HAM NINH
Hàm Ninh, Phú Quốc
Nestled by the mighty Ham Ninh Mountain Range, the Ham Ninh region is famous for its fishing village, floating restaurants, mountain trekking, picturesque streams, and seafood. Unlike the other Phu Quoc communes, Ham Ninh’s long shores are blessed with a vast sea grass bed that was once home to the beautiful Dugong (sea mermaid).
Xã Hàm Ninh
LEARN
Long and narrow Ham Ninh (Ham-Knee-an) lies on the eastern side of Phu Quoc Island. What was once a sleepy fishing commune, Ham Ninh has emerged as a top tourist destination on Phu Quoc Island.
In the past Ham Ninh was a place where many fishermen went to seek shelter from the storms. Slowly a community was established that centered around fishing and diving for pearls. The original inhabitants lived in either thatched bamboo huts or on their boats and led a simple life.
Today Ham Ninh is a commune in transition. With the influx of tourists and the development of the islands infrastructure and power grid, Ham Ninh has seen sizable growth. There are more restaurants, hotels, shops, and even a few gas stations now than a decade ago. The main economy here is still based on fishing however a lot of locals are transitioning to servicing the booming tourist industry. Rustic bamboo thatched homes still do exist however they are slowly being replaced by the concrete variety.
Planning Your Time
Most people usually visit Ham Ninh as a DIY half day trip after visiting the nearby waterfalls or as part of an organized tour group. You should plan to spend at least an hour exploring Ham Ninh Fishing Village located at the central edge of the commune. If you want to grab a bite to eat at one of the floating restaurants, then plan to stay a little bit longer. For those of you who have more time and want to explore Ham Ninh’s picturesque northern coast, 4 hours should suffice. Within 4 hours you will see some of the dense forested areas in Bai Bon, the urban center in Rach Ham, and enjoy a fantastic beach up in Cay Sao Village.
TOWNS & VILLAGES
Rach Ham
Ham Ninh’s economic capital. At Rach Ham you will find hotels, atms, local markets, shops, and more.
Bai Vong
This village is dominated by the Phu Quoc Ferry Port and the Vinpearl Bai Vong Resort Complex.
Lang Chai Ham Ninh
Lang Chai Ham Ninh is a picturesque and touristy fishing village located along the east coast of Phu Quoc Island and about 15 km away from Duong Dong Town.
Bai Bon
A small fishing community located at the very north of Ham Ninh. The coastline has a dense seagress bed.
BEACHES
If you want to hang out at the beach, there are plenty of better places to do it than Ham Ninh. Nice beaches do exist, like in Cay Sao, but mostly you’ll find rubbish and seaweed along its shores, evidence by the areas vast seagrass beds.
Bai Cay Sao
The best beach is Bai Cay Sao located in the central part of the region, which is also home to the areas few resorts.
Bai Ham Ninh
Ham Ninh Beach is the beach area by the Ham Ninh Fishing Village and pier. Considering the amount of economic activity in this area, Bai Ham Ninh is not a beach for suntanning and beach activities. If you want to enjoy the beach here, walk 10 minutes north along the coast for a cleaner patch of sand.
Bai Vong
Bai Vong Beach is located by Bai Vong village which is currently an industry area undergoing a waterfront revitalization initiative. Once the area has developed (2020), there will be a nice beach worth visiting.
SEE & DO
Ham Ninh Pier
The pier juts out far into the ocean where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Ham Ninh mountain range and the coastline.
Rock Garden
The origin of this picturesque geological point of interest has never been determined. Giant boulders, each weighing several hundred tons, lie in knee deep turquoise waters. The rock garden is a unique “off-the-beaten” natural wonder often overlooked by locals and tourists alike – which keeps this area particularly rubbish free.
Hai Tac Archipelago
You can see small islands in the distance while standing at the pier or on the beach. These islands area also known as the “Pirate Islands”. These islands are currently not accessible unless you are a fishermen or part of the Vietnam military/navy. South East of the Pirate Islands you will see Nghe Island.
Trek Nui Ham Ninh
In the interior of Ham Ninh, by Bai Bon, there are a few trails that lead you to the top of Ham Ninh mountain (Nui Ham Ninh). The summit is known as Dien Tien. You can attempt the trek on your own, with a private guide, or join a trekking your arranged by the numerous tour agencies found on the island.
Fishing
You can fish off the edge of the the Ham Ninh Pier with the locals during the sunset hours and catch baby octopus.
Sunrise
If you can wake up early enough, try to make it to Ham Ninh Beach to witness a spectacular sunrise.
Photography
The village, the mountains, the sea, the small canal, etc all make great subjects for the serious photographer.
Snorkeling
Even though there is no coral reef here you can still snorkel here and see a variety of sealife that inhabits the surrounding sea grass. Some of the marine life you will see here are starfish, seahorses, small fish, crabs, and a variety of shellfish. If you are lucky and venture deep enough you may even see a giant green turtle or a hawksbill turtle.
Seahorses
Ham Ninh is a place where you can buy fresh or dried seahorses (unfortunately). You can see the live seahorses still swimming in the tanks. Locals often soak seahorses in rice wine and drink the concoction, apparently the drink has healing powers.
Cock Fighting
If you are lucky, you may be able to witness a cock fight in town.
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Food & Drink
Crab is the specialty here in Ham Ninh and you can find restaurants and street side eateries serving crab as well as other seafood near the pier. The price of crab in Ham Ninh is by far the cheapest on the island. Crab in Ham Ninh is usually steamed and enjoyed with a dipping sauce made out of lime juice, salt, and pepper.
The other specialty here is sea cucumber soup – a unique Phu Quoc dish. If you do not care for crab or sea cucumber, then there are a lot of other seafood and traditional Vietnamese dishes you can try.
Floating Restaurants
The pier juts out far into the ocean where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Ham Ninh mountain range and the coastline.
Medicinal Drinks
At Ham Ninh you can try a variety of “medicinal drinks” made from seaweed, ginseng, and even sea horse which has been soaked in rice wine.
Beach Side Restaurants
At Ham Ninh Village there are a lot of seafood restaurants located around the Jetty with a nice view of the pier and ocean. It is best to come here during high noon when the color of the sea becomes a bright turquoise green color.
Chợ Hàm Ninh
A great place to buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs is at the chợ Hàm Ninh Market.
Where to stay
Cay Sao is where you will find a few boutique beach resorts, which are all quite lovely. There are also a few small hotels and guest houses in Rach Ham as well. The rooms are basic but clean and offer great value.
