Amazing natural scenery on Co To Island

Just a few hours' drive and speedboat ride from Ha Long, the Co To archipelago, with its large islands like Co To Lon and Thanh Lan, and smaller islands such as Co To Con, Hon De, and Tran Island, is a pristine paradise. The sea's color changes like the sky, and the sandy shores are pure white, giving anyone the feeling of being a first-time visitor. Having only become a popular tourist destination in the last 10 years, Co To offers visitors breathtaking natural landscapes that few other places can match.

Upon arriving here, it seems every visitor is captivated by the turquoise color of the sky and sea. Many people comment: "It's not an exaggeration to compare Co To's beaches to the most beautiful beaches on the planet." That's when swimming on the long sandy shore, but when going out to sea by boat, just by stopping at the coral reefs, you'll encounter schools of small fish swimming leisurely in the blue water. The hours spent cruising through this pristine archipelago deserve to be considered the most enjoyable time of a trip.

The best time to visit Co To Island is during the summer and autumn. April and May are ideal because there are no storms, no rain, and the sun isn't too hot. June and July are suitable for summer travel but often experience storms. September and October offer beautiful scenery but the weather starts to get colder and there's more rain – the upside is that prices aren't as expensive as during peak season.

Regardless of the season, you should check the weather forecast before departure to avoid being stranded for extended periods due to boat closures during storms. If a storm unexpectedly hits while you are in Co To, follow the instructions of local authorities or your tour guide if you are traveling in a group. Stay in your hotel or find safe shelter and only continue your journey after the storm has passed. It's advisable to bring more money than you initially planned.

To reach Co To Island, tourists will have to travel in two stages:

Stage 1: Arrive at Cai Rong Port, Van Don, Quang Ninh

Tourists from the South or Central regions will take a flight to Hanoi , Hai Phong, or Quang Ninh, then travel by road to Cai Rong port in Van Don district.

If you don't drive your own car or motorbike from Hanoi, you can take a limousine or coach to Cua Ong, Cam Pha from My Dinh or Giap Bat bus stations. The price is around 150,000 to 200,000 VND per trip. The journey takes nearly 4 hours.

Departing from Hai Phong, the travel time is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Limousine fares are around 150,000 VND per trip, while regular buses cost around 120,000 VND per trip.

Stage 2: From Cai Rong port, take a boat to Co To island.

There are currently three types of boats: high-speed boats, wooden boats, and reinforced boats. Tourists usually travel by high-speed boats and wooden boats.

High-speed ferry: Travel time is over one hour, estimated ticket price is 250,000 VND per trip. Ferry companies include: Ka Long, Phuc Thinh, Co To 68, Co To 01, Havaco, Nguyen Viet, Quang Minh, Manh Quang, Hai Vinh 89, Hoang Quan. Departure times are from 6:00 AM to 5:30 PM.

Wooden boat: The journey takes nearly three hours, with an estimated ticket price of 95,000 VND per trip. Departure times from Van Don to Co To are at 7:00 AM and return at 1:00 PM; they depart as soon as there are enough passengers.

Heritage Magazine