The beautiful beaches of Vietnam from north to south - Part 1

Updated 9/24/2024

My second blog is about the beaches of Việt Nam. I find the soft sand, underneath my feet, and the sound of the incoming waves, to be calming and relaxing. Việt Nam has a long S-shape coastline, and numerous islands. Its scenic coast and beaches are now well known, by the travel and tourism industry.

Image source: Unknown photographer, "A corner of Ha Long Bay - Illustration photo," 2023. Accessed via https://en.baochinhphu.vn/ha-long-bay-among-top-10-most-visited-natural-wonders-111231208151618152.htm Altered from source photo.

Việt Nam has 2,000 miles of coastline, with two major islands: Côn Sơn and Phú Quốc. Twenty five of its provinces, and its three major cities: Hải Phòng, Đà Nẵng, and Hồ Chí Minh, border the East Sea (Đông Hải).

Source: Unknown author. "About Vietnam." Consulate of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. Most current date. https://www.vietnamconsulate-ny.org/about/1/about-vietnam.html#:~:text=The%20country%20has%20a%20long,continental%20shelf%2C%20islands%20and%20archipelagoes.

Multiple authors. "Danh sách đảo Việt Nam." Wikipedia tiếng Việt. vi.wikipedia.org Last updated July 24, 2024. https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danh_s%C3%A1ch_%C4%91%E1%BA%A3o_Vi%E1%BB%87t_Nam

Multiple authors. "Vùng duyên hải Bắc Bộ." Wikipedia tiếng Việt. vi.wikipedia.org. Last updated June 23, 2024. https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%B9ng_duy%C3%AAn_h%E1%BA%A3i_B%E1%BA%AFc_B%E1%BB%99

Multiple authors. "Bắc Trung Bộ." Wikipedia tiếng Việt. vi.wikipedia.org. Last updated April 25, 2024. https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%E1%BA%AFc_Trung_B%E1%BB%99

Multiple authors. "Duyên hải Nam Trung Bộ." Wikipedia tiếng Việt. vi.wikipedia.org. Last updated May 6, 2024. https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duy%C3%AAn_h%E1%BA%A3i_Nam_Trung_B%E1%BB%99

Multiple authors. "Nam Bộ." Wikipedia tiếng Việt. vi.wikipedia.org. Last updated July 6, 2024. https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nam_B%E1%BB%99

Northern Việt Nam

The port city, Hải Phòng, and four provinces: Quảng Ninh, Thái Bình, Nam Định, and Ninh Bình, have beaches.

Image source: Unknown creator, "Các tỉnh thành thuộc đồng bằng sông Hồng," maisonoffice.vn 2024. Accessed via https://maisonoffice.vn/tin-tuc/cac-tinh-mien-bac-viet-nam/ Unaltered from source image.

Quảng Ninh Province

• Ti Tốp Island, in Hạ Long Bay, has a small beach, but it is ranked in the top 100 of the world's most incredible beaches, by the Lonely Planet Travel Guide in 2024.

Source: Liv Kelly. "The world's best beaches have been crowned for 2024." TimeOut. January 26, 2024. https://www.timeout.com/news/the-worlds-best-beaches-have-been-crowned-for-2024-012624

Minh Anh. "Bất ngờ về bãi biển nhỏ của Việt Nam vào top đẹp nhất thế giới." Báo Lao Động. January 31, 2024. https://dulich.laodong.vn/tin-tuc/bat-ngo-ve-bai-bien-nho-cua-viet-nam-vao-top-dep-nhat-the-gioi-1299115.html

Image source: KKday, "Ti Tốp," 2024. Accessed via https://dulich.laodong.vn/tin-tuc/bat-ngo-ve-bai-bien-nho-cua-viet-nam-vao-top-dep-nhat-the-gioi-1299115.html Altered from source photo.

• Trường Chinh Beach, on Ngọc Vừng Island, in Hạ Long Bay, is about 2 miles in length.

Image source: Unknown photographer, "Đảo Ngọc Vừng," 2024. Accessed via

https://crystalbay.com/me-man-ve-dep-cua-dao-ngoc-vung--tuyet-pham-thien-nhien-cua-quang-ninh-ndl50775.html Unaltered from source photo.

• Đấu Đông Beach, on Vĩnh Thực Island, is about 3.5 mile long.

Image source: Unknown photographer, "Một góc nhìn từ bãi biển Đầu Đông," 2024. Accessed via https://mongcai.gov.vn/vi-vn/tin/dao-vinh-thuc--ve-dep-an-minh-giua-dai-duong-p505571-c586232-n219189 Altered from source photo.

