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Voykit pocket guide · Vietnam
Co To Island
Cô Tô
Go for 2 nights if you have an extra 3 days from Hanoi: the boat takes half a day each way and the island rewards slow beach time, not a rushed stop.
Co To is a quiet archipelago in the Gulf of Tonkin, 3–3.5 h by ferry from Cai Rong. The main island has white-sand beaches, a lighthouse viewpoint, rocky coves and a small fishing town. It is less developed than Cat Ba or Ha Long, so you come for calm, not nightlife. A permit is required for foreign visitors (arranged in Ha Long city in advance). Most travellers stay 2 nights.
- Country
- Vietnam
- Local name
- Cô Tô
- Best months
- Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (typhoon risk, rough seas), Dec–Feb (cold, foggy)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- VND
- Money
- VND in small notes (10k–100k) for stalls, markets, xe ôm and tips at spas.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₫500,000–800,000 excl. bed · Mid ₫800,000–1,500,000 excl. bed · High ₫1,500,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Viettel, Vinaphone and Mobifone sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport and a face photo are required for registration.
- Emergency
- Police 113 · Fire 114 · Ambulance 115
- Plugs
- Types A, C, F · 220 V · 50 Hz · Two-pin sockets take flat US pins and round European pins; UK plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and cafés: Nothing; leave small change if you like.; Sit-down restaurant: Round up or 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Grab / taxi: Round up; tip in the app if you want.; Spa and massage: ₫50,000–100,000 to the therapist directly; some spas ask for more.; Guide and driver on a day tour: ₫100,000–200,000 per person for the guide, about half that for the driver.; Hotel porter: ₫20,000–50,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Bottled and filtered water everywhere; hotel refill stations are common. Café ice is factory-made.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in cities and hotels; squat toilets and no paper in rural stops and on long buses — carry tissues. Old plumbing: paper in the bin.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bowl of phở or bún | ₫30,000–50,000 |
| Seafood meal at a local restaurant | ₫100,000–200,000 |
| Bottle of beer (bia) | ₫10,000–20,000 |
| Motorbike rental per day | ₫150,000–200,000 |
| Ferry Cai Rong → Co To (one way) | ₫200,000 (check) |
| Permit processing fee (foreigners) | ₫50,000 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- VDO · Van Don International Airport
- About 50 km (31 mi) from Cai Rong ferry pier; taxi or shuttle to the pier, then the ferry to Co To.About 31 mi (50 km) from Cai Rong ferry pier; taxi or shuttle to the pier, then the ferry to Co To.
- HAN · Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi)
- About 3 h by road to Cai Rong pier; most travellers take a bus or private car.
Typical fares
- Ferry Cai Rong → Co To
- about ₫200,000, 3–3.5 h (check)
- Motorbike rental per day
- ₫150,000–200,000
- Taxi from Van Don airport to Cai Rong pier
- ₫300,000–500,000 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Rent a motorbike (about ₫150,000–200,000/day) to reach beaches, the lighthouse and the Rock Garden. Walking is fine in town. No public transport on the island.
See and do
Known for
- Van Chai beach
- Co To lighthouse
- Rock Garden
- Lion Mount rock formation
- Permit requirement for foreign visitors
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cai Rong (Van Don) | Ferry from Co To, about 3–3.5 h | 3–3.5 h |
| Quan Lan Island | Ferry from Co To, about 1–1.5 h | 1–1.5 h |
Sleep
- Co To town centre
- Most guesthouses, homestays and the Coto Lodge Mini Hotel are here, close to restaurants and the ferry dock.
- Beachfront homestays
- Scattered along Van Chai and other beaches; quieter, but you need a motorbike to reach town.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Xin chàosin chow |
| Help me! | Cứu tôi với!kuh-oo toy vuh-ee |
| 1, 2, 3 | một, hai, bamoht, hai, bah |
| How much is it? | Bao nhiêu tiền?bow nyew tyen |
| Please take me to this address | Làm ơn chở tôi đến địa chỉ nàylahm uhn chuh toy den dee-ah chee nay |
| Excuse me! (to a younger server) | Em ơi!em uh-ee |
| I have a booking | Tôi đã đặt phòngtoy dah daht fong |
| What time? | Mấy giờ?may zuh |
| Thank you | Cảm ơnkahm uhn |
| Call the police! (113) | Gọi cảnh sát! (113)goy kahn saht |
| 4, 5, 6 | bốn, năm, sáubohn, nahm, sow |
| Too expensive! | Đắt quá!daht kwah |
| I booked a Grab | Tôi đặt Grabtoy daht grab |
| I'll have this one | Cho tôi cái nàychaw toy kai nay |
| Do you have a room free? | Còn phòng không?kon fong khohm |
| Now | Bây giờbay zuh |
| No, thank you (street sellers) | Không, cảm ơnkhohm, kahm uhn |
| Fire! Call the fire service! (114) | Cháy! Gọi cứu hỏa! (114)chai! goy kuh-oo hwah |
| 7, 8, 9, 10 | bảy, tám, chín, mườibay, tahm, cheen, muh-ee |
| Come down a bit | Bớt đibuht dee |
Say it for greetings, prices and 'no ice'. Show the screen for addresses, allergies, medical problems and anything you need done exactly — a wrong tone on those costs more than the embarrassment of pointing at a phone.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Nod and smile; handshake with men, let women offer first; avoid: Hugs and cheek kisses with people you have just met
- Names: Title plus given name — 'Anh Nam', 'Chị Lan' — the given name comes last; avoid: Calling someone by the family name alone (Nguyễn, Trần)
- Handing things: Both hands, especially money, cards and gifts to older people; avoid: Tossing things across a table
- Conversation: Expect questions about age, marriage and income; they place you, not pry; avoid: Raising your voice or correcting someone in front of others
- Temples and pagodas: Covered shoulders and knees; step over the raised threshold; enter by the right-hand door; avoid: Sitting with your back to an altar; climbing statues for photos
- Photos: Ask first, especially in minority villages; avoid: Paying children for photos — it keeps them out of school
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring fruit, tea or sweets; accept at least a drink; avoid: Pointing your feet at people or the family altar
- Beckoning: Palm down, fingers waving towards you; avoid: Curling one finger — it is used for animals
Scams and watch-outs
- Foreign visitors must obtain a permit in Ha Long city before arriving; without it you may be fined or sent back.
- Ferries are cancelled in rough weather (common Jul–Aug); have a flexible itinerary.
- ATMs are scarce on the island; bring enough cash from the mainland.
- Mosquitoes are active at dusk; bring repellent.
Co To is generally safe, but the main risks are rough seas (ferry cancellations), motorbike accidents on unpaved roads and mosquito-borne illness. Bring cash, a repellent and a flexible schedule.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Co To Island yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Van Chai beach
- Co To lighthouse
- Rock Garden
- Lion Mount rock formation
- Permit requirement for foreign visitors
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Co To Island, revision 4917122 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4917122
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Co To IslandCô Tô
Đến địa chỉ này, làm ơn
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Most embassies are in Hanoi; the nearest consulate for some countries is in Ha Long city (check).
Bring cash; no ATMs on the island.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/co-to-island). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.