Guide For Travelers To Co To Island
Co To Island, one destination – two paradises: “The paradise of white, soft sandy beaches, along with the cool, clear water of the sea; the paradise of extremely delicious, fresh, and nutritious seafood.”
As eco-friendly and sustainable tourism becomes a trend, Co To Island fulfilled all these criteria. “Effective September 15, 2023, Co To district enforces a mandatory regulation prohibiting visitors from bringing nylon bags and single-use plastics to the island. Consequently, the environmental condition of Co To is witnessing continuous enhancement, consistently securing a leading position in environmental indices across the Northern region” (as demonstrated by the recent resurgence of seabirds, sea turtles, dugongs, and dolphins in Co To). Co To has become a top priority for many young people who love island beach tourism.
Co To is an island district located to the east of Quang Ninh province, approximately 60km northeast of the Gulf of Tonkin. Established in 1994, Co To district consists of 02 communes and 01 town. The Co To archipelago covers a natural area of 53.68 km2, with about 74 small and large islands, including 4 main islands: Big Co To, Thanh Lan Island, Tran Island, and Little Co To Island.
Co To stands out as one of Vietnam’s enchanting island tourist districts, distinguished by its commitment to preserving pristine ecosystems encompassing forests, seas, islands, and beaches. Co To possesses outstanding marine and island tourism resources with long stretches of beaches ranging from 1km to 7km, featuring white, smooth sand and extremely clear and clean seawater, prominent beaches include Tinh Yeu, Van Chay, Hong Van, Ba Chau, Bai Dong (the Little Co To Island) and Vung Tien, etc… Holding paramount political significance, Co To holds the unique distinction of being the only place in the country where President Ho Chi Minh consented to the erection of his statue during his lifetime. Co To boasts a long history of development, rich maritime cultural traditions, and numerous historical and has 2 cultural sites that are specially nationally ranked and provincially ranked. The people of Co To converge from various regions, embodying a liberating, robust spirit—daring to think, daring to act, and possessing an innovative mindset. The residents of Co To are characterized by their dynamism, creativity, exuberance, healthiness, sophistication, and friendliness.
After nearly 30 years of construction and development, Co To Island has now adorned itself with a new, prosperous, and more beautiful image, becoming the “Emerald Island” in the Northeast. This transformation is attributed to the attention of the Party, the State, and Quang Ninh Province, along with the assistance and coordination of departments, committees, and localities. The determination to overcome challenges and rise above by generations of officials, soldiers, and the people on the island, coupled with existing advantages in tourism resources, historical and cultural heritage, human capital, and an increasingly improved transportation system, foreign affairs, etc., has led to continuous development in terms of economy, politics, national defense, security, and socio-cultural aspects. The economic structure has shifted from relying solely on agriculture and aquaculture to purchasing, processing seafood, and supplying services for tourism. The material and spiritual lives of the residents have improved significantly, with attention to technical infrastructure and cultural, educational, and healthcare facilities. The district’s appearance has undergone many changes, with innovations and breakthroughs in thinking, perception, and action.
The pivotal moment in the remarkable metamorphosis and robust development of Co To is the integration into the national power grid. Before October 2013, Co To existed as an impoverished island districtwhere residents faced numerous difficulties: no electricity, insufficient freshwater supply, challenging transportation, and 9% (140 households) of the population living in poverty. The electrification initiative successfully extended power to Big Co To Island (16/10/2013), Thanh Lan Island (31/12/2013), and Tran Island (02/9/2020). Concurrently, substantial investments were directed towards the construction of essential infrastructure, including freshwater reservoirs on different islands, transportation networks, healthcare facilities, cultural institutions, and educational establishments. The introduction of high-speed vessels significantly shortened the travel time from the mainland to Co To, making it a mere 1.5 hours. This comprehensive transformation reshaped the face of Co To. The 3 major challenges of electricity, transportation to the mainland, and freshwater scarcity were successfully addressed, leading to a significant improvement in the islanders’ quality of life. Co To proudly holds the distinction of being the first New Rural District in the entire country, achieving this status in 2015, and fundamentally meeting the upgraded New Rural District criteria according to the new standards set in 2022. Currently, the entire district has a population of nearly 7,000 individuals, residing in a total of 2,051 households, with a concentration in areas such as Co To, Thanh Lan, and Tran Island. The district of Co To attracts a cultural diversity with nine ethnic groups living together, including Kinh, San Diu, Dao, Thai, Muong, Tay, Hoa, Nung, and Cao Lan, originating from 14 provinces and cities across the country. These communities have joined forces in building a new economy, contributing significantly from various regions such as Hai Phong, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Thanh Hoa, etc…
In recent years, with investments from the Party, the State, and internal efforts, along with continuous solidarity and efforts from the local community, Co To has undergone significant innovations and breakthroughs, achieving remarkable development in various fields, particularly in tourism. The period from 2014 to 2019 witnessed a comprehensive transformation of Co To in all aspects. The share of the service and tourism sector significantly increased, from 26.2% in 2015 to over 60% today, becoming the leading economic sector. The tourism revenue surpassed the targets set in the Sustainable Tourism Development Project for the period 2016-2020. In 2014, tourism revenue was approximately 100 billion VND, and by 2019, it had increased sevenfold (700 billion VND). The breakthrough in economic development has elevated the material and spiritual lives of the population, ensuring the stability of defense and security. Thanks to the development of the tourism sector, the quality of life for Co To residents has significantly improved. The income of the population has risen along with the growth of tourism. Service quality in entertainment, cuisine, healthcare, culture, and the environment has gradually improved. The residents of Co To are increasingly embracing and utilizing advancements in science and technology, digital technology, Industry 4.0, leading to the continuous improvement of their lives. Cultural and social activities such as poetry and literature clubs, recreational areas, arts and sports activities are flourishing. Spiritual and religious needs of the residents are adequately met. The standard of living for Co To residents is now higher than the average for urban residents in major cities.