• Trà Cổ Beach, in the city of Móng Cái, is about 10 miles, one of the longer stretches of sand in Vietnam. It is the first beach on the map, not too far from the border with China. Cồn Mang Beach is near by, about 4 miles south.

Source: Unknown author. "Những "cái nhất" ở bãi biển Trà Cổ." Cổng Thông Tin Điện Tử Thành phố Móng Cái. January 3, 2015. https://mongcai.gov.vn/vi-vn/tin/nhung-%E2%80%9Ccai-nhat%E2%80%9D-o-bai-bien-tra-co/24021-76890-96559

Image source: Đoàn Hưng, "Làng biển Trà Cổ hôm nay," Báo Lao Động. 2023. Accessed via https://laodong.vn/van-hoa-giai-tri/tra-co-lang-bien-hon-500-nam-tuoi-noi-dia-dau-to-quoc-1140432.ldo Altered from source photo.

• Cháy Beach, in the city of Hạ Long, is very wide and about 3 mile long, with white sand.

Image source: Unknown photographer, "Bãi Cháy," Báo Quốc Tế. 2022. Accessed via https://baoquocte.vn/bien-quang-ninh-10-bai-bien-dep-ngat-ngay-nen-trai-nghiem-bat-cu-luc-nao-180268.html Unaltered from source photo.

There are other beautiful beaches, on various islands in Hạ Long Bay, that I will let you discover for yourself.

Hải Phòng (City)

• Đồ Sơn Beach, 1.5 miles in length, is very popular with the locals from April to August. It has three separate areas. The water here is cloudy and does not have the clear emerald color, unlike other places. It is the closest beach to the city center.

Source: Unknown author. "Khám phá vẻ đẹp Đồ Sơn (Hải Phòng)." Cục Du Lịch Quốc Gia Việt Nam. March 4, 2017. https://vietnamtourism.gov.vn/post/23436

Unknown author. "Do Son Beach." Vietnam Online. Date unknown. https://www.vietnamonline.com/attraction/do-son-beach.html#:~:text=With%202%2C450m%20of%20coastline,they%20swim%2C%20even%20at%20noon.

Image source: Dân Việt, "Đồ Sơn Hải Phòng," Vietnam Destinations. Year unknown. Accessed via https://vietnam-destinations.com/en/destination/bai-bien-do-son-hai-phong/ Unaltered from source photo.

• Vụng Hương Beach is nearby and almost a mile long. It is not as well known as Đồ Sơn's because it is relative new.

Image source: Giang Linh, "Bãi tắm biển Vụng Hương," 2024. Accessed via https://thanhnien.vn/nghich-ly-bai-tam-do-son-noi-nuoc-trong-thua-nguoi-noi-nuoc-duc-chen-nhau-tam-185240501173230622.htm Unaltered from source photo.

• The beach on Dấu Island is 20 minutes from Hải Phòng, by boat. This is the place to see dolphins, swimming.

Image source: Unknown photographer, "Đảo Dấu," 2024. Accessed via https://danviet.vn/ky-la-dao-dau-cach-bo-bien-hai-phong-non-1km-len-thay-rung-ram-bai-da-co-ca-heo-boi-hang-dan-20240206085219748.htm Unaltered from source photo.

• Nam Cát Island is in Lan Hạ Bay.

Image source: Unknown photographer, "Đảo Nam Cát," Year unknown. Accessed via https://www.vntrip.vn/cam-nang/dao-nam-cat-72806 Unaltered from source photo.

• Cát Bà Island is the largest in the Cát Bà Archipelago, and also a UNESCO Heritage site. It has Cát Bà National Park, a must see. The best time to visit is between September and March, when the visitors are less. The island has three unique beaches: Cát Cò 1, 2, and 3.

Source: Unknown author. "The route through Cat Ba island in the winter is enchantingly beautiful." vietnam.vn November 24, 2023. https://www.vietnam.vn/en/dep-me-hon-tuyen-duong-xuyen-dao-cat-ba-vao-dong/

Image source: Unknown photographer, "Khám phá Cát Bà: Thiên Đường giữa biển cả," 2024. Accessed via https://catba.net.vn/kham-pha-cat-ba-thien-duong-giua-bien-ca/ Unaltered from source photo.

Thái Bình Province

• Đồng Châu Beach, in Thái Bình City, about 19 miles from the city center, is a little over 3 miles in length. Its scenery is not as impressive as the ones in Quảng Ninh Province, but it has its own unique charm and a lot less tourists.

