Trip to Co To island 2023

I have recently had a trip to Co To with my colleagues in the company. The trip lasted 3 days, but it was 3 beautiful days, so I got around the island quite a lot. I also captured a number of photos to share with you guys. I will also share everything from traveling, eating, sleeping, places visited...so that anyone who is going to visit Co To has a specific plan for the trip to have the most fun and discovery.
Trip to Co To island 2023

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We departed from Viet Hung residence area at 8.00, we travelled on a big bus
trip to Co To island
The buses follows the Hanoi - Hai Phong highway, so it is quite fast. As soon as we started, we stopped briefly for breakfast and at 10 am we arrived at Bach Dang bridge.
trip to Co To island
We entered Quang Ninh territory, follow the highway towards Van Don. There appeared hills with green trees
trip to Co To island
Scenes of breaking rocks as building materials and burning cement that destroyed the environment. Even though I didn't like it, I still took a few pictures.
trip to Co To island

trip to Co To island
This region produced good stone, no wonder there are so many cement factories.
trip to Co To island
It is true that going on the highway is different, at 11:30, my group arrived at Cai Rong port. In the past, there was no highway, no Bai Chay bridge, it took almost 12 hours to get to Van Don.
trip to Co To island
Arriving at Cai Rong Port, it was pouring rain. Because we had ordered food at a restaurant in town, so the lunch is ready when we arrived. The ship to Co To started at 13.30 so we had plenty of time.
trip to Co To island
Cai Rong wharf is quite beautiful, spacious and crowded with ships.
trip to Co To island
A few more photos to make it easier for you to visualize Cai Rong port.
trip to Co To island

trip to Co To island
The port is quite large. These ships will carry passengers to the islands of Co To, Quan Lan and also to Tuan Chau and Cat Ba.
trip to Co To island
From a distance, the ships looked quite small, but in fact they were big and travels very smoothly.
trip to Co To island
The boat I rode to Co To could carry 300 people. Surfing lightly on the sea quite fast. The good thing about this ship is it doesn't make passengers seasick.
Perhaps because I went on a beautiful day, the sea was calm, so there were not enough waves to get sick.
trip to Co To island
Going to Co To and Quan Lan in the rainy season is really luck and fate. The day I went the weather was very nice, blue sky, white clouds, yellow sunshine.
trip to Co To island
The buoys and signs must have signaled the channel of the sea.
trip to Co To island
The ship travelled through Bai Tu Long bay, there are many beautiful small islets, some islets just put up a sign.
trip to Co To island
The boat wriggled through the islands of Quan Lan, Tra Ban, and Minh Chau to reach Co To. This part of the sea is the biggest wave. However, on a beautiful day, it is only beautiful, not sick at all.
trip to Co To island
White wave trailed behind the ship.
trip to Co To island
On this route, it must be said that it is exciting when standing outside the cabin. The ship run out of the bay with big waves, there were very strong waves, but the good feeling of traveling in the sea that was not limited by the islands.
trip to Co To island
The most beautiful time to go to Co To is September, October. However this time students are at school so there are few tourists. June and July are also fine (except early July when there are storms).
trip to Co To island
The farm in the distance must have clean fish.
trip to Co To island
Is this called a lighthouse? It's a bit small.
trip to Co To island
After 1:30 minutes on the ship, Co To island appeared.
It's not bad at all, it's beautiful.
trip to Co To island
In my mind, I didn't think Co To has such high-rise hotels. Before coming I thought that Co To was still wild, under developed. But such a beautiful scene would make us fall in love.
trip to Co To island
Being thoughtful, wherever I go I keep some necessary phone numbers.
Looked at the sign and felt pity.
trip to Co To island
Co To island and small Co To island in the group of islands.
trip to Co To island
In Co To, there is a boat service to small Co To island, but there is no boat to Thanh Lan island. I don't know if there is anything on Thanh Lan island?
trip to Co To island
I'm just afraid of tropical storm. This season it usually has a little shower and then stops.

In 2016 I went to Co To for the first time, it seemed less developed than now. The highlight of the trip was the swim across the sea from the large Coto island to the small island, nearly 2.5km, so amazing.

