Ko Phi Phi - "Treasure" of Thailand

Tourists should visit Ton Sai Bay on boats.

Paradise

Ko Phi Phi Islands in Krabi Province, southern Thailand, include 6 islands: Ko Phi Phi Don, Ko Phi Phi Leh, Bida Nok, Bida Nai, Ko Mai Phai and Ko Yung, of which only the large island Ko Phi Phi Don is inhabited. The people of Ko Phi Phi Don are mainly Muslims, so visitors should be discreet and polite to avoid offending the host. Visitors can fly directly from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Krabi airport with Thai AirAsia and then take a ferry to the island.

Talking about famous destinations in Ko Phi Phi Don, the first one to mention is Ton Sai Bay. The limestone mountains and tropical forests running on both sides of the bay create a beautiful landscape like a watercolor painting. Visitors should try to go around Ton Sai Bay on a boat, then continue the journey to climb the highest mountain on the island (186m) or walk north to Loh Dalam Bay (some places call it Lo Dalum). Loh Dalam Bay is famous for its steep cliffs and beautiful diving spots.

The most beautiful diving spots on Ko Phi Phi Don are located on the west side of the island. Warm ocean currents and thriving coral reefs mean that this place has an incredibly rich aquatic world. Countless visitors have been captivated by the "forest" of sea anemones or the schools of clownfish, salmon, and barracuda swimming around... If visitors are lucky, they can also see leopard sharks and blacktip sharks hunting for prey. In the world-famous "forest" of sea anemones, there is also the wreck of the King Cruiser ship that sank off the coast of Ko Phi Phi Don in 1997 after hitting a reef. The wreck is now home to schools of tropical fish, making it a great place for tourists who love diving and exploring.

The entire small island of Ko Phi Phi Leh belongs to Hat Noppharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. This place owns Maya Bay - the main setting of the movie "The Beach" - which is on the list of the most beautiful bays in Southeast Asia. It feels like Mother Nature loves Maya Bay so much that she built mountains around the bay to protect it. Maya Bay is always crowded in the summer months, so visitors should choose the off-season to visit here.

Ko Yung Island is essentially a mountain in the middle of the ocean. Every year between January and April, hundreds of ibises, brown egrets, herons, white storks and brown storks come to nest on the cliffs. This is when they mate, lay eggs and raise their young. Any birdwatcher should visit Ko Yung Island during this time.

Experience the unique local culture

In addition to sea tourism, Ko Phi Phi archipelago is also famous for its cuisine. The ancestors of the local people came from Malaysia, Indonesia and India. They brought their dishes to their new home, the most famous of which is the rice pot dish. Ko Phi Phi rice pot is served with massaman curry, fish stewed in fish sauce or chicken stir-fried with peas. And visitors cannot forget the side dish achat. Achat is a Thai-style pickled cucumber made from cucumber, red onion, chili powder and apple cider vinegar.

When it comes to sweets on Ko Phi Phi, the must-try items include khao niao (mango sticky rice), o-aew (shaved ice served with jelly made from betel nuts), thong yip (egg tarts) and khao mao tod (fried bananas sprinkled with rice flakes and sesame). Southern Thais drink more milk than northerners, so it’s no surprise that the most popular drink on Ko Phi Phi is cha rohn, or milk tea made from Ceylon black tea leaves and hot milk.

Ko Phi Phi nightlife is vibrant. The bars and nightclubs on Ko Phi Phi Don are packed every night. People come to drink, dance and watch fire dances. The Ko Phi Phi fire dance has been designated a National Cultural Heritage. In recent years, local entertainment establishments have also added Muay Thai - a traditional martial art and popular sport in Thailand - and traditional wrestling competitions to attract more tourists.

In addition to national holidays such as Buddha's Birthday and Songkran, Ko Phi Phi Islands also celebrate Krabi Boek Fa Andaman - the Andaman Sea Opening Festival. While this festival used to be held during the "calm" season, Krabi Boek Fa Andaman now marks the beginning of the tourist season in the entire Krabi province. The festival is held at the end of November every year, including many traditional music and dance performances, palanquin processions, beauty pageants and fireworks displays. However, the event that attracts the most attention is the Boat Racing Championship. On this day, boatmen who earn a living in a short day have the opportunity to put on their competition uniforms and participate in a "fiery" race that is no less than that of professional boat racers. The bustling atmosphere of this tournament not only attracts a large number of locals but also tourists, because through it they can better understand the local cultural customs.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/ko-phi-phi-kho-bau-cua-thai-lan-675803.html