Beaches of Ha Long and Cat Ba Island in 2026

A beach holiday in Ha Long is possible, but it works differently from the south of Vietnam. There are no long ribbons of white sand like on Phu Quoc or in Nha Trang. The beaches here are small, tucked between the rocks, and the best of them are only reachable by boat.

We've split every option into four zones — from the city beach at Bãi Cháy to the wild coves of Lan Ha Bay, where a single boat a day drops anchor. For each beach: facilities, prices, how to get there and who it suits.

Ha Long beaches overview — the types and where to find them

Beach time in Ha Long falls into four zones. The city beaches, Bai Chay and Tuan Chau, sit right by the hotels — no travel needed. Cat Ba Island brings clean water, cliffs and the feel of a small fishing town. The bay islands (Ti Top, Soi Sim) are cruise stops — a quick dip, then on to the next. Lan Ha Bay has wild coves with see-through water that only a handful of travellers reach.

• Bai Chay (Bãi Cháy): 1 km of imported sand — Sun lounger ~50,000 VND (~$2)
• Tuan Chau (Bãi Biển Tuần Châu): 3 km resort strip — Water sports, cruise pier
• Cat Co 1 (Bãi Cát Cò 1): Cat Ba main beach — Loungers, cafes ~30,000 VND (~$1.20)
• Cat Co 2 (Bãi Cát Cò 2): Quiet, rocky entry — Free, cleanest water
• Cat Co 3 (Bãi Cát Cò 3): Compact, beach bar — Loungers ~30,000 VND (~$1.20)
• Ti Top Island (Đảo Ti Tốp): Viewpoint, 427 steps — Entry ~100,000 VND (~$4)
• Soi Sim (Đảo Sỏi Sim): Quieter, fewer tourists — ~100,000 VND (~$4)
• Ba Trai Dao (Bãi Ba Trái Đào): Three peach-shaped rocks — Shallow water, Lan Ha Bay

If you're here for a day or two on a cruise, you'll swim at Ti Top or in Lan Ha straight off the boat. If you have 3+ days and a proper beach holiday in mind, set a course for Cat Ba.

Our pick: the best beach for each situation

• Families with kids: Tuan Chau (shallow water, entertainment, hotels next door) or Ba Trai Dao in Lan Ha (shallow, quiet, but you need a boat)
• Backpackers: Cat Co 3 (bar, atmosphere, cheap) plus Cat Co 2 (solitude for free)
• Photos: Ti Top (view from the top) plus Ba Trai Dao (the peach rocks)
• Clean water: Lan Ha Bay, Cat Co 2
• A lazy day: Bai Chay (nothing to arrange, it's all right there)

Ha Long city beaches — Bai Chay and Tuan Chau

Both city beaches in Ha Long are man-made. The white sand was trucked in on purpose. Handy and close to the hotels, but don't expect clear water — especially after rain.

Bai Chay — the main city beach

A kilometre of imported white sand right in town. Bãi Cháy isn't a wild beach but a landscaped strip with loungers, showers and changing cabins. It runs along the promenade where the whole city walks in the evening, locals and tourists alike.

What's there:

• Sun loungers — ~50,000 VND (~$2)
• Showers and toilets — 10,000–20,000 VND (~$0.40–0.80)
• Jet ski, canoe and parasail rental
• Bai Chay night market nearby (335 stalls, seafood from 100,000 VND)

In the evening the beach becomes a lit-up promenade — pleasant for a stroll, though you won't feel like swimming anymore.

By day Bai Chay fills with Vietnamese families: kids building sandcastles, grandmothers under umbrellas. Few foreign tourists — most drive straight past to the cruise port. If you want a plain beach day with no pretence of "exotic," Bai Chay does the job.

💬 "Bai Chay is pretty, but the water is often murky and there can be trash. Better to head straight to Cat Ba." — traveller reviews on Tripadvisor, 2025

Tuan Chau — the resort island

Tuần Châu is a resort island 8 km from central Ha Long. It has 3 km of sandy beach fronting five-star hotels, a water park, a dolphinarium and the pier where most bay cruises depart.

Tuan Chau beach is cleaner than Bai Chay. Entry is free, though the area is tied to the resort hotels. Water sports run from 200,000 VND (~$8) a session.

Tuan Chau is Ha Long's main cruise port — almost all tour boats leave from here. The logic is simple: arrive the day before, sleep at a hotel on the island, board your cruise in the morning. Come back, swim on the beach, eat seafood for dinner.

