Turle, Dragon, Phoenix, Unicorn Islet

Known as the “Four Sacred Islets” of the Mekong Delta, Long – Lan – Quy – Phung Islets paint a captivating riverscape along the peaceful Tien River. Immerse yourself in the tranquil rhythm of life on these islands. Explore verdant orchards, try your hand at traditional local farms, and soak up dreamy views with Deluxe Group Tours.

1. Uncover the four sacred islets

Long, Lan, Quy, and Phung are four islets situated in the middle of the Tien River in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. If Long and Lan islets belong to My Tho, Tien Giang province, Phung and Quy islets are part of Tan Thach commune, Chau Thanh district, Ben Tre province. They are separated by the majestic Rach Mieu Bridge, connecting the two provinces of Ben Tre and Tien Giang.

You can better visualize the location of these four islets with the following map of these four islets in the Mekong Delta.

From the Rach Mieu Bridge looking eastward, you’ll be dazzled by the vast and enchanting view of the “four sacred islets: Long, Lan, Quy, and Phung,” gracefully floating on the expansive and poetic Tien River. While Lan and Phung islets stand symmetrically like dragons flanking the royal court, Quy and Long islets exude a poetic and gentle charm, reminiscent of the serene waters of the Western region.

1.1. Con Long (Dragon Islet)

Con Long, also known as Tan Long Islet, belongs to Tan Long Ward, My Tho City, Tien Giang Province. The scenery here is simple and pure, with sprawling fruit orchards creating a serene and mystical Con Long. Con Long is a harmonious land and a prominent eco-tourism area in the Western region. Additionally, Con Long captivates you with bustling scenes, with people buying and selling goods hurriedly along the riverbank and on boats.

In the past, Con Long was dubbed the “fishing kingdom” because the first settlers here primarily engaged in fishing. However, nowadays, it has transitioned to cultivating various fruit trees due to its predominantly fertile silt soil, making it ideal for growing fruits such as durian, rambutan, mangosteen, seedless guava, oranges, and mangoes. Con Long also boasts lush orchards that captivate fruit enthusiasts. Here, you can indulge in specialty fruits such as durian, rambutan, mangosteen, guava, oranges, mangoes, and milk apples.

While this islet may not stand out as prominently as the other three, it’s still a worthwhile destination to visit if you travel to My Tho.

1.2. Con Lan (Unicorn Islet)

Standing second in the quartet of idyllic islets is Con Lan (also commonly known as Thoi Son Islet). Thoi Son Islet is located in the lower reaches of the Tien River, belonging to Thoi Son commune, My Tho City, Tien Giang Province, with an area of approximately 1,200 hectares. It is the largest islet among the four, featuring numerous intricate canals and waterways.

In addition to its vast area, Thoi Son Islet, or Con Lan, also benefits from numerous natural advantages, boasting abundant fruit orchards, unique local specialties, and picturesque waterways. Renowned as the green islet, it offers fragrant flowers and sweet fruits year-round. Each season brings its specialties, making Con Lan one of the most beloved eco-tourism destinations.

When visiting Thoi Son Islet, you can also experience paddling on winding small canals and admiring cork and nipa palm trees. You can also engage in fishing, listen to traditional folk music performances (Don Ca Tai Tu Nam Bo), and indulge in many enticing specialties of the Western region right on Thoi Son Islet.

1.3. Con Quy (Turtle Islet)

Con Quy is the smallest among the four islets, located within the administrative boundaries of Tan Thach and Quoi Son communes, Chau Thanh district, Ben Tre province. What makes Con Quy fascinating is its natural charm, with numerous well-established fruit orchards planted in neat rows, creating a spacious and visually pleasing landscape. Under the canopy of trees, you can relax on swinging hammocks, swaying gently in the breeze, and enjoy the tranquil and refreshing atmosphere.

Particularly, Con Quy is renowned for beekeeping and extracting honey from longan flowers. The longan flower honey from Con Quy is both fragrant and viscous. You can come to this islet to visit bee farms and enjoy pure honey, along with other bee products such as pollen and royal jelly, right in the orchards.

1.4. Con Phung (Phoenix Islet)

Con Phung is the most captivating destination in the journey to explore the four islets. Also known as Tan Vinh, it rises amidst the Tien River like a green oasis, inviting you to explore its charm.

