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Quan Lan Island is a natural island located offshore in the Bai Tu Long Bay area of Van Don district, Quang Ninh province. Visitors to Quan Lan will immerse themselves in pristine natural landscapes with sun, wind, and sea, while also learning about the cultural and historical stories associated with the island and visiting the fishing villages of the local fishermen.
The ideal time to travel to Quan Lan
Weather on Quan Lan Island reflects the climate of the Bai Tu Long Bay area with two seasons: hot and humid summer, and cold and dry winter. The best time to visit Quan Lan is from April to September each year because of the hot weather, clear skies, and plenty of sunshine, suitable for swimming and sightseeing. Note that if you visit in July or August, avoid days with tropical low pressure or storms as they may affect boat travel.
Transportation to Quan Lan
Currently, the only means of transportation to Quan Lan Island is by sea. Ships to Quan Lan depart from Cai Rong Port (Van Don - Quang Ninh) or Hon Gai Port (Halong). Therefore, you need to travel to Van Don or Halong first to catch a boat to Quan Lan. In this article, I will introduce how to travel from Van Don to Quan Lan.
Transportation to Van Don by road
- Bus: The cost is from 200,000 VND/passenger/one-way trip with a travel time of about 4 - 5 hours. The bus stops at the Van Don intersection instead of going directly to Cai Rong Port, so you will need to take a taxi or a bus to the port.
- Limousine: This is the most popular option because it goes directly to Cai Rong Port. Moreover, the limousines are equipped with modern and luxurious facilities at a reasonable cost, averaging only 200,000 VND/passenger/one-way trip.
You can also travel by private vehicles such as cars or motorcycles. The parking fee for cars at Cai Rong Port is 100,000 VND - 150,000 VND/day; for motorcycles, it is 20,000 VND/day.
Transportation to Van Don by air
For travelers coming from distant places like Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City, this is the fastest and most convenient option. Currently, Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, and Bamboo Airways operate flights to Van Don from Da Nang and HCMC:
- Ho Chi Minh City - Van Don: The average ticket price is about 1,500,000 VND/one-way including taxes and fees, with a flight time of about 2 hours.
- Da Nang - Van Don: The average ticket price is about 1,300,000 VND/one-way including taxes and fees, with a flight time of 1 hour and 20 minutes.
The airfare to Van Don may vary depending on the ticket-checking time, airlines, and routes. Typically, it is advisable to book tickets about 1 - 2 months in advance to have flexibility with the schedule and get the best fares.
From Van Don Airport, you can take a taxi, and it's about a 10-minute drive to Cai Rong port.
Waterway transportation to Quan Lan from Cai Rong port (Van Don)
To reach Quan Lan from Cai Rong port, you'll take a high-speed boat. Every day, each ferry company usually operates one round trip between Cai Rong port and Quan Lan. The earliest departure is at 7:15 AM, and the latest return is at 3:00 PM. On weekends, the latest ferry back is at 4:30 PM. The travel time is about 45 - 50 minutes, with an average ticket price of 100,000 VND per passenger per trip.
Transportation options in Quan Lan
Transportation options on Co To Island include motorbikes, tandem bicycles, and tuk-tuks.
- Motorbike: If you're traveling alone or in a small group, you can rent a motorbike for about 40,000 VND per hour (hourly rental), 200,000 VND per day (daily rental), or 300,000 VND for overnight rental.
- Tuk-tuk: Suitable for larger groups of around 8 - 10 people. The usual price is 100,000 VND per trip. If you rent a tuk-tuk for the entire 3 days and 2 nights, it's about 500,000 VND.
- Tandem bicycles: A romantic and eco-friendly option, popular among couples. Rental price is 10,000 VND per hour and 100,000 VND per day.
Recommended hotels and resorts on Quan Lan Island
Minh Chau Pearl Hotel & Spa - Quan Lan Island
Minh Chau Pearl Hotel & Spa - Quan Lan Island
Address: Ninh Hai Hamlet, Minh Chau Commune, Van Don District, Quang Ninh Province
Starting room rates from 2,625,000 VND per night
Grand Pearl Minh Chau - Quan Lan
Grand Pearl Minh Chau - Quan Lan
Address: Minh Chau Commune, Quan Lan Island, Van Don District, Quang Ninh Province
Starting room rates from 1,760,000 VND per night
Minh Chau Beach Resort
Minh Chau Beach Resort
Address: Ninh Hai Hamlet, Minh Chau Commune, Van Don District, Quang Ninh Province
Starting room rates from 600,000 VND per night
Le Pont Minh Châu Hotel
Le Pont Minh Châu Hotel
Address: Minh Chau Commune - Quan Lan Island - Van Don District - Quang Ninh Province
Starting room rates from 500,000 VND per night
Quan Lan Island still remains a pristine island area, so accommodation services are not highly developed, resulting in relatively high average prices for hotel services here compared to the quality of service. After researching various hotels in Quan Lan, I decided to stay at Grand Pearl Resort Minh Chau - Quan Lan - which is currently rated as the most beautiful and best hotel in Quan Lan. My family of 4 booked a Family room for 1,760,000 VND per night, including breakfast. The hotel facilities deserve high praise for modern room furniture, full essential equipment, elevator, electronic door locks, island sightseeing shuttle, etc. In terms of location, the hotel is only 20 steps away from Minh Chau Beach. All these advantages convinced me to book a room, and indeed the quality matches the price. If you are looking for a reliable and classy accommodation on Quan Lan Island, quickly book Grand Pearl Resort Minh Chau - Quan Lan for a perfect trip.
