Co To is northern Vietnam's beach island: white sand and clear water far off the northeast coast, a lighthouse on a hill, a road lined with casuarina trees and seafood dinners in a small fishing town. It is not a quick hop. You need a road trip to Van Don and a fast boat of 60 to 90 minutes, so give it two nights, go between April and October, and leave a spare day for the sea.
How we built this guide: on 21 October 2026 we read VnExpress's Co To guide (updated in February 2025), two articles on Vietnam's national tourism site, Sun Group's 2025 and 2026 Co To travel guides, 2025 and 2026 reports from Nhan Dan, Thoi bao Tai chinh Viet Nam, VOV, Dai bieu Nhan dan and the Ministry of Construction on the special zone, ferries, fares, visitors and storms, and Vietcombank's exchange rate. We did not visit Co To for this guide.
What is Co To, and what changed in 2025 and 2026?
Co To is an archipelago of roughly 40 to 50 islands off the far northeast coast. VnExpress puts it about 80 km from the mainland with nearly 50 small islands, and says visitors mostly explore the main Co To island, Co To Con and Thanh Lan. Vietnam's tourism board gives about 80 km on one page and about 60 km on another. Most visitors stay on the largest island, Co To itself, per vietnam.travel.
Its status changed twice. Co To stopped being an island district and became one of Quang Ninh's two special zones, with Van Don, under Resolution 1679/NQ-UBTVQH15, announced on 30 June 2025, per Thoi bao Tai chinh Viet Nam. Then Quang Ninh itself became a centrally run city on 1 September 2026, under Resolution 36/2026/QH16, per VOV. The address is now Co To special zone, Quang Ninh city, but older guides still say Co To district, Quang Ninh province.
It is popular with Vietnamese travelers. Visitors arriving through Ao Tien port rose from 442,287 in 2023 to 513,913 in 2024, per Thoi bao Tai chinh Viet Nam, and the same paper counted about 190 places to stay with about 3,200 rooms in April 2025. In 2026 its tourism product Co To, Dau an dao xanh (Co To, a green island mark) won an ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award, per Nhan Dan.
How many days do you need on Co To?
Two nights, or three with a boat trip to Co To Con. The ferry timetable eats into both travel days: Sun Group's sample three-day plan reaches Ao Tien port at about 10:30, sails at about 12:30 to 13:00 and leaves the island after lunch on day three, back in Hanoi by 18:00 to 19:00. A simple plan:
- Day one: arrive in the afternoon, swim at Hong Van and stay for the sunset there.
- Day two: sunrise at the Cau My rocks, the lighthouse in the morning, Van Chay and the Love Road in the afternoon.
- Day three: a morning boat to Co To Con if you have a third night, or the ferry back.
Which beaches are worth your time?
Hong Van for swimming, Van Chay for waves and sunsets, the Cau My rocks for sunrise. VnExpress lists Van Chay, Tinh Yeu (also called Tau Dam), Hong Van and Bac Van as the main island's beaches, and names Hong Van, Nam Hai and Van Chay as good for sunrise and sunset.
| Beach or shore | What it is like | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Van | The calmest water on the island, good for sunsets and camping; a resort sits nearby | vietnam.travel, Sun Group |
| Van Chay | North side, about 1.5 km of sand, waves of 2 to 3 m | vietnam.travel, Sun Group |
| Tinh Yeu (Tau Dam) | One of the main beaches | VnExpress, vietnam.travel |
| Bac Van | About 7 km from town; the wharf for boats to Co To Con | VnExpress |
| Nam Hai | Sunrise and sunset views | VnExpress |
| Cau My rocks (Mong Rong) | Over 40 ha of layered, wave-cut rock along about 2 km of shore, green with moss in season | VnExpress, vietnam.travel |
At the Cau My rocks, in Khu 4 of Co To town, VnExpress says you can fish, snorkel on calm days and photograph the rock layers; the tourism board calls Mong Rong one of the best places for both sunrise and sunset. Waves break hard on the rocks, so watch your footing. Sun Group lists kayaks at 100,000 VND an hour and banana boats at 200,000 to 300,000 VND at Hong Van.
What else is there to see?
The lighthouse, the Love Road and the Ho Chi Minh memorial site, all on the main island.