In addition to the lush greenery of trees and orchards, Phung Islet also captivates with its meticulously crafted and delicious specialties, along with characteristic recreational activities of the riverine region such as crocodile fishing, net casting for fish, river bathing, rowing sampans, etc. Particularly here, you can discover the unique charm of traditional coconut candy making and the distinctive rice paper of Ben Tre.

Con Phung is also famous for its Dao Dua relic area, as it was once the site of rituals practiced by a sect called Dao Dua in the early 20th century, known for its unconventional beliefs.

When visiting Con Phung, you can discover the process of building temples and the life and origins of the Dao Dua sect. You can explore the Dao Dua relic area, which preserves ancient architectural features to this day, including a courtyard with nine delicately carved dragon statues and the Hoa Binh Tower, where Dao Dua practitioners preached and spread their teachings. The scenery here is truly poetic, with colorful flowers and grasses, standing on a high platform, gazing far away at the gently flowing river, and feeling the soothing breeze blowing from the river.

2. Ideal Timing for a Visit to the four sacred Islets

Since these tourist spots are located in a region with a temperate climate characterized by mild weather throughout the year, a trip to the Long-Lan-Quy-Phung Islets can be enjoyed at any time.

However, the most preferred time is during the dry season (from April to July), when you can admire the scenery of lush, ripe orchards and enjoy the fragrant atmosphere. Another great time is at the beginning of the rainy or floating season (from August to October), when the distinctive features of the riverine region are most pronounced, offering unique experiences.

A helpful suggestion for traveling during this time is to combine it with other tourist destinations in Can Tho or Dong Thap provinces. And of course, the perfect trip should last from 2 to 4 days. However, if time is limited, Saturday and Sunday are the best times to head to the Western region.

3. Navigating the path to the four sacred islets

You can explore all four sacred islets in a day by joining a guided tour or going independently.

If you prefer to go on your own, you can rent a boat in My Tho or An Khanh commune, Chau Thanh district, or Ben Tre. The rental price will depend on various factors, such as the number of people and the type of boat. On average, renting a motorboat for 2 to 4 people will range from 500,000 to 1,000,000 VND per hour.

If you start from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho, you can rent a boat along 30/4 Street. The ticket price for a group tour is about 80,000 VND per person. If you prefer a private and all-inclusive trip, the ticket price is around 300,000 to 350,000 VND. This ticket price includes a boat tour around all four islets before you decide which one to focus on for leisure activities and dining, then return. The total cost for the entire trip is approximately 400,000 to 500,000 VND per person.

4. Exploring the charm of four sacred Islets

Visiting the tourist destinations of Long, Lan, Quy, and Phung Islets certainly wouldn’t be complete without engaging in exciting and interesting activities such as paddling sampans to admire the scenery, experiencing the cultural heritage of intangible heritage representative of humanity, Don Ca Tai Tu, exploring traditional craft villages, fishing, monkey bridge crossing, cycling on the river, and more.

4.1. Experience enjoying the scenery by going down sampan

Known as an activity with strong allure for those who want to experience the most distinctive aspects of the Western region in general and the four sacred islets in particular, rowing sampan boats through the intricate canals to admire the riverscape is an experience not to be missed.

Here, aboard the gently swaying sampan along the water currents, you’ll join local farmers and villagers to seek out the tranquil and picturesque landscapes of the four sacred islets. Depending on each journey along the canals of one of the four islets, you’ll witness different scenes. However, regardless of the setting, you’ll still feel the peace and serenity of life in the riverine region.

As the sampans gently slide along the Tien River, you’ll journey to the renowned islets of the Western region, exploring orchards and traditional villages. Especially captivating is listening to the guide speak about the distinctive features of the riverine culture of the people in Ben Tre and Tien Giang provinces. Along with that, you’ll learn about the intriguing history and formation of the four sacred islets, providing an experience that delves deeply into the life and culture of the riverine people in the most fascinating way.

4.2. Appreciate the craftsmanship of traditional villages

The land of Ben Tre and Tien Giang are places with many traditional crafts. Among them, we must mention the coconut candy-making craft of Ben Tre province, beekeeping for honey, and the making of hu tieu noodles in Tien Giang province. These are longstanding traditional trades that are not only renowned within the region but also recognized in several countries worldwide.

To visit these traditional craft villages, you can go to Con Lan or Con Phung. Specifically, at Con Lan, you will witness the natural beekeeping process, hear locals share about beekeeping, and learn how to extract products from bees. You’ll also enjoy complimentary beverages made from bees, such as honey pollen tea, sour honey milk, and dried twisted fruits, which are very nutritious for health.

