Co To Island: The Complete Guide

Overview

Consisting of around 30 islands, Co To is an archipelago in the east of the Quang Ninh province. Currently around 6700 people (2021) live there in roughly 1500 households. There is great tourist potential and it is expected that the islands will be developed into tourist zones in the near future, so now is the best time to visit as the archipelago is still unspoiled. Being only 6 miles (9 kilometers) away from Halong Bay, Co To is great to visit in combination with a Halong Bay trip.

How to get there

There are several ways you can travel to Co To with the bus being the most ubiquitous mode of transportation. The departure point will be Hanoi. Keep in mind that Co To is an island and that you need a different form of transportation for the last leg of your trip.

• First leg: Hanoi to Van Don or Cai Rong port by bus.
• Second leg: Van Don or Cai Rong port to Co To island by ferry or speedboat.

Hanoi - Co To Island Trip Overview
Distance	300 Kilometers
Average travel time	4-6 hours
Price	350,000 VND to 450,000 VND

Bus

It’s best to catch a bus to Mong Cai or Cua Ong from either the My Dinh or Luong Yen bus station, whichever is more convenient. Tickets range from $5 to $9 USD. The bus leaves around every half hour and takes about 4 to 5 hours to get there. The last stop on the Hanoi to Co To line is Nga Ba Van Don (Bai Chay). When traveling to Co To, it’s best to ask the bus driver to drop you off at the Van Don post office as it’s only 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) from there to Cai Rong port. Either walk or take a taxi from Van Don post office to the port.

There are also direct buses from Hanoi to Co To Island:

Bus Operator	depart	Arrive	Price
VietKite Travel (46-seater bus)	Hanoi Opera House (01 Trang Tien) - 01:00 am	Co To Island - 08:30 am	430,000 VND
VietKite Travel (46-seater bus)	Cau Giay Park (Maps) - 00:30 am	Co To Island - 08:30 am	430,000 VND

Motorbike

Traveling by motorbike has the great advantage that you’re your own boss and can make the most of the trip there. The disadvantage is that it’s hard to take a lot of luggage and it might not be as comfortable or safe as a bus. This option is only recommended for experienced drivers as Vietnamese roads can be quite treacherous.

The distance from Hanoi to Van Don is around 130 miles (200 kilometers). Follow the highway 1A - 18 to Quang Ninh. Take a right at the Van Don intersection and cross the Van Don bridge. Take a right at the post office and follow the road the Cai Rong port. You can take your bike to the island for around 130,000 VND. It’s around 23,000 VND a day for parking if you decide to leave your bike at the port.

Once you’re at the port you have two options to get to the island: by speedboat or by boat.

• Speedboat: A high speed boat leaves between 1:00 and 1:30 p.m. on weekdays and takes around an hour and a half to arrive. The average price for a ticket is 195,000 VND a person. The name of the train is the Manh Quang high speed boat.
• Public Boat:The boat leaves the harbor every weekday at around 7:00 a.m. It’ll take around 4 hours to reach Co To and a ticket is around 125,000 VND. For obvious reasons, the boat is not recommended for people who are prone to seasickness.

To book Manh Quang speed boat, visit their official website: https://taucaotocmanhquang.com/

Getting around

The best way to get around the island is by motorbike or taxi. The price of a rental motorbike ranges from 150,000 VND to 230,000 VND and the price of a liter of gas is about 30,000 VND.

If you’re not comfortable driving a bike, taxis are a great option as well. You’ll find both car and motorbike taxis on the island.

When renting a vehicle, always ask for the price first and haggle over the price if you think you’re paying too much. As more tourists come to the island, more people will try to scam you into paying more money.

Where to stay

There are a few hotels and homestays located on the island. When arranging a stay on the island we recommend having a look on booking.com or agoda.com. Even AirBnB has made its way to the island and might be worth having a look at.

Below are three of the highest rated hotels on the island.

1. Coto Center Homestay

Located around 2 miles (3.5 kilometers) outside the town center, this homestay comes highly recommended by guests who have previously stayed there.

It features spacious, quiet rooms with air conditioning and offers free parking and wifi. An Asian breakfast is included as well. Price per night for two people is around 500,000 VND to 700,000 VND a night.

Check rate on Booking.com

2. Lan Quan Hotel (Lan Quân)

With 400 meters away from the town center, this hotel is a little bit more central. Guests who have stayed at Lan Quan Hotel rate the wifi as excellent and every room comes with a private bathroom and air conditioning.

The hotel has a communal kitchen and lounge. The price per night for two people is around 450,000 VND. Breakfast is optional for an additional 23,000 VND a night.

