Unlike the crowded Co To or Ha Long Bay, Quan Lan Island (Van Don district, Quang Ninh province) is small, with an area of nearly 11 square kilometers, but it attracts tourists thanks to its many long, white sandy beaches and pristine natural scenery.
Quan Lan Island is suitable for families with young children or elderly people, and those prone to seasickness, as the journey to the island is almost entirely smooth due to its location in a bay, resulting in quick travel times. Below is a suggested itinerary for a 3-day, 2-night stay on the island, based on advice from Minh Quan, an employee at a resort on the island, and local experts.
Travel route: Hanoi - Quan Lan
Besides driving themselves, tourists can take limousines or buses to Ao Tien or Cai Rong port (Quang Ninh) from My Dinh or Giap Bat bus stations. Tickets cost from 200,000 VND per trip, and the journey takes 3 hours.
From Ao Tien or Cai Rong port, visitors can take a speedboat for about 40-60 minutes to reach the island. When booking accommodation on the island, visitors can ask the hotel to assist with booking speedboat tickets and port transfers for convenience. Speedboat tickets cost from 150,000 VND per trip.
Getting around the island: Tourists can rent motorbikes, starting from 150,000 VND per day. Gasoline on the island is twice as expensive as on the mainland because there are no gas stations; tourists mainly buy fuel from local households. Alternatively, tourists can ask their hotel to help arrange electric vehicles, with prices depending on the itinerary.
Accommodation:
Visitors can rent homestays from local families on the island, or stay in hotels located in the center of Quan Lan commune or in the pedestrian zone. Room rates are around 800,000 VND if located in the center. For more secluded accommodations, closer to the beach, and in a more upscale area, visitors can choose Angsana Quan Lan, a newly opened resort on the island since 2024, with room rates starting from over 6 million VND on weekdays in July.
Places to eat:
Tourists can dine at their accommodations or resorts, or head to the town center or pedestrian street area.
Tour itinerary
Day 1: Arrive on the island and enjoy the sea breeze.
From Hanoi, tourists depart for Quang Ninh and stop at Ao Tien port for a rest and lunch. The port has two levels, fully catering to the dining needs of tourists with restaurants and cafes.
Afterward, guests board a boat to the island, as hotel check-in time is from 2 PM onwards. They then relax and stroll to Quan Lan Beach, one of the most beautiful and unspoiled beaches in Northern Vietnam. Here, you can immerse yourself in the turquoise waters, play beach volleyball, or simply lie on a lounge chair, enjoying the fresh air and listening to the gentle waves.
In the evening, don't miss the experience of enjoying a late-night meal on Quan Lan pedestrian street. The street isn't very big, but it has many stalls selling local food such as squid spring rolls, sea worm porridge, grilled clams with scallions and butter, various fruits, snacks, and bubble tea yogurt. This small street has become a familiar nighttime meeting place for tourists.
Day 2: A full day filled with exploration and physical activities.
Early in the morning, tourists can participate in digging for sea worms with the locals – a unique experience only found in the Quan Lan coastal area, which many tourists find enjoyable, especially families with young children. Sea worms are a valuable delicacy, usually living deep under the sand.
On Quan Lan Island, there are many sandworm digging spots, and tourists can join the locals in digging for free. However, digging for sandworms is not easy; only experienced people can spot areas where sandworms are hidden in the sand. Therefore, tourists should consider purchasing a sandworm digging tour, priced from 300,000 VND, which includes a guide.
From the main road to the digging site, you have to walk through a muddy section, so visitors should bring boots for easier access and also bring shovels and buckets. This is one of the experiences that many young visitors enjoy.
After finishing their sea worm digging trip, visitors can return to the hotel to change clothes and continue their journey to famous historical sites on the island such as Quan Lan Temple - a temple dedicated to the Tran Dynasty generals who fought against the Yuan army, and the Tran Khanh Du shrine. Son Hao Rock Beach, a favorite check-in spot for young people thanks to its unique beauty from the layered sedimentary rocks, is also a suggested destination.
In the afternoon, visitors should visit Eo Gió, a famous check-in spot on the island located in the north. Standing in this area, visitors can gaze out at the sea and admire the towering rocky mountains surrounding them, enjoying the cool sea breeze.
Late afternoon is the ideal time for activities such as swimming at Minh Chau beach or buying a half-day pass to enjoy the swimming pool and zipline at Angsana resort, which has two ziplines along Son Hao beach.
For those who prefer a more relaxed experience, visitors can rent bicycles or electric scooters to ride along the roads around the island, enjoying the leisurely pace amidst the tranquil nature.
Your first stop should be Eo Gió Quan Lạn, located in the north of the island. This is one of the famous spots with its panoramic sea views and towering rocky mountains surrounding it. Standing at Eo Gió, you'll feel the cool sea breeze, bringing a sense of relaxation and comfort. Take some time to admire the magnificent natural scenery, take some memorable photos, and enjoy the fresh air.
In the evening, you can return to the pedestrian street to try other dishes, or enjoy a seafood BBQ party organized by locals or guesthouses right on the beach.
Day 3: Explore the local market, buy local specialties, and return to the mainland.
On the last morning, tourists should wake up early and stroll through the local seafood market to buy specialties such as dried sea worms, sun-dried squid, mantis shrimp paste, shrimp paste, and fish sauce as souvenirs. Quan Lan market is small but full of fresh and delicious products at reasonable prices. A kilogram of shrimp paste costs from 350,000 VND, a liter of good quality sea worm fish sauce is around 300,000 VND, and fish sauce costs from over 100,000 VND depending on the type. Tourists can also buy souvenirs at the pedestrian street the night before.
Before boarding the ferry back to the mainland, tourists can spend some time sitting at a seaside cafe, breathing in the sea breeze and taking photos to capture the final moments of their "escape from the city to the island" trip.
Note:
Tourists should bring sunglasses, sunscreen, beach sandals, and insect repellent.
It's advisable to book services like zipline rides and experiential tours in advance, especially during peak season or on weekends.
Avoid littering and preserve the pristine landscape of Quan Lan.
Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/tron-pho-ra-dao-o-quan-lan-415226.html
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