Hon Son Island

Hon Son Island, also known as Lai Son Island, is an 11.5 sq km coastal island in Lai Son Commune, Kien Hai District, An Giang Province, about 65 km west of Rach Gia in the Gulf of Thailand. Centered on Ma Thien Lanh peak (450 m), it features sandy beaches such as Bai Bang, fishing villages, and forested hills. Known for clear water, seafood, and hiking trails, it is a developing eco-tourism destination within the Kien Hai archipelago.

Visitors arrive by ferry from Rach Gia to a small fishing harbor and can explore a compact island with forested interior, granite hills and several sandy beaches including Bai Bang, Bai Nha and Bai Bac. The interior offers hiking trails to Ma Thien Lanh peak with viewpoints over the Gulf of Thailand, while coastal areas have fishing villages, seafood restaurants, homestays, and clear water for swimming and boating. Motorbikes are the main way to circle the 12 km coastal road.

Hon Son is part of the Kien Hai archipelago in the Gulf of Thailand, historically inhabited by fishing communities. The island has long served as a fishing base and shelter for boats, with small temples and shrines reflecting its maritime settlement history.

The island retains a traditional fishing village culture with floating houses, fish farms, and local seafood cuisine. Small shrines such as Dinh Ong Nam Hai (Whale Temple) reflect the fishing community's beliefs and maritime customs.