Best beaches close to Hanoi
Bai Chey Beach is very near to Hanoi
Vietnam is blessed with 3,000 kilometres of coastline boasting pristine white sand beaches which tourists from all over the world come to enjoy every year. There is everything from resort beaches with world class facilities to deserted bays with barely a building or person to be seen for miles.
It’s fair to say that the majority of the best and most popular beaches are located from around half way down this crescent shaped country all the way down to the very south. That, however, is not to say that the north and areas around Hanoi should be overlooked – there are plenty of options within a short drive from the capital.
One of the closest beaches to Hanoi is Bai Chay, located in the world renowned Halong Bay area. It is a popular area among locals and particularly lively at weekends and during the summer. The draw of Bai Chay is not in its beauty but its vibrant atmosphere as well as the availability of sumptuous fresh seafood arriving from nearby Halong Bay. Visitors should take note that, although you’re in the tropics, temperatures can drop as low as 15°C in the winter.
Ti Top Beach lies just 14 kms east of Bai Chay. This beach is small and shaped like a crescent offering clean waters and stunning landscape. The water is suitable for swimming and there is a bar, although this spot is rarely overrun with tourists and ideal for a relaxing day.
Approximately eight kilometres from Bai Chay Tourist Wharf is Tuan Chau Beach, a sandy artificial beach stretching for over three kilometres. This stretch offers excellent swimming conditions as well as good sightseeing and entertainment in the surrounding areas. Sports activities such as climbing are also offered nearby.
It would be criminal to visit this area of Vietnam and not check out Quan Lan Beach on the namesake island. Its pristine beauty and unspoiled environment give a true feeling of paradise, while the charm is further added to by the green wild pines which line the back of the beach. Stilted guest houses are hidden under the lush foliage just a few metres back and offer the perfect beach retreat.
Cat Ba Island is popular with Vietnamese daytrippers
Some 15kms from Quan Lan Beach is the renowned Minh Chau Beach, where the pristine white sand is the striking feature. The crossing, from Cai Rong on the mainland, takes around three hours but is well worth it with superb swimming conditions and delicious seafood to be enjoyed. Camping overnight by the beach is extremely popular.
Approximately 150kms due east of Hanoi and south of Halong Bay is Cat Ba Island, a popular destination due to its national park. There are also a few beaches to enjoy if spending some time on the island. Roughly a kilometre from the main town are two white sand beaches named, rather unoriginally, Cat Co 1 and Cat Co 2. They both offer a scenic setting and an ideal place for simply lounging around for a day.
Back on the mainland, Do Son Beach is located just over 100 kms from Hanoi in the Hai Phong province and is widely regarded as one of northern Vietnam’s finest beaches. The beach is on a small peninsula where the Rong Mountains stretch out into the sea. The beach is covered by hills with pine tree forests making for incredible natural beauty, so much so that a number of hotels and restaurants have been built up in the area.
Head a little further south into Nam Dinh province and you’ll come across Thinh Long Beach in Hai Hau. The three kilometres of Casuarina forest and soft sandbanks which frame an inlet of strikingly blue ocean as well as its untouched beauty make for scenery which is unrivalled in this part of the country. Thinh Long has only recently started becoming more popular, but maintains a feeling of seclusion about it. The large waves have also turned it into a haven for surfers.
Up in the very northeast of Vietnam, within driving distance from Hanoi but certainly too far a drive for a day trip, is Tra Co Beach. The beach is just eight kilometres from the Chinese border and a particularly popular holiday destination for people from across the border. It is considered one of the country’s most lyrical beaches due to its width, smooth white sand and year-round blue waters. Tra Co’s slightly out-of-the-way location may make it not the most a appealing, but it’s certainly worth stopping off at if you’re on the way to Hanoi from China or vice-versa.
