Hanoi does not have a beach. The city sits inland on the Red River, about 100 km from the sea. The closest beach is Do Son in Hai Phong, around 2 hours away by car. Bai Chay in Ha Long is about 2.5 hours, Cat Ba Island around 3 hours (road plus a short ferry) and Sam Son in Thanh Hoa province about 3 hours. Quan Lan and Co To islands, reached by boat from Van Don, take roughly 4 to 5 hours door to door depending on boat times, and Cua Lo in Nghe An province is about 4 to 5 hours south.
Do Son (Hai Phong): the closest beach to Hanoi
Do Son is a small peninsula about 20 km southeast of central Hai Phong and roughly 120 km from Hanoi. It was a French resort town in colonial times, and Emperor Bao Dai’s former villa still stands there. It is known for seafood and its autumn buffalo fighting festival, traditionally held in the eighth lunar month (around September). Nearby river mouths often make the water brownish, so come for sea air and a seafood lunch and do your swimming on the islands.
- Best for: day trips and short breaks. Fine for couples; families wanting clear water should go further.
- Getting there: about 2 hours by car on the Hanoi to Hai Phong expressway, or train or bus to Hai Phong, then a 20 km taxi ride.
- Where to stay: mid-range seafront hotels, older state-run hotels and a few hillside resorts.
Bai Chay and Tuan Chau (Ha Long): a beach with the bay on the doorstep
Bai Chay is the main tourist district of Ha Long city. Its beach is man-made, with calm, sheltered water that is not especially clear. The draw is the bay view and easy access to cruises. Sun World Ha Long, with a cable car, amusement park and water park, is popular with children. Nearby Tuan Chau Island has another artificial beach and the marina where many cruises depart. Day cruises often stop at Ti Top Island for its small beach and viewpoint.
- Best for: families, thanks to the attractions and short transfers, and couples pairing a hotel night with a bay cruise.
- Getting there: about 2.5 hours by car on the expressway. Shuttle buses and vans leave from the Old Quarter, and most cruises include transfers.
- Where to stay: large international hotels face the bay in Bai Chay, there are resort islands just offshore, and many mid-range hotels and overnight cruises.
Cat Ba Island and Lan Ha Bay: beaches, kayaking and a national park
Cat Ba is the largest island on the southern edge of Ha Long Bay. Three small sandy coves, Cat Co 1, 2 and 3, lie close to Cat Ba town, and the water is generally clearer than at Do Son or Bai Chay. The best swimming is out in Lan Ha Bay, where boats stop at small beaches between the limestone islands, such as Ba Trai Dao. Lan Ha has fewer boats than Ha Long, and kayaking is part of most trips. On land you can trek in Cat Ba National Park or cycle to Viet Hai village.
- Best for: active couples and families with older children who can kayak and walk.
- Getting there: drive to Hai Phong, cross the Tan Vu to Lach Huyen bridge, take a short car ferry to Cat Ba, then drive about 30 to 40 minutes to town. Allow around 3 hours, more on summer weekends when ferry queues build.
- Where to stay: budget and mid-range hotels along the harbour in Cat Ba town, a few larger resorts above the Cat Co beaches, Monkey Island Resort on its own small island, or a Lan Ha Bay cruise.
Sam Son (Thanh Hoa): the classic family beach town
Sam Son, about 170 km south of Hanoi, is one of northern Vietnam’s most popular beach towns. Its flat, sandy beach runs for more than 10 km beside a seafront promenade and shelves gently, so it is good for paddling. Summers are lively and crowded, with beach games and vendors selling seafood on the sand. At the southern end, Truong Le hill has the Trong Mai rocks and Doc Cuoc temple.
- Best for: families and groups who like a busy holiday atmosphere. Couples looking for quiet will prefer the islands.
- Getting there: about 3 hours by car on the North to South expressway. Buses and limousine vans run daily, and trains go to Thanh Hoa station, about 16 km from the beach.
- Where to stay: many mid-range hotels along the beach roads, plus resorts with private beach areas, pools and spas, mostly on the quieter northern stretch.
Quan Lan Island (Bai Tu Long Bay): quiet sand and simple stays
Quan Lan is a small island of just over 10 square kilometres in Bai Tu Long Bay, northeast of Ha Long and about 210 km from Hanoi. It is far less developed than Ha Long or Cat Ba, with long white-sand beaches, clean air and little traffic. The main beaches are Quan Lan and Son Hao, with Minh Chau beach on the neighbouring island. Days are spent swimming, cycling between villages, camping and eating seafood by the water.
- Best for: couples and families who want peace and are happy with basic facilities.
- Getting there: about 3 to 3.5 hours by road to Cai Rong port in Van Don, then a speedboat of around an hour. Plan at least two nights.
- Where to stay: guesthouses, homestays and small family-run hotels, plus a handful of small resorts. Book ahead for summer weekends.
