Beaches, retreats and former prisons: Island hopping in Vietnam
(CNN)When I fled Vietnam as a child, I never imagined that the islands we attempted our escapes from would one day become luxurious beach resorts.
But more than 30 years later, that’s exactly what’s happening around Nha Trang, a seaside town where I grew up about 200 miles north of Saigon (or Ho Chi Minh City) that’s become a small hub for island getaways in Vietnam.
If you love finding a piece of tropical paradise as much as I do, Vietnam has some beautiful and intriguing offerings in Nha Trang and beyond, including islands that were once used to lock up prisoners.
The rise of Nha Trang
On the south central coast of Vietnam, where the temperature is hot year round, Nha Trang has long been a popular vacation spot for locals.
But in the 1990s, when Vietnam opened its doors to the outside world again, Nha Trang began attracting international travelers seeking a beach break between Saigon and Hanoi.
Palm tree shaded beaches, striking ancient temples, cheap hotels, fresh seafood grilled right on the beach, mind-numbing booze cruises for just a few bucks and a lively bar scene where locals, expats and tourists happily mingled at oceanfront places like the Sailing Club made Nha Trang a fun place to party and relax.
In fact, 20 years ago, a British expat living in Saigon enjoyed the island so much but couldn’t find adequate accommodation that he and a few partners built some bungalows.
Those bungalows became Mango Bay, an unpretentious resort offering rustic villas in a spacious natural setting.
There are plenty of other hotels and resorts to choose from on the island, and big names like the J.W. Marriott are currently under construction.
Located on the south coast, JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay was designed by legendary resort architect Bill Bensley and is due to open in late 2017.
The small island of Con Dao, while developing nowhere near the pace of Phu Quoc, may be the next frontier for Vietnam island hoppers charmed by the idea of exploring a beautiful place before the rest of the world moves in.
Diving here is said to be the best in Vietnam.
There’s no international airport and accommodation is limited, with a Six Senses property and the newly opened Poulo Condor Resort on the more luxury end.
These islands, much like Vietnam’s history, are a story of rebirth and reinvention, highlighting its ability to rebound from the dust of war.
In the end, natural beauty prevails.
The resorts
Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/18/travel/vietnam-islands-and-beaches/index.html