Summer has arrived, and if you're still unsure where to travel and what to do with your loved ones and friends for an amazing and meaningful summer vacation, consider exploring Vân Đồn in Quảng Ninh – a highly beloved destination. If you're wondering where to go and what to do in Vân Đồn, we've got you covered with a comprehensive travel guide in this article.
When is the Best Time to Travel to Vân Đồn?
Vân Đồn, an island district in Quảng Ninh, is approximately 50 km from Hạ Long City. This tourist hotspot attracts a large number of travelers, especially during the summer, with its expansive beaches and crystal-clear waters. Mention beach tourism, and Vân Đồn stands out. Summer is the ideal time to visit, offering white sandy beaches and refreshing, cool, and clear waters for a relaxing escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Starting from April 30th, the influx of tourists to Vân Đồn is significant, especially in June from the 10th to the 20th of the lunar calendar, a period filled with festive activities. As a result, many travelers come here to immerse themselves in graceful dances or participate in exciting activities such as boat racing and processions.
Convenient and Swift Transportation Options to Vân Đồn
Vân Đồn is approximately 220km away from the capital, Hanoi. Therefore, tourists have various transportation options to choose from when heading to Vân Đồn. Here are a few ways to get to Vân Đồn that you can consider.
Motorcycles
This is a type of transportation favored by young enthusiasts and adventurers. Motorcycles are truly convenient for traveling to Vân Đồn with your group of friends. It gives you control over your time and the flexibility to explore Vân Đồn's tourist spots based on your preferences. If you're confident in your riding skills, a motorcycle is a top choice for your journey to Vân Đồn.

Car
This is also a mode of transportation chosen by many young people or families for their trips. It takes approximately 4 to 5 hours of driving from Hanoi to the Vân Đồn tourist area. Traveling by car gives you more control over your travel time and allows you to choose stopping points for breaks or visit any tourist destination you want along the way.
Bus
Buses are the most popular choice for travelers, not only because of their cost-effectiveness but also because you don't need to worry about getting lost. Travelers can select reputable buses from Hanoi to Cửa Ông for their journey to Vân Đồn. Afterward, you can choose a taxi, motorbike taxi, or rent a motorcycle to travel to the Vân Đồn island. The bus fare from Hanoi to Cửa Ông ranges from 200k to 250k VND per ticket.
Airplane
If you're in the South and want to travel to Vân Đồn, you can opt for a flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. Then, you can choose one of the transportation methods mentioned earlier for your 2-day journey to Vân Đồn.
Top 10 must-visit tourist destinations in Vân Đồn for a 2-day getaway
Vân Đồn is a rich island district with 600 small and large islands, including about 20 inhabited ones. Each place has its own distinctive charm, offering travelers a plethora of choices for entertainment and resorts. Let's explore the 10 most beloved tourist destinations in Vân Đồn.
1. Quan Lạn Island, Quảng Ninh
Quan Lạn is a name synonymous with Vân Đồn tourism that every traveler wishes to visit. Quan Lạn Beach is a beautiful island in Bái Tử Long Bay, approximately 55 km from Hạ Long City. The beach boasts stunning scenery, maintaining its pristine and dreamy beauty with crystal-clear waters and smooth white sand.

2. Ngọc Vừng Island
The next must-visit location in your Vân Đồn journey is Ngọc Vừng Island. It exudes a picturesque charm with stunning landscapes, white sandy beaches, clear waters, and incredibly cool and pleasant weather. The beach on Ngọc Vừng Island promises to provide you with a comfortable and relaxing feeling after hot and tiring summer days.

3. Moon Rock Beach
This is an incredibly enticing tourist spot in Vân Đồn. Moon Rock Beach, also known as Round Rock Beach, is located in the Sơn Hào hamlet, Quan Lạn commune, with a length of nearly 1km and a width of hundreds of meters. Visitors will be mesmerized by the variously shaped smooth stones, sometimes even resembling the moon's surface. The name Moon Rock Beach originates from this unique feature.

4. Long Beach
Although not as famous as Quan Lạn Beach, Long Beach still captivates visitors with its serene and pristine beauty. The highlight here is a simple wooden bridge that, when combined with the natural landscape, creates a picturesque scene. Thanks to this bridge, Long Beach is loved by young people who come to check in and capture beautiful memories.

5. Ba Mùn Island
Ba Mùn Island will leave you in awe of its wild and diverse natural beauty. The harmonious combination of the blue sea, sky, white sandy beach, and lush greenery creates a beautiful and dreamy natural landscape. Moreover, Ba Mùn Island is home to many precious plant species such as lemongrass, sedge, nail, and yellow incense… What better way to immerse yourself in the beautiful nature with friends and family, forgetting all the worries of life.

