Ke Ga lighthouse sits on Hon Ba Island, a rocky outcrop covered in massive boulders rising directly from the sea. It is the oldest and tallest lighthouse in Vietnam, built by the French in 1897 and still operating today. Despite being an easy day trip from Mui Ne, it gets far fewer visitors than you’d expect — which is exactly what makes it worth going.
In this guide you will find transport options, boat crossing details, costs, timing, and what to expect on the island — everything you need to plan a Ke Ga lighthouse trip from Mui Ne.
Last updated after a personal revisit in April 2026. Part of our Things to Do in Mui Ne series. All links marked with📍 open directly in Google Maps.
What Is Ke Ga Lighthouse
The lighthouse tower stands 115 ft (35 m) tall. Built on top of a natural rock formation, the lamp reaches 213 ft (65 m) above sea level — making it the tallest lighthouse in Vietnam. Its beam reaches 22 nautical miles (~41 km) out to sea. Inside, 183 iron spiral steps lead to the top.
Officially, tourists are not allowed inside the lighthouse. In practice, access is sometimes offered informally for around 1M VND ($38.0/€32.5) per group. Whether that option is available depends on who is on duty when you arrive. Treat it as a possible bonus, not a planned activity.
How to Get to Ke Ga Cape from Mui Ne
There are several ways to make the journey, depending on your group size and preferences.
By organized tour — Tour operators in Mui Ne offer day trips that include Ke Ga Cape, typically combined with one or two other stops. Most guesthouses and hotels in Mui Ne can arrange this; expect to pay a small booking fee on top of the tour price.
By taxi or private car — A taxi covers the 31 mi (50 km) from Mui Ne in about an hour. It is the most comfortable option but also the most expensive for solo travelers. However, if you are traveling in a group of three or more, hiring a car with a driver for the full day becomes much more cost-effective, especially if you add Ta Cu Mountain (Núi Tà Cú) to the itinerary — that combination makes the vehicle cost per person genuinely reasonable.
By motorbike — The most flexible option for independent travelers. The ride from Mui Ne to Ke Ga Cape takes about 60 to 75 minutes each way. The first stretch through Phan Thiet city is dense and chaotic — standard Vietnamese city traffic. Once past the city center, however, the coastal road heading south opens up sharply. Traffic drops off and the sea appears on your left.
If you are new to riding in Vietnam, our complete Mui Ne motorbike guide covers everything you need — rentals, routes, traffic rules, and what to watch out for.
What to See Along the Way
Several stops are worth a pause on the road south from Phan Thiet, especially if you have a flexible schedule:
📍Phan Thiet water tower (Tháp nước Phan Thiết) — a French colonial water tower visible from the road. No reason to stop specifically, but it is a clean piece of colonial architecture if you are paying attention while riding through.
📍Nui Hill viewpoint — a hillside overlook that works best in late afternoon. Passing it on the way back makes more sense than on the way there.
📍Bikini Beach (Bãi biển Bikini) — a relatively new beach development south of Phan Thiet, accessible and less crowded than Mui Ne beaches.
📍Ghost town villas — south of Phan Thiet, you pass through a new residential development with finished infrastructure and streets wide enough for four lanes of traffic with almost no one on them.
At Ke Ga Cape
Ke Ga Cape (Mũi Kê Gà) is a low rocky promontory with boulders running directly into the sea. There is a concrete embankment along the waterfront, a small bay with fishing boats, and a clear view of the lighthouse island just offshore.
Getting to the Island
Boat operators work the promenade and will approach you shortly after you park. The price quoted to foreign tourists is typically inflated — two to three times what locals pay — so it is worth haggling before you agree. If no one approaches you, walk along the promenade to the nearest cafe. They will find someone for you.
A reasonable round-trip fare is 50K–100K VND ($1.9–$3.8/€1.6–€3.2) per person on a speedboat, or 40K–50K VND ($1.5–$1.9/€1.3–€1.6) per person on a traditional round boat (thuyền thúng). Crossing time depends on the tide and which boat you take.
On the Island
The walk from the boat landing to the lighthouse base takes about 10 minutes up a set of stairs cut into the rock. The views back toward the mainland shore and along the coastline open up quickly as you climb.
The island is small enough to explore fully in under an hour if you only follow the obvious path to the lighthouse.
However, there are unmarked trails on the far side of the island — away from the landing direction — that take around 25 minutes to cover. They consist of worn footpaths and sections where you move across large boulders. The exposure and sea views from those sections are better than the main approach. Wear shoes you can scramble in and watch your footing on wet rock.
The entrance ticket to the lighthouse grounds costs 10K VND ($0.4/€0.3) per person, paid on arrival.
Best Time to Visit
Early morning gives you the best light for photography, cooler temperatures, calmer conditions, and the chance to see fishing boats returning to the cape.
Late afternoon, around 4:00–5:00 PM, works well for the sunset angle on the lighthouse, though the crossing back can be choppier as the wind picks up.
Midday is the least rewarding time to visit — the rocks absorb and radiate heat, making the island uncomfortably hot to walk around, and overhead sun makes for flat, uninteresting photos.
Combining with Ta Cu Mountain
If you are doing this as a full-day excursion, Ta Cu Mountain (Núi Tà Cú) is roughly 9 mi (15 km) north of the cape and fits naturally into the same trip. This destination offers a cable car ride, a large reclining Buddha statue, and some forest hiking.
Together, they give you a day that moves between sea, coast road, and forested mountain — enough variety to make the drive from Mui Ne worthwhile.
Ke Ga Lighthouse Trip Planner
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Distance from Mui Ne | ~31 mi (50 km), ~60–75 min by motorbike |
| Distance from Phan Thiet | ~19 mi (30 km) |
| Island access | Speedboat or round woven boat from Ke Ga Cape |
| Boat fare (round trip) | 50K–100K VND ($1.9–$3.8/€1.6–€3.2) |
| Entrance ticket | 10K VND ($0.4/€0.3) per person |
| Lighthouse interior | Officially closed to tourists |
| Best time of day | Before 8:00 AM or after 4:00 PM |
Final Notes
Ke Ga lighthouse suits travelers who are happy to move slowly — a boat crossing, some scrambling on rocks, and not much else on offer.
There is no café, no souvenir stand, and no guided experience waiting for you. If that sounds like a problem, skip it. If it sounds like a relief, it is probably one of the better half-days you will spend on this stretch of coast.