Who it suits: families with kids (shallow water, entertainment), anyone who wants "beach plus cruise" in one place, and guests of Vinpearl Resort or FLC Ha Long.

Cat Ba Island beaches — Cat Co 1, 2, 3

Cat Ba is the largest island in Ha Long Bay: 100 square kilometres, 30,000 residents, a national park covering half the territory. Three small beaches sit on the south-east coast, all within walking distance of Cát Bà Town — a clifftop path links them.

The water at Cat Co is noticeably cleaner than on the mainland beaches of Ha Long. The reason is simple: the nearest city is four hours away, there's no industry nearby, and the coves are shut off from waves and litter by the rocks.

Cat Ba Town itself is one waterfront lined with hotels, a dozen seafood restaurants and the pier where boats leave for Lan Ha. Life here moves slowly. In the morning fishermen sell the catch straight off the boats, by day tourists swim, in the evening everyone sits in cafes along the front.

Cat Co 1 — the main Cat Ba beach

Five minutes on foot from the town centre. The best-equipped of the three: loungers (~30,000 VND / ~$1.20), cafes, showers. The sand is yellow and the water turquoise in good weather.

Cliffs draped in jungle frame both ends of the beach. It looks like a postcard, and the photos come out effortlessly. The entry is sandy and the depth builds gently — good for kids.

Most Cat Ba visitors come here, so it gets tight on weekends and in peak season (July–August). On weekdays it's comfortable enough. Early in the morning the beach is nearly empty and local fishermen haul in their nets.

Cat Co 2 — for solitude

Ten minutes from town along a clifftop path. Rocky shores, minimal facilities, free entry. You can swim, but the entry is stony — water shoes help.

A railed path is cut into the rock between Cat Co 1 and Cat Co 2. It's an easy walk, though slippery in the rain. The beach is often empty — no cafes, no music, no vendors. Just you, the cliffs and the sea.

The water at Cat Co 2 is the cleanest of the three — an enclosed cove with no currents. If you want quiet and don't mind the lack of loungers, this is your beach.

Cat Co 3 — a drink by the water

Fifteen minutes from town, or a five-minute clifftop walk from Cat Co 1. A compact beach with a bar right on the sand, loungers (~30,000 VND) and a laid-back mood. In size and crowd it sits between Cat Co 1 and 2.

The Cat Co 3 bar is one of the best spots on Cat Ba for an evening beer at sunset. Prices are local: beer from 25,000 VND (~$1), cocktails from 60,000 VND (~$2.40). Backpackers and remote workers who stay on Cat Ba for weeks tend to gather here.

Our pick: Cat Co 1 for a comfortable beach day, Cat Co 2 to be alone, Cat Co 3 for a drink by the water.

What else to do on Cat Ba besides the beaches

Cat Ba National Park covers half the island: tropical forest, trekking routes (2–4 hours), birdwatching. Entry 40,000 VND (~$1.60).

A scooter on Cat Ba rents for 100,000–150,000 VND (~$4–6) a day. On two wheels you can circle the whole island in half a day: rice fields, fishing villages, viewpoints over the bay. The roads are good and there's almost no traffic. Bring your passport and an international driving permit — police do check.

In the evening, fishermen come to the Cat Ba Town waterfront with their catch. You can buy fresh fish and take it to any restaurant — they'll cook it for 30,000–50,000 VND (~$1.20–2). Or just sit at a cafe overlooking the port and order seafood off the menu.

💬 "Cat Ba is what Ha Long should have been. The Cat Co beaches are small, but the water is clean and the views are stunning." — Reddit r/VietnamTravel, 2025

Bay island beaches — Ti Top and Soi Sim

You won't reach these beaches on your own. The only way onto Ti Top or Soi Sim is by cruise or a chartered speedboat.

Ti Top Island — the most famous

This 3.7-hectare island is named after Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov. On 22 November 1962 Titov came here with Ho Chi Minh, and the president suggested naming the island in his honour. Đảo Ti Tốp is a compulsory stop for 90% of bay cruises.

The beach is a crescent of white sand about 200 metres long. In photos it looks like a postcard: turquoise water, greenery on the cliffs, a neat curve of sand. In reality, from 10am to 3pm there are hundreds of people. Cruises deliver group after group, and the small beach fills instantly.

