Cai Chien is an island commune located in the south of Hai Ha district, about 8km from Ghenh Vo port. The island’s natural area is about 2,500 hectares but most of it is mountains and beaches. In recent years, the commune has also received relatively synchronous infrastructure investment, such as: Dock, ferry, cross-island concrete road, school, clinic and many other public welfare projects. In April 2016, the commune was also connected to the national grid.

Along with commune infrastructure, there are also many potential advantages to promote economic development, especially ecotourism development. With a beach stretching over 10km, fine white sand, clear blue sea, along with straight casuarina forests, the undulating dunes on the beach are ideal beaches for investors to develop and exploit the tourism industry. sea. Recently, Cai Chien Island and many other islands in the waters of Quang Ninh, where residents live, have many primeval forests, with rare flora and fauna species and abundant natural water resources, were planned by the province as The eco-tourism area is also an island economic zone, forming a barrier to protect the territory and sovereignty of the Fatherland.

Anyone who has ever set foot on Cai Chien island commune has felt the wild and poetic beauty of this island. The mountains and forests are undulating like winding dragons, the smooth white sand beaches stretch, the clear blue sea water and many other small islands surround the island, along with immense rice fields, flocks of white storks flying. The atmosphere and scenery here are beautiful and change with the seasons. Each season, Cai Chien has its own beauty, giving Cai Chien a hidden, pristine and pure beauty.

According to Travel Vivu, the time you should go is April-June every year. At this time, the weather on the island is sunny and warm, with little rain, suitable for swimming. Cai Chien is influenced by the climate of the Northeast mountainous region. Here the summers are hot and the winters are very cold (it can be said to be the coldest compared to other sea areas). From June to October, when the weather is good for swimming in the North, in Cai Chien it is the rainy season and storm season. Therefore, please proactively update the weather information before coming to the island. The rainiest month is July, so you should be careful not to go on this occasion.

The scenery on Cai Chien is beautiful and changes with the seasons, each season of the island has its own beauty. Anyone who has ever set foot on the island can feel it. Look at the white sand beaches stretching as far as your eyes can see, the rolling mountains and forests surrounded by sea water. Adding the image of white storks in the rice fields, we fondly remember our homeland and feel at peace.

From your location move to Hai Ha:

From Hanoi (or from the locality where you live) you can catch a bus to Mong Cai and get off at Ha Coi Bank intersection (Ly Thuong Kiet street, Quang Ha town). From here, take a taxi or motorbike taxi to Ghenh Vo port (about ten kilometers), this is the ferry port to go to Cai Chien.
If you ride a motorbike, please follow the directions from Google Maps to Ghenh Vo port. The ferry can carry motorbikes and cars, so you can bring your own personal vehicle to be proactive in getting there. go
From Hai Ha to Cai Chien island:

Ferries to Cai Chien island run from Ghenh Vo port (Quang Dien commune, Hai Ha) every day there are 3 ferries running from 2 terminals with departure times from Ghenh Vo at 7:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. from Cai Chien at 6:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. If traveling on Saturday or Sunday, the number of trips may increase depending on actual demand.
Another option is that you can rent a boat or canoe to go to the island if you want to save time (it only takes about 15 minutes to get to the island). This option is suitable if you are traveling in a large group or you have to wait for enough people for each trip before the boat can run.
Traveling on Cai Chien Island:

Electric car: For large groups of tourists, you can use the island’s electric car service to move more conveniently.
Motorbike: You should rent a motorbike at the motel or homestay where you are staying for the most convenience.

Homestay: A few years ago, there were not many accommodation services on the island, however in recent years, with Hai Ha promoting development to turn Cai Chien into the district’s tourism center, the services There are more and more places to stay, motels, and homestays on Cai Chien island. The goal that Hai Ha sets is to develop 100 homestay rooms to meet the needs of about 400 visitors per day.

Sleeping in a tent: Another option that many people choose is to set up a tent on the beach, not only to have space to organize group picnic activities but also to have a place to stay at a cheap cost. Prices from 150,000 VND/2-person tent, 200,000 VND/3-person tent, 300,000 VND/6-person tent.