Co To lighthouse
The lighthouse, built in the late 19th century, stands about 100 m above the sea and about 5 km from town, per vietnam.travel. You may be able to climb its 72-step spiral staircase if the keepers allow it, so ask first, and take your shoes off: rainwater is collected from the steps. Sun Group's 2025 guide lists entry at 20,000 VND (about $0.77). The view takes in the whole island.
The Love Road and the Ho Chi Minh site
The Love Road is a paved lane of about 2 km through the middle of the island, lined with casuarina trees and good for an evening walk or bike ride, per vietnam.travel. Near it and the town center stands a statue of Ho Chi Minh, which marks his visit to the island in the 1960s. VnExpress says the Ho Chi Minh relic site, which recalls his visits in 1961 and 1962, became a national historic site in 1997. Dress modestly there.
Is Co To Con or Thanh Lan worth a boat trip?
Co To Con is, on a calm day; Thanh Lan suits travelers with an extra night. Co To Con is uninhabited, with white sand and clear water for snorkeling, and overnight stays are not allowed, per vietnam.travel. Boats leave from the Bac Van wharf, a 10 to 15 minute ride from town, and cost about 50,000 to 100,000 VND (about $1.90 to $3.80) a trip, mostly in the morning and early afternoon with only a few sailings a day, per Sun Group's September 2026 guide. VnExpress puts the crossing at 30 to 45 minutes. Sun Group's 2025 guide lists a boat tour of Co To Con and the islets of Hon Ca Chep and Hon Su Tu at 400,000 VND a person. Bring water, sunscreen and a bag for your rubbish.
Thanh Lan lies about 2 km across the water from the main island and covers 27 km², with undeveloped beaches and ancient sedimentary rocks, per VnExpress; the tourism board adds old-growth forest. Ask your homestay about boats, which we could not find published.
How do you get around the island?
By electric car, motorbike or bicycle, or on foot around town.
| Way | Price seen | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Seven-seat electric car with driver, full day | About 1,200,000 VND (about $46) | VnExpress, 2025 |
| Electric car, 8 to 10 seats, full day | 600,000 to 800,000 VND (about $23 to $31) | Sun Group, December 2025 |
| Electric car, half day | 300,000 to 400,000 VND | Sun Group |
| Motorbike, per day, fuel extra | 200,000 VND (about $7.70) | VnExpress |
| Bicycle, per hour | 30,000 to 50,000 VND | VnExpress |
Motorbike taxis and taxis also work the island, per VnExpress. Before you ride, read our guide to renting a motorbike in Vietnam.
When should you go, and when do the ferries stop?
From April to October, with a spare day built in. The sources agree on the shape of the year:
| Months | What to expect | Source |
|---|---|---|
| April and May | No storms or rain yet and not too hot; an ideal window | VnExpress, vietnam.travel |
| June to August | Peak summer crowds; storms are common, especially in June and July | VnExpress, Sun Group |
| September and October | The tourism board calls it peak season, still warm and less stormy than June and July; VnExpress finds it cooler and rainier, with lower prices | vietnam.travel, VnExpress |
| November to February | Strong winds and big waves can delay or reschedule ferries | Sun Group |
Storms are the real risk. Ahead of Typhoon No. 3 in July 2025, authorities moved about 8,850 visitors off the island before gusts of level 9 to 10 hit Co To in the early hours of 22 July, per Dai bieu Nhan dan. VnExpress warns that sailing bans during storms can strand travelers for days, and Sun Group's guide advises checking the forecast three to five days ahead in July and August.
Crowds are the other. Sun Group's September 2026 fares guide calls April to September the peak, especially weekends and the 30 April to 1 May and 2 September holidays. For the 2025 April and May holiday, local officials expected about 10,000 visitors a day, with hotels largely booked, per Thoi bao Tai chinh Viet Nam. For the country as a whole, see our best time to visit Vietnam page.
Where should you stay?
In Co To town for restaurants and the port, or near Hong Van for the beach. VnExpress says most places are family-run and basic, from about 200,000 to 1,800,000 VND (about $7.70 to $69) a night, and that the island is on the national grid. Sun Group's December 2025 guide gives typical ranges:
| Type and area | Per night | About US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Family homestay in town | 400,000 to 600,000 VND | 15 to 23 |
| Three-star hotel in town | 800,000 to 1,200,000 VND | 31 to 46 |
| Resort near Hong Van beach | 1,500,000 to 2,500,000 VND | 58 to 96 |
Book early for summer weekends and Vietnamese holidays, and choose terms that let you change dates if a storm stops the boats.