The main event on Ti Top is the climb of 427 steps to the summit. The staircase is steep with handrails, but in the heat people go slowly. At the top the whole bay lies open: cliffs, boats, emerald water to the horizon. That view is why people come — not the beach.

• Entry: ~100,000 VND (~$4), included in most cruise fares
• On the island: a bar, kayak rental (~150,000 VND / ~$6 an hour), showers
• Minimal food — bring a snack
• Time ashore: cruises give you 1–1.5 hours (climb plus swim)

💬 "The beach is tiny and there are hundreds of people. Swimming is uncomfortable in peak season — come early in the morning." — Tripadvisor, 2025

Soi Sim — the quiet alternative

Đảo Sỏi Sim is Ti Top's neighbour, but roughly ten times less hyped. The beach is bigger (around 400 m), forest rings it, and crowds are thin. Not every cruise stops here — if you want Soi Sim instead of Ti Top, check the itinerary when you book.

Soi Sim has a forest trail to the top of the island. The climb is easier than Ti Top's and the view is just as good. The beach is cleaner, because five times fewer people are brought over.

Entry: ~100,000 VND (~$4). Facilities are basic — there's a shower, no cafe, no loungers. But that's the appeal: you're on a small island in the middle of the bay with a dozen people around, not a crowd.

Trinh Nu Beach — for legend lovers

Bãi Trinh Nữ (Virgin Beach) is another stop on some cruises. Beside it is a cave with a legend about a girl waiting for a fisherman. The beach is small, people are few, and the mood is eerie. You can swim, but the real draw is the cave and the views.

Which cruise to pick for swimming

Not all cruises are equal. One-day group tours from Hanoi usually stop only at Ti Top — 45 minutes to swim, then everyone is rounded back up. Two-day overnight cruises include 2–3 stops and kayaking in Lan Ha, with more time on the water.

If beaches are the priority, choose routes through Lan Ha. The water is cleaner, the beaches are better and there are fewer people.

Lan Ha Bay — beaches without the crowds

Vịnh Lan Hạ is the southern part of Ha Long Bay, formally attached to Cat Ba Island. It has 300+ islands and 139 beaches. Almost all are reachable only from the water.

Why Lan Ha beats the central bay:

• Water about 70% cleaner (local 2024 readings)
• In peak season a beach holds 10–20 people, not hundreds
• Big cruise ships don't enter — only small tours from Cat Ba

Ba Trai Dao — the three "peach" rocks

Bãi Ba Trái Đào translates as "three peaches." Three rocks shaped like peaches create an enclosed cove with shallow water and white sand. The water stays knee-deep for a good ten metres from shore, which makes the cove ideal for families with small children.

You get there by kayak (30–40 minutes from the nearest point on a route) or by motorboat from Cat Ba. Many "Ha Long + Lan Ha" cruises stop here for kayaking and a swim.

The beach is small — about 50 metres long. But the water is clear, you can see the bottom 2–3 metres down, and there isn't a single building around. Just green-topped cliffs and the silent karst pillars.

Van Boi and Cat Dua

Vạn Bội is a wild beach with no facilities. The silence is total. It's ringed by mangroves and cliffs — no loungers, no cafe. Only sand and sea.

Cát Dứa (Monkey Island) is where you can spot langurs, Cat Ba's endemic monkeys. Fewer than 70 survive in the wild. The island beach is sandy and shallow. Swimming and wildlife-watching in one place — but keep quiet, the monkeys are shy.

💬 "The water in Lan Ha is far cleaner than the main bay. We swam off the cruise and could see the bottom three metres down." — Tripadvisor, 2025

When to swim — seasons and water temperature

You can swim in Ha Long from April to October. In winter the water is 18 °C — standing knee-deep is bearable, swimming is not. May and June are the golden window: the water is 26–28 °C, rain is still rare and the main wave of tourists hasn't arrived.

Swimming safety

There are no dangerous currents at the beaches — every cove is enclosed and sheltered by rock. This isn't the open ocean.

Jellyfish are rare, mostly in August and early September. A sting hurts but isn't dangerous. On the city beaches lifeguards are on duty from 7:00 to 18:00 in season.

At Cat Co you occasionally meet sea urchins — stepping on one is unpleasant, but water shoes for 50,000 VND (~$2) solve it completely. There are no urchins on Ti Top or Soi Sim.

The sun is its own issue. In northern Vietnam the UV index reaches 10–11 from May to August. You can burn in 20 minutes, even on a cloudy day. SPF 50 is a must.

