Vinh Thuc island Ultimate guide : The hidden paradise in Mong Cai, Quang Ninh

Vinh Thuc Island is an untouched island with pristine beaches, beautiful nature and friendly locals, a real paradise from Mong Cai. 

This Vinh Thuc island travel guide is everything you need to know for travelling Vinh Thuc island including things to do, what to eat, places to stay, best time to visit etc

Why I write this Vinh Thuc island travel guide

When I tried to google Vinh Thuc island travel guide, there isn’t much detailed information in English to help with planning a trip. 

So I decided to write my own blogpost for travelers who will go on a guided tour or travel on your own to Vinh Thuc island

Vinh Thuc island : The basic

In this section,I will write about general information about Vinh Thuc island so that you can easily answer basic questions:  What, where, when and how. I also give my ow opinion about travelling Vinh Thuc island 

If you have done well-researched, just skip it

Where is Vinh Thuc Island?

Located on the southern side of Mong Cai, in the Northeast of Hanoi, off the coast, 45 minutes by wooden junk boat from Mong Cai port. 

Vinh Thuc island is almost ZERO knowledge for Vietnamese and foreign tourists. It is the place for local citizens who want to travel to an untouched island. 

The island is small, covering 500 hectares, and has a population of 3000 inhabitants, with 700 families.  

There is nothing that is designed for tourists

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO VINH THUC ISLAND FROM MONG CAI?

45 minutes by wooden junk boat ride or a speed boat ride

HOW MANY DAYS IS ENOUGH FOR TRAVELLING IN VINH THUC ISLAND?

Since it is a 4.5-hour drive from Hanoi to Mong Cai, a day trip isn’t possible for travellers from Hanoi. For visitors from Halong, you can take it as a day trip with an early departure  from 7am

Is Vinh Thuc Island worth visiting?

In my opinion, it isn’t a place for DIY travellers but guided tours for those who like authentic, unique and something different, off the beaten track, to be away from big tourist hubs like Halong. 

How to get to Vinh Thuc Island from Hanoi

There are 2 stages to follow

Stage 1 : Hanoi to Mui Ngoc port

Take an early departure limousine from 6 am from My Dinh bus terminal, a 40-minute drive to Hanoi Old Quarter with either Nhat Hong Limousine or Hoang Giang Limousine. 

You are expected to reach Mui Ngoc port in 5 hours 

The ticket fare is 20 USD per person/way

Stage 2 : Take a wooden boat or speed boat from Mui Ngoc port to Vinh Thuc island

Departure time: 07h00, 10h00, 13h00 và 16h00
Ticket fare: 120.000 VNĐ/person/way

By the time you get there. It is lunchtime, so have an early lunch and walk around the pier until taking a speed boat ride at 1pm. 

If we offer the guided tour, we would hire a private wooden junk boat so you will reach the island by 12pm, have lunch, check-in at the hotel/motel

How to get around Vinh Thuc island 

The best way is to take a leisurely motorbike ride around the island. If not, take an electric buggy or a car to get around the island. Traffic around the island is almost zero, so you can confidently ride around. If not, an easy rider would be the best. 

Best time to visit Vinh Thuc Island

In my opinion, the best times are from September to early November, and Late March and April. 

Summertime is fine, but it’s hot but not too hot since it is an island, off the coast. T

Top things to do in Vinh Thuc Island

Experience local living with fishing and farming activities

The most interesting things to do in Vinh Thuc island are to experience local life by joining fishermen with fishing activities and farming works with farmers. 

Hiking to the top of Vinh Thuc lighthouse

Vinh Thuc lighthouse is a must-see spot on the island, 28 meters high and 86 meters above sea level. From the top, you could see the panoramic view of the island. 

Soaking up on the untouched beaches

There are 2 beaches called Dau Dong and Ben Hen. If I compare to the beaches, famous islands like Quan Lan or Coto exist. It is incomparable, but there are very few tourists here, unlike seeing hundreds of tourists on the famous islands. 

Leisurely walking along the ranges of casuarina

It’s so romantic to walk along the casuarina with your beloved and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere with no one around, which is an incredible experience.

Experience SUP rowing on the sea

It’s fun to paddle with your beloved along the sea. 

Where to stay on Vinh Thuc Island

In my opinion, Ngoc Chau homestay is the best choice since it is located in front of the sea and lots of trees around, which is good for couples and families with kids

What to eat in Vinh Thuc

Seafood, seafood and seafood. If you only eat vegetarian, it is okay to eat vegetables, rice maybe some eggs, but not a lot of choices for vegetarians

Vinh Thuc Island pro tips

+ There is no ATM machines in Vinh Thuc island, so don’t forget to bring cash in VND with you ( no credit card accepted) 

+ It isn’t easy to find convenience stores on the island, so it’s better to get things prepared

+ Packing lists

• Suncream
• Sung glasses
• Towels
• Swimsuits
• Changes of clothes
• Buck spray
• Rain gear
• Cash in VND (4 to 5 million VND)

Private guided tour to Vinh Thuc island from Hanoi/Halong

Hanoi Eco Tours offer private guided tour to Vinh Thuc island from Hanoi/Halong, please send us a message on Whatsapp at +84974313104 (Click on the link to chat with us) 

Also, there is no local guide on Vinh Thuc Island or a tour guide from Hanoi or Halong

Is this Vinh Thuc island travel guide helpful?

I hope this Vinh Thuc island travel guide helps you some ways to plan your perfect trip to Vinh Thuc island, Mong Cai. If you have any further questions, please feel free to send us a message on WhatsApp at +84974313104