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L
ocated 50 km from Halong City in
the northeast province of Quang
Ninh, Van Don Island district in-
cludes the legendary Bai Tu Long
Bay and is a complex of 600 stunning
islands with a biological diversity to
rival that of Halong Bay.
After a three hour drive from Ha-
noi to Halong and another hour and
a half travelling from Halong City,
I reached Van Don’s Bai Dai (Long
Beach). The route from Halong to the
Van Don bridge is rather crowded.
After crossing the bridge however, the
road narrows and a broad unspoiled
landscape opens up. I wished I were
on a motorbike so I could experience
the pure air and stop anytime to talk
with the locals and to capture incred-
ible moments.
Bai Dai is a perfect spot for enjoying
the scenic vistas of the sea and moun-
tains of Bai Tu Long Bay. The sandy
beach is not perfectly smooth, instead it
is layered with seashells, but its waters
are gentle, blue and clear.
Bai Dai is set between Cai Rong and
Van Hoa port, and there is a host of
hotels and resorts along 2km of sandy
beach. Besides swimming, the hotels
and resorts here also offer other activi-
ties, including volleyball, football, ba-
nana boat rides and kayaking.
I spent my first day at leisure, slow-
ly exploring the beauty of the island.
The next day a new friend asked me to
explore the island with her. We rented
a motorbike from the hotel (VND120,
000 per day, without fuel) and drove
towards the bustling port of Cai Rong to
start our special trip around Bai Tu Long
Bay. Early morning, the rays of dawn
fell on the emerald waters to create a
magical scene.
Van Don Island district consists of
over 600 islands and islets with wild
and pristine nature. Among them, Quan
Lan, Minh Chau and Ngoc Vung islands
and Bai Tu Long Natural Reserve are the
most attractive, with stunning beaches
and historical relics that are very con-
sistent with the development of eco-
sea tourism.
At Cai Rong wharf, we boarded a
wooden boat along with our motorbike
(VND50,000 per guest and VND30,000
per motorbike) instead of selecting a
canoe to paddle ourselves.
Quan Lan is one of the biggest is-
lands in Van Don, with a host of white
sand beaches. These are interspersed
with the houses and forests which line
the coast.
The Bai Tu Long national park is
home to some 102 rare species, includ-
ing 72 kinds of fauna and 30 kinds of
29
timeout
Duc Hanh
discovers a once forgotten 12th century international seaport sys-
tem, wonderful beaches and nature north of Halong Bay.
SECRET ISLANDS
QUANG NINH IN FOCUS