For beach enthusiasts, there's a new destination worth discovering. Cau Islet is an untouched and uninhabited beauty of nature 110 kilometers away from Phan Thiet and only 10 kilometers from the coast of Binh Thuan Province.

Cau Islet is shaped like a giant warship more than 1.5 kilometers long and is in fact a marine reserve occupied by just a few people, members of the Tuy Phong Distrcit military unit and two people running a food shop. The islet is rich in fish because of the phenomenon “oceanic swelling” which “causes cool, nutrient-rich water to rise to the surface and increase fish numbers.” In fact, the name “Cau” literally means “fishing with rods.” Visitors can swim with the fish as well as catch snails and shells and see breathtaking coral reefs.

Based on local legend, Cau Islet is a holy island. The first source of fresh water on the islet was Gia Long Well which was named after the first king of the Nguyen Dynasty after he frequented the place and ordered his people to dig a well in it. The islet is filled with temples built to worship such figures as the Cham goddess Po Ino Nagar or Yang Pu Nagara and even for whales which are considered gods of the sea by the Vietnamese fishermen. Locals visit the two temples annually on the fourth lunar month on a full moon day to pray for good weather. They also sing folk songs and play their traditional games around the temples. Even Japanese people pass by the islet each year and drop wreaths on the water to honor their descendants who were killed during the Second World War.

There are a number of interesting and beautiful sights to see at Cau Islet. It is filled with several beaches which are all clean and green and decorated with coral reef pieces and small shells. There's a cave called “Yen” (Bird's Nest) where hundreds of protected birds build nests. Cau Islet is also home to iguanas and posionous snakes. There are not that many trees, but there are weeds, bushes and flowering plants. There are also many rocks with interesting shapes that the islet also earned the nickname “Rock Zoo.”

But Cau Islet didn't enjoy tourism success in an instant. In fact, it went through several struggles and challenges before finally reaching tourist destination status. When the first tourists came to the islet in 1997, the place lacked equipment like life buoys, boats and other necessary gears. There were no enough diners and stores where guests can grab a snack or meal. There was not even a bathroom or toilet where visitors can relieve themselves. The residents themselves were hesitant to receive visitors into their islet believing it was bad luck. Tourist companies had to ask for the government's assistance in order to make visits to the islet complete, safe and convenient. Through time though, locals got used to visitors coming into their place and even started to enjoy it. Tourism gradually developed at Cau Islet until it achieved its status as a tourist destination today.

Today, Cau Islet may not be a first class or high-end tourist destination, but it has improved greatly from when it first started and has now enough features and amenities to take care of its visitors. There are now two small and simple but decent hotels and diners where tourists can stay and eat during their visit. Fresh and delectable seafood like fish, squid and snails are served. Clean toilets are now available for the convenience of its guests. But since the islet is still generally adjusting, establishments like restaurants, tour agencies and even the local government have to be notified beforehand to make the necessary preparations for visitors.

The best time to visit Cau Islet is during the fourth and eighth lunar months or in the summer and early fall when the water is calm. But for adventure seekers, they can come at exactly the opposite season to challenge themselves with the strong wind and with the road to the islet itself. In other words, any time is the best time to visit and enjoy Cau Islet.