Discover Peaceful Quan Lan Island in Bai Tu Long Bay

Quan Lan is a long island in Bai Tu Long Bay, northeast of Ha Long Bay, 45–60 minutes by fast boat from Ao Tien port in Van Don. Go between May and September and stay a night or two for the sandy beaches; outside summer it is a quiet fishing island.

I. Overview of Quan Lan Island

Quan Lan is an island located in Bai Tu Long Bay, the bay to the northeast of Ha Long Bay. It is not only well known for its beaches but also for historical and long-standing cultural values.

The island is long: its two piers, Quan Lan in the south-west and Minh Chau in the north-east, are nearly 12 km apart. Looking from afar, it looks like a bulwark that prevents huge waves and protects the locals on the island.

Visitors coming to the island will surely be fascinated by white sand beaches, blue clear waters and captivating nature. Besides, you also have a chance to enjoy tasty seafood dishes, visit the cultural historical relics and join in plenty of interesting activities.

II. What to Do in Quan Lan Island?

As one of the most visited islands in Bai Tu Long Bay, it offers various activities to unwind. 

1. Enjoy the winding route from the Quan Lan Port

The best way to explore the island is by motorbike or electric cars. A motorbike is the most ideal choice. Motorbikes rented for about 150,000–200,000 VND a day in 2024, petrol extra. Electric cars charge per car, not per person: 100,000 VND each way up to or down from Eo Gio, the cliff viewpoint 5 km south of Quan Lan pier, in 2024. And, don’t miss your chance to enjoy a ride in the transfer route from the port. It will be a wonderful ride past casuarina trees and stretching beaches along the way. 

2. Visit Quan Lan communal house (Dinh Quan Lan)

Quan Lan communal house, a national relic since 1990, is the island’s main historic site, and entry is free. It was built to be dedicated to the founding fathers of the village, to King Ly Anh Tong, who set up the Van Don trading port in the 12th century, and to Tran Khanh Du, the general who defeated a Mongol-Yuan fleet here in 1288. The themes of the building are impressive with colorful images of dragons, flowers, and leaves in different styles.

Coming here, you will have a chance to listen to a part of the island’s history and meet some friendly people. On special occasions, the communal house becomes more crowded with locals coming to show their respect to the ancestors and pray for good luck. 

The biggest of these is the Quan Lan festival in the sixth lunar month, which remembers that 1288 victory with a rowing race between two village teams on the afternoon of the 18th day. In 2026 the race fell on 31 July; for 2027, check the Van Don Special Zone’s notice.

3. Admire beautiful beaches

There are many different white sand beaches along the coast of the island like Son Hao and Minh Chau beaches. These beaches inspire visitors to relax by various activities like swimming, sunbathing, building sand castles, and enjoying fresh seafood.

For a swim, Minh Chau Beach at the north-east end is the better choice: it slopes gently and has fine white sand. The beach by Quan Lan village has bigger waves, cloudier water and rocks, but the market and most guesthouses are right behind it. Son Hao, between the two, is the Angsana resort’s beach.

The beaches have various beauties at different times of the day. Therefore, make sure to bring your camera to get the best photo shoots. Or, you can just simply lay down on the fine sand, listen to the sound of sea waves and let your life anxiety go away.

4. Experience Quan Lan Overnight

Quan Lan at night is quiet for most of the year. In summer the special zone runs walking streets in Quan Lan and Minh Chau, but its October 2025 tourism report notes that they open in that season only. Besides, the island itself is a heaven of seafood, so there is no reason not to try delicious seafood dishes made from shrimps, clams, or squids, etc. These dishes will surely not make you disappointed.

III. Accommodations on Quan Lan Island

There are many options for you to choose when mentioning accommodation. From resorts to hotels and hostels, you can easily find one for your vacation. There are 2 main areas to stay on the island: Quan Lan village, where most guesthouses are, and Minh Chau at the north-east end. Normally, the village is preferred as it is close to local sites and easy to meet friendly local people.

1. Angsana Quan Lan, Ha Long Bay

This upscale resort opened on 1 July 2024 on Son Hao beach, with 156 rooms and suites. It offers spacious accommodations with king beds, walk-in closets, living and dining areas, and bathtubs with ocean views. VnExpress put a two-day, one-night stay at the island’s newly opened five-star resort at about 3.5–4 million VND per person in 2024.

