In the summer - marine tourism is the first choice of visitors. Beaches near Hanoi is the best ideal getaways for those in need of some fresh air during their stay in the capital city of Vietnam when summer come.
Do Son beach
Do Son is one of the popular beaches among domestic tourists in the north of Vietnam, 20km southwest of Hai Phong City and 105km East of Hanoi. Do Son peninsula situated on the ancient continent, 22.5km in length along the coast from Cam river mouth to Van Uc river mouth. Do Son is often visualized as the head of a Dragon reaching toward a precious stone (Hon Dau isle), whisking its tail to go to sea that forms Bach Long Vi Island.
Do Son beach is often packed with local tourists in the summer. After August until April of the following year, Do Son returns to its original beauty. With 2,450m of coastline filled with fine sand, shaded by thousands of sandalwood trees and surrounded by mountains and pine hills. Do Son beach seems to be an ideal beach for visitors from near to far. Interestingly, it has a suitable level of salt that protects your skin from sunburn when they swim, even at noon.
At Do Son beach, besides swimming and water sports, you can’t miss the fresh seafood. There are good restaurants near the beach but watch out for one with sanest look. Recently, more resorts and casinos have been brought into use to cater to tourists’ demand.
Thinh Long Beach
Thinh Long is a new beach in Hai Hau, Nam Dinh province that has only recently become popular. The beach is 3km of soft sandbanks and Casuarina forest that frames an inlet of sparkling blue ocean. The scenery at Thinh Long is unequalled by other beaches on the coast of Northern Vietnam, due to its untouched beauty and clean waters. Thinh Long is lucky in that it isn’t affected by the infamous hot winds from Lao, so the weather is cooler with a light but pleasing breeze bringing relief from the hot Sun. There are also some big but gentle waves, which makes Thinh Long an excellent spot for the beginner surfer.
If you like to be more active than just working on your sun tan, you can also hire a canoeing to ride round the seashore and explore rock islands off the coast. There are professional fishing villages at each end of the beach which are happy to welcome you and show you their way of life. The best way to get to Thinh Long beach is to rent a car with skilled driver or you can also drive a motorbike to get there. From Hanoi, follow national highway 1A and then Highway 21 to reach Nam Dinh - which is 80km from Hanoi.
Bai Chay Beach
Bai Chay Beach is a coastal town about 100km northeast of Hanoi, attracting a huge crowd of beachgoers in the summertime. It’s also the closest beach to the iconic Ha Long Bay, where you can find plenty of resorts, seafood restaurants and beachside activities such as jet skiing, surfing and canoeing.
For those looking to enjoy some sightseeing during their visit, notable landmarks on Bai Chay Beach include the Hoang Gia Park, Royal Water Park and Ha Long Night Market.
Tuan Chau Beach
Tuan Chau Beach on Tuan Chau Island boasts modern villas, stylish upmarket restaurants and recreational facilities for travellers looking to enjoy a luxurious vacation outside Hanoi.
Located 160km east of the Vietnamese capital, this manmade resort town also houses one of the largest entertainment complexes in Southeast Asia, where visitors can watch daily dolphin and seal performances, laser light shows and film screenings. Tuan Chau Beach also has a massive botanical garden and marine wildlife centre as well as tour companies offering daytrips to the iconic Ha Long Bay.
Cat Ba Island
Cat Ba Island is one of the many islets within the UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay, with almost every tour company offering a boat trip there. While it’s full of the usual tourist places (such as hotels, restaurants and bars), you can still find several sandy beaches along the east coast of the Cat Ba Town.
The beaches of Cat Co One and Cat Co Three are linked by a cliff-facing pathway that’s great for daytime strolls, while Cat Co Two Beach offers plenty of bungalows and chalets that are perfect for romantic getaways.