Check rate on Booking.com

3. Mai Linh Hotel

Located close to the ocean, this hotel offers ocean view rooms. Free wifi is included and there’s a terrace on the premises where guests can relax and enjoy island life. Rooms with two double beds cost around 700,000 VND to 1,200,000 VND a night. Breakfast is optional for an additional 390,000 VND a night. When booking here be sure to book a sea view room, but mountain view rooms are also available. When traveling with a bike, parking can be arranged at an extra charge.

Address: Ngã 3 cảng, Cô Tô District, Quảng Ninh. Check rate on Booking.com

Things to do

From beaches to landmarks, there are a lot of things to see and do in Co To. Below are the most popular and recommended things to do in Co To.

1. Co To Lighthouse

Located on the east side of the archipelago we find the Co To lighthouse. It is on top of a mountain around 3 miles (5 kilometers) out of town. It’s the highest point on Van Don island, and was built in the late 1800’s. Hiking up the mountain to see the lighthouse is an adventure in itself as the forest is dense and tropical.

The lighthouse is a must visit as it offers great panoramic views which really sparkles the imagination.

2. Co To Church

Consecrated in 2013 this is the youngest and also the only church on Co To island. It's a small church that measures 27 meters in length and 10 meters in width and was built at the foot of a hill. Being the first and only church, and being built just so recently, makes this a popular tourist attraction.

3. Cau My Rock

Cau My Rock is a romantic place visited often by young couples in love. The rock is shaped like a mouse tail facing the ocean. A product of thousands of years of erosion, Cau My is a unique sight to behold on Co To.

4. Hong Van Beach 

Located 4 miles (7 kilometers) outside of Co To town is the beautiful Hong Van beach. Beautiful white sandy beaches will help you relax and unwind. Come to Hong Van to have a nice beach day or simply go for a nice walk after dinner as the sun sets.

Besides Hong Van beach, Van Chai (Vàn Chải) beach is also a beach that comes highly recommended. Van Chai is slightly closer to Co To town.

5. Nature On Co To

There are a couple of islands where you can go hiking and enjoy the unspoiled nature that Co To has to offer.

20 minutes from Co To is Thanh Lan Island. It has ancient forests intertwined with winding roads and beautiful sandy beaches. The water on Thanh Lan is clean and crystal clear. Fresh seafood is available on the island.

Another island that’s great to explore is Co To Con island. It’s a military island that has no permanent population. With a wide array of flora and fauna, it’s a great place to spend the day and hike.

What to eat?

There are a lot of local specialties on Co To island. Find our three top picks below.

Abalone

Abalone is a sea slug that is extremely valuable and rare. It is a highly exclusive ingredient and contains many nutrients. Abalone can be stewed, grilled or fried and is often served with rice, porridge or in a soup. When in Co To, definitely try out abalone.

Sea Urchin

Although it doesn’t look very appetizing with its prickly appearance, on Co To this hostile sea creature is transformed into a delicious dish. Often combined with ginseng, it is best enjoyed raw, grilled or together with porridge. It’s nutritional value is high and it’s a popular item on the menus of Co To’s restaurants.

Holothurian

Holothurian is a different name for sea cucumber. This dish is particularly popular with women as it’s believed that eating sea cucumber slows down the aging process and gives you a young looking skin. In general, holothurian is considered to be part of a healthy well balanced diet and cannot be missed when in Co To.

When leaving Co To, be sure not to leave empty handed. If at all possible, try and buy some fresh seafood off the local fishermen before going back to the mainland.

Weather & when to visit

Co To has a tropical hot climate, with two distinct seasons: wet and dry. In the summer the weather is hot and wet while the winters are generally a bit cooler and dry. Average temperature year round is around 22°C

As many people prefer the cool, dry weather in the spring and fall, Co To is busiest from March to April and from September till October. More sunny days and dryer weather are to be expected during these months. Temperatures in summer are highest with a high of 32°C. Despite the high temperatures and promise of great weather, summer is also when there’s a lot of rainfall.

Winter is from December to March. Average temperatures are around 20°C and it’s relatively dry during this period. At a glance:

In general the months of March, April, September and October are the best to visit.

Co To weather average:

Month	High / Low(°C)	Rains
January	19° / 12°	4 days
February	18° / 14°	4 days
March	23° / 17°	7 days
April	26° / 21°	5 days
May	29° / 23°	7 days
June	31° / 25°	9 days
July	32° / 26°	11 days
August	32° / 26°	12 days
September	31° / 25°	10 days
October	29° / 21°	4 days
November	24° / 18°	3 days
December	21° / 14°	3 days

Source: nchmf.gov.vn/web/vi-VN/62/19/120/map/Default.aspx