Swim at Nha Trang's beaches by day, eat seafood at a street stall by night — once the standard routine starts to feel familiar, there's an option to slip away for half a day to a small island just outside the bay. Hoa Lan Island (Dao Hoa Lan, "Orchid Island"), floating in Nha Phu Bay about 15km from the city, packs an orchid garden, a bird show, a koi pond, and glamping onto one island. This article is meant as an option for travelers spending two or more nights in Nha Trang who are wondering where to go on their extra day.
Vietnamese outlet Thanh Nien published an on-the-ground report on August 8, 2026, covering how a day on the island unfolds. It's not a flashy attraction, but its appeal is the sense of the city's noise disappearing, leaving just birdsong and the sound of waves. It's a way to spend a day out on the water while still staying by the beach in Nha Trang.
About ten minutes by speedboat from Long Phu Port
Hoa Lan Island isn't reached from central Nha Trang, but from Long Phu Port (ben tau Long Phu), a little to the north. A speedboat (cano) crosses the calm waters of Nha Phu Bay in just over ten minutes. There's no bridge — the boat is the only way in. Nha Phu Bay is one of Khanh Hoa Province's main bays, alongside Nha Trang Bay and Van Phong Bay, and because it's calmer than the open sea, even a small boat rides smoothly. The crossing is short enough that it's manageable even for people who worry about seasickness.
Stepping onto the island, a walking path shaded by old trees and a stretch of white sand open up. The noise fades, replaced by sea breeze and birdsong. This shift into quiet is the whole reason for spending half a day on the island. If swimming and diving in Nha Trang are about enjoying the sea itself, Hoa Lan Island offers a different kind of day, walking through calm bay waters and greenery. Having this alternative on hand lets you swap plans around depending on the weather or your mood.
From calculating parrots to dancing ostriches
The island's main draw is its trained bird show. Parrots do arithmetic, hundreds of starlings swoop down all at once, and white doves, geese, and even ostriches take part. When an ostrich breaks into what looks like a dance, the crowd keeps laughing and applauding. For families with kids, this alone can feel worth the trip.
There's more packed onto the island beyond the show.
- Orchid garden: Orchids in a range of colors line the walking path. Also the source of the island's name
- Koi pond: A well-tended pond stocked with koi
- Butterfly garden: A corner where tropical butterflies flutter about
- Open-style zoo: A lightly fenced setup that lets you get close to the animals
- Beach team-building: Corporate groups enjoy recreational activities on the beach
The layout alternates between tropical-forest scenery and animal-encounter zones, so the view changes as you walk. Meals are served at the island's restaurant with a buffet and à la carte menu, though the buffet gives priority to group visitors.
Works as a day trip or an overnight stay
Hoa Lan Island suits both day trips and overnight stays. For a day trip, the last boat off the island leaves at 4:30pm, so a workable half-day plan is to leave Nha Trang in the morning, spend until early afternoon on the island, and head back to the city by evening. Timing your crossing to the bird show, then walking through the show, the orchid garden, and the koi pond, with lunch on the island, lets you cover the highlights in half a day. Spending the morning at a beach festival or on the beach and saving the island for the next day balances city fun with a natural island getaway. Kids tend not to get bored given how close they get to the birds, butterflies, and animals, making it a good fit for a family trip that's "short on travel time but rich in content."
For a deeper sense of quiet, you can stay overnight in a bungalow, a glamping tent, a campsite, or a regular room. Once day-trippers leave in the evening, the island empties out, and the menu is said to flex more for overnight guests. Combining it witha bay cruise around Nha Tranglets you fold views from the water together with time spent on the island into one itinerary. Khanh Hoa Provinceis also pursuing a plan to link three bays by seaplane, and Nha Phu Bay is counted as one of them.
What to know before you go
- Departure: Not from central Nha Trang, but from Long Phu Port. Take a car or taxi from the city to the port
- Duration: About ten minutes one way by speedboat. The boat is the only way to get there
- Last boat: The final boat off the island leaves at 4:30pm. Plan a day trip working backward from that time
- Lodging: Bungalow, glamping, campsite, and rooms all available. Fewer people after evening
- Meals: Buffet and à la carte at the island restaurant. Buffet gives priority to groups
- Fee: Entry fee and tour pricing aren't listed in this report. Check with the boat operator or tour company when booking
Nha Trang is known as a city of beaches and street food, but stepping outside the bay changes the scenery entirely in ten minutes.Nha Trang Sea Festival— spend a day at an event like this one in the city, then set aside a separate day for the island of orchids and birds. This two-part itinerary makes a stay in this city a day richer. Pricing is the one thing you'll need to confirm ahead of time, but a day of nature is waiting just ten minutes away by boat.
