Explore the Unseen
Honest Island Guide
— Beaches · Hotels · Running Routes — All Personally Scouted
Explored on Foot.
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Island & Beach Guides
Con Dao Island: Vietnam's Last Paradise
Vietnam's Last Paradise: Exploring Beauty and History
Located southeast of Vietnam, Con Dao Islands offer stunning beaches like Bai Nhat, visible only at low tide, and a poignant history as a former penal colony. A first-hand guide to Vietnam's most remote island, explored by the author on the ground.
Cham Island: Hoi An's Coral Reef Escape
30 MINS FROM HOI AN: BLUE WATERS & UNTOUCHED NATURE
Cu Lao Cham sits just off the coast of Hoi An—a UNESCO-protected island where strict visitor limits keep the beaches genuinely pristine, the cliffside roads wild, and the fishing villages untouched. A complete guide covering everything from independent boat access to authentic fishing village life.
Ishigaki & Taketomi: Beaches, Diving & Red-Tile Villages
Emerald Waters & Traditional Red-Tile Villages
Home to the Michelin three-star-rated Kabira Bay and the traditional red-tiled roofs of Taketomi Island. A guide earned on foot — from iconic viewpoints to the eateries only locals love.
Miyako: Irabu Bridge & Miyako Blue Complete Guide
ORIENT'S FINEST ISLAND: BREATHTAKING BEACHES & GOURMET FLAVORS
From Yonaha Maehama — lauded as the finest beach in the Orient — to the phantom 17END, a tidal runway that vanishes with the rising sea. An honest guide to Miyako's stunning bridges, beaches, and local flavors, earned on foot.
Miyako Island: 7 Secret Beaches Visitors Miss
7 Secluded Beaches Only Locals Know
From a hidden entrance at Yonaha Maehama to Ohama Beach on Ikema Island and Magumoto Beach on Shimojishima — every spot earned on foot and unknown to most tourists.
Amami Oshima: Keihan, Beaches & Endemic Wildlife
GALAPAGOS OF THE ORIENT: WHERE NATURE'S WONDERS AWAIT
Often called the 'Galapagos of the Orient,' Amami Oshima is a treasure trove of biodiversity. From the World Heritage forests and the rare Amami Black Rabbit to the 'Blue Angel' waters of Tomori Beach, discover a natural world of truly breathtaking scale.
Selected Hotels by Area
6 Best Con Dao Hotels: Six Senses to City Stays
BEST SELECTION GUIDE
SUCCESS TIPS
A hand-picked selection of hotels in Con Dao — places I've actually stayed, personally vetted, and would return to without hesitation. From ultra-luxury resorts like Six Senses to convenient city hotels, so you can book with confidence — no regrets.
5 Best Hoi An Hotels: Near the Ancient Town
BEST SELECTION GUIDE
SUCCESS TIPS
Discover the 5 best hotels in Hoi An Old Town, handpicked for walkability to the Old Town and quality of facilities. Five hotels that feel like real hotels — not guesthouses, not B&Bs — every one personally scouted and verified on the ground.
6 Best An Bang Hotels: Beachfront Villas & Boutique
BEST SELECTION GUIDE
SUCCESS TIPS
Your first-hand guide to An Bang Beach — the most convenient base for day trips to Cham Island. I compare centrally located hotels with large beachfront resorts so you can choose with confidence — no regrets.
5 Best Ishigaki Hotels: Resorts, City & Kabira Bay
BEST SELECTION GUIDE
SUCCESS TIPS
Discover the best places to stay in Ishigaki — from iconic luxury resorts like ANA InterContinental and Fusaki Beach Resort to downtown hotels with standout breakfasts. Earned on foot for 2026.
9 Best Miyako Hotels: Luxury Resorts to Boutique Stays
BEST SELECTION GUIDE
SUCCESS TIPS
From luxury resorts worth splurging on to the best-value hotels in Miyako, Irabu, and Kurima. Includes properties we actually stayed at — and the coveted villas we'd go back for.
5 Best Amami Hotels: North Resorts & Naze City
BEST SELECTION GUIDE
SUCCESS TIPS
Don't book until you've read this. The no-regret guide to Amami Oshima hotels, earned on foot. From beachfront resorts in the north to well-located hotels in central Naze, discover the best stays for 2026.
Island Running Guides
Con Dao Running: Lake Loop & Coastal Route
Con Dao Island · Lakeside & Beach Loops in Vietnam's Last Paradise
Runner's Voice
I explored the remote island of Con Dao entirely on foot — and here's what I found. A runner's guide to the lakeside loop and the stunning coastal beach course, based on first-hand survey.
Hoi An Running: Old Town & Thu Bon River
Hoi An · RUN THE TWO-BRIDGE LOOP ALONG THE THU BON RIVER
Runner's Voice
Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hoi An before the crowds arrive. A runner's guide earned on foot to the iconic two-bridge loop along the Thu Bon River and the back lanes of Cam Nam Island — distances, surfaces, and insider tips included.
An Bang Running: Beach & Rice Field Routes
An Bang · BAREFOOT ON THE BEACH, THEN INTO THE RICE FIELDS
Runner's Voice
Run barefoot along An Bang's white-sand shore, then cut inland through rice fields still heavy with the smell of harvest. A first-hand field survey of Vietnam's most photogenic countryside — routes, surfaces, and local tips included.
Ishigaki & Taketomi Running: Scenic Coast & Taketomi Loop
Ishigaki & Taketomi · Scenic Coastal Routes & A Feline Paradise
Runner's Voice
Discover Ishigaki's only genuinely scenic coastal route, cross the Southern Gate Bridge to a feline paradise, and loop the traditional white-sand paths of Taketomi Island. A personally scouted guide to 3 curated courses.
Miyako Running: 17END & Three Major Bridges
Miyako Island · Scenic Routes: 17END & Three Major Bridges
Runner's Voice
From Yonaha Maehama — the Orient's finest beach — to 17END, the runway that floats above the sea. A guide to Miyako's most breathtaking routes, discovered through running.