Swimming from Bac Van beach is farther than swimming from Bac Van port. This place looks very close to Co To island.
trip to Co To island
After arriving at the island, I looked around. My hotel is in the center of Co To town.
trip to Co To island
Some other views of the town center.
On the island, a house is as tall and thin as an electric pole.
The position of the arc is the square with the statue of Ho Chi Minh. Here in 1961 the helicopter carrying Uncle Ho to visit Co To island landed. In 1962, Uncle Ho allowed to erect his statue at this location.
trip to Co To island

trip to Co To island
Love Beach seen from above, where the red flag is.
In the distance at the edge of the image, on the top of the mountain is the Co To lighthouse.
trip to Co To island
Moving on the island you can rent electric cars or motorbikes.
I rented a motorbike to be less dependent.
@chaukga: For me, the most impressive thing when taking the speed boat to and from Co To island is that not many people can keep their eyes on the phone - the height of the waves were reportedly just more than half a meter.
trip to Co To island
My first job was rent a motorbike, 250.000 VND a day, petrol at my expense. I rented it from the very hotel. Note that you should rent strong motorbikes in order to climb the mountain, and manual gear because you have to go some steep hills.
Riding along Love Beach. This beach is in the west of the island, so the afternoon is sunny. However I couldn't take photos because of the backlight.
The paved road stretches under the casuarinas trees is quite poetic. Maybe that's why it's called Love Beach.
The path is next to the beach of love so people call it the road of love.
trip to Co To island
The motorbike I rented is quite strong, maybe that's why it costed 250.000 VND (11 USD) a day. The climb up to Co To Lighthouse was very smooth. Only on the last slope at the gate to the lighthouse door two people had go get off.
This is the building of Co To Lighthouse. Located on a mountain about 5 km from the town, is the highest point of the island. Built in the late 19th century. The road from the foot of the mountain to the lighthouse is winding under the dense woods.
The lighthouse has a bright view of 118m above sea level, from here looking out to the sea and the island.
trip to Co To island
Co To Lighthouse has a height of 118m above sea level
trip to Co To island
I arrived late in the afternoon, so the soldiers told me to just drive straight to the yard and leave it.
Then climb 72 stairs from the bottom to the top of the lighthouse. This lighthouse is managed by the military, so it is very clean, when entering, leave your slippers in the yard.
It was probably late that day, so they didn't let them climb onto the light.
trip to Co To island
The forest at the foot of the lighthouse in the afternoon against the sun.
trip to Co To island
Standing on the lighthouse, taking in the view is the vast landscape of the island. This place brings the peaceful atmosphere of the sea and islands with the blue sea on four sides. In the distance are winding mountains with the endless green of the forest.
trip to Co To island
The four sides are the forest and the sea.
trip to Co To island
In the distance is Thanh Lan island, one of the two island communes of Co To island district
trip to Co To island
End the first day with a magnificent party on the beach. At the beginning of the party, the tide was still high, everyone sat on chairs with their feet in the water.
After eating, everyone went to the walking street, Ho Chi Minh's monument. In general, the air on the island is very cool at night.

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The second day started with a seafood noodle meal, nothing special. Today's schedule is to continue riding motorbikes to explore Co To island.
First, I went to the wharf to see if there was anything.
The storm shelter is located in the south of Co To island. About 2km from the town center. The good thing is that it goes through the island's only gas station. So just fill the tank and go ahead.
As a place to avoid storms of ships, there were many concrete pillars to break the waves for ships to anchor to avoid storms.
trip to Co To island
On a beautiful day, the ships set sail, so the shelter was quite deserted.
trip to Co To island
The water and the sky are blue. A chain that doesn't seem to be able to withstand the corrosion of seawater.
It was too sunny, so I continued on in the hope of finding a cool place.
trip to Co To island
The day began with a mild annoyance. In the morning, prepare a camera, phone, bike, hat and then go to the storm shelter. When I got to the place to take out the camera to work, it was: My Goodness, the camera has all the accessories, except... the battery.
Last night, I removed the battery to charge it, but did not re-insert the device in the morning. Well, I had to take a photos with my smartphone. Fortunately, this phone is not bad for taking pictures.
trip to Co To island
But when I went to Mong Rong beach, I found myself really angry.
Mong Rong beach is on the way from the storm shelter to the town center. Great scenery, blue sky, white clouds, golden sunshine, but there are many young men and women here. It was really a torture when the camera doesn't have a battery. So again used smartphone, but couldn't get close.
trip to Co To island
From here are pictures of Mong Rong Beach. I show the pictures for everyone to see and feel, because I don't know what to comment.
trip to Co To island
Maybe this is a claw of the dragon
trip to Co To island
Also one of the dragon's claws.
trip to Co To island

