Buzz
While everyone else is flocking to Co To Island, we sought out a rather secluded, tranquil place to camp, to converse with each other, to feel the taste of the sea in the most intimate and rustic way.
Robinson Beach lies hidden deep along the rugged path on Minh Chau - Quan Lan Island. Indeed, to fully appreciate that magnificent beauty, you'll have to endure quite a few twists and turns, from buying the wrong tickets to a broken-down boat swaying in the sea for 3 hours. Okay! Forget the bad luck. A weekend camping trip for 2 days and 1 night on this beautiful little island with all 8 of us is an unforgettable experience.
Getting There
We took a coach from Hanoi to Van Don (direct to Cai Rong port), Xuan Truong coach picked us up at AEON Long Bien at 1:30 AM on Saturday. We arrived at the destination at 5 AM, headed to the port to buy tickets for the Van Don - Minh Chau trip (remember to choose the right pier, don't mistake it for Van Don - Quan Lan like we did, or you'll end up further from your accommodation and spend more on transportation), all ferries are the same - high-speed boat fare: 150k/person. On the island, there are motorbikes and tuk-tuks for transportation, we chose tuk-tuk for safety as we were a large group.
Accommodation
Since our purpose was camping, of course, we pitched our tents right by the sea, but since it's camping on Robinson Beach, the service fee is 50k/person including shower facilities. Additionally, you can rent rooms at Robinson Ecolodge if you prefer not to camp (the owners are very enthusiastic).
Food and Drink
We set foot on the island around noon on Saturday, so we had packed food like sandwiches, pâté, and sausages. Eating right by the beach with the cool breeze was incredibly enjoyable. On Saturday night, we arranged a BBQ feast at the host's house, including shrimp, clams, oysters, island-raised pork, fresh squid... all marinated deliciously, grilled on the stove, and enjoyed piping hot with a few sips of beer, oh, the craving just comes back thinking about it. Despite the abundance of food, it cost around 200k/person, incredibly cheap.
On Sunday morning, we had instant noodles and sausages ready, and the hosts generously provided boiling water. For lunch, we also ordered a sumptuous seafood meal for everyone to enjoy. After eating, we took a nap on the hammock before preparing to leave.
Itinerary
Day 1
Due to a boat malfunction, we didn't arrive at Robinson Beach until noon, a whopping 4 hours behind schedule. While everyone else changed clothes and prepared food, I took the opportunity to meet the hosts and arrange meals for the next 2 times. At 1 PM, we had lunch, and after eating, each of us swung on a hammock for a refreshing nap. Although it was scorching hot on the island, the area had a cool breeze, making sleeping very enjoyable. At 3 PM, we got up, dressed up for a photo shoot, then changed into swimwear and headed to the beach for a swim. This area has quite a lot of underwater rocks, so be careful, but the waves here are super enjoyable.
At 6 PM, we climbed up to the shore to admire the sunset, then the whole group went for a swim and washed up. At 7:30 PM, the BBQ party began with EDM music playing continuously, and we just drank, ate, got intoxicated, and danced to the music until late at night.
Here, they also offer bonfire activities and karaoke sessions - singing right by the beach for any group interested. Our group likes to play in our own unique way. After the food and mingling, we all gathered by the beach, sat down, talked deeply, played some intense games, turned up the music, and shared some crazy stories that had us laughing uncontrollably.
Day 2
We estimated leaving at 4 am, but ended up feeling too tired and didn't get up until 5 am. The whole gang dragged themselves to the rocky shore right by the sea to have instant noodles while watching the sunrise. The scenery at that moment was truly marvelous. Around 6 o'clock, we headed to the Wind Pass, arriving at the foothill around 7 am. We had to trek about 10 minutes on the trail to reach the summit. Despite the blazing sun, standing here, gazing at the majestic mountains and sea, I couldn't help but feel how incredibly beautiful Vietnam is - beautiful as if straight out of a painting. It was truly worth the sunburn to make it all the way here. By 9 am, we headed to Minh Chau Beach - reputedly the most beautiful beach on this island. We sat in a hut atop a hill, sipping coconut water, taking a brief rest, then the whole gang rushed into the sea, splashing around, immersing ourselves in the clean, crystal-clear water.
After getting bored, we packed up and headed back. Upon arrival, dinner was ready with soup and rice waiting. After bathing, the whole group sat down to enjoy a satisfying seafood feast, our final seafood meal of the trip. After eating, each of us found a corner to relax - some slept on the hammock, some swayed on the swing, some sat contemplatively on the seesaw, gazing out to sea... By 2 pm, we packed up the tents, prepared our belongings, and headed to the Minh Chau pier to catch the 3 pm ferry back to Van Don, then took a car back to Hanoi, concluding this fantastic 2-day-1-night trip.
Trip Summary
Our group of 8 spent nearly 1,500k VND per person. Our initial purpose was to have a fun and relaxing trip, not to endure hardships or save money for achievements, so we indulged ourselves with plenty of delicious food, particularly seafood. Additionally, we encountered various transportation issues with boats, taxis, etc., which added to the expenses, but we still managed to keep it within the initial budget of 1,500k VND per person. Overall, it was still incredibly cheap for such a wonderful trip to this beautiful island.
Contact Information for Interested Parties
- Xuân Trường Transport: Dial 0973365858 for a ride back to Cai Rong port at 1:30 in the morning - 130k VND per person, one way. Remember to book in advance!
- High-speed ferry tickets can be purchased at the port for 150k VND per person, one way. Be sure to buy tickets for the VAN DON - MINH CHAU route. (Avoid purchasing tickets for Quan Lan port like our group did)
- Mr. Tien (Owner of Robinson Beach): Contact him at 0986407920. He's extremely enthusiastic, so if you have any questions before your trip, feel free to reach out to him for remote assistance and advice.
- Mrs. Hong (Manager of Robinson Beach): Contact her at 01639082237. All matters regarding food, accommodation, and transportation here are managed by Mrs. Hong.
- If you're returning early on the 12 pm or 1 pm ferry, you can contact Xuân Trường Transport for a ride back to Hanoi. If you're on a later ferry like our group, you'll need to take a taxi for 130k VND per 4-seater car to Ngã 3 Cửa Ông, then catch a bus back to Hanoi.
Source: Dương Minh Hằng
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