(#wanderlusttips #cotoisland) Co To, one of the most beautiful islands in Northern Vietnam, is part of Quang Ninh province and a popular destination for couples looking for romance or groups of friends who want a quiet relaxing time together.
[rpi]Co To is not big but offers an array of great activities and is full of photo opportunities for tourists. You can rent a bike or take an electric car, motor taxi or car to tour the island. Couples can stroll along the “route of love”, a red brick road covered shaded by the green trees lining it. In April, you can smell the sweet fragrance of the “choi” blossoms. Van Chay and Hong Van beaches are not too crowded and both border clear blue water, have smooth sand. The perfect setting to play in the ocean’s waves. Explore primary forest, visit Co To church, the Uncle Ho statue, the lighthouse or Bac Van bridge to experience some magical moments. If you would like to be immersed in the local lifestyle join in some squid fishing at night.
In the last few years Co To has added numerous entertainment activities for tourists including Co To Park on Hong Van beach, with ticket prices at VND250,000 per person. Tourists can kayak, play water volleyball and other beach sports.
If time allows rent a boat to visit “mini” Co To island, which is a 30-minute boat ride away from the main island. The price is about VND700,000 per ride for 12 people. “Mini” Co To island is deserted and still maintains its pristine beauty, with clean white sand and clear water. Here, tourists can go on “banana boat” rides or parasailing.
After a lot of physical activity, you will need to regain energy and Co To has many delicious delicacies on offer. This is an opportunity for you to try sweet fingernail snarls, rare peanut worms, crabs, jellyfish, or mantis shrimp. You can enjoy these dishes at local restaurants or even buy fresh seafood to have a beach BBQ. Accommodation on Co To island is rather expensive, with prices ranging from VND300,000 – 700,000 per night, and motel prices ranging from VND200,000 – 300,000 per night. Hotels with high ratings include Co To Lodge, Thanh Mang and Thanh Trung.
From Hanoi, tourists can take a bus to Cua Ong (about 200,000 Vietnamese Dong), at Van Dong junction they take another bus or motor taxi to reach Cai Rong port about 4 – 5 hours away. From here a speedboat (ticket price ranging from VND160,000 – 200,000 (depending on time) or wooden boat (VND95,000/way) takes you to Co To. There are many boat trips at various times of the day, so you should research beforehand to arrange a suitable time. The prime time to visit Co To is from April to September.
Hoang Linh | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet