Cu Lao Cau or Cu Lao Cau, Hon Cau is the name of a small island in Tuy Phong district, Binh Thuan province, about 110 km from Phan Thiet city.
Cu Lao Cau Tourism: Handbook from A to Z
Looking out from the mainland, Cu Lao Cau is like a warship anchored in the sea with its bow facing the East. Cu Lao Cau is about 7 nautical miles from the mainland. On rough days, motorboats run for about 75 minutes and about 40 minutes on quiet days. The rock here is countless, many strange shapes and colors, changing abnormally depending on the light of each day.
During World War II, Cu Lao Cau used to be a pirate shelter. They often sacked and sank passing Japanese ships. Every year, descendants of Japanese sailors in the past still go to the island to drop memorial wreaths. Previously, there was only Tu Huu consistency on the island, so it was called “lonely shop”, now there is a shop called Ba Chu.
The main water source on the island is taken from Gia Long well. Legend has it that Nguyen Anh used to hide on the island during the busy days. Many places with impressive names are associated with real stories such as: Love cave, Sung Sung slot, Coral beach, Transparent fish beach, Yen cave, Ba Hon cave, Tien well …
To Cu Lao Cau is most suitable from April to August of the lunar calendar, which is the calm south-sea monsoon season. From the full moon in August to the third lunar month is the rough sea season. This season, the wind is strong against the waves, the boat ride is extremely hard. But every season on the island is flooded with sunshine, full of wind, “The wind is like Phan (phang), it is as sunny as Rang”.
But the sea breeze on the island is cooler, while the sea is green and immensely attractive. The island has very few trees because the rainfall is very low. There are only a few poplar trees and immense weeds and shrubs. Although more than 6 months without a drop of rain, but the grass and trees on the island still persistently survive and bloom.
Two species of reptiles in abundance on the island are sandstorms and snakes, both poisonous snakes. Although not as much as the old days, “be careful not to worry”. Walking on the island especially at night, just wear shoes and pants to be sure. Snakes do not attack people unless accidentally stepped on or threatened.
1. Move to Cu Lao Cau Island
From the mainland to Cu Lao Cau island, you can start from many points: Phuoc The fishing port, Lien Huong town, Ca Na town, Vinh Tan commune …
Starting from Ca Na fishing port to Cu Lao Cau, it takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Ca Na has large parking lots and the best services.
Starting from the boat station in Lien Huong town, you can take a canoe from the Marine Conservation Center. You can call Mr. Lap 0918335617 in advance to order a canoe, priced at 250,000 VND / person / round trip (or Mr. Quang, owner of Song En 0915816131)
+ From Phuoc The fishing port, you can take a fisherman’s wooden boat to Cu Lao Cau or go by a boat carrying fresh water and food to the island, it takes about 30 minutes. There is a restaurant on the island of Mr. Tu Huu (0932144454) also has its own boat to the island that you can call in advance to ask for information.
2. Accommodation
The island is under the management of the border guards, so if you want to stay overnight, you need to ask for permission from the border guards on the island.
However, there are no accommodation services on the island, so if you want to stay, you need to bring your own tents, sleeping bags or you can ask to sleep at the border post. The soldiers here are quite friendly and always help everyone. Usually the groups point to the island in the morning and return to the mainland in the afternoon.
3. Places to visit on the island
– Bai Coral: Cu Lao Cau is home to many rare aquatic species. Therefore, this is a great place for you to watch the corals.
– Hang Yen: The cave has hundreds of nesting birds. In the past, people who went to the sea or people took them here often came here to exploit eggs and nests, but now there are protection from the border camps on the island, so the nests are proliferating more and more.
– Ba Hon Cave: Right next to Yen cave is Ba Hon cave, the cave is created by 3 large vertical rocks, very interesting shape that everyone who comes here must take pictures.
– Nam Hai temple (worship Ong fish for people who go to the beach to stop at the bridge). Every year there is a festival on the full moon of April.
In addition, in Cu Lao Cau, there are Gieng Tien, Bai Tien, Love Cave, Khe Sung Sung, Bai Ca Trans, waiting for you to explore.
4. Place to eat
On the island there are 2 shops open regularly. Including Song Bien of Mr. Tu Huu mentioned above, the restaurant is very delicious. He is a very nice person, friendly and enthusiastic. He is ready to be your tour guide for all day on this island because for him this is like the house, where he loves the most.
Some specialties on the island of Cau:
– Her nipple, this is a conical shell shaped skewed, on the top has a small knob with the outer shell is black and gray and the inside is sparkling with mother-of-pearl color. The most popular way to enjoy this snail dish is boiling or baking.
Her Breasts. Photo: Zing News
– Moon Crab, is a type of crab with spots on the shell, this type of crab is considered by many to be as delicious as king crab but the price is many times cheaper.
Moon Crab. Photo: bikipdulich
– Scallop: This dish is very deliciously processed by fishermen, with crushed peanuts. This can be considered a specialty of Cu Lao Cau, because this dish has never been seen in other places. In addition, other types of seafood here are also very plentiful and cheap.
5. Note when traveling to Cu Lao Cau
– Before going to Cu Lao Cau, you should ask the boat owner or the islanders if the sea is moving or not because if on a rough day, traveling is very difficult and dangerous.
– Should bring life jackets to be careful when traveling at sea because you not only travel by wooden boat or canoe, but also have to travel by basket boat.
– If you want to camp overnight, you need to ask a train driver or a restaurant owner to ask for permission from the border guards.
– If you need to use fresh water, you can apply for a well in the army barracks, but you should also save for the soldiers here.
– The island is famous for having many poisonous snakes, so when traveling, you should go on the trail, do not go into the bushes, camp in cool, dark areas, so make a fire to avoid snakes.
– Do not litter on the island.
6. Estimated schedule
– 9 pm: you go to the East bus station to take the Que Huong bus to Phan Rang.
– 4am: Arrive at Dai Hoa junction, take Da Su bus to Phuoc The Fish Port (about 3km). Take a break.
– 6am: have breakfast, cafe, walk around the fishing port, contact fishermen to welcome the boat to the island.
– 8:00 am: board the boat to go to the island.
– 9:00 am: arrive at the island. Bathing and walking around the island, enjoy the fresh air. Scuba diving to watch the coral.
– 2:00 pm: board the train back to the mainland.
– 3:00 pm: go to visit Co Thach Pagoda, also known as Hang Pagoda, on the way from Phuoc The running through Lien Huong town to reach the pagoda. The cool breeze blowing in the face along with the smell of earth and grass blends will remind you of the childhood of the days in the countryside.
Photo:Internet