Stir-fried fingernails with bamboo shoots: Of course, Quang Ninh is a land famous for delicious seafood such as shrimp, crab, fish, squid, etc. There is no market on the island, so you can buy from many locals. Locally, the seafood is very delicious and fresh because it has just been caught by the residents of the fishing village. However, the most outstanding dish here is the stir-fried Nail dish with bamboo shoots. Nail is a very famous snail in Quang Ninh. The sauce is a little greasy and very fragrant, the nails are chewy, blending well with the asparagus. Taking the first bite, you will feel the rich flavor of the dish. Taking the second bite, you feel the taste of the sea.

Cai Chien bearded chicken: According to people who have lived on the island for many years, Cai Chien bearded chicken is a native breed, very delicious, raised for a long time, passed down from generation to generation. The name of this chicken breed comes from its appearance characteristics. When grown, underneath the beak of this chicken breed grows a cluster of long feathers that hang down, looking like a beard. This is a different characteristic compared to conventional chicken breeds. Cai Chien bearded chicken has delicious meat quality originating from traditional farming practices. Most bearded chickens are raised on rice and paddy and naturally graze to find their own food sources. Therefore, bearded chickens usually grow slowly and produce good quality and firm meat. Bearded chicken is a specialty here, with many different ways of preparation, visitors can completely feel the delicate taste in each piece of meat, the meat is soft, accompanied by the strong taste of the sauce. Eat once, you will definitely want to eat many more times.

Barnacle porridge: Belonging to bivalve molluscs, barnacles are a popular seafood, abundant in the waters of Quang Ninh. Hae usually live in clear ocean waters with strong tidal currents, mainly eating small creatures and plankton living in the water. On the outside, barnacles have a rough shape, covered by two pieces of hard shell. To separate the barnacle intestines from the hard shell, seafarers need to be skillful and have their own tool shaped like a small hammer with a pointed tip to separate the barnacles. In the coastal region, among many types of seafood, Ha is considered not only delicious but also very nutritious and the price is very affordable. Ha can prepare many delicious dishes. One of the dishes that many people love is: Porridge.

Swimming: In Cai Chien, there are 4 beautiful beaches with blue and clear water: Dragon Head, Ben Ca, Cai Chien and Vung Bau beaches; Vung Bau beach has many beautiful pebbles. According to my experience going to Cai Chien island, the biggest and most beautiful beach is Dragon Head beach, blue sea water, along the coast is a straight casuarina forest, towering like the old forest of Eastern Europe.

Experience night squid fishing: According to experience going to Cai Chien island, night squid fishing is an extremely interesting activity and experience when coming here. You can rent a boat to fish for squid to eat. Squid fishing equipment is very simple, just a 3-4m long fishing line, a fishing rod, a bunch of hooks, and on top is a small shrimp-shaped object made of luminescent plastic. Depending on your luck, you can catch a lot or not.

Campfire, BBQ: If you rent a tent, you can set up a tent and camp on the beach. With a bunch of firewood of about 200k bought from people, you can freely burn. If you can carry a BBQ grill, there’s nothing better (seafood and chicken can be bought on the island). Along with these activities, speakers can be rented to organize singing or group activities. This depends on your heat level.

Other interesting activities on the island: You can rent a bicycle or motorbike to go around the island. Watch the sunset and sunrise on the sea, immerse yourself in the cool blue water. There is also kayaking with a rental price of 140,000 VND/hour (from the 2nd hour onwards it is 70,000 VND), organizing a BBQ on the beach, singing, dancing together,… those will be worthwhile experiences. Your memories when coming to Cai Chien Island.

Dragon Head Beach: Dragon Head is the most famous beach here, not only beautiful, but also clean. Suitable for relaxing, sunbathing, playing with friends, family, and lovers. In addition, you can rent a canoe, surf on the blue sea, and catch the bright golden sunlight.

Van Ca beach: At the end of the island, about 3km from Cai Chien 2 beach. If you go swimming, you have to rent a car. The beach is still pristine and there are few people swimming because there are no services around here. In return, this is a great virtual living location. Van Ca Beach is fortunate to be chosen by nature to bestow a delicate and unique beauty that few beaches have.

Khe Dau Lake: Khe Dau Lake is the only freshwater reservoir on the island, not only providing water for local people but also bringing landscape to Cai Chien Island. Khe Dau Lake has an area of 18 hectares. In the coming years, this place can be expanded further to serve the need for fresh water storage as well as increase the tourism value of the island.

Thoi Xanh Island: To get to Thoi Xanh Island, you will rent a boat from Cai Chien Island for about 500,000 VND/trip. This is a small island, uninhabited, the sand is white and smooth, with a lot of trash washed ashore by the waves. From Thoi Xanh island, looking far away you can see Vinh Thuc island. Hon Trui, Sau Mountain and Co To Island.

