Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and the political and cultural centre of the country's north, a city of roughly 8.5 million people built around a chain of lakes on the Red River delta. Its compact core layers a thousand-year-old market quarter, a French colonial grid of villas and boulevards, and the ceremonial state architecture of Ba Dinh Square within a few kilometres of one another.
Top beaches
A ranked editor’s shortlist of the coastline worth planning a day around in Hanoi.
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- busy domestic resort, family-friendly with seafood restaurants
- Seasonal lifeguards
- Sun loungers and umbrella hire
- Beachfront seafood restaurants
- Changing rooms and freshwater showers
- Hotels and guesthouses along the seafront
- Car and motorbike parking
Do Son Beach, Hai Phong
The closest stretch of sea to Hanoi, a peninsula of three linked beach zones south of Hai Phong that has been a resort since the French colonial period. The sand is coarse and the water is brown with Red River silt, but it is reachable and back within a single day by expressway.
Editor’s tip. Leave Hanoi before 7:00 on summer weekends to beat expressway traffic and secure parking near the seafront.
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- relaxed sheltered coves with beach bars, mixed backpackers and families
- Sheltered swimming coves with clear water
- Sun loungers and umbrella hire
- Cliff-side walkway linking the three beaches
- Beach bars and resort restaurants
- Showers and changing facilities
- Kayak and paddleboard hire at Cat Co 3
Cat Co 1, 2 and 3 Beaches, Cat Ba Island
Three small sheltered coves on the southeast corner of Cat Ba Island, linked by a cliff-side walkway and backed by karst hills. This is the clearest, most genuinely appealing swimming water within reach of Hanoi, and it is the reason most Hanoi residents choose Cat Ba over the mainland resorts.
Editor’s tip. Arrive before 10:00 in July and August to claim loungers on Cat Co 1 before the day crowds.
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- convenient resort beach beside the cruise marina
- Calm shallow swimming area
- Sun loungers and parasols
- Resort hotels and restaurants
- Marina with cruise and speedboat departures
- Large car and coach parking
- Showers and changing rooms
Tuan Chau Island Beach, Ha Long
An engineered sand beach on the island that hosts Ha Long's main cruise marina, with calm shallow water inside the bay and a resort complex behind it. It is convenient rather than beautiful, and most visitors use it as an add-on either side of a Ha Long Bay cruise.
Editor’s tip. Combine the beach with a Ha Long Bay cruise departure to use waiting time before boarding.
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- urban city beach with a busy evening promenade
- Promenade with evening food stalls
- Seasonal lifeguards
- Sun loungers and umbrellas
- Adjacent Sun World Ha Long cable car and amusement park
- Hotels across the full price range
- Showers and toilets
Bai Chay Beach, Ha Long City
A long artificial beach along the Bai Chay waterfront, backed by a promenade, high-rise hotels and the Sun World Ha Long complex with its cable car and Ferris wheel. It is the most urban beach option near Hanoi and is busiest in the evening rather than at midday.
Editor’s tip. Visit the promenade in the evening, when food stalls open and the temperature drops.
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- packed, loud family resort in summer, near-deserted off-season
- Long shallow beach suitable for children
- Seasonal lifeguards
- Sun lounger and umbrella hire
- Extensive seafood market and restaurants
- Hotels from budget guesthouses to large resorts
- Showers, toilets and changing rooms
Sam Son Beach, Thanh Hoa
A wide, shallow, gently shelving beach south of Hanoi that has been one of northern Vietnam's main domestic seaside resorts since the 1900s. It is packed and loud from late May to early August, when Hanoi families arrive in numbers, and comparatively deserted the rest of the year.
Editor’s tip. Avoid June and July weekends if crowds are a concern; they are the most crowded weeks of the year.
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- remote, often empty, quiet fishing-island feel
- Long undeveloped sand beaches
- Small guesthouses and a handful of resorts
- Beachfront seafood restaurants
- Bicycle and electric buggy hire on the island
- Limited lifeguard cover — swimmers should stay within their depth
Quan Lan Island Beaches (Bai Chuong and Son Hao)
Long, near-empty white sand beaches with casuarina windbreaks on an island in the Bai Tu Long archipelago, reached by speedboat from Cai Rong port in Van Don. The journey takes most of a day each way, which is precisely why the beaches stay quiet.
Editor’s tip. Plan at least one overnight stay; a day trip leaves little time on the beach.
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- busy family water park, loud and lively in summer
- Wave pool and lazy river
- Water slides and a children's splash zone
- Lifeguards on duty
- Lockers, showers and changing rooms
- On-site food outlets
- Car and motorbike parking
West Lake Water Park (Cong Vien Nuoc Ho Tay)
Hanoi's main outdoor water park on the eastern shore of West Lake, with slides, a wave pool, a lazy river and a large children's area. For anyone staying in the city during the summer it is the practical substitute for a beach day, and it is reachable in 20 minutes from the Old Quarter.
