1 Where is Cai Rong Port? An overview of Cai Rong Port
Location: Van Don Special Economic Zone, Quang Ninh Province
Cai Rong Port is one of the important gateways taking travelers to various destinations from mainland Quang Ninh. Situated right on the shores of poetic Bai Tu Long Bay, it boasts a picturesque and charming landscape.
It can be said that Cai Rong Port is a crucial waterway gateway connecting the mainland with the two beautiful tourist islands of Van Don and Co To. What impressed me most about Cai Rong Port is its grand scale. During peak season, Cai Rong Port managed and operated 6 wharves with nearly 100 passenger transport vessels in total.
Cai Rong Port is one of the important gateways in Quang Ninh. Photo: Vietgoing
Besides the aforementioned factors, the waiting lounge of Cai Rong Port is also highly rated by me for being exceptionally modern. This waiting room covers about 300 m2 with a canopy of over 500 m2 and 450 available seats. With this capacity, Cai Rong Port is fully capable of accommodating more than 1,000 passengers at the same time.
According to the information I gathered, during peak summer days or holidays, the port can coordinate up to 5 vessels docking to receive passengers simultaneously. The handling capacity at such times reaches up to 15,000 passenger turns per day.
The facilities at Cai Rong Port are quite spacious, though they have been in operation for many years. Photo: Vietgoing
In addition to its infrastructural advantages, Cai Rong Port also charmed me with its stunning surrounding natural environment. The pier is nestled amidst poetic waters and mountains with emerald-green sea waters and undulating rocky outcrops off in the distance. It is also an anchorage for fishing vessels after their journeys at sea, clearly showcasing the rustic beauty of coastal fishermen's daily life.
2 How to get to Cai Rong Port
Cai Rong Port is located about 200 km from central Hanoi, making the journey here very convenient. Depending on your preferences and budget, you can choose to travel here by private car or coach.
From central Hanoi, I traveled along the Hanoi - Hai Phong Expressway, then merged onto the Hai Phong - Mong Cai Expressway. After that, I turned onto Van Don Boulevard and continued along Ly Anh Tong Street for about 1 km more to reach the port.
Cai Rong Port is quite convenient to reach. Photo: Taucaotoc
3 Boat routes at Cai Rong Port
From Cai Rong Port, there is a waterway transportation network branching out to island communes across Van Don and Co To. Below is the schedule of boat routes at Cai Rong Port that I would like to share with you.
3.1 Cai Rong to Co To Island route
In my experience, the Cai Rong to Co To Island route is one of the most frequently chosen boat trips at this port. This route takes you to the island paradise of Co To with a 60 km sea crossing. The travel time from Cai Rong to Co To takes about 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the weather conditions.
In my experience, the Cai Rong to Co To Island route is one of the most frequently chosen boat trips at this port. Photo: Sea Co To Travel
3.2 Cai Rong to Quan Lan Island route
The Cai Rong to Quan Lan route is another personal favorite of mine. This route will take you to a pristine, peaceful island area within Bai Tu Long Bay. The travel time for the Cai Rong to Quan Lan route, according to my observations, is around 45 to 60 minutes per trip.
The Cai Rong to Quan Lan route is also one of my favorites. Photo: Khat Vong Viet
3.3 Other local island routes
Besides speedboats heading to renowned tourist destinations, Cai Rong Port also maintains speedboats and wooden boats serving local residents. I have noted several boat routes operating to take visitors on journeys to explore untouched island areas as follows:
- Route to Ngoc Vung Island: flexible departure times throughout the day, taking about 60 minutes, with affordable ticket prices.
- Route to Ban Sen / Thang Loi: operates mainly on fixed departures in the morning or afternoon, with quite reasonable fares.
Besides speedboats heading to famous tourist spots, Cai Rong Port also maintains speedboats to other destinations. Photo: Vietnam Finance
4 FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions about Cai Rong Port
4.1 What delicious food is there near Cai Rong Port?
The area adjacent to the port and along the main street of Cai Rong Town features many affordable seafood eateries serving stone crab noodle soup and mantis shrimp noodle soup. In addition, within the waiting lounge area, there are shops selling Quang Ninh OCOP products where you can buy local specialties as gifts.
4.2 What attractions can you access from Cai Rong Port?
In my view, Cai Rong Port is like a key opening up the island paradise of northeastern Quang Ninh. Super hot tourist spots you can visit from here include Co To Island, Quan Lan Island, Minh Chau Beach, Ngoc Vung Island, Cai Bau Pagoda…
Cai Rong Port was once a very important transportation gateway in Quang Ninh for those packing their bags to travel here. Although it no longer caters as heavily to tourism as before, Cai Rong Port continues to be a meaningful waterway transportation hub for Quang Ninh.
