Ham Ninh Fishing Village as a Boat Trip Alternative

Ham Ninh is a working fishing village about 14 km east of Duong Dong, and sources give a 15 to 20 minute drive from Duong Dong. It is a land-based alternative to a sea trip: you watch the boats, eat small blue swimmer crabs at stilt restaurants and see daily fishing life. Visit at sunrise or at lunch, and agree every price before you order.

How far is Ham Ninh from An Thoi pier and Duong Dong?

Our sources measure the distance from Duong Dong, not from An Thoi. Ham Ninh is about 14 km east of Duong Dong, and around 15 to 20 minutes by car. The village is also 15 minutes from the airport, according to one source. We do not hold a checked figure for the drive from An Thoi pier, so ask on WhatsApp before you set out, since the time depends on traffic and the route you take.

Can you go by boat from Duong Dong harbour?

The sources we hold do not confirm a boat link from Duong Dong harbour. Ask on WhatsApp whether a boat can be arranged from there, and plan on a car until you have a clear answer. A car is the reliable option in the sources we hold, and the restaurant can help you book the return.

What do you see and eat in the village?

Ham Ninh is known for small blue swimmer crabs, served steamed at stilt restaurants over the water. Lunch is the best time to go, because most restaurants in the nearby villages close by late afternoon. The village offers a closer look at daily life, including setting out to sea, and visitors can learn traditional fishing practices. A small market on TL47 is best visited early.

• Crabs: the small blue swimmer crabs are the signature dish.
• Cheaper rafts: one comparison in our sources finds a crab, herring salad and two beers costs less than the same meal at the night market.
• Skip: the seafood hotpot is thin on seafood for the price, according to our sources.
• Nearby: Rach Vem has stilt seafood restaurants over a shallow bay, and Starfish Beach is at the end of the village.

How does it compare with a fishing boat trip?

A visit to the village is a land-based look at fishing life, while a fishing boat trip puts you on the water. Both need an agreed plan before you set off. Use the table to decide which one suits your day.

How do you get there and back, and what should you agree first?

Agree where you will go and for how long before you set off on a fishing boat trip. Agree prices first, too: per kilo for seafood, and per boat with the duration for boat trips. Watch the seafood go on the scale, so the weight is clear. Price boards are mostly in Vietnamese, and most places take cash only, so bring cash.

Getting a car back from Ham Ninh is harder than the drive out. Ask the restaurant to call a car for you, or book the driver for the return before you eat.

Which nearby spots should you skip or check?

Not every spot in the area suits a visit, so check the details before you go.

• Ganh Dau’s beach is a working beach, with boats and construction, and our sources describe rubbish rather than a swimming beach.
• Rach Tram has been cut off by development and is not recommended unless you are exploring the north.
• The famous pier lost its section nearest the shore in 2020 and can no longer be walked.
• Cua Can is the only one of these fishing villages built along a river rather than the sea.

Is Ham Ninh worth the trip if you cannot go by boat?

Yes, if you want a land-based look at fishing life and fresh seafood. The village is about 15 minutes from Duong Dong and from the airport, according to one source, so it fits a short outing from the centre. The seafood is the main draw, and the stilt restaurants serve it steamed over the water. If your plan is to see the sea from a boat, ask about hiring a boat from the village before you change your plans. Keep the visit short, and go early, since the small market is best visited early.

What should you bring to Ham Ninh?

Bring cash, since most places take cash only, and a small bag for any seafood you buy. Sunscreen and a hat help on the open waterfront. Check your phone battery before you go, because a car can be hard to find for the return. A bottle of water is a good idea, since the village is a working place and there are few shaded spots on the walk.

What to do next

To book a sport fishing trip out of the area, see Sport Fishing Boat Trip Phu Quoc: Day or Night. For other ideas before or after your boat tour, read Things to Do Near An Thoi Before or After a Boat Tour. For the drive from Duong Dong to the pier, see Duong Dong to An Thoi Pier: Distance and Options. Message us on WhatsApp with your plans and we will confirm the details in the chat.