We had zero intention of leaving Vietnam after only a few weeks in country but when Becky’s aunt told us about a decent deal to Korea, our interest was piqued. Vietravel was offering a 6 day/5 night special to Jeju Island for 9.59 Million Dong (USD $422). The price included a special direct charter flight from Saigon to Jeju and return, 3 star hotel, tour guide, and all food, activities and entrance fees. We normally avoid tour groups (especially large Asian tour groups), but this sounded like a great way to extend our full immersion Vietnamese language studies outside of the classroom. Sign us up! Vietnamese citizens normally require a rather difficult and pricey visa to visit Korea, but Jeju Island is a visa-free zone. No wonder this tour was fully booked within days of being published.
Coast on the north end of Jeju City
Becky and the mermaid statue; Dragon's Head Rock
Basalt rock formation known locally as "Yongduam Rock" (Dragon Head's Rock)
Becky and Chi Xuan pose next to guardian stone statues, protectors of Jeju Island; Yongduam
Rock Basalt souvenirs for sale (over 90% of Jeju's surface is basalt so this is a common souvenir); Yongduam Rock
Robby next to a colorful Jeju map
Robby about to board our "I Love Jeju" tour bus
Our Vietravel tour guide, Jung, giving another of his long winded lectures. Little did we know that we had signed up for 6 days of intensive Vietnamese when we booked this tour!
Crashing an all Vietnamese tour group to Jeju Island!
Entrance to Jeju Folklore & Natural History Museum
Display case of an oarfish, the longest of all fish; Jeju Natural History Museum
Village "Yeongdeung Goot" (exorcism) ceremony believed to protect Jeju's fishermen; Natural History Museum
Funeral display; Natural History Museum
Women divers of Jeju island
Traditional shoe and hat display at the Natural History Museum
Model of traditional boats used in Jeju; Natural History Museum
Farming diorama; Natural History Museum
Basalt stonework section of the Natural History Museum
Example of a millstone used in every village; Jeju Natural History Museum
Bryde's whale skeleton; Natural History Museum
Basking, Great White and Whale Shark display at Jeju's Folklore & Natural History Museum
Chi Xuan, Di Tam and Di Phuong at the marine exhibition of Jeju's Natural History Museum
Becky takes a sip of water; Jeju Folklore & Natural History Museum
Robby at the ice sculpture room of Sumokwon Theme Park
Ice sculptures that visitors are encouraged to touch; Sumokwon
Robby at the entrance to a massive ice igloo; Sumokwon
Becky behind the wheel of an ice car; Sumokwon Park
Jeju island's most wanted!
Tree pose on a surf board!
Lady liberty sharing some wine
Robby is intrigued at the door handle to the men's bathroom at Loveland Park
Giant penis at the entrance to Loveland - Jeju's unabashed sex theme park
Men's open air urinals; Loveland
Hmmm, a ponder between the legs; Loveland
Funny sign at Loveland Park
Waffle treats at Loveland Park
Ladies & Gents bathroom sign; Loveland
Di Tam, Hai and Chi Xuan about to have Korean hot pot for dinner
Korean "meat on a stick" snacks for sale at a local 7-Eleven store
Robby and the "Dol Hareubang" (large rock statues) of Cheonjiyeon Waterfall
Brown-eared bulbul; Cheonjiyeon Waterfall
Yakcheonsa Temple, Jeju's most popular Buddhist Temple
Water fountain; Yakcheonsa Temple
Yakcheonsa Temple - the largest Buddhist prayer hall in Asia
3 meter tall Buddha; Yakcheonsa Temple
Colorful lanterns inside Yakcheonsa Temple
Dragon detail; Yakcheonsa Temple
Colorful mandala; Yakcheonsa Temple
Over 80,000 gold Buddha statues on display at Yakcheonsa Temple
Buddhist lanterns; Yakcheonsa Temple
Pathway leading to Yakcheonsa Temple
Robby chowing down at Supseom Fish Restaurant
Handprints of famous K-pop stars Psy and Big Bang; Play Kpop Museum
Our friend Hai is virtually selected to join K-pop band "Big Bang" in a holographic music show; Play Kpop Museum
Becky at the Joanne Bear Museum
Posing with bears in traditional wedding outfits; Joanne Bear Museum
Jeju's Museum of African Art
Robby strikes a pose in the tea fields at O'Sulloc Tea Museum
Robby takes a big whiff of his kimchi
Our Vietnamese tour group goes bonkers for dried seaweed in a sales frenzy
Money is thrown around as everyone gets in on the buying action at the seaweed/kimchi shop
Wearing hanbok - traditional Korean dress
Fishing boats in Doduhang Harbor
Dinner is served - each guest gets 1 kg of chicken in a hot pot!
