Most travellers know Van Don as the gateway to Bai Tu Long Bay, a quieter alternative to Ha Long Bay's limestone karsts. Fewer know that this same coastline has been a spiritual and trading crossroads for over a thousand years. Beyond the beaches and boat trips, Van Don holds a cultural trail of ancient pagodas, dynasty-era temples and living local traditions that most visitors never see.

For guests staying at Centara Hotel & Residences Van Don, this heritage trail makes for an easy, rewarding half-day detour between beach days.

Cai Bau Pagoda: The Temple That Faces the Sea

Perched on a hillside with its back to the mountains and its front open to Bai Tu Long Bay, Cai Bau Pagoda (also known as Truc Lam Giac Tam Zen Monastery) is one of the most scenically positioned Buddhist sites in northern Vietnam.

The pagoda was rebuilt in 2007 on the grounds of the centuries-old Phuc Linh Pagoda, a site once used by generals of the Tran Dynasty during their 13th-century resistance against Mongol invasions, a campaign that led to the decisive victory at the Bach Dang River in 1288. A memorial shrine inside the grounds honours the soldiers who fell in that struggle, linking the pagoda's peaceful courtyards to one of Vietnam's defining military victories.

Good to know:

  • Open daily from 6 AM to 10 PM (24 hours during Tet and major holidays)
  • Dress modestly and keep voices low, this remains an active place of worship
  • Climb the steps behind the main hall for one of the best panoramic views of Bai Tu Long Bay in the region
  • The pagoda's annual festival runs from the first to third lunar month (roughly February to April)

Cua Ong Temple: 700 Years of Legend

A short drive from Van Don in neighbouring Cam Pha sits Cua Ong Temple, a site recognised by Vietnam's government as a special national historical relic. Built into a hillside overlooking the bay, the temple complex has stood for more than seven centuries.

The temple honours Tran Quoc Tang, the third son of the legendary general Tran Hung Dao, who defended Vietnam's northeastern coastline against Mongol invasion in the late 13th century. Local legend tells of Tran Quoc Tang appearing on a rock during a storm near Cua Suot Beach; when the storm cleared, only his hat remained on the stone, which locals took as a sign to build the temple in his honour.

The complex is made up of several connected temples, including a shrine dedicated to his daughter, along with statues, royal decrees and carvings dating back generations. It is considered one of the three most significant temples in Quang Ninh province.

Good to know:

  • The temple's biennial festival takes place from the second to fourth day of the second lunar month, with processions and traditional rituals
  • Best visited early in the year, when the weather is cool and the temple is at its most active
  • Combine with Cai Bau Pagoda for a full half-day cultural route from Van Don

An Ancient Trading Port Beneath the Surface

Long before it became known for beach resorts, Van Don was one of Vietnam's earliest commercial ports, with trading roots stretching back over 1,000 years. Merchant ships once passed through these waters carrying goods between Vietnam, China and beyond with traces of that history remaining in the region's old fishing villages, local customs and place names.

This layer of history rarely appears in typical Ha Long Bay itineraries, which makes it a genuine point of difference for guests looking to understand the region beyond its coastline.

Why This Trail Matters for Your Stay

Van Don's temples are not polished, ticketed attractions, they are living religious sites, still used daily by local communities. Visiting them offers a different kind of travel experience: quieter, more reflective and rooted in the same history that shaped the coastline your resort sits on.

For guests at Centara Hotel & Residences Van Don, this cultural trail pairs naturally with a beach or bay-hopping itinerary, a half-day dedicated to history and spirituality, bookended by the resort's own coastal setting. 

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