Editor’s tip. Go on a weekday morning to avoid the queues that build on summer weekends and holidays.
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- relaxed urban lakeside promenade with cafes, no swimming
- Paved lakeside promenade for walking and cycling
- Swan pedalo hire on Truc Bach and West Lake
- Lakeside cafes, bars and restaurants
- Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple on the causeway
- Public seating and shade trees
- No swimming — the lakes are closed to bathers
West Lake and Truc Bach Lake Shoreline
The 17 km perimeter of Hanoi's largest lake and its smaller neighbour Truc Bach, lined with cafes, pedalo jetties, temples and a cycling promenade. Swimming is not permitted and the water is not clean enough for it, so the shoreline functions as a waterside leisure strip rather than a beach.
Editor’s tip. Do not swim; the lakes are closed to bathers and the water is not clean enough for it.
Things to do at the beach
Beyond swimming and sunbathing — the activities that make a coastal day in Hanoi memorable.
What to bring
A short packing list for a comfortable beach day — adjust for season and the specific spot.
- Sun protectionHigh-SPF sunscreen, hat, polarised sunglasses, light long-sleeve cover-up.
- HydrationReusable bottle, salty snacks for longer days, electrolyte sachets if it’s hot.
- FootwearWater shoes for pebble or rocky entry, flip-flops for sand, dry pair for the trip home.
- Swim & coverQuick-dry towel or sand-resistant mat, change of swimwear, light cover-up for restaurants.
- Cash & valuablesSmall notes for beach clubs and rentals; waterproof pouch for phone, keys, cards.
- ExtrasReef-safe sunscreen near protected coastline, a book, a small first-aid kit for jellyfish or scrapes.
Beach safety
Hard-earned guidance — read this before you swim, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the coast.
Critical
Swim where lifeguards are posted and follow flag warnings — green is safe, yellow is caution, red means no swimming. Rip currents are the leading beach hazard worldwide.
Caution
Watch for tide changes and marine life — jellyfish blooms, sea urchins on rocky entries, occasional shark or stingray advisories. Don’t swim alone, especially at dawn or dusk.
Tip
Reapply sunscreen every 90 minutes and after every swim. Take shade between 11 am and 3 pm — the sun is harsher than people expect, even when the air is cool.
Practical
Keep valuables out of sight or back at the accommodation. Beach theft is a small-but-real risk at busy beaches; never leave bags unattended while you’re in the water.
Common questions
Quick answers to the questions we get asked most about Hanoi’s coast.
How far is Do Son Beach from Hanoi?
It is about 120 km, roughly two hours by car on the Hanoi-Hai Phong expressway. Coaches to Hai Phong followed by bus 3 or a taxi also work for a day trip.
From the Do Son Beach, Hai Phong editorial.
Is the water at Do Son clean and clear?
The water is brown with river silt and is not clear. It is used for swimming by many local families in summer, but it is not suited to snorkelling or diving.
From the Do Son Beach, Hai Phong editorial.
How do visitors get from Hanoi to Cat Co beaches?
Through-ticketed limousine bus and ferry services run from the Old Quarter in about 3-3.5 hours, costing roughly 280,000-350,000 VND each way. The beaches are then a short walk or taxi ride from Cat Ba Town.
From the Cat Co 1, 2 and 3 Beaches, Cat Ba Island editorial.
Are the three Cat Co beaches connected?
Yes, a cliff-side walkway links Cat Co 1, 2 and 3. The walk between coves takes only a few minutes each but includes steps.
From the Cat Co 1, 2 and 3 Beaches, Cat Ba Island editorial.
Is Tuan Chau a natural beach?
No, the sand is engineered and laid along the shore. The water inside the bay is calm and shallow, but the beach is more functional than scenic.
From the Tuan Chau Island Beach, Ha Long editorial.
How far is Tuan Chau from Hanoi?
It is about 165 km, roughly 2.5 hours by car or expressway coach. Limousine vans from the Old Quarter cost about 250,000-350,000 VND each way.
From the Tuan Chau Island Beach, Ha Long editorial.
Is Bai Chay Beach natural?
No, it is an artificial beach built along the Ha Long waterfront. The water is calm and shallow but is not especially clear.
From the Bai Chay Beach, Ha Long City editorial.
How long does it take to reach Bai Chay from Hanoi?
About 2.5 hours by expressway. Coaches cost about 150,000-200,000 VND each way and limousine vans about 250,000-350,000 VND.
From the Bai Chay Beach, Ha Long City editorial.