Ngoc Vung island travel guide : The ultimate travel guide 2024

Ngoc Vung island travel guide

If you plan to travel to Ngoc Vung island in the Van Don Bay area aka Bai Tu Long bay from Van Don , an untouched island, a less visited island with few tourists. This Ngoc Vung island travel guide is everything you need to know to plan the trip to Ngoc Vung island including things to do, where to stay, top things to eat and drink, best time to travel and more etc

This travel guide to Ngoc Vung island is up to date because David is the local guide, who has been traveling there many times, the most recent one is in 2024 ensure that this article is the most up-to-date

What makes Ngoc Vung island special is its pristine beaches with very few tourists, the rustic beauty of rural villages, historical sites

In 2005, the first Vietnamese visitors came to Ngoc Vung Island. It was a remarkable moment for the development of tourism in Ngoc Vung island

Table of Contents

Ngoc Vung island : The basics

In this section, I will walk you through Ngoc Vung island – The basics including what, when, where, how. I also give personal option if Ngoc Vung island is worth visiting or not.

WHERE IS NGOC VUNG ISLAND?

Ngoc Vung island is situated off the coast of Northeastern Hanoi. It is part of Quảng Ninh Province, which borders on China. The closest city is Cam Pha City (Thành phố Cẩm Phả).

To get to the island, you need to take a wooden junk boat or a speed boat from Cam Pha pier, which is 40-minute drive from Hanoi city .

You can combine the trip to Ngoc Vung island with a visit to untouched part of Bai Tu Long bay with very few tourists, where the boats cruise around the towering limestone karts mountains, oyster farms and lots of photo opportunities,

The heart of Halong Bay, where boats cruise around the karsts and you get those amazing photos, is approximately 30 km ( 19 miles) off the coast from the Cam Pha port.

HOW FAR AWAY IS NGOC VUNG ISLAND FROM HANOI?

Cam Pha pier , the jumping-off spot for Ngoc Vung island, is situated about 197 km (122 miles) from the old quarter of Hanoi. Then a boat trip with a journey for another 30 kilometers to reach Ngoc Vung island.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET FROM HANOI TO NGOC VUNG ISLAND?

Travel to Cam Pha from Hanoi via the Highway 5B, the best highways in Vietnam, then onto Highway between Hai Phong and Quang Ninh then drive along Duong Bao Bien (road along the coast from Halong to Cam Pha) . The road system is super good since Halong is a well-known tourist attractions and Hai Phong is the major port city in Northern Vietnam.

It takes approximately 3 hours in general to travel from Hanoi to Cam Pha by car With a toilet break at a stopover.

Then 2 hours on a wooden junk boat to get to Ngoc Vung island from Cam Pha or 1 hour via speedboat.

HOW LONG DO YOU NEED IN NGOC VUNG ISLAND?

Generally, 1 night or 2 night on Ngoc Vung island is a good choice. I recommend combing your visit to Bai Tu Long by hiring a private wooden junk boat, then drop you off in the late afternoon. people visit Halong Bay for 1 or 2 nights. If you have the time and your budget allows for it, I recommend staying for 2 nights. This is the option I chose the first time I visited Vietnam.

If you spend 2 nights on the island, which means that you have an entire day for sightseeing and relaxing without taking a transfer.

CAN YOU VISIT NGOC VUNG ISLAND AS A DAY TRIP FROM HALONG?

Yes, it is possible to visit Ngoc Vung island as a day trip from Halong . I will show you steps by steps how to do it .

A day trip to Ngoc Vung island from Halong is good for those who have limited time budget but still want to combine Bai Tu Long bay day tour and a visit to Ngoc Vung island.

It is only can be done with a private junk because the lastest boat from Ngoc Vung island to the mainland is at 1pm.

7.20am : Leaving your hotel in Halong then head to Cam Pha pier. After 45 minutes driving, taking a private junk boat to Ngoc Vung island after 2 hours cruising. Then spend time exploring the island. If you know how to ride a scooter, get one and ride around the island, the traffic is kind of empty.

Otherwise hiring a tuk tuk or electric buggy is an alternative.

What to see in Ngoc Vung island for 5 hours from 10.30am to 3.30pm including lunchtime.

Truong Chinh beach
Ngoc Vung ancient citadel
Uncle Ho Memorial house
Flag pole
Cong Yen Pier

How to get from Hanoi/Halong to Ngoc Vung island

For budget travellers, taking a limousine from Hanoi to Cam Pha or Ao Tien port and take a speed boat to get to Ngoc Vung island.

