THE LOBSTER ARCHIPELAGO: A 48-Hour Injection of Salt, Sun, and Shellfish

The New Year is often celebrated with champagne in crowded city squares, but there is a more visceral way to mark the passage of time. There is the silence of a night bus cutting through the dark, the smell of salt spray hitting a wooden hull, and the snap of a fresh lobster shell. We are leaving the asphalt of Saigon for the raw, elemental beauty of Binh Hung Island.

This is not a luxury retreat. It is a 2-day, 2-night expedition into the rugged coast of Cam Ranh. We will sleep on an island that feels like a secret, swim in water the color of gin, wander through surreal sheep fields that mimic a European pastoral dream, and feast on the kings of the sea. It is a journey of high contrast: the arid heat of Ninh Thuan meeting the cool embrace of the ocean.

The Cave, The Vineyard, and The Feast

NIGHT 0: The Great Escape | Saigon – Cam Ranh

The Experience: We depart Saigon at 20:00. The city fades. The night bus is a capsule of anticipation. We sleep as the landscape shifts from the flat delta to the jagged coastline of the South Central Coast.

DAY 1: The Amphibious Adventure | Ninh Chu – Binh Hung Island

Points of Interest: Bai Kinh, Binh Tien, Freshwater Beach (Bai Nuoc Ngot), Deep Cave (Hang Sau), Hai Nam Tomb.

The Experience: We wake up to the sunrise at Ninh Chu. After breakfast, we hit Bai Kinh, the gateway to the island. We board a boat, cutting across water so clear you can see the shadow of the hull on the sand below. The Swim: We head to Freshwater Beach. This is a geological oddity; a stream of fresh water from the Nui Chua National Park runs into the sea here. You can wash the salt off your skin by walking ten meters inland. The Exploration: We navigate to Deep Cave (Hang Sau) and the Rock Wall. We don masks and dive. The coral here is alive, a riot of neon brain coral and staghorn formations. The Culture: Back on land, we tour the island on electric cars (tuktuks). We visit the Hai Nam Tomb and Binh Hung Pagoda, smelling the incense mixed with the brine of the drying fish nets. The Evening: This is the main event. A floating dinner on a raft. The menu is decadent: Lobster (half a bird per person), grilled abalone, oyster porridge, and fish steamed in rice paper. It is a feast that would cost a fortune in the city, eaten here with your feet dangling over the water.

Suggestions:

The Swim: Wear water shoes. The coral is beautiful but sharp, and the sea urchins are plentiful.

The Condiment: Try the local green chili salt. It transforms the seafood.

DAY 2: The Pastoral Surrealism | Sheep Field – Vineyard – Saigon

Points of Interest: Dong Cuu (Sheep Field), Ninh Thuan Vineyard.

The Experience: We leave the island and head inland. The landscape becomes arid, almost desert-like. Then, we arrive at Dong Cuu (Sheep Field). It feels like a hallucination—a slice of European farmland dropped into the Vietnamese tropics. We walk among the flock, the white wool contrasting with the stark green grass. The Harvest: We move to a Ninh Thuan Vineyard. This region is the grape capital of Vietnam. We duck under the trellises, picking fresh grapes and sipping the local wine. It is sweet, strong, and tastes of the sun. The Return: We drive back to Saigon, belly full of wine and seafood, arriving as the sun sets on the holiday.

The Lobster on the Raft

It happens on the evening of Day 1. You are sitting on a wooden raft, floating gently in the bay. The sun has gone down, and the fishing boats have turned on their lights, creating a city of stars on the water. The server places a Lobster in front of you. It is steamed simply, retaining the sweetness of the ocean. You crack the shell. The meat is firm, white, and steaming. You dip it in the spicy green chili sauce and take a bite. In that moment, with the cool wind on your face and the taste of the cleanest ocean in Vietnam in your mouth, you realize this beats any 5-star hotel buffet.

Notes (Additional Information)

Children’s tour prices:

Children under 5 years old: Free of charge. Parents or accompanying adults are responsible for the child’s meals, accommodation, and entrance fees (if any). Each pair of adults may accompany one child under 5 for free; the second child and beyond must purchase 50% of the tour price.

Children from 5 to under 10 years old: 75% of the tour price. Includes meals, a seat on the bus, and shared accommodation with family. Each pair of adults may accompany one child aged 5 to under 12; for the second child, parents are advised to purchase an extra single bed.

Children 10 years old and above: 100% of the tour price and full adult services.

Payment and Cancellation Policy

After confirmation, guests must pay at least 50% deposit to secure the booking, and the full 100% tour cost must be paid no later than 10 days before departure.

If guests do not complete payment by the required full-payment deadline, they will be considered to have voluntarily canceled the tour and will forfeit all deposit(s).

Airplane / train / high-speed boat tickets are issued immediately after registration, payment, and submission of personal details (full name, date of birth, etc.). These tickets are non-changeable and non-refundable: no name changes, no refunds, no date changes, and no itinerary changes.

Cancellation penalties after registration:

After deposit or payment, or more than 15 days before departure: 30% of tour price

10 days before departure: 50% of tour price

7 days before departure: 70% of tour price

5 days before departure: 100% of tour price

All cancellations must be made directly with the Company or via fax, email, or text message and must be confirmed by the Company. Cancellations by phone are not accepted.

As this is a shared group tour, the company is responsible for gathering enough participants (minimum 20 adults). If fewer than 20 adults register, the company will notify guests at least 3 days before departure to arrange a new departure date or provide a full refund of the deposit.

Deposit dates, payment dates, cancellation dates, and tour change dates do not include Saturday and Sunday.

In force majeure cases (terrorism, riots, natural disasters, floods, etc.), depending on actual circumstances and guest safety, the company may cancel or adjust the itinerary to an alternative program of equivalent value. If the new program incurs additional costs, guests must pay the difference. Both sides must make every effort to minimize losses due to force majeure.

For changes in flight schedules or transportation delays caused by airlines, railways, or ferry operators, the company is not responsible for any additional expenses such as meals, accommodation, transport, or tour guide services.

Important Information for Tour Participants

On the departure date, guests must gather at .......... at ..........

The company is not responsible for late arrivals.

Some activity sequences and details (flight time, train time, boat schedule, etc.) may be adjusted depending on actual travel conditions (weather, traffic, etc.).

Hotel/resort check-in and check-out times: after 2:00 PM for check-in and before 12:00 PM for check-out.

The tour guide will inform guests of specific meeting times and locations on the afternoon before departure.

Please sit in the seat assigned at the time of tour registration.

Please bring light and compact luggage.

Personal documents, money, and valuables must be self-kept. The company will help search for lost items but is not responsible for compensation.

Guests are advised to bring a compact umbrella for sun and rain, and wear sports shoes or sandals with back straps for easier movement.

Please follow the tour guide’s timetable to avoid delays affecting the whole group.

For health and food safety reasons, please do not bring outside food into restaurants or hotels. Bringing beverages may require hotel/restaurant approval and may incur an additional fee.

Before leaving your seat or location (bus, restaurant, sightseeing spot, shop, hotel room, etc.), please check your belongings carefully—wallet, purse, bag, camera, camcorder, phone—to avoid loss or inconvenience during the trip.

Be cautious while walking at sightseeing areas; do not stand or climb in unsafe places. Be careful when moving on boats or ferries. When crossing the street, follow traffic laws. Families with children must supervise them closely at all times.