Short, honest answers to the practical questions travellers have before coming to Hon Son. I’m Giang, and I have lived and worked on the island for more than 30 years. Where something is not yet confirmed, I say so.
Can foreigners visit Hon Son?
Yes. Foreign travellers visit Hon Son and stay overnight. On the island, life for you is the same as for Vietnamese visitors: you ride around, eat and stay wherever you like. Bring your original passport and a valid visa, because you need them to board the boat.
Do I need a special permit?
Under the current rules, you should not. Hon Son is in a coastal border area, and Vietnamese law requires foreigners to have a provincial police permit for such areas, except for recognised tourist areas. The province recognised the “Lai Son Tourist Area” (1,083 hectares, almost the whole island) in late 2017, and the 2026 consolidated version of the law still keeps that exception. Many older blog posts still mention a permit from before then. Please check the latest rules before you travel.
Do I need to register with the police?
Your accommodation does it for you. Hotels, guesthouses and homestays in Vietnam must register foreign guests with the local police within 12 hours of arrival (24 hours in remote areas). Just hand over your passport at check-in.
How do I get to Hon Son?
By fast boat from Rach Gia. Superdong boats usually leave Rach Gia around 6:35 and 7:30 in the morning and take about 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 30 minutes. An adult ticket was about 160,000 VND one way in July 2026. Times change with tide and season, so confirm when you book. See the Rach Gia to Hon Son ferry page.
Can boats be cancelled?
Yes, when the wind is strong. Fast boats run up to about wind level 5 to 6 and are usually cancelled from level 6 to 7, often announced early that morning. Leave a spare day before an onward flight.
Is there an ATM on Hon Son?
Yes, one. A Kienlongbank ATM has been working since early 2026, right at the Bai Nha ferry pier next to the Hon Son border guard post. It accepts all cards, including Visa, for withdrawals. It does not take deposits. Bring some cash as a backup.
Is there phone signal and internet?
Yes. Signal is good on all Vietnamese networks around the island. It gets weak far out at sea and high up on the mountain.
How do I get around the island?
By motorbike. There is a road around the island and a road across it. Rentals usually cost around 200,000 VND a day including fuel and helmet (August 2026). You need a licence that is valid in Vietnam. Your guesthouse can arrange a bike, and LAMOSE on the island can also help.
When is the best time to visit?
Roughly November to March, when the sea is clearest and calmest. Locals count three wind seasons, and because the island is big and mountainous, one side is always sheltered, so you can visit all year. See best time to visit.
Can I fly a drone?
Vietnam’s drone rules changed in November 2025 (Decree 288/2025). Drones must be registered. Small drones under 250 g flown for fun outside restricted zones do not need a flight permit, but you must notify the local military and police. Larger drones need a permit from the Ministry of Defence. Whether any part of Hon Son is a no-fly zone is not yet confirmed, so ask locally before you fly. Please check the latest rules before you travel.
Is fresh water a problem?
Fresh water is precious on a small island. Bottled water is easy to buy in the village shops. Please keep showers short.
What should I see?
Hike Ma Thien Lanh early in the morning, swim at Bai Bang, ride the road around the island, catch the early fish market at Bai Gieng and visit the floating fish farms. See things to do.
Can I combine Hon Son with Nam Du or Phu Quoc?
Yes, Hon Son sits between Rach Gia and the Nam Du islands. Ask at the pier or your guesthouse for the current boat to Nam Du. See Hon Son from Phu Quoc and Nam Du.
Sources
Checked on 12 October 2026. Island details come from my own life on Hon Son and from the articles on this site.
- Vietnam Law: consolidated text of Decree 71/2015 as amended by Decree 299/2025 (in Vietnamese)
- Bao Can Tho, 9 January 2018: Kien Giang recognises Lai Son Tourist Area (in Vietnamese)
- Hanoi legal information portal: registering foreign guests (in Vietnamese)
- LuatVietnam: drone flight permits from 5 November 2025 (in Vietnamese)
- Superdong booking and timetable
- Baolau: Rach Gia to Hon Son
Giang (Giang Bien Dao) has lived and worked on Hon Son island for more than 30 years. Last updated: 12 October 2026.