I often travel with Van Don Xanh limousines because they are reliable, it costs around 15 USD per person to the port from Hanoi while a private car (SUV) would be around 151 USD

For those who travel from Halong, I do think a private car to Ao Tien port or Cam Pha is about 80 USD one way.

From Cam Pha or Ao Tien to Ngoc Vung, if you can afford a private boat, it would be around 230 to 260USD per private boat to combine a sightseeing trip to Bai Tu Long bay from Ao Tien

Hanoi Eco Tour do offer private car services from Hanoi/Halong to Cam Pha/Ao Tien or private , please contact us via Whatsapp at +84974313104

Junk boat/ Speed boat schedule

From Ao Tien to Ngoc Vung

6.30am and 1pm

Duration: one and a half hour to 2 hours

Ticket price : 3 to 4 USD per person (sharing boat)

From Cam Pha to Ngoc Vung

By wooden junk boat

6.30am and 1pm

Duration: one and a half hour to 2 hours

Ticket price : 3 to 4 USD per person (sharing boat)

By speed boat

7.30am and 10.15am

Duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour

Ticket price : 10 USD per person (sharing boat)

From Halong to Ngoc Vung

1.30pm and 2pm

Duration: 2 hours to two and a half hour

Ticket price : 11 USD per person (sharing boat)

Recent update : Only hiring a private speedboat option from Halong which cost 600 USD one way to get from Halong to Ngoc Vung island

Once you get to the pier, you need to take a golf cart or buggy car to get to the center of town which costs 1.5 USD per person for a shared ride or 12 USD for a private buggy.

You may ask the homestay owners or accommodation owners to arrange the pick up with extra cost.

Best time to visit Ngoc Vung island – Ngoc Vung island travel guide

In my opinion, the best time would be from September to early January, Late March, and April.

Summertime (From May to August is fine but it is super hot. The average temperature will be 35 degrees Celsius. . Middle of August to late August is less touristy and less hot.

Avoid national holidays like 30th of April, the May Day, and Independence day (2nd of September), around that period, it is will be pretty busy with lots of Vietnamese.

Top things to do in Ngoc Vung island

Soak up on the water at Truong Chinh beach
Catch the dawn or Sunrise at Phao Dai islet
Leisurely cycling with push bike along the beach or along the range of beefwood
Take an adventure ride on a four-wheel ATV
Camping on Trung Trinh beach
Join a day in the fishermen’s life by collecting snails, squid fishing etc. It can be early morning, afternoon or evening tour which depending on the season.
A sightseeing trips to see must-see spots in Ngoc Vung island

How to get around Ngoc Vung island

For foreign, I would recommend either push bike or a motorbike. If you cant ride one of those transports, then take a tuk tuk or electric buggy. I feel like Tuk Tuk sounds fun.

Where to stay in Ngoc Vung

There is no Western-friendly accommodations in NGoc Vung island. If you are looking for a basic hotel/homestay with hot running shower and clean toilet, you’ll some of the choices.

Green Pearl Retreat is properly one of the best accommodations in Ngoc Vung island. It is new, well-equipped. However the room size isn’t great, only 17 square meters, small but cozy. The room rate starts from 40 USD per room per night

If you like resort style, Song Da Sudico Ngoc Vung is an alternative. It is located by the beach with plants so it might be an ideal place for family with kids who love nature.

Dao Ngoc Xanh hotel is a hotel option, but it might be a Vietnamese-friendly hotel only.

For motel options, Quang Thuy Motel is a good option for budget travellers.

Please note that you need to pay extra for breakfast at the accommodation in Quan Lan. Please double-check if the price includes breakfast or not.

Pro tips when traveling Ngoc Vung island

Please bring cash in VND since there is no ATMs or credit card machine
Bring swimsuits, hats, suncream, sunglasses, buck spray, walking shoes, sandals etc, towels…..
If you get seasick, take the pills half an hour before the boat trip
I don’t suggest travelling during peak tourist season of Vietnamese from the middle May to the middle August (especially during the weekend from Friday to Saturday).
If you can’t eat seafood then you’d better take a guided tour since the guide knows local language who can help you find alternative food to eat.
Bring your original passports and visa to show it to the border police before getting on the boat to the island.
SInce there is a language barrier for this island, booking a guided tour to Ngoc Vung island is recommended. Of course, in case you can afford it.