The best month for each kind of trip

Honest downsides of each season

Weather in northern Vietnam is unpredictable. You can arrive in May and hit a week of rain, or arrive in March and sunbathe at +24 °C. There are no guarantees — this isn't the tropical south with its stable climate.

July is the hottest month: 32–34 °C, humidity near 90%. The beach is only pleasant in the morning and after 4pm. At midday you'll want to flee to the air-con.

August and September are typhoon season. A typhoon in Ha Long is serious: cruises are cancelled, ferries to Cat Ba stop, beaches close. Refunds for a cancelled tour aren't always given (it depends on the operator). Check the forecast on windy.com a week before you travel. If there's a storm warning for the region, move your dates.

Winter Ha Long (December–February) is another story. Temperatures of 15–18 °C, wind, drizzle. Swimming is off, but cruises run and the bay looks eerie in the mist. If beaches aren't the priority, winter Ha Long can surprise you. Hotel and cruise prices drop 2–3 times.

How to get to the beaches

How you get there depends on which beach you're aiming for.

If your goal is the city beach (Bai Chay). Take a bus from Hanoi to Ha Long, then a taxi or a short walk to the beach. Limousine vans pick you up right from your hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter — easier than heading to a bus station. Book through 12go.asia or Baolau — both take foreign cards.

If your goal is Cat Ba. Two options. Fast: get to Hai Phong (bus, 2 h), then a 45-minute speedboat. Easy: a direct Hanoi → Cat Ba bus (all in — bus plus ferry), 4–5 hours with no changes. The second is 50,000–100,000 VND dearer, but you don't have to find a port in Hai Phong.

If your goal is the bay islands (Ti Top, Lan Ha). Cruise only. Book on the spot in Ha Long, through your hotel on Cat Ba, or online in advance. A one-day cruise from Ha Long is from 800,000 VND (~$32); a two-day overnight from 2,500,000 VND (~$100).

Transport details are current as of April 2026. Check schedules on 12go.asia and baolau.com.

One more option is a one-day tour from Hanoi. It's the most popular format: picked up from your hotel in the morning, driven 3.5 hours to the port, put on a cruise, back in the evening. From 1,200,000 VND (~$48) per person. Convenient, but the pace is frantic. For an actual beach holiday, go independently and stay overnight.

Where to stay near the beaches

Where to sleep depends on where you'll head to swim in the morning.

Bai Chay — comfort, city infrastructure, quick access to the Tuan Chau cruise port. A restaurant across the road, the night market five minutes away.

Cat Ba Town — clean beaches, the national park, Lan Ha Bay. Cheaper rooms, a more intimate feel. On weekdays a double runs $10–15.

Cat Ba has no five-star hotels — solid three-stars at best. But there are dozens of family guesthouses with balconies over the sea. Owners often arrange boats to Lan Ha and scooter rental for the national park.

Booking: on the spot or in advance

In the off-season (November–March) there's no point booking ahead — rooms sit empty and walk-in prices are lower. In season (June–August), especially on weekends, book through Booking or Agoda at least a week out. On Cat Ba in peak days rooms can sell out entirely — it's a small island.

If you arrive without a booking, walk into any hotel on the Cat Ba Town waterfront and haggle. A 20–30% discount off the Booking rate is normal.

Seafood at the beaches: what to try

A separate pleasure of Ha Long is seafood right by the beach. At Bai Chay the night market is a five-minute walk: grilled prawns from 100,000 VND (~$4) a portion, crab from 300,000 VND (~$12), oysters from 10,000 VND (~$0.40) each.

On Cat Ba the waterfront restaurants cook the day's catch. Head to the pier in the morning, buy fish or squid from the fishermen and have any cafe cook it for 30,000–50,000 VND (~$1.20–2).

On cruises you eat on board — lunch is included. Quality depends on the cruise: budget ones serve rice with chicken and vegetables, premium ones bring crab, prawns, spring rolls and fruit. Drinks are usually extra: beer 30,000–50,000 VND (~$1.20–2), cocktails from 80,000 VND (~$3.20).

Tips and common mistakes

Mistake 1. Going to Ha Long for a beach holiday in winter. From November to March the water is 18–20 °C. You can look at the bay, but you can't swim. For a winter beach, choose the beaches of southern Vietnam.

Mistake 2. Expecting "Maldives" water at Bai Chay. It's a city beach with imported sand. Facilities, yes; clear water, no.