trip to Co To island
The claws reach out to the sea.
trip to Co To island
Another angle of the beach.
This corner is too cloudy, anything too much is not good.
trip to Co To island
This rocky beach has clear water. Although it is a rocky beach, but due to the waves hitting day and night, the stones have been rounded, so it is round, not sharp. I'm not afraid of breaking my foot in the water, but it's slippery. Be careful not to fall off your feet.
trip to Co To island
This stone surface is not slippery, can stand comfortably.
trip to Co To island
Looking up from the sea, the rocks are stacked on top of each other. I don't know if the water will ever come up here?
trip to Co To island
This is probably a dragon's thumb
trip to Co To island
In Co To island you can tell a local restaurant to set up a dinner on a boat by the sea, drink beer and watch the sea is very interesting, don't go fishing, just drink, if you are lucky with a moonlight night is just wonderful.
There are many areas in Co To that are controlled by the army, and people are not allowed to enter.
At the end of June, you can go to the rocky beach, climb the mountain and pick some ripe myrtle fruits to soak in wine.
trip to Co To island
Mong Rong rock beach is beautiful to take pictures from any angle. Perhaps on a beautiful day, the sea and the sky are both blue, with the addition of white clouds hovering, so any photo is impressive.
trip to Co To island
Two nights in Co To, I spent time in party and play with people in the company. Also sitting on the beach, under the feet is the sea rise to the leg.
trip to Co To island
Food in Co To is quite delicious and cheap. Fresh seafood, the price is also reasonable, not high.

Van Chay beach was deserted.
trip to Co To island
I added some pictures of Mong Rong rock beach and moved to another location.
trip to Co To island

trip to Co To island
The sea is beautiful, but plastic bags are everywhere.
trip to Co To island
The location of Mong Rong stone beach is next to Cau My stone beach, but the way to it is different.
Playing in the water, taking pictures was boring, I stopped at the parking lot to drink a cup of coconut juice. Drinks here are probably cheaper than sidewalk shops in Hanoi.
trip to Co To island
Note: Now if you go to Co To island, you will catch the express ships at Ao Tien Port in Van Don. Fares depend on the type of boat, but the highest is 300.000 VND/person.
The fee to use service at Ao Tien Port is 30.000 VND/person.

Van Chay Beach.
This beach has very fine, gentle sand, so even if you get out a hundred meters from the shore the sea level was just as high as your neck. An interesting thing is that a stream of sea water flowing slowly across the beach. Let the body floats for a while and it pushes you along the beach, the speed is slow enough to feel the body floating.
trip to Co To island
In Van Chay, there are enough services of fresh water bathing, eating, organizing events, sports... This beach is still unspoiled so it is quite beautiful.
The road to this beach runs through a rather steep slope, three people on a motorbike is a bit overweight, but it is worth the experience. When you come back, you don't need to go back to the old road, but turn left to Bac Van to get around the island.
trip to Co To island
Eating in Co To is also reasonable compared to other tourist sites. Some restaurants along the beach or in the downtown were quite good. Some friends recommended me a restaurant, so maybe it's also a good place on the island.
trip to Co To island
I wandered around to explore the town at night. Going to a restaurant, I saw a few children who went to work on the island, they were eating porridge. The children said they do everything if someone hired them. At the end of summer, they would leave the island and go back to school. It's a pity that the children are too young.
I asked to take pictures with the children and and they happily agreed.
trip to Co To island
In addition to seafood, who would have thought that in Co To there were peaceful landscapes like many villages in northern Vietnam. A large herd of cows is grazing on a field in Bac Van, near the wharf to the small Co To island.
trip to Co To island
Before 1978 in Co To island many Chinese people lived. But then there was a border war in 1979 and they returned home. By the end of 2022, the island has 1,957 households with 6,778 people including 13 ethnic groups: Kinh, Thai, Tay, Muong, Khmer, Hoa, Nung, Dao, Gia Rai, Cham, San Diu, Hre, Giay.
Therefore, raising cows, fish, cultivating all kinds of things are available. However, due to soil conditions, fresh water is little so cultivation does not seem to be very good. Only the cows live well.
trip to Co To island
Catching fish, squid in Co To is also fun.
On the last day, I bought more than 4kg of bald fish and grilled it with guise leaves. It was very good.
trip to Co To island
Note: Now travelers can go to Co To by highway. From Hanoi it takes more than 3 hours to go to Van Don, and 1h10 minutes by high-speed boat to Co To.
In general, if you depart from Hanoi at 7:00 am, you can have lunch at Co To at 12:00 noon.
There are many high-speed boats now and you can catch one when you arrive. You can choose the large boat which can hold about 300 passengers, going fast and smooth such as Toan Trang 28 or Havaco. They go straight to Ao Tien international port to buy tickets for the high-speed boat, don't go to the old Cai Rong port. Parking car at Ao Tien port is also cheap, only 65.000 VND/day.