Co To Island: the clearest water in the north
Co To lies further out in the Gulf of Tonkin and has some of the clearest water within reach of Hanoi. The island has rocky headlands, a lighthouse with wide sea views and several beaches, including Hong Van, Van Chay and Tau Thuy. It fills up on summer weekends and public holidays and is much calmer midweek.
- Best for: couples and active travellers with two or three nights, and families with older children who don’t mind the boat ride.
- Getting there: the same road route as Quan Lan to Cai Rong port, then a speedboat of about 1.5 hours. Boats stop in rough seas, so keep plans flexible.
- Where to stay: small hotels, guesthouses and homestays near the main town. Upscale options are limited.
Cua Lo (Nghe An): a long beach on the way south
Cua Lo is about 300 km south of Hanoi and around 16 km from the city of Vinh. It has a long, gently sloping beach with fine sand, and the water is usually cleaner than at the beaches closer to Hanoi. It is packed from June to August and quiet otherwise, and suits an overland trip south, with a stop at Kim Lien, Ho Chi Minh’s home village near Vinh.
- Best for: families and travellers heading south by road or rail.
- Getting there: about 4 to 5 hours by car on the North to South expressway, or a train to Vinh and a short taxi ride.
- Where to stay: mainly mid-range seafront hotels and a few larger resorts.
Beaches near Hanoi compared
| Beach | Distance/time from Hanoi | Best for | Water & sand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do Son | About 120 km, around 2 hours | Day trips, seafood | Often murky, darker sand |
| Bai Chay and Tuan Chau | About 2.5 hours | Families, pairing with a cruise | Calm, sheltered; man-made beaches |
| Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay | Around 3 hours (road and ferry) | Active trips, kayaking | Clearer water, small sandy coves |
| Sam Son | About 170 km, around 3 hours | Families, lively summer breaks | Long flat beach, gentle slope |
| Quan Lan | About 3 to 3.5 hours plus 1 hour by boat | Quiet stays, couples | Clear water, white sand |
| Co To | About 3 to 3.5 hours plus 1.5 hours by boat | Couples, active travellers | Clearest water, sand and rock |
| Cua Lo | About 300 km, around 4 to 5 hours | Families heading south | Fine sand, generally clean |
In short: for a day trip, choose Do Son or Ha Long. With children, Bai Chay or Sam Son. For clear water and quiet, Quan Lan or Co To. For beaches plus scenery and activities, Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay.
Best time for a beach trip near Hanoi
The northern beach season runs roughly from May to September, when the sea is warm enough for swimming.
- June to August: the hottest and busiest months, during Vietnamese school holidays.
- May and September: warm, quieter and usually better value.
- Public holidays: 30 April to 1 May and 2 September are extremely busy, with long ferry queues.
- Storms: from around July to October, storms in the Gulf of Tonkin can suspend island ferries and Ha Long cruises at short notice. Leave a spare day before an international flight.
- November to March: cool and often grey, with drizzle in late winter, and the sea is too cold for most swimmers. April and October are mild and good for cruises.
Beach time on a Divi Travel trip
For sea, swimming and scenery without arranging ferries yourself, head to the bays. Our Ha Long Bay tours include day and overnight cruises, with swimming stops in season. For a quieter bay with more kayaking, see our Lan Ha Bay cruises. Our Cat Ba tours add trekking in the national park and cycling to Viet Hai village.
Interested in Sam Son, Quan Lan, Co To, or beach days mixed with northern sightseeing? Send your dates through Plan My Trip and our Hanoi team will suggest a route, transport and places to stay.
FAQ
Does Hanoi have a beach?
No. Hanoi is an inland city about 100 km from the coast, so it has no natural beach. The closest real beaches are about 2 to 3 hours away in Hai Phong, Ha Long and Thanh Hoa. Some new residential developments on the eastern edge of the city have man-made lagoons with sandy shores, but access for visitors varies.
What is the closest beach to Hanoi?
Do Son in Hai Phong, about 120 km away and around 2 hours by car. Bai Chay in Ha Long, about 2.5 hours away, is better if you also want to see the bay.
Can I do a beach day trip from Hanoi?
Yes, to Do Son or Ha Long, with 4 to 5 hours on the road in total. Cat Ba, Sam Son and Cua Lo are better with at least one night, and Quan Lan and Co To need two or more because of the boats.
Which beach near Hanoi has the clearest water?
Co To and Quan Lan, followed by the swimming spots in Lan Ha Bay around Cat Ba. Mainland beaches near river mouths, such as Do Son, tend to be murkier.
Is it worth visiting the beaches near Hanoi in winter?
Not for swimming. From November to March the north is cool and often grey, though a bay cruise is still worth it for the scenery. For warm sea in winter, fly about two hours south to Phu Quoc, where the dry season runs from around November to April. See our Phu Quoc travel guide.
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