Enjoying our chicken dinner at a restaurant in Doduhang
Korean ginseng - a pricey souvenir!
Jusangjeolli Rock Pillars
Selfie in front of Jusangjeolli's hexagonal pillars
Haeneyo woman selling seafood at Jusangeolli
Kissing in a massive shell; Jusangjeolli
Jusangjeolli snack vendors
Robby, Dung Sau and Di Sau await our Pork BBQ lunch feast
Lookout over Jungmun Beach
Becky enjoys a dip with her new friends Thai, Ying and Hai; Jungmun Beach
Spicy Korean seafood hot pot (haemul jeongol) for dinner
Becky by the entrance to Seongeup Folk Village
Traditional dwelling built of thatch and lava rock; Seongeup Folk Village
Storage containers for traditional Jeju medicinal concoctions; Seongeup Folk Village
Photograph of "haenyeo", female divers from Jeju famous for gathering shellfish, abalone and sea urchins; Seongeup Folk Village
German shepherd guard dog; Seongeup Folk Village
Chapel turned gingerbread house; Seopjikoji
Climb up to the lighthouse for dramatic views of the coast line; Seopjikoji
View from Seopjikoji lighthouse
Horned turban shells; Seopjikoji
Squid hanging to dry; Seopjikoji
Robby dives into a bucket of squid; Seopjikoji
Bacon..it's what's for lunch!
Di Phuong and Robby grilling up our lunch
Entrance to UNESCO world heritage Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak
Sun dials near the base of Seongsan Ilchulbong
View looking back as we climbed up the bowl like crater of Seongsan Ilchulbong
Selfie at the top of Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak
Becky and Dung Sau; Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak
Staircase leading to the base of Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak
Haenyeo women divers host several shows daily at this secluded section of Seongsan's coast line
Snake venom beauty soap...supposedly good for erasing wrinkles!
Korean masks for sale at an overpriced souvenir store
Our Vietravel Itinerary:
Day 1: Saigon to Jeju via Jetstar
Day 2: Pick up from airport and meet local guide. After breakfast, visit Yongduam Rock, Jeju Minsok Natural History Museum and Sumokwon Theme Park (ice sculptures and 3D art included). Korean hot pot for lunch, followed by a visit to Mysterious Road, Loveland sex themed park. Check in to Amoureux Resort Hotel. Korea hot pot dinner.
Day 3: Breakfast buffet at hotel. 7:30 am departure for Cheonjiyeon Waterfall, Oedolgae Rock, and Yakcheonsa Temple. Lunch at Supseom Fish Restaurant. Afternoon visit to the Play Kpop Museum, Joanne Teddy Bear Museum, and O’Sulloc Tea Museum. Before dinner, learn how to make kimchi and dried seaweed. Have opportunity to try on traditional Korean dress (Hanbok). Dinner at a restaurant near Doduhang Harbor.
Day 4: Breakfast buffet at hotel. 7:30 am departure for Ginseng Center, Herbal Medicine Center, and a Cosmetics Store. Lunch followed by a visit to Jusangjeolli Rock Pillars. Visit Jeju JTO Duty Free (photocopies of passports will be provided). Afternoon free time at Jungmun Beach, Jeju Island’s most popular beach. Seafood hotpot (Haemul Jeongol) for dinner.
Day 5: Breakfast buffet at hotel. 7 am departure for Seongeup Folk Village, followed by a visit to Seopjikoji, the eastern coast of Jeju Island. Seopjikoji has been the set for numerous Korean TV dramas such as “One Thousand and One Nights”, “Gingko Bed” and “The Uprising”. Free time to hike to the lighthouse or eat seafood. Visit to a chocolate store for free sampling of Jeju’s best chocolates. Lunch at a Korean BBQ restaurant. Afternoon visit to UNESCO world heritage site Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak. Free time to hike up to the peak. Duty free shopping opportunities in the late afternoon before dinner.
Day 6: Early (4 am) wake up call followed by 4:30 am departure for the airport. Breakfast served on board Jetstar flight back to Saigon.
Thanks for the journey.
We enjoyed the short visit. Jeju had lots to offer for our whirlwind tour.