3 days to escape the heat in the blue sea paradise of Co To

Co To is one of the most beautiful islands in the North with clear blue sea and sky, attracting many tourists to visit and have fun in the summer.

Co To , Quang Ninh is entering one of the most beautiful times of the year. In early June, Nguyen Trang (Hanoi) spent 3 days and 2 nights with friends to explore this beautiful island. Below is the schedule shared by her friend.

The wild and beautiful scenery of Co To.

Traveling to Co To is located in the east of Van Don island district, Quang Ninh province. From Hanoi to Co To island, you have to go through 2 stages. First, from Hanoi to Ao Tien port, this distance is more than 200 km, with a travel time of about 3 hours. You can choose means of transport such as cars, convenient passenger vans or motorbikes if you want to be more adventurous. From Ao Tien port to Co To island, visitors can choose two means of transport: speedboat or wooden boat. Opening hours to welcome visitors by boat are from 6am - 7pm on all days of the week, including holidays, Tet from Monday to Sunday. Travel time from the port to the island is about 1 hour, depending on weather conditions. To travel on Co To island, you can choose means of transport such as electric cars, taxis, rental cars... In addition, you can also rent motorbikes and bicycles for more convenience in traveling and exploring the beautiful scenery. Day 1: Hong Van Beach - Van Chay Beach Departing from Hanoi very early, Nguyen Trang and her friends arrived at Ao Tien port at 5:30. At around 8:00, the group arrived at Co To wharf. They returned to the hotel to have breakfast, rest, and at 10:00 went to Hong Van beach to watch the sea and take pictures.

Hong Van Beach has a long stretch of fine white sand, clear blue water, and gentle waves.

At Hong Van beach, there are some services such as renting swimming floats, chairs, and tents for tourists to rest conveniently.

Hong Van Beach is about 6km from the center of Co To town. This is a famous tourist destination, attracting a large number of tourists. If you are a lover of calm beaches, gentleness and peace, this place is ideal. After having fun and taking photos, Trang and the group returned for lunch. Resting until about 3pm, she continued to Van Chay, one of the most beautiful beaches in Co To. Like Hong Van, Van Chay Beach has a wild beauty, clear blue water, and a large area. However, Van Chay has bigger waves than Hong Van Beach. Nguyen Trang's group stayed at Van Chay until sunset - the most beautiful time of the day on the beach. Sitting on the beach watching the sunset and listening to the murmur of the waves, all feelings of fatigue seemed to disappear, the soul relaxed, blending into nature. In the evening, the group returned to the homestay to eat and rest. Nguyen Trang said that tourists can choose to have dinner right on the beach, but the price will be higher. Day 2: Take a tour of 3 islands: Hon Ca Chep - Hon Su Tu - Co To Con. At about 7:30 a.m., Nguyen Trang's group of friends set off on a tour of 3 islands: Hon Ca Chep - Hon Su Tu - Co To Con. The trip lasts about 4 hours including time for meals. Because they have to move continuously, tourists need to prepare their health well.

The sea water is clear, you can see the bottom at Hon Ca Chep.

Hon Ca Chep is a small island in Co To, with a long beach stretching out to the sea, appearing and disappearing with the tides and thousands of years of sedimentary rock erosion creating an extremely interesting landscape. Hon Su Tu is located in the middle of Co To Con Island, as a symbol to calm and protect the peace of the island. Co To Con Island is still quite wild compared to other islands. Therefore, the sea water here is clear, you can see the bottom and the sand is soft and smooth.

Lion Island stands tall on the sea.

Co To Con is still quite wild.

After a morning trip to 3 islands, Nguyen Trang returned to the homestay at 1:00 p.m. After resting until 4:00 p.m., she continued to go to Hong Van beach to swim. Nguyen Trang shared that in the evening in Co To, people can book a night squid fishing tour or go to the town center to buy souvenirs. Day 3: Cau My rock beach - Lighthouse - Au Cang On the last day of the trip, Nguyen Trang woke up early to watch the sunrise at Cau My rock beach. Cau My rock beach, also known as Mong Rong rock beach, is about 3km south of Co To town. There are steep cliffs 60-80m high, formed during the erosion of ocean waves. The rocks are layered, with many colors and shapes, creating a vivid and majestic natural picture.

The vertical cliffs are formed by the erosive action of ocean waves.

The majestic scenery of Cau My rock beach.

Leaving Cau My rock beach, the group visited Co To lighthouse - known as "the night sea". The lighthouse is open from 5am to 11pm and does not charge admission. After climbing 72 steps from the bottom to the top of the lighthouse, you can take in the panoramic view of Co To island, from the vast sea and sky, the dreamy town, the lush green forests, and the simple houses. Au Cang is located right next to Cau My rock beach, so Nguyen Trang combined sightseeing in the journey. As the largest storm shelter on Co To island, Au Cang becomes the anchorage point for boats every evening or when there is news of a storm. There are no entertainment activities, but this place is still a favorite check-in spot for tourists because of its wild and peaceful beauty.

The peaceful beauty of Au Cang, Co To. Photo: Discover Co To

At the end of an exciting 3-day, 2-night trip, Nguyen Trang and her friends booked a train back to the mainland at 1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. With this schedule, the group has time to return to Hanoi to rest and prepare for the next working day. Accommodation Most hotels in Co To support free early check-in when there are available rooms. If the group has children, the elderly or is reluctant to move, you should choose hotels in the center for more convenient eating and moving. Cost The total cost for Nguyen Trang's 3-day, 2-night trip to Co To is about 3.5 million VND. Of which, the homestay rental price is 500,000 VND/2 nights, the train ticket is 250,000 VND/way, the 3-island tour is 950,000 VND/person. She suggests that visitors can buy a cheaper tour at 650,000 VND/person. In addition, there is the cost of food and drink, depending on the needs of visitors. Note: Currently, the port to Co To has been changed from Cai Rong port to Ao Tien port. The entrance fee is 30,000 VND/person. Visitors should take note to avoid confusion. Hotel rooms, train and bus tickets should be booked at least 2 weeks in advance. Trains and buses should be booked round-trip to avoid the situation of having a departure but no return. Visitors should book rooms for 2 nights or more on weekends.

Laodong.vn