Hide from the Sun on Cái Chiên Island in Summer

Cái Chiên is a pristine island in Quảng Ninh, recently becoming a captivating enigma for young travel enthusiasts to explore.

Escape the Summer Heat on Cái Chiên Island

As many Northern travelers flock to Cô Tô Island to escape the summer heat, Cái Chiên has become a new destination for those seeking tranquility. Cái Chiên is a small, beautiful island located in Hải Hà district, Móng Cái city, Quảng Ninh province.

To this day, it remains a fairly untouched island with long, smooth white sand beaches and dense, lush primeval forests. The island covers an area of approximately 2,500 hectares, mostly covered in mountainous forests, with over 500 hectares of primary forests, serving as a habitat for many species of birds and wildlife.

Located about 330 km from Hanoi, there are various options to reach Cái Chiên. You can ride a motorbike over Vĩnh Tuy Bridge, heading straight towards Quảng Ninh. Along the way, you can take advantage of the time to admire the scenery, pass through Ha Long city to see Bãi Cháy Bridge, the Sun Wheel, and the world-record-breaking sea-crossing cable car…

Alternatively, you can easily catch a long-distance bus to Móng Cái city from Mỹ Đình bus station, with ticket prices ranging from 150,000 to 200,000 VND depending on the bus company. The travel time is approximately 7-8 hours.

Once you arrive at the Hà Cối bank intersection or the beginning of the Hà Cối bridge, there are two piers for you to board a boat to the island. If you get off at the Hà Cối intersection, you'll need to hire a motorbike taxi or a taxi to travel to the pier, which is about 4 km away. If you get off at the beginning of the Hà Cối bridge, you can walk to the boat stop, which is about a 10-minute walk.

Every day, there are 3 ferry trips at fixed hours from the mainland to the island, and vice versa, at 6:30 AM, 10:30 AM, and 4:30 PM. On holidays and Sundays, if the demand increases, the company will add more trips.

Ticket prices: For pedestrians, it's 20,000 VND per trip, motorcycles are 50,000 VND per trip, the lowest price for cars is 260,000 VND per trip, and the highest is 750,000 VND per trip. Alternatively, you can take a continuous canoe trip for around 50,000 VND per person per trip, and you'll arrive in just 20 minutes.

Upon reaching the island, you can call the pre-arranged host for pick-up, or rent an electric or bamboo bike for 100,000 to 150,000 VND depending on the number of people to reach the beaches and explore the island. After that, you can rent a motorbike for 150,000 VND per day for transportation.

Currently, there are three beaches on the island: Vạn Cả Beach, Cái Chiên Beach, and Đầu Rồng Beach. Cái Chiên and Đầu Rồng Beaches are the most popular choices, as they offer homestay services, tent rentals, and dining options. Tourism services on the island are still developing, with homestays, container houses, and tents being the primary accommodations.

Regarding prices, homestays are priced at 50,000 VND per person per day, container houses at 350,000 VND per room per day, and tent rentals at 150,000 VND per day. However, on holidays and weekends, prices may increase. You can choose based on your economic conditions as well as preferences.

When it comes to dining, local affordable rice meals are generally not expensive compared to other islands. Thanks to locals, a home-cooked meal costs around 50,000 VND per person per meal.

Alternatively, you can purchase seafood from local fishermen's boats at relatively low prices. Type 1 clams range from 450,000 to 500,000 VND per kg, Type 2 clams are about 400,000 VND per kg, sea snails are 200,000 VND per kg, and island chicken is 250,000 VND per kg. All prices include processing fees. Additionally, you can organize a beach barbecue, which is also very interesting.

There is no overcharging phenomenon here. The locals are very enthusiastic and friendly. Prices for other essential items such as beer, soft drinks, ice cream, etc., are not significantly different from the mainland. However, it's still advisable to prepare some food in advance.

Apart from immersing yourself in the crystal-clear, refreshing waters at the three beaches—Vạn Cả, Cái Chiên, and Đầu Rồng—there are many other exciting activities. At the Đầu Rồng area, in addition to the sprawling beach, you can also take photos with floating rafts with the help of fishermen without incurring any charges.

But when the tide recedes, the sandy beach emerges, allowing easy movement to the island. This mode of transportation often reminds many of the sea-crossing paths at Điệp Sơn Island (Vạn Giã, Khánh Hòa).

In the Dragon Tail area, standing on the pebble beach and gazing into the distance, you'll be overwhelmed by the majestic scenery. The towering mountain stretches out to the sea, greeting the deep blue sky and the vastness of the deserted seascape.

Right next to the beach is the cool pine forest, fragrant with the scent of trees and grass, featuring a romantic love path, perfect for strolling. Further in, there are familiar and smooth rice fields. This uniqueness sets Cái Chiên apart from other islands.

Another interesting activity here is renting a boat for squid fishing, swaying on the sea surface with gentle waves. The salty allure of the sea breeze will become unforgettable memories. And don't forget to immerse yourself in the moments of sunrise and sunset on the island, swaying on hammocks on the beach, observing the magical moments of a day, forgetting the everyday fatigue and noise.

Source: Zing News

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Reference: Travel guide Mytour