6. Cai Bau Pagoda
Built on the foundation of Phuc Linh Tu, a temple nearly 700 years old since the Tran dynasty, Cai Bau Pagoda, also known as Truc Lam Giac Tam Zen Monastery, is surrounded by mountains and the sea, leaving visitors in awe. For those who appreciate the cultural and spiritual values, Cai Bau Pagoda is an excellent destination with its sanctity, unique architecture, and the natural beauty that surrounds it.

7. Van Don Tourist Spots: Minh Chau Beach
If you're a traveler who loves the pristine and tranquil beauty, Minh Chau Beach is a perfect choice. Located away from other beaches, Minh Chau has a smooth surface and clear water, making it the clearest beach in Van Don. Therefore, Minh Chau is an ideal place for leisure, strolling, relaxing on the sandy beach, and capturing charming photos without much fuss. Minh Chau Beach promises to leave a profound impression on visitors.

8. Son Hao Beach
Son Hao Beach is situated between Minh Chau Beach and Quan Lan Beach, renowned for its tranquil and picturesque beauty. Lined with vibrant coconut palms, stretching along the coast for nearly 3 km, Son Hao offers a peaceful retreat. Don't forget to take a leisurely stroll on the beach with friends and family to admire the beautiful sunset. The lush green vegetation adds vitality to the natural surroundings.

9. Viet My Beach – Beautiful Van Don Tourist Destination
Viet My Beach is an artificial beach contributing to the beauty of Van Don. It's an ideal spot for swimming, relaxing, or engaging in entertaining activities such as rowing or enjoying dishes made from fresh seafood.

10. Seafood Market
Van Don is an island district, so when you visit Van Don, you cannot miss the seafood market. Here, the cultural beauty in the daily life of the local people converges. The industrious, simple, and modest beauty of the people will make you fall even more in love with this land and its people. Moreover, you can visit the seafood market to support the fishermen, with a variety of different fresh seafood.

Must-Try Delicacies When Traveling to Van Don
1. Fresh and Delicious Seafood
When traveling to the coastal islands, enjoying dishes made from fresh seafood is a must. Visitors can find various delicious seafood at the Van Don market such as squid, abalone, oysters, shrimp, crab, razor clam, etc. These seafood dishes are not only diverse in preparation but also have high nutritional value. Therefore, when visiting Van Don, be sure to stop by the seafood market to explore and purchase the freshest seafood according to your preferences. Visitors can enjoy seafood right at the market or take them to their accommodation and have local chefs or residents prepare delicious dishes.

2. Squid Sausage
Squid sausage is a must-try delicacy when visiting Van Don. Squid, freshly caught from the sea, is processed immediately upon reaching the shore. Therefore, squid sausage has a sweet, crispy, and aromatic taste. When cooked, the sausage has a golden color, and when eaten, visitors can feel the unique crispy and fragrant texture that sets it apart from ordinary sausages found in supermarkets.
Especially, squid sausage contains squid tentacles and fins cut into pomegranate seeds, creating a crispy and sandy texture that ensures visitors will remember it forever. This is a local specialty in Van Don that any traveler who tries it will absolutely love.

3. Seaweed Salad
Sam, a famous seafood, is hailed as the specialty of the Van Don Quang Ninh sea. Sam can be prepared into various delicious and enticing dishes such as sam salad, sweet and sour sam, grilled sam, etc. All dishes made from sam are extremely appealing and beloved by tourists. If you have visited Van Don, don't miss the chance to savor dishes made from sam seafood.

4. Grilled Sea Urchin
Sea urchins, also known as sea hedgehogs, are abundant in the Van Don island district. This seafood is highly valued for its rich nutritional content, making it quite expensive. Sea urchins can be prepared into various dishes with different flavors, but the best is still the grilled sea urchin with scallion oil. When visiting Van Don, do not overlook this dish.

5. Van Don Travel Specialty: Razor Clams
Razor clams are also a famous specialty of the island district of Van Don. Razor clams contribute to health improvement due to their high natural protein content, containing many valuable amino acids. Besides nutritional benefits, razor clams are a delicious dish prepared in various ways such as soup with wild betel leaves, stir-fried with garlic, sweet and sour razor clams, etc. If you want to buy them as gifts for family and friends, dried razor clams are an ideal choice.

Check Now: Top 10 Famous Quang Ninh Specialties You Shouldn't Miss
Here are some travel experiences in Van Don that we have compiled. We hope that through this sharing, you can have a joyful and meaningful trip with your family and friends.
Posted by: Phuoc Hieu Le
Keywords: Comprehensive 2-Day 1-Night Van Don Travel Experience - In-Depth Details
