White sandy beaches lined with palm trees at Hon Tam Tourist Site off the coastal town of Nha Trang (Photo by Khue Viet Truong)

On April 15, Hon Tam Tourist Site, an island seven kilometers southeast of Nha Trang coastal town, opened its doors to boats operated by travel agencies other than its own.

Earlier, tourists had to take a ferry operated by Hon Tam Tourist Site to get to the island. The 10-minute trip, starting at the site's private docks near Cau Da Port, cost between VND250,000 (US$12) to VND500,000.

WIth new competition coming in, tour operators say tourists will save both time and money.

On island-hopping tours, tourists can now travel with a single boat tour company instead of having to pay separately to visit Hon Tam island.

Entrance to Hon Tam Tourist Site costs VND70,000 for adults and VND50,000 for children. Apart from enjoying the white sandy beaches and clear blue waters, visitors can learn about traditional crafts such as pottery, brocade, and rice wine making.

Hydrophiles can go scuba diving, snorkeling, and kayaking. To meet demands of tourists on the upcoming holidays (April 30, Liberation Day, and May 1, Labor Day), the site has introduced jetskiing and water-skiing to its repertoire of water sports.