Nha Trang Bay, one of the world’s most beautiful bays is blessed with magnificent soft sand beaches, rolling coral reefs and a profusion of endemic fauna and flora species. A cluster of islands emerging from the blue water creates a breathtaking picture. Today’s Discovery Vietnam visits these beautiful islands in Nha Trang Bay, named for a type of bird, the salangane, that builds edible nests there.

There 12 are Salangane Islands but the islets called Noi and the Ngoai seem to attract the most tourists. Exploring the Salangane’s is always an interesting experience, but the best time to visit them is from March to September, the season when the birds build their nests and the sea is calm. Le Huu Hoang, Director of Khanh Hoa Salangane Nest Tourism Company, told VOV5: “Tours to the Salangane Islands to discover a salangane cave are unique to our company. Tourists are required to take precautions to protect the landscape and the environment. They learn how hard it is to get a salangane nest and why it’s so precious.

Leaving early in the morning, tourists take a speedboat with a glass bottom, which allows them to observe fish and coral reefs below the surface. After about an hour, the tourists land on an island to explore a cave, where the birds live. Then it’s on Sam islet, home to the second highest concentration of bird nests after Ngoai islet, where visitors are astonished to see thousands of birds wheeling in the sunlight.

Finally, the tour arrives on Noi Island’s sandy beach where there is a temple dedicated to the salangane. In front of the temple is a spacious yard shaded by old trees, a pleasant spot to take a rest before climbing 100 steps to Du Ha Peak to take in a wonderful panoramic view of Noi Island. Thanh, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City said: “This is my second visit to Nha Trang and I am finding this place even more beautiful with more interesting tours. The tours of the salangane islands is unique and I’m very interested in seeing the birds and how people collect their nests. This is the first time I ‘ve eaten a bird nest. I’m very pleased and healthy like this tour.

A dip in the ocean is a fitting way to refresh yourself before your return.

Vinh Phong