trip to Co To island
June, July is high season, hotel rates increase to 800.000 - 900.000 VND week days
Note: For those who love fishing, you can buy fishing gear right in Co To island, in the centre area. Local people fish with a bamboo stick to catch squid with a bowl wrapped with fishing line.
Fishing location is right at Co To's storm shelter, about 4km from the center of Co To. If you want to have full services, you can book Nguyen Van's boat (see photos with phone number). This boat docks at the storm shelter, he specializes in repairing fishing boats and selling goods to fishermen. You can also order food right on the boat,very convenient. You can go fishing squid at night, contact in advance about the cost, Ms Diem's phone number is 0378 398 998
trip to Co To island
Note: If you rent homestay near Hong Van or Van Chai beaches, you will save money on electric car rental. In Co To, there are only electric cars or motorbikes, no cars
Hong Van beach is the most beautiful place on Co To island, the view looks to small Co To island, the waves are gentle, and the hotel stays at the 3-star Coto Ecolodge right in Hong Van beach.
Hotel price depends on the standard. A 3 star hotel in May costs 500.000 VND on week days, in June and July will go up to 800.000 VND. On Fridays, Saturdays weekend is 1 million VND.
trip to Co To island
Co To Island has now developed very well. From the sea looking at the town with high buildings like in a busy urban area of a big city. More people live, more and more tourists come, so the environment is inevitably polluted.
trip to Co To island
The puddles of wastewater have appeared. There were bottles and plastic bags at the beach and they have not been cleaned up in time.
Old boats, perhaps long broken, but not destroyed or treated are still lying on the sand, also making the beaches less beautiful.
It is not clear if it was the idea of Ong Cop Wooden Bridge in Phu Yen or not. The wooden bridge at Bac Van tourist wharf is quite long, with a beautiful direction reaching out to the sea. Currently, this bridge has deteriorated, looks quite dilapidated, only young men dare to go to the bridge to take photos.
trip to Co To island
The primeval forest is located on the coastal road to Bac Van port, which goes to small islands. The forest can be said to be the area with the most beautiful original trees in Co To. With rich vegetation, one side is the forest and the other is the beach.

The road through forest to Bac Van wharf is finished. On Google maps, there is still a road to Van Chay beach, however, to this pier is the end. In the distance is Co To island, 2.5km away. Some travelers swim from here to small Co To island.
trip to Co To island
The road to Bac Van port is covered with beautiful concrete, however it is empty. Only a few of us took a brief look and turned around. Bac Van cape is like this, it's still a long time (probably never) before there is a coastal road on the right side of the picture to Van Chay beach.
trip to Co To island
My friend said a few years there were jellyfish when he went swimming in the sea, However I went to all beaches like Love beach, Van Chay and Hong Van beach and didn't see any jellyfish. I don't know if other beaches have jellyfish or not.

Co To island this year seems to be a hot destination, it is extremely difficult to book hotels at weekends if you don't make a reservation at least 3 weeks in advance because the hotels give priority to big groups staying at least 2 nights. Therefore, those who plan to go on the weekend should book early.

In the near future, the old port in Cai Rong town will be converted to a fishing port, and tourists boats will move to Ao Tien port in Van Don.
trip to Co To island
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