48 hours in Mong Cai - Tra Co

Mong Cai City is located in the Northern coastal region, on the banks of the Ka Long River, about 150 km from Ha Long City. Mong Cai borders China, with a land and sea border. Tra Co Beach is 13 km from Mong Cai City, a famous summer resort.

In the past two years, when the Ha Long - Van Don - Mong Cai expressway was combined with the Hanoi - Hai Phong expressway, traveling to Mong Cai was convenient. The time from Hanoi to Mong Cai is about three and a half hours. The 48-hour journey in Mong Cai - Tra Co is based on the experience of reporter and tourist Hai Minh (Hanoi).

Day 1

Moving from Hanoi

Tourists should depart from Hanoi around 5:30. The main highways leading to Mong Cai are wide and beautiful, especially Van Don - Mong Cai, the scenery on both sides of the road is green and peaceful, more beautiful at dawn and dusk. Maximum speed allowed is 120 km/h.

"Remember to stop at the end of the Hai Phong or Van Don highway because there are no rest stops on the entire route to Mong Cai," said Mr. Hai Minh.

Visit and take photos at the border gate

This is a check-in point that first-time visitors to Mong Cai often do not miss. At this border gate, there is landmark 1369 on the land border between Vietnam and China.

Enjoy Cu Ky vermicelli/rice noodles

The crab is a relative of crabs, but smaller, with a spongy body, often ground to make broth, only the claw has more meat. The meat is not as sweet as sea crab but fragrant. Many people often add toppings with mantis shrimp and shrimp. Visitors can choose restaurants on Tran Quoc Toan or Ly Tu Trong streets.

Strolling and shopping at Mong Cai market - night market

Mong Cai Market is one of the largest markets in Quang Ninh, with a wide variety of goods, mainly Chinese goods imported into Vietnam or Vietnamese goods exported to China. Popular items include clothing, fabrics, electronics, household goods, and confectionery.

The night market is the area around the central market during the day. The night market opens from 5pm to 11pm. The goods are mainly souvenirs and food for tourists. There are also music and entertainment activities.

Visitors can have dinner at the night market or restaurants in the city with typical dishes such as seafood, roast duck, roast meat, beef hot pot or other Chinese food.

Overnight in Mong Cai

In Mong Cai, there are many large, 3-4 star hotels with reasonable prices, from 600,000 VND to 1.2 million VND per night such as Majestic, Hung Vuong, Bien Bac, Hong Van Grand.

Day 2

Welcome the sunrise at Tra Co beach

It takes about 15-20 minutes to travel from Mong Cai city center, visitors will arrive at Tra Co beach to watch the sunrise, swim, then rest, have breakfast and drink coffee. Visitors can also choose to stay overnight in Tra Co if they want to enjoy the sea air.

"Note, Tra Co does not have large hotels. Apart from the Dong Bac hotel located near Sa Vi cape, other accommodations are just motels or small hotels with basic amenities," said Mr. Hai Minh.

Check in the northeasternmost point

Sa Vi Cape is the starting point of the S-shape on the map of Vietnam. Here, visitors can check in with milestone number 0, the relief of three pine trees with the poem "From Tra Co pine forest to Ca Mau mangrove forest" and the square with the main construction cluster and service building area. The most prominent of which is the symbol of 8 pine trees, cast from concrete and galvanized.

From Sa Vi cape, visitors can also see the border marker on sign number 1378.

Eat seafood at restaurants in Tra Co

Tra Co has many seafood restaurants located along the main coastal road of Trang Vi. The average price per person is 200,000 VND to 300,000 VND. Some suggested addresses: Viet Hoa Seafood, Cuong Loan, Bien Xanh, Co Duong.

Visit Vinh Thuc lighthouse

Returning to Mong Cai City, visitors go to Ngoc Cape and buy a speedboat ticket to Vinh Thuc Island. Located on the top of Dau Tan Mountain, in the north of the island, this is the first lighthouse on the sea border. The structure was built in the style of ancient French architecture and was put into use in 1962.

Alternative: If you have more time, you can choose to go to Dongxing (Guangxi Province, China) for the day, using your ID card or passport. In addition, there are also destinations such as Tra Co communal house and Tra Co church.