Source: Unknown author. "Biển Đông Châu." Du Lịch Điện Tử Thái Bình. Year unknown. http://dulich.thaibinh.gov.vn/bien_dong_chau.html

Image source: Unknown photographer, "Bãi biển Đồng Sơn," 2019. Accessed via https://dulichvietnam.com.vn/kinh-nghiem/kinh-nghiem-du-lich-bien-dong-chau/ Unaltered from source image.

• Cồn Vành Beach, a little over 4 miles in length, is relative unspoiled, and its tourism infrastructure is still developing.

Source: Unknown author, "Bãi biển Cồn Vành đón khá đông khách du lịch." Nhân Dân. May 1, 2023. https://nhandan.vn/bai-bien-con-vanh-don-kha-dong-khach-du-lich-post750663.html

Image source: Unknown photographer, "Bãi biển Cồn Vành," Year unknown. Accessed via https://vietgoing.com/destination/732-bien-con-vanh.html Unaltered from source photo.

• Cồn Đen Beach, pristine and rustic, is about 2 mile long. It is located in the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, Cồn Đen.

Source: Unknown author, "Cồn Đen Thái Bình - Cồn biển đẹp nhất miền Bắc." Đài Phát Thanh & Truyền Hình Thái Bình. April 8, 2016. https://www.thaibinhtv.vn/news/89/28777/con-den-thai-binh-con-bien-dep-nhat-mien-bac

Unknown author. "Con Den ecotourism area." 63STravel. Year unknown. https://63stravel.com/en/travel/peaceful/con-den-eco-tourism-area-2288

Image source: Unknown photographer, "Cồn Đen," 2016. Accessed via https://www.thaibinhtv.vn/news/89/28777/con-den-thai-binh-con-bien-dep-nhat-mien-bac Altered from source photo.

Nam Định Province

• Thịnh Long Beach, with about 2 miles of white sand, has an untouched beauty.

Source: Unknown author. "Thinh Long beach." vietnam.tourism August 3, 2016. https://www.vietnamtourism.org.vn/attractions/thinh-long-beach.html

Image source: Minh Họa, "Bãi biển Thịnh Long," 2024. Accessed via https://doisongphapluat.com.vn/kham-pha-bien-thinh-long-nam-dinh-dep-den-nao-long-a630159.html Unaltered from source photo.

• Hải Thịnh Beach, relatively unspoiled, is about 2 mile long.

Source: Unknown author. "Ghé biển Hải Thịnh tận hưởng vẻ đẹp hoang sơ, hữu tình." nhà báo Công Luận. January 9. 2024. https://www.congluan.vn/ghe-bien-hai-thinh-tan-huong-ve-dep-hoang-so-huu-tinh-post280171.html

Image source: Unknown photographer, "Bãi biển Hải Thịnh," 2024. Accessed via https://www.congluan.vn/ghe-bien-hai-thinh-tan-huong-ve-dep-hoang-so-huu-tinh-post280171.html Altered from source photo.

Ninh Bình Province

• Kim Sơn Beach, about 11 miles in length, has a natural and unspoiled beauty.

Source: Unknown author. "Nhiều trải nghiệm mới lạ với du lịch biển Kim Sơn." nhà báo Công Luận. March 14, 2024. https://www.congluan.vn/nhieu-trai-nghiem-moi-la-voi-du-lich-bien-kim-son-post287852.html

Image source: Unknown photographer, "Bãi biển Kim Sơn," 2024. Accessed via https://mia.vn/cam-nang-du-lich/ninh-binh-co-bien-khong-kham-pha-ngay-3-bai-bien-ninh-binh-dep-nhat-3118 Unaltered from source photo.

• Cồn Nổi Beach, primitive and unspoiled, is about 5 miles from Kim Sơn's. It is in the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, Cồn Nổi.

Source: Unknown author. "Biển Cồn Nổi - Địa điểm du lịch nên đến vào mùa hè." vnpay. Date unknown. https://vnpay.vn/bien-con-noi-0uztnd4wbp4s

Image source: Unknown photographer, "Bãi biển Cồn Nổi" 2022. Access via https://sotnmt.ninhbinh.gov.vn/tin-trong-nuoc/ninh-binh-xay-dung-khu-phuc-hop-kinh-te-dich-vu-sinh-thai-bien-o-kim-son-107.html Unaltered from source photo.

If I have to pick one location to visit, I would pick either Ti Tốp island or Cát Bà’s, because of the exceptional beauty. For something unspoiled and pristine, I think the beaches, in Ninh Bình province, will not disappoint. I hope, you find part 1, informative and fun. I appreciate if you can leave a comment. Part 2, of this series, is about the beaches of North Central Vietnam.