In 2023, with the determination of the government, business community, residents, and forces on the island to enhance the tourism business environment, the number of tourists to Co To has experienced significant growth, reaching over 310,000 visitors, a 144% increase compared to the previous year (2022: 215,000 visitors), including 2,100 international tourists, a 240% increase from the same period. The estimated revenue is 775 billion VND, a 144% increase compared to the previous year. The number of visitors to Thanh Lân in 2023 is estimated to reach 9,600 visitors.
Many tourists are unsure about the best time to visit Co To Island. In fact, when planning a trip, it’s essential to choose an ideal time for travel. To provide a clearer perspective for those who wish to explore this beautiful island, the Department of Culture, Information, and Tourism of Co To district would like to guide you on how to get to Co To.
One noteworthy tip for travelers heading to Co To is to visit during the two following seasons: summer and autumn. These are considered the two most beautiful seasons for traveling to Co To. The best weather and scenery for Co To tourism are in the months of April, May, June, July, August, September, and October. The weather in September and October, during autumn, is particularly pleasant, with clear blue skies and captivating beauty. Additionally, the weather is suitable for travel to Co To in March and November. During these months, the weather is cool, the sun is shining, but it may not be warm enough for swimming, making it suitable for engaging in sea-related activities with local fishermen.
1. Guidance for Traveling from Hanoi to Co To: Travelers have to go through two main stages (by road and by sea) as follows
- Stage 1: Transportation from Hanoi to Ao Tiên Port (Van Don)
To reach Co To from Hanoi, travelers need to first travel to the high-class Ao Tiên Port (Van Don). Most tourists use travel cars (there are many travel car companies with 9, 16, and 45-seat vehicles running on the highway to Ao Tiên Port) or private cars to reach the high-class Ao Tiên Port. At Ao Tiên Port, there is a designated area for parking private cars.
- Stage 2: From Ao Tiên Port to Co To Island
The journey is over 40 km, and the travel time is approximately 65-75 minutes. The ticket prices for high-speed boats range from 250,000 VND to 300,000 VND per one-way trip, depending on the quality of the boat. In addition to the boat fare, passengers must purchase a ticket at Ao Tien Port for 30,000 VND per person (This fee does not apply to the starting point at Co To Port). The high-speed boat schedule is fixed daily from Ao Tiên Port to Co To at 7:30 AM and 1:30 PM (for the return from Co To to Ao Tiên: 8:00 AM and 1:30 PM).
*Note: All passengers going to Co To are not allowed to bring nylon bags and single-use plastic items to Co To before boarding the boat (this is a mandatory regulation).
2. Guidance for Traveling from Hanoi to Thanh Lan Island (Co To)
Thanh Lan Island has many beautiful beaches, including the picturesque Ba Châu beach, Hai Quan beach, C76 beach, and various rocky beaches with unique shapes. Visitors to Thanh Lan can experience services such as coral diving and camping. In spring, from January to April, visitors can visit the local jellyfish workshops to observe and learn about the jellyfish processing process and enjoy local seafood dishes made from jellyfish.
There is now a high-speed ferry service provided by Nguyen Viet company directly from the international Ao Tien Port (Van Don) to Thanh Lan Island, with a ticket price of 280,000 VND per one-way trip. The fixed schedule is at 1:00 PM from Van Don to Thanh Lan and 7:30 AM from Thanh Lan to Van Don. For ticket booking, contact phone numbers 0987989888 or 0976369666.
3. Guidance for Travelers from Ho Chi Minh City, Southern Provinces, Da Nang, and Central Provinces
Travelers from Ho Chi Minh City and other regions can fly to Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi), Cat Bi Airport (Hai Phong), or Van Don Airport. After that, continue the journey to Co To. Currently, it is convenient for travelers from Ho Chi Minh City to reach Co To as there are daily flights from Tan Son Nhat Airport to Van Don Airport. The travel time from Ho Chi Minh City to Co To is about 4 hours (over 2 hours by air and over 1 hour by sea).
4. Transportation on Co To and Thanh Lan Islands
Co To is the first island district in the country to implement an environmentally friendly electric vehicle service for tourists. This type of transportation is being maintained and has become the main mode of transportation for tourists visiting various attractions on the island. There are two main types of electric vehicles, 7-seater and 14-seater. The price of electric vehicles varies significantly on weekends, holidays, and during Tet (Vietnamese New Year) due to a relatively high number of customers and increased demand. On average, the rental cost for a 7-seater electric vehicle is around 1.2 million VND per day, covering all tourist destinations. If you prefer to rent a 14-seater electric vehicle, the price will increase by approximately 200,000 VND to 400,000 VND per day, all-inclusive.
In addition to electric vehicles, Co To also encourages the development of environmentally friendly transportation such as bicycles and walking. Bicycle rental services for 1 person, 2 people, 4 people, and 8 people are available, and many tourists enjoy exploring the island using these bicycles because the road system across the district is being invested in comprehensively.
For small groups or families, renting motorcycles is also an option, with prices starting at 200,000 VND per day (self-refueling) or 250,000 VND per day (including fuel).
To visit small islands from Big Co To island, tourists can choose wooden boats or canoes from local travel companies. Alternatively, they can contact travel companies to provide day tours, diving tours, fishing tours, trekking tours, and tours to explore the four islands. For more information, contact Mr. Đức, Director of Khám Phá Co To Co., Ltd., at phone number 0963.824.928 or 0924203333. Website: https://khamphacoto.com/
