1A brief overview of Cô Tô Island
Location: east of Hạ Long City, Quảng Ninh Province, Vietnam.
Hạ Long is one of the leading attractive beach destinations in northern Vietnam, home to a UNESCO-recognized World Natural Heritage Site, as well as scenic attractions created and generously bestowed by nature, such as Tuần Châu Island, Mắt Rồng Island, Ti Tốp Island, Cát Bà Island… Among them, Cô Tô Island has inspired many poets and musicians, including the eponymous work written by Nguyễn Tuân.
See also: Soi Sim Island - Discover the wild beauty in the heart of Hạ Long Bay Heritage Site
Cô Tô Island was formerly called Chàng Sơn (meaning Chàng Mountain), and some books refer to it as “Cầu Đầu” - A place where many mountains converge in the middle of the sea
Cô Tô Island is an island district in the eastern part of Quảng Ninh Province, 60 nautical miles from the mainland. Covering an area of 46.2km2, the Cô Tô archipelago consists of around 50 large and small islands, with 1,500 households and a population of 6,000. Among them, the large and small Cô Tô islands boast beautiful, crystal-clear beaches all year round, captivating countless visitors and quickly becoming a favorite destination for travel enthusiasts every summer.
The scenery of Cô Tô Island alone is enough to make visitors fall in love at first sight!
In addition, Cô Tô Island is home to a natural primeval forest across its mountainous terrain, as well as historical relics at locations of great importance to national security and defense, marking the nation’s sovereignty.
It is becoming a key island-and-sea tourism destination
Some people say that “from Cô Tô Island to paradise is only one step away,” thanks to the special allure of this romantic island amid the vast ocean. Here, visitors can feel separated from the outside world, temporarily set aside all their worries, and enjoy a sense of relaxation and peace in this beautiful sea region.
You can watch the video to admire the scenery of this archipelago:
Cô Tô Island is breathtakingly beautiful through footage filmed by drone. Source: Youtube/Flycam 4K
2When is the ideal time to visit Cô Tô Island?
Cô Tô Island lies on the northernmost edge of the country, so it experiences all four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Perhaps that is why each season here has its own distinctive and alluring beauty. You can refer to a few highlights of each season below to freely choose the best time for your own journey.
- From March to May: If you consider yourself a true “fan” of the sea, this is the ideal time to visit Cô Tô Island! The weather is fairly cool and the sea is calm, allowing you to explore many places here.
- From June to August: If you plan to travel to Cô Tô Island during this period, be sure to closely monitor the weather forecast and boat operations here! These months are prone to rough seas, meaning boats may be unable to travel to the island or return to the mainland.
- From September to October: During this period, northern Vietnam’s weather gradually shifts into autumn and the climate becomes cooler, so travel enthusiasts can explore the attractions or specialties on Cô Tô Island.
Depending on your preferences and available time, arrange your journey to Cô Tô Island in the most suitable way
One thing to note: if you choose to visit during the peak season in the summer months, remember to “book” your hotel room and services in advance to make your journey to Cô Tô Island more complete.
3How to get to Cô Tô Island
To reach Cô Tô Island, visitors must first get to Cái Rồng Port in Vân Đồn District, Quảng Ninh Province. From various provinces and cities, you can choose from many means of transportation to reach the port, including airplanes, coaches, and trains… After arriving at Cái Rồng Port, visitors have two options for traveling to Cô Tô Island: a wooden boat or a high-speed boat.
3.1 Wooden boats to Cô Tô Island
Boats to Cô Tô Island depart at 7 a.m. from Monday to Friday. Afternoon wooden boats depart at 13:00 on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Boats return to Cái Rồng Port at 13:00 on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Since the journey takes quite a long time—around 4 hours—those prone to seasickness should limit their use of this type of boat! Tickets range from 95,000VNĐ - 150,000VNĐ/ trip/ person. According to frequent visitors, wooden boats to Cô Tô Island operate less frequently than high-speed boats, so you should buy tickets in advance or check the schedule to avoid missing your trip!
A little tip: remember to bring seasickness medicine when traveling to Cô Tô Island
3.2 High-speed boats to Cô Tô Island
This is the option chosen by many visitors because the journey to Cô Tô Island is faster, taking around 90 minutes, and the sound of the engine skimming across the waves is also quite enjoyable. The earliest departure is at 6 a.m. and the latest at 17h30. The port offers many departure times and boat operators for you to choose from. Tickets range from 230,000VNĐ - 250,000VNĐ/ trip/ person.
With newer-generation boats that reduce travel time and offer better stability at sea, you will have less concern about seasickness when taking a boat to Cô Tô Island
4A few places to visit and enjoy yourself on Cô Tô Island
When visiting Cô Tô Island, where can travel enthusiasts explore and have fun besides immersing themselves in its romantic seascape? Here are some great suggestions for you:
- Cầu Mỵ Rock Beach: Also known as Móng Rồng Rock Beach, it covers more than 40ha, stretches for around 2km, and runs along the northeast–southwest direction of Cô Tô Island.
Cầu Mỵ Rock Beach, beloved by thousands
The layers of rock form tiered shapes, resembling steps, while the sea’s sedimentary colors create a rare and hard-to-find landscape
This is also the best place on the island to watch the sunrise and sunset, and it is loved by many social-media enthusiasts for check-ins
- Cô Tô Lighthouse: Located more than 4km east of the town center, Cô Tô Lighthouse is known as the lighthouse with the most beautiful view because it stands atop a mountain on an island.
This station was built at the end of the 19th century and has a light elevation of 118m above sea level. Why not take a “vintage” photo here?
It is one of more than 30 “eyes of the sea at night” operating in Vietnam’s territorial waters
Standing here, you can admire peaceful and beautiful Cô Tô Island
- Cô Tô Con Island: Cô Tô Con Island is about 1km from large Cô Tô.
Cô Tô Con Island is a small, uninhabited island with only a military guard station
The island has two very beautiful beaches, Đông Beach and Nam Beach. From a distance, the crystal-clear water reveals the seabed and schools of fish swimming playfully
During the travel season, there are thrilling activities you should not miss, including parasailing over the sea and riding a banana boat pulled by a high-speed canoe…
A peaceful sunset on Cô Tô Con Island
In addition, the island is home to Vàn Chảy Beach, Love Road, the Hồ Chí Minh Memorial House, Trúc Lâm Pagoda, a primeval chõi forest…
A romantic stroll along Love Road
Hồ Chí Minh Memorial House
Trúc Lâm Pagoda
Cô Tô Island is certainly a fascinating and ideal destination for this summer holiday, isn’t it? Anyone standing before that romantic natural landscape would surely be moved and enchanted. What are you waiting for? Grab your backpack and check in at Cô Tô Island now!
