Foreign tourists allowed to freely visit Co To Island

International travelers do not need permission to visit Co To Island anymore.
Located in Quang Ninh Province, Co To is often regarded as one of the most beautiful islands in Viet Nam. Co To Island District actually comprises a large Co To Island, small Co To Island, and many other smaller islands. Besides magnificent beaches, key attractions in Co To includes natural forests, lighthouses, memorial statue of Ho Chi Minh, fishing village, Rock Garden, etc.
In the past, foreign visitors were required to hold a permit to enter Co To Island, according to the Decree No. 71/2015/ND-CP of Viet Nam Government, dated on Sep 3, 2015.
However, on Jul 15, Quang Ninh Province’s Police Department announced that Co To Island District is now a local tourism site in accordance with Decision No. 1288/QD-UBND of the provincial People’s Committee. Accordingly, foreign tourists can freely visit the island without asking for permission from local authority as before, said Hoang Ba Nam, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Co To Island District.
During the first half of this year, Co To welcomed nearly 15,000 visitors, most of which are domestic tourists. The new announcement is expected to attract more international tourists to the island. In 2016, Co To aims to receive approx. 250,000 tourists.