Trong Mai and To Vo: a rock’s nickname is not its geology

Trong Mai means cock and hen: a pair of small rocks facing one another. You may also encounter the name Ga Choi. Dinh Huong, also called Lu Huong, recalls an incense burner. Keep both names on your phone or ask your guide to point them out. Recognising the forms is more rewarding than simply photographing every island in sight, especially if this is your first encounter with the dense limestone seascape.

View the arch from a permitted ground-level position and notice how the opening changes with your angle. A small change in camera position can separate the stone outline from people behind it. Avoid backing toward the sea while looking through a screen. If the useful angle is crowded, wait or choose a wider coastal composition.