Thanh Lan is the largest island in the Co To archipelago, covering an area of 27 square kilometres, and lies 4 kilometres across the sea from Co To Island.
To reach Thanh Lan, visitors can travel from Co To Island by boat in around 20 minutes, or take a high-speed ferry directly from the mainland—departing from Ao Tien Port—with tickets priced at 300,000 VND (11.5 USD) per person each way. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
With its remarkable natural and cultural assets, tourism on Thanh Lan Island in particular, and in Co To District more broadly, is developing products that combine relaxation with nature-based exploration and culinary experiences.
From afar, Thanh Lan appears like a lush green oasis amid the vast ocean, where mountains and sea blend into a stunning natural canvas. The island currently has around ten accommodation facilities, including guesthouses and homestays. Travellers are advised to contact hosts or guides in advance to book rooms, especially during peak times such as public holidays, the Lunar New Year, or weekends.
To get around the island, motorbikes are the most common form of transport, available for hire at 200,000 VND (7.7 USD) per day. For larger groups or those seeking a more leisurely ride, electric vehicles are also an option.
While Co To Island has long been known for its well-developed tourist services and bustling atmosphere, life on Thanh Lan retains the untouched, peaceful, and simple charm of a long-standing fishing community, with tourism only just beginning to take root.
In recent times, the development of community-based tourism and fishing village experiences has become a key direction, attracting many locals—especially young people—to welcome visitors and promote their homeland on various digital platforms.
Le Thi Trang (born in 1992), owner of Thanh Lan Homestay, is one of the island’s pioneering local guides, offering full-package and unique tours.
She shared that over the past three years, Thanh Lan has gained popularity on backpacking and nature travel forums. During peak holidays like the April 30 and May 1 holiday, her family sometimes hosts up to 200 guests. Alongside tourism, Trang also distributes seafood products from Co To, including squid, fish, and jellyfish.
One of the must-do activities on Thanh Lan is undoubtedly swimming and sunbathing on its long beaches. The four most beautiful beaches, as called by locals, are Ba Chau, Vung Tron, 76 and Hai Quan. The water is clear and calm, the sand fine, and the shores are framed by dramatic rocky outcrops.
Immersing yourself in the clear waters, you can swim freely to shake off the summer heat and the stresses of city life. With a bit of luck, you may even spot schools of small fish gliding beneath the surface—a vibrant little world unfolding below.
Being surrounded by the open sea, the island offers ideal conditions for watching the sunrise or sunset and experiencing the poetic sensation of “waves calling the sun.” Or you might simply stroll along the scenic coastal path, snapping photos and recording videos to your heart’s content.
Beyond swimming, a growing number of visitors are booking hands-on tours such as clam digging, fishing, squid jigging, snorkelling, island exploration and camping. These tours not only delight and impress visitors but also provide a valuable source of income for the local community.
Thanh Lan is home to around 1,600 residents, most of whom make their living from fishing, jellyfish processing and tourism.
The island’s fishing village-style cuisine is another attraction. Delicacies from the sea—such as sea urchins, sea cucumbers, stone crabs, peanut worms, squid, fish, and jellyfish—are often simply prepared (boiled or grilled), yet retain their rich, fresh flavours.
With its strategic location and unspoilt beauty, Thanh Lan Island is providing new impetus for tourism in Co To. A journey to Thanh Lan is not only a return to nature but also a chance to connect emotionally with a land of abundance and warm, friendly people.