Container House: This house was formerly a homestay on Cai Chien Island, but it has now ceased operations and is currently vacant and has not been relocated. With colorful colors and blue sky, this place will be suitable for you to freely take virtual photos.

From your location, take the sleeper bus to Mong Cai: You get off at the intersection of Ha Coi bank (this place is in Quang Ha town). If you go during winter, remember to book a car in advance.

Day 1: From Hai Ha to Cai Chien.

At about 5:30 in the morning, you will arrive at the 4-bank intersection. From here, there are about ten kilometers to Ghenh Vo port. You can take a taxi for about 120,000 VND to 150,000 VND or negotiate depending on the situation, this place always has a car available.
Buy the earliest ferry ticket to the island. If the group is large enough, rent a canoe. When you get to the island, electric cars are available at the port to take you to the commune center.
The first morning, if you are tired, you should sleep to recover (maybe some of you are not used to driving at night and have difficulty sleeping in a car).
In the afternoon, prepare to go to Dau Rong beach and Cai Chien 1-2 beach to bathe and swim. If you want to have many beautiful, virtual photos, bring lots of colorful costumes.
Late in the evening, return to the motel, shower, rest and have dinner. Please note that all meals need to be ordered in advance so that the motel can prepare food.
At night, light a campfire on the beach, sing, have a BBQ party (Cai Chien Island has delicious chicken) and seafood.

Day 2: From Cai Chien to Hai Ha and then back to your location.

Get up early in the morning to catch the sunrise, go to the remaining beaches to play and swim if you want. At around noon, go home to rest, eat and pack up your things
In the afternoon (4:30 p.m.), take the ferry back to Ghenh Vo port and rent a taxi to the town center. Around 8:30 a.m. the bus from Mong Cai to Hanoi will pass here, you get on the bus and return to your location.

Costs when traveling to Cai Chien Island:

Every day there are 3 ferries running at fixed times from the mainland to the island commune, and vice versa, at 6:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 4:30 p.m. On holidays and Sundays, if demand increases, the company will increase flights. Ticket price: For pedestrians, it is 20,000 VND/turn, for motorbikes, it is 50,000 VND/turn, for cars the lowest is 260,000 VND/turn and the highest is 750,000 VND/turn. Or you can take a continuous canoe for about 50,000 VND/person/trip, in just 20 minutes you will arrive at your destination.
When you get to the island, you can call the host to pick you up, or rent an electric car or auto-rickshaw for 100,000 VND to 150,000 VND depending on the number of people to go to the beaches and visit the island. Then you can rent a motorbike for 150,000 VND/day to get around.
Currently on the island there are 3 beaches: Van Ca beach, Cai Chien beach and Dau Rong beach. Cai Chien beach and Dau Rong beach are the places most people choose, because around here there are homestay services, tent rental and dining services. Tourism services on the island are not yet developed, there are only homestays and tents. Regarding price, staying at a homestay costs 50,000 VND/person/day, renting a tent costs 150,000 VND/day. However, on holidays and weekends prices may increase. You can choose according to your economic conditions and preferences.
About food: In general, cheap meals here are cheap, not as expensive as other islands. Asking people to cook at home only costs about 50,000 VND/person/meal. Or you can buy seafood from people’s boats at a relatively cheap price. Type 1 crab is from 450,000 VND to 500,000 VND/kg, type 2 is about 400,000 VND/kg, sea snail is 200,000 VND/kg, island chicken is 250,000 VND/kg. All processing costs are included. In addition, you can buy it and organize a barbecue party on the beach, which is also very interesting.
There is no cutting and slashing phenomenon here. The people are very enthusiastic and friendly. Prices of other necessities such as beer, soft drinks, ice cream… are not much different from those on the mainland. However, you should still prepare food to bring with you in advance.

Cai Chien is an island that is still wild, there are not many shops, so you need to prepare all the necessary items and furniture to make the trip as comfortable as possible.

Prepare foods such as fruits, candies, sausages, etc.
Buying seafood and grilled food on the mainland will be cheaper
Fresh water is rare on the island, so you need to use water sparingly
Bring clothes and necessary personal items.
On the island, connections such as: Wifi, phone signal, etc. are weak and very limited.
Monitor the weather regularly to avoid storms and not being able to return to the mainland.