At Con Phung, you will witness the entirely manual production process of natural coconut products, from extracting fresh coconut water and mixing it with sugar to cooking and shaping candies, and enjoy the distinctive flavors of freshly made candies.

Each traditional craft village carries rich ancient cultural characteristics, promising to be shining highlights in your journey to explore the Mekong Delta.

4.3. Delight in Don Ca Tai Tu

Among all the experiential activities at the Four Sacred Islets, the exchange and appreciation of the art form of Don Ca Tai Tu is the most beloved activity. This is because it is one of the intangible cultural heritages representative of humanity recognized by UNESCO.

Unlike the grandiose stages with dazzling lights, Don Ca Tai Tu performances are often held in simple, rustic spaces close to nature. The talented amateur musicians harmonize their voices and instruments in sweet melodies, vividly portraying the beauty of river culture.

The simple, authentic folk tunes paint a vivid picture of the lives of southern people, portraying them as humble, gentle individuals closely tied to the fields, rivers, and streams.

Especially if you have a bit of passion and understanding of Don Ca Tai Tu, don’t hesitate to join the stage for an exchange with the artists. This will be a wonderful opportunity to experience this unique art form firsthand and cherish unforgettable memories during your journey to the Four Sacred Islets.

4.4. Indulge in numerous Western fruits

Exploring the Mekong Delta region is incomplete without the experience of enjoying fruits right in the orchard. The Long, Lan, Quy, and Phung islands in Tien Giang and Ben Tre are ideal destinations for you to immerse yourself in the delicious and fragrant flavors of orchard fruits.

Visiting these islets, you will admire orchards laden with fruits stretching as far as the eye can see. Each season, they bring different types of specialty fruits, creating diversity and richness for the Long-Lan-Quy-Phung Islets experience.

You can handpick ripe fruits from the trees, feeling their freshness and fully experiencing their flavor. Taking a bite of a freshly picked fruit, you’ll taste its sweet, refreshing flavor spreading throughout your mouth, dispelling all fatigue and heat.

Additionally, you can enjoy dishes made from delicious fresh fruits, such as smoothies, juices, jams, pickled fruits, and more. Indulging in these dishes amidst the peaceful and romantic orchard scenery will provide an unforgettable experience.

4.5. Unraveling the mysteries of the Dao Dua Relic area

One of the factors adding to the allure of Con Phung specifically and the four sacred islets in general is the existence of the Dao Dua Nguyen Thanh Nam relic. Although Dao Dua has not been officially recognized by the state due to various reasons, including relocation and superstition, it used to hold spiritual significance for the people of Ben Tre.

Today, when visiting Con Phung, you can still admire the Dao Dua constructions built by Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nam. Almost everything remains intact, except for the traces of the Nam Quoc Phat Pagoda, which have been destroyed.

In addition to the activities and sightseeing mentioned above, many other exciting experiences are awaiting you at the four sacred islets, such as mud ditch fishing, monkey bridge crossing over rivers, traditional Mekong Delta folk games, culinary exploration, and more. Whenever you have the chance, come and explore these four islets in the Mekong Delta region.

5. Ticket fees for visiting and exploring the four sacred Islets

Information about ticket prices for sightseeing is one of the most important things you need to know to make informed decisions and budget effectively for your travel plans. You can refer to this information in the table below.

6. Useful tips for visiting the four sacred islets

For effective and fulfilling journeys, thorough preparation and considering the explored experiencer’s review are essential. Below are some invaluable tips for you:

• The ideal time for fun activities at the Four Sacred Islands is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• For groups of five or more, you should purchase a land tour on the April 30th Wharf (My Tho City, Tien Giang Province) to fully explore the Four Sacred Islands.
• Wear appropriate clothing that is lightweight for ease of movement.
• Ensure safety while traveling on boats and three-leaf boats during sightseeing trips.
• The budget for a trip to the Four Sacred Islands is typically around 400,000 VND to 500,000 VND per person.
• For independent trips, thoroughly research and gather information before embarking on your journey.

The four sacred islets, Long, Lan, Quy, and Phung, are ideal destinations for those seeking peace, relaxation, and immersion in nature. With my own delightful experiences here, I want to share with you the stunning natural landscapes, unique local culture, and friendly, hospitable people. Come here to feel the tranquility of nature, the warmth of human kindness, and unforgettable experiences. I am confident that you will have a wonderful and meaningful trip!