among staff, who mostly communicate in Vietnamese and Chinese given the island's popularity with Chinese tour groups - useful to know if you're relying on spoken English for questions or bookings on the day
The island is effectively divided between a few separate resort operators with gated paths between sections, so don't expect to freely wander the whole island - plan around whichever zone your ticket actually covers
The eastern beach, facing away from Nha Trang city, is quieter than the main western beach and worth the short walk across the island if you want a break from the crowds
Combine with a stop at Hòn Mun Island on the same boat tour if snorkeling quality matters more to you than beach polish - Hòn Mun's reef, while itself affected by past coral decline, is still the better dedicated snorkeling destination in the bay
For the smoothest day, follow the timing locals use to dodge the domestic tour groups: arrive on an early boat before 9 AM, use the 8-10 AM window for swimming and the white sand beach while it's still quiet, then head to the mud baths around 10:30 AM-12 PM once the beach starts filling up. Catch one of the last boats back, typically around 4:30 PM
Outside food and drinks generally aren't allowed on the island (baby food is an exception) - the resort wants you eating and drinking on-site, so factor that into your budget rather than planning to bring your own
Keep your ticket somewhere safe and photograph it as a backup - losing it can complicate re-entry or the return boat
If you're prone to seasickness, bring motion sickness medication for the boat crossing

FAQ

Common questions from travelers who've visited this place.

What is the entrance fee and can I visit without staying overnight?›
As of 2026, tickets are sold as whole-island packages rather than a single flat entrance fee - basic beach entry starts around 350,000 VND/adult, with mud bath and combo packages costing more (up to roughly 1,040,000 VND for the fullest package). Day visits without an overnight stay are the norm; there's no requirement to stay at the resort.
What time should I arrive to avoid crowds?›
Arrive on the first boat, around 7-8 AM. Crowds build steadily from mid-morning, and beaches can feel packed with chairs and activity by midday.
Are staff able to communicate in English?›
Limited. Most staff communicate primarily in Vietnamese and Chinese, reflecting the island's popularity with Chinese tour groups - communication may be harder going for English-only speakers, so keep questions simple or confirm bookings in writing beforehand.
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