Bidong Island
About the service:
Bidong Island is a historic island. From 1978 until 2005, Bidong Island was a refugee camp with a population of as many as 18,000 Vietnamese refugees.
By the time Bidong was closed as a refugee camp on 30th October 1991, about 250,000 Vietnamese had passed through or resided in the camp. Countries like the United States, Canada, Australia and France guaranteed resettlement for the majority of these Vietnamese refugees.
The island of Bidong has since opened to tourism and has regained its pristine beauty. Yearly, many former Vietnamese refugees return to Bidong to revisit their old home/island.
Surrounding Bidong Island are 3 beautiful islands: Pulau Tengkorak, Pulau Gelok, and Pulau Karoh.
Trip plan for Bidong:
- Pick up from resort and cruise to Bidong
- Admire the stone structures of Pulau Tengkorak
- Snorkel at Pulau Gelok
- Snorkel at Pulau Karoh
- Dock at Bidong Island and visit the village left by Vietnamese refugees: Little Saigon!
- Simple packed lunch (nasi bungkus) at Bidong Island.
- Snorkelling or just looking out from the jetty, you’d see a wide range of corals and 100’s of coral fish. You’d be in awe. Or try out fun fishing from the jetty.
- Snorkel at a underwater bus site. Snorkel (better for diving as these sites are deeper) at Heritage Row where a few man-made structures were deployed to create an underwater museum. You will find Keris, Tepak Sirih, Batu Bersurat Terengganu, Perahu Sekoci, Tengkolok and Pintu Gerbang - a reflection of Terengganu’s Malay heritage
- Head back to Redang Island.
Note that the boat is yours for the trip and you may ask our captain to stop anywhere along this route to take pictures or if you feel like taking a dip.
Just remember to bring your smile and a happy heart!