Itinerary for a 3D2N tour in Quan Lan
To ensure the smoothest and most convenient journey, it's advisable to create a detailed travel plan. During my 3-day 2-night trip, I tried to visit the most famous destinations in Quan Lan. Check out my detailed travel itinerary below.
First Day
I bought tickets for the Quang Minh high-speed ferry departing from Cai Rong Port at 1:30 PM to go to Quan Lan. My family of 4 spent a total of 400,000 VND per way.
Upon arriving at Quan Lan Island, my family took a tuk-tuk from the port to the Grand Pearl Resort Minh Chau hotel in Minh Chau commune, about 10km from the center of Quan Lan commune.
We checked into the hotel and rested for a while, then around 4 PM, we went to swim at Minh Chau beach right next to the hotel.
Minh Chau Beach is considered the most beautiful beach on Quan Lan Island. With its gentle terrain, crystal-clear water, gentle waves, and smooth white sand stretching up to 1.5 km, this beach is perfect for tourists to check-in, swim, and organize fun beach activities.
Enjoying the ultimate check-in experience at Minh Chau Beach
After enjoying ourselves to the fullest, my family walked to the shore to watch the sunset before returning to shower and have dinner. In the evening, we indulged in drinks at the café right within the hotel premises.
Second Day
After breakfast, my family started our journey for the second day.
- Crystal Sand Dunes: Here, you'll encounter smooth white sand dunes glistening like glass under the sun, a must-visit check-in spot you can't miss.
- Son Hao Beach: A picturesque seaside paradise with white sand, blue sea, golden sun, and the sound of waves blending harmoniously in the breeze. Unlike the gentle waves of Minh Chau, this beach has slightly stronger waves. It's very spacious here, perfect for photography or fun activities.
- Sky Rock Beach: Under the influence of the sea waves, the rocks have been eroded into countless small and large pieces, diverse in color and unique in shape.
- White Sand River: Located on the road connecting Minh Chau and Quan Lan villages, a famous check-in spot with smooth white sandbanks resembling whipped cream.
- Quan Lan Temple: Where three brothers Pham Cong Chinh, Pham Quy Cong, and Pham Thuan Dung bravely sacrificed themselves in the battle of Van Don - Cua Luc against the Mongol invaders in 1288.
- Quan Lan Communal House: A temple dedicated to King Ly Anh Tong (1138 - 1175). This is one of the two oldest communal houses in Quang Ninh province with a history of hundreds of years. Over the centuries, the communal house has preserved its intact architectural features and intricate carvings.
Quan Lan Communal House
- Nghè Tran Khanh Du Temple: A place of worship for the village emperor of Quan Lan, Emperor Tran Khanh Du. The temple was built during the Later Le dynasty and underwent major renovations in 2011, retaining its meticulous architectural details, solemnity, and many valuable historical artifacts.
- Quan Lan Wind Channel: Located at Got Beach, also known as Beo's Wind Channel. This is the most impressive destination on Quan Lan Island that you must visit. From the foot of the mountain, it takes about 15 - 20 minutes to hike to the mountaintop. From there, you can admire the magnificent and majestic scenery of Quan Lan's sea and sky - an unforgettable overwhelming feeling.
Day Three
After breakfast and checking out, we returned to Quan Lan village to visit Quan Lan Beach and stopped by the market to buy some local specialties as souvenirs.
- Quan Lan Beach: One of the most beautiful natural and pristine beaches on Quan Lan Island, with a crescent moon shape surrounded by tall green hills. This beach is also closest to Quan Lan Port and the market.
Enjoying Quan Lan Beach
Our return boat departed from Quan Lan Port at 1:00 PM, concluding our 3 days 2 nights journey on Quan Lan Island.
Delicious Cuisine of Quan Lan
Quan Lan Island is characterized by its abundant seafood, so be sure to indulge in some of these typical dishes:
- Grilled clams with scallion oil: This dish has a fresh, savory taste and is a popular choice among most tourists, especially when enjoyed as a snack with draft beer.
- Seaweed soup with sea cucumber: Sea cucumber is a premium and precious seafood found abundantly in the waters around Minh Chau, and when cooked into soup, it becomes nutritious and delicious.
- Grilled mantis shrimp: Mantis shrimp, with its soft shell, becomes an enticing dish for tourists on Quan Lan Island with just a simple seasoning and grilling.
Sea Cucumbers
- Sea Cucumbers: A type of seafood widely cultivated in the Van Don island sea area, with high economic and nutritional value. Sea cucumbers can be prepared in various ways such as grilling, making salads, cooking porridge, etc., but the most appealing method is steaming to preserve its original flavor. When eating sea cucumbers, tourists will experience a delicious, sweet, and crunchy taste.
- Razor Clams: Razor clams on Quan Lan Island are considered the best in the country. Fresh razor clams are used by locals to create enticing dishes such as betel leaf soup, stir-fried with lemongrass and garlic, stir-fried with razor clam, or cooked into porridge. Dried razor clams can be roasted, grilled for snacks with beer or wine, or used to make noodle soups like pho or bun.
This article will be very helpful for those who enjoy independent travel, wanting to actively explore and plan their own itinerary. However, if you are traveling to Quan Lan for the first time and are not confident in your ability to travel independently, it is advisable to book a Quan Lan tour to have a trip prepared from A to Z.
Wishing you all a joyful journey!
Best regards, Thanh Ha
Image source: Internet
