Ly Son Island - Green dream in the middle of the ocean

Ly Son Island, a land rising from the deep blue sea, where waves crash against volcanic cliffs like wild musical notes, where sea winds carry the salty tang of the ocean and the pungent aroma of garlic, marks the beginning of a journey to feel each breath of the vast sea. Everyone who arrives seems to share a moment of stillness, standing before overwhelming beauty, too stunned to speak, eyes lingering in the endless union of sky and water, among the layered sediments of time and tale.

It is no coincidence that Ly Son is called the Kingdom of Garlic. Located over fifteen nautical miles northeast of Quang Ngai, this land is part of a dormant volcanic island awakened after millions of years, leaving behind majestic traces like nature’s engravings on stone. It is home to three islands Cu Lao Re, Dao Be, and the small Mu Cu humble in size but harboring an epic of the sea within.

To Vo Gate rises like a relief carved from basalt, a natural arch about two and a half meters tall casting its shadow over the crystal clear water, where sunsets pour golden light onto the horizon. Some say that standing there, with sunlight outlining your hair and a breeze brushing your sleeves, is enough to quiet a heart overwhelmed by the chaos of the city. Strangely, that very image needs no filter to become perfect in a photograph.

Atop Thoi Loi peak, the ancient crater has become a freshwater lake that mirrors the sky and wandering clouds. From here, the island stretches out like a vivid painting white garlic fields rolling endlessly, houses nestled between coconut groves, and the sound of boats returning at dusk. It is more than just a view it is a rhythm of life calm and gentle as if someone is softly retelling a marine fairy tale.

Tucked at the foot of the mountain is Hang Pagoda, a temple not built by hands but etched into stone by nature itself. The rock faces resemble ancient citadels, the aged ironwood beams soaked in time. This temple, known as Thien Khong Thach Tu, dates back to the seventeenth century and remains a sacred space where the people of Ly Son send their prayers for peaceful seas, abundant harvests, and safe voyages. Amid the echo of temple bells, one may hear the whispers of generations long passed.

There is also a deeper story here, one more profound than any wave the tale of the Hoang Sa soldiers of old. Ly Son is often called the sacred soul of the sea. At Am Linh Tu, nameless graves commemorate the Hoang Sa soldiers who never returned. They sailed with royal orders, maps, and a mission to protect sovereignty, sometimes carrying only a paper coffin. Only those who have stood in silence at that spot can truly grasp the sacredness of each wave lapping the wind graves.

More than a place for dreamers, Ly Son is a paradise for seekers of raw experience. Dao Be also called An Binh is often compared to the Maldives of Vietnam. The sea is so clear you can see the bottom, with coral reefs lying close to shore like colorful carpets beneath the sunlight. The sound of bare feet on sand, children laughing, and paddles skimming the water compose a summer symphony that lingers in memory.

Ly Son does not wear the glamorous coat of luxury resorts. Instead, it offers the taste of sun dried garlic, crisp seaweed salad, sweet sea urchin porridge, and fragrant emperor crab. Garlic here is not just a product it is the island’s soul. The people say that anyone who has tasted Ly Son garlic will never forget its spicy sweetness, just like the locals themselves strong, humble, and sincere.

Few know that Ly Son was once called Cu Lao Re, named after the resilient salt tolerant grass that grew across the island a metaphor for the enduring spirit of the people. Even fewer know that Mu Cu, the smallest uninhabited island, offers the most breathtaking sunrise. As the sun rises from the ocean, casting golden rays through layered waves, that place becomes a borderland between reality and dream.

The ideal time to visit Ly Son is between April and August, when the sea is calm and the sky crystal clear. A journey begins with a road trip to Quang Ngai, followed by a speedboat from Sa Ky Port. The adventure starts as wheels roll past rice fields and ends with the gentle crash of waves at the dock. On the island, a motorbike is the perfect companion, leading each step along winding coastal roads shaded by coconut palms.

There is no noise, no rush. Garlic fields shimmer silver under the sun, moss covered brick walls lean gently with age, and fishermen bend over their nets at dawn. These elements create a space that is slow yet profound a place untouched by trends, where rawness is the treasure itself. A single day here is enough to relearn how to slow down and listen to the heart.

Ly Son does not try to hold you back or call you to stay. And yet it stays with you in the salt that clings to your hair, in the hush of waves at midnight, in the silhouette of a boat fading into the horizon at dusk.

And if someone ever asks why they should visit Ly Son, perhaps the only answer needed is this Because some of the most beautiful places are not meant to be explored, but to be heard and understood.