MY · Terengganu · 5.62°N 103.07°E

pulau bidong

Former Vietnamese refugee island turned snorkelling spot. Eerie and beautiful.

Best time
March to October, when the sea is calm. Boats generally don't run during the northeast monsoon, roughly November to February.
How long
Day trip
Getting there
Boats leave from the Merang jetty, about 40 minutes' drive north of Kuala Terengganu, and take around 30 minutes. Kuala Terengganu is about an hour's flight from KL, or around 5 hours' drive.
Save postcard
MY · Terengganupulau bidong5.62°N 103.07°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Former Vietnamese refugee island turned snorkelling spot. Eerie and beautiful.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingPulau BidongMY, Terengganu
KLpulau bidong
≈ 315 km from KL, as the crow flies
Photo of Pulau Bidong

Photo: diligam_te · CC BY 2.0

1 / 3

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

From 1978, this small island off Merang was a camp for Vietnamese boat people, holding as many as 40,000 at its peak and around 250,000 over the years. Today there's no village, just the remains of the camp, memorials left by former refugees, and clear water around the reefs.

Things to do

  1. The camp remainsWalk the paths past crumbling buildings and foundations that the jungle is slowly taking back.Map ↗
  2. MemorialsFormer refugees and their families have come back over the years and left memorials around the island.Map ↗
  3. SnorkellingThe reefs around the island have clear water and plenty of fish.Map ↗
  4. Island hoppingMany trips from Merang add snorkelling stops at the small islets nearby.Map ↗

Good to know

  • There are no shops or resorts on the island. Bring water, food and sun protection, and take your rubbish back.
  • Go with a boat operator from Merang; most trips combine the history walk with snorkelling.
  • Treat the memorials with respect. For many visitors this is a place of real loss.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.