What should you eat?
Seafood, priced by the kilo or the plate. Vietnam's tourism board names sea cucumbers, sa sung (peanut worms), grilled oysters, squid, sea urchin, mantis shrimp and abalone, and says the island makes its own fish sauce. Sun Group's 2025 guide lists sun-dried squid at 350,000 to 400,000 VND a kilo, sa sung and cu ky crab dishes at 200,000 to 300,000 VND a plate, a seafood hotpot for four to six at 400,000 to 600,000 VND and a bowl of seafood pho at 60,000 to 80,000 VND. Ask the price per kilo before you order.
How do you get to Co To?
By road to Van Don, then a fast boat. Limousine vans from Hanoi reach Cai Rong or Ao Tien port in 3 to 4 hours, and boats take 60 to 90 minutes for about 200,000 to 330,000 VND one way, per Sun Group's 2026 guides. Two-hull boats on the Ao Tien route rose to 300,000 VND in April 2025, while single-hull boats stayed at 250,000 VND, per Thoi bao Tai chinh Viet Nam, and in April 2026 one boat operator told the Ministry of Construction it was holding its fare rise to about 20% as fuel prices jumped. Our Hanoi to Co To Island guide compares the vans, ports, ferries and flights to Van Don.
Co To pairs well with the rest of the bay. Our Bai Tu Long Bay guide covers cruises from Van Don and the beaches of Quan Lan, and our Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay guides cover the karst bays to the west. The Starting from Hanoi hub lists the other trips from the capital.
What are the island's rules?
Leave single-use plastic at home and keep your rubbish. Vietnam's tourism board asks visitors not to bring plastic bottles or bags. The special zone aims to end single-use plastic in tourism, had run more than 25 clean-ups in 2026 by June and fined one person 4 million VND for dumping rubbish into the sea, per Nhan Dan in June 2026. On Co To Con, take everything you bring back with you.
How much does a Co To trip cost?
The boats and your room are the big costs. Prices were checked on 21 October 2026, and we convert at 26,070 VND to US$1, Vietcombank's selling rate that day.
| Item | VND | About US$ | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast boat Van Don to Co To, one way | 200,000 to 330,000 | 7.70 to 12.70 | Sun Group, September 2026 |
| Homestay per night | 400,000 to 600,000 | 15 to 23 | Sun Group, December 2025 |
| Three-star hotel per night | 800,000 to 1,200,000 | 31 to 46 | Sun Group |
| Electric car, full day | 600,000 to 1,200,000 | 23 to 46 | Sun Group; VnExpress |
| Motorbike per day | 200,000 | 7.70 | VnExpress |
| Lighthouse entry | 20,000 | 0.77 | Sun Group |
| Boat to Co To Con, per trip | 50,000 to 100,000 | 1.90 to 3.80 | Sun Group, September 2026 |
| Seafood hotpot for four to six | 400,000 to 600,000 | 15 to 23 | Sun Group |
Key facts at a glance
- Status: a special zone since mid-2025 under Resolution 1679/NQ-UBTVQH15 (Thoi bao Tai chinh Viet Nam), part of Quang Ninh city since 1 September 2026 (VOV).
- Visitors: 513,913 through Ao Tien port in 2024, up from 442,287 in 2023 (Thoi bao Tai chinh Viet Nam).
- Lighthouse: late 19th century, about 100 m above the sea, 72 steps (vietnam.travel).
- Storm evacuation: about 8,850 visitors moved off the island before Typhoon No. 3 in July 2025 (Dai bieu Nhan dan).
- Ferry fares: two-hull boats from Ao Tien rose to 300,000 VND in April 2025 (Thoi bao Tai chinh Viet Nam).
Limitations
Room, rental, food and activity prices come mostly from Sun Group's travel guides, written by a resort developer, and from a VnExpress guide last updated in February 2025, so treat them as typical ranges; the two sometimes disagree, as with electric car prices. Ferry fares moved in 2025 and again with fuel prices in 2026. We could not find published boat times to Thanh Lan, confirm the current lighthouse opening rules, or find an official visitor number for 2025. Weather decides everything here: check the forecast several days ahead in summer and winter, book flexible rooms, and keep a spare day before any flight.