Mistake 3. Not bringing water shoes to Cat Co. Cat Co 2 has a stony entry, Cat Co 3 has the odd urchin. Cheap plastic sandals fix it.

Mistake 4. Not allowing enough travel time to Cat Ba. It's 4–5 hours from Hanoi, and in season the ferries can be packed. If you're going for the weekend, book your ticket ahead.

Mistake 5. Not checking the forecast before an August–September trip. Typhoons cancel cruises and shut the ferries to Cat Ba. Money for a cancelled cruise isn't always refunded. Check windy.com a week before you go.

What to bring to the beach

• SPF 50 sunscreen (the sun is fierce, UV 10–11 in summer, you'll burn in 20 minutes)
• Water shoes — for Cat Co and the wild Lan Ha beaches
• A dry bag for your phone — if you plan to kayak
• Snacks and water — the island beaches have no cafes
• Antiseptic and a plaster — in case of sea urchins (Cat Co 2)

Ha Long beaches vs the south of Vietnam: is it worth it?

The honest answer: if you want a classic week-long beach holiday — lying on the sand, swimming, sipping cocktails — Ha Long isn't the best choice. For that there are the beaches of Phu Quoc, Nha Trang and Da Nang, with 20 km of white sand and a warm sea year-round.

Ha Long is about something else. About cliffs jutting out of emerald water. About cruising between the islands. About kayaks in the wild coves of Lan Ha. The beaches here are a nice bonus, not the main course. But combine two days of cruising with two days on Cat Ba and you get a holiday no southern resort can repeat.

FAQ

Can you swim in Ha Long Bay?

Yes, from April to October. The best months are May and June, when the water warms to 26–28 °C. In winter (November–March) it drops to 18–20 °C and is too cold. You swim at proper beaches (Bai Chay, Cat Co, Ti Top), not in the open channels between the rocks. The cleanest beaches are on Cat Ba Island and in Lan Ha Bay, not in town.

Which beach in Ha Long has the cleanest water?

The clearest water is at the Lan Ha Bay beaches (Ba Trai Dao, Van Boi) and at Cat Co 2 on Cat Ba Island. Local 2024 readings put Lan Ha water about 70% cleaner than the central bay. Cat Co 2 is a rock-enclosed cove with no industrial runoff and no cruise ships. The city beach at Bai Chay is the least clean, and the water can turn murky and greenish after rain.

When is the best time for a beach trip to Ha Long?

May and June are ideal. The water is 26–28 °C, rain is still light and there are fewer tourists than in summer. July and August are hot (32 °C), crowded and prone to typhoons that close cruises and ferries. September is a good fallback — the sea is still warm and the crowds have gone. From November to March you can't swim (water 18–20 °C), but bay cruises run year-round.

Is Cat Ba Island worth it for the beaches?

Yes, if the priority is clean water and postcard views. The three Cat Co beaches are compact (the largest ~200 m), but the water is noticeably cleaner than the city beaches. It takes 4–5 hours from Hanoi, so plan at least two nights. Bonus: a national park with trekking, boat trips into Lan Ha Bay, and seafood off the boat for next to nothing.

How is Lan Ha Bay different from Ha Long Bay?

Lan Ha is the southern part of the bay, formally attached to Cat Ba. It has 300+ islands and 139 wild beaches. The water is cleaner, tourists are far fewer, and large cruise ships don't enter. The catch: you can only reach it by boat or on a cruise, and there are no facilities onshore (no loungers, no cafes). Lan Ha is Ha Long for those who want to see the bay as it was before mass tourism.

How much does a sun lounger cost at Bai Chay beach?

A lounger at Bai Chay is about 50,000 VND (~$2) for the day. A shower is 10,000–20,000 VND (~$0.40–0.80). At Cat Co 1 and Cat Co 3 on Cat Ba a lounger is ~30,000 VND (~$1.20). Cat Co 2 is completely free, but there are no loungers or showers. The island beaches (Ti Top, Soi Sim) have no loungers — just a towel on the sand.

Are there dangerous currents in Ha Long Bay?

There are no dangerous currents at the beaches. All of them sit in enclosed coves sheltered from the open sea by rock. Jellyfish appear occasionally in August and early September — the sting is unpleasant but not dangerous. Cat Co sometimes has sea urchins, which hurt to step on — water shoes solve it. On Ti Top and Soi Sim lifeguards are on duty in season (May–September).

Prices current as of April 2026. Prices and conditions can change — check official sources before you travel.