Diep Son Island

Diep Son is a small group of islands in Van Phong bay, and what makes it known is a sand and shingle bar running between two of them: at low tide it stands above the water, so that a path about seven hundred metres long appears across the sea with water on both sides, ankle to knee deep on the shallowest days. It is entirely a function of the tide, and going at the wrong hour means the bar is submerged and there is no path at all. The island has a small fishing village and basic homestays, and the water in the bay is clear.

What you actually see

• A sandbar between two islands - about seven hundred metres.
• A path across the sea at low tide - and nothing at high water.
• A small fishing village - with basic homestays.
• Clear water in Van Phong bay - the setting.

When to go

February to August, timed to a low tide. A full day.

Honest expectations

The whole thing depends on the tide table and getting it wrong means seeing nothing. Boats stop in rough weather. There is little shade and no real facilities on the bar. The island is small and quickly walked.

Nearby

Doc Let beach is south; Van Gia and the mainland are west.