2. Minh Chau Beach Resort

Minh Chau Beach Resort is the resort at the quieter Minh Chau end of the island.

3. Guesthouses in Quan Lan village

VnExpress’s 2024 guide put an average double room on the island at roughly 300,000–700,000 VND a night. Book early for holidays: on 29 April 2024 the island had more than 2,000 overnight guests.

Discover Peaceful Quan Lan Island in Bai Tu Long…

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IV. How to Get to Quan Lan Island?

There are several ways to travel from Hanoi to Quan Lan Island. You can make your choice that best suits your preferences. Normally, traveling from Hanoi to Quan Lan Island combines 2 steps: reaching the departure port in Van Don and then taking a boat to the island. Here’s the useful information you may need for each step:

Step 1: Hanoi to Ao Tien Port in Van Don

To travel from Hanoi to Van Don, you have several transportation options:

• Limousine Bus: You can reduce travel time by taking limousine car. It takes roughly 4 hours to get to Ao Tien port, and some vans drop you at the port gate. The cost is from about 300,000 VND per person.
• Public Bus: Another cheaper but longer-time option is public bus. Public buses are available from My Dinh, Gia Lam and Giap Bat bus stations in Hanoi to Van Don, but some stop in Cam Pha or Cua Ong, short of the port.
• Flying: Van Don International Airport is about 12–16 km by road from Ao Tien port.

Step 2: Ao Tien Port to Quan Lan Island

Previously, travelers would depart from Cai Rong Port. However, since Ao Tien Port opened in March 2023, operations have transferred there, although Cai Rong kept running alongside it at first.

From Ao Tien Port, you can take a high-speedboat to Quan Lan Island. The journey typically takes 45–60 minutes and tickets cost 200,000–250,000 VND per person each way since fares rose with fuel costs in March 2026 (180,000 VND to Minh Chau). Ao Tien adds a port fee of 50,000 VND a passenger (20,000 VND for children aged 3–5 and passengers aged 70–80; under-3s and over-80s go free).

Thanh Hung’s 2026 timetable lists boats from Ao Tien at 7:30, 10:30, 13:30 and 15:00, and from Quan Lan at 7:00, 9:00, 13:30 and 15:00. No boats run in storms, and low tide can shift times at Quan Lan pier. From Ha Long, one boat a day leaves Hon Gai port at 9:00 (300,000 VND).

Note about arrival on Quan Lan Island

Quan Lan Island has two main piers:

• Quan Lan Pier: Closer to the island’s center, you can find many hotels, restaurants, and the main beach near this pier. Most travelers choose it because of its convenience.
• Minh Chau Pier: Located on the northeastern end of the island, this area is suitable for those seeking tranquility, with fewer places to stay. The two piers are nearly 12 km apart.

V. When to Visit Quan Lan (and Is Winter Worth It?)

Go between May and September. The Van Don Special Zone’s October 2025 tourism report says that is when beach holidaymakers come, staying 1.5–2 days on average. From January to April most visitors are relatives, pilgrims and day-trippers.

Summer and early autumn are also storm season: Quang Ninh stopped licensing boats and sea tours from 24 September 2025 for Typhoon Ragasa, so leave a spare day at the end of the trip. Winter is worth it only if you want a quiet island: boats still run daily except in bad weather, but the beach season is over.

VI. Visiting Tips to Quan Lan Island

Let’s check out some insider tips for your trip to Quan Lan island to get a wonderful time here.

• Check the latest information on port operations and boat schedules before your trip, as situations may change.
• Avoid high season and national holidays as it might be too crowded.
• Please check your rental scooter carefully before hiring and fill it with petrol.
• For food lovers, don’t miss your chance to enjoy fresh seafood in the local morning market.
• Avoid a tight connection on your last day: storms and low tide can delay boats.

Quan Lan island is a wonderful destination for beach getaway with various activities that you don’t want to miss. Hope that this article helps you plan your trip to Quan Lan island better.

>> Check out: 10 Charming Vietnamese Villages to Visit in Vietnam

Nearby: Co To Island · Ha Long Bay travel guide

Sources: Van Don Special Zone, 2025 tourism report; Thanh Hung Travel, boat fares and timetable (March 2026); Znews (March 2026); VnExpress (July 2024)