As you plan your magical journey to the world-famous Ha Long Bay, Vietnamstory wants to introduce you to the vibrant and exciting “home base” for your adventure: the beautiful Bai Chay Beach. In recent years, Bai Chay Beach has beautifully evolved into Vietnam’s premier urban coastal destination. For our cherished Indian travelers, it represents the perfect and most convenient place to stay. It offers the comfort of world-class international hotels, a stunning golden artificial coastline perfect for a relaxing stroll, and immediate, easy access to the thrilling Sun World entertainment hub. At Vietnam Story, we highly recommend Bai Chay for our families and groups who want to perfectly balance a serene and beautiful bay cruise with the high-energy nightlife, the delicious culinary variety, and the modern comforts of the mainland.
The geography and the quality of the beach: Discovering the “Golden Arc”
Bai Chay, which literally translates to “Scorched Beach,” is a ward of Ha Long City. It is most famous for its massive and beautiful artificial beach, which was expertly developed to provide high-quality, soft golden sand and clear, safe swimming conditions right at the very edge of the city. This is a modern, clean, and perfectly designed beach for leisure and relaxation.
The beach stretches for roughly 1km in length and is over 100m wide, providing a huge amount of space for everyone to relax and play. It is beautifully backed by low, green hills and a modern, clean promenade perfect for an evening walk.
You can swim here with complete confidence. Recent monitoring has shown that 85% of the monitored areas now meet our strict marine water quality standards, with bacterial levels being well below any harmful thresholds in all of the designated swimming areas.
The beach is strictly monitored by professional lifeguards, ensuring a very safe environment for families. If you are visiting in a cooler month like January, the water will be a bit chilly (around 18-20°C), so I would recommend a refreshing dip in the mid-afternoon when the sun is at its warmest.
Bai Chay is beautifully linked to the “Old City” of Hon Gai by the magnificent and iconic Bai Chay Bridge. This is a record-breaking, cable-stayed bridge that spans 435 meters and features 4 motor lanes and, wonderfully, 2 dedicated pedestrian lanes for a scenic walk.
The entertainment scene: Discovering the “City of Light”
In 2026, Bai Chay has truly become a year-round festival destination, a place that has been specifically and brilliantly designed for vibrant and exciting nighttime tourism. The area comes alive after dark with a dazzling display of lights and entertainment.
The weekly fireworks display
For a truly spectacular and free show, be sure to be here on a weekend. Every Friday and Saturday night (from 9:30 PM to 9:45 PM), a beautiful, high-altitude fireworks display ignites the sky over the Sun Carnival Square and the nearby Ha Long International Cruise Port.
The mighty Sun World Complex
Bai Chay is home to the main gateway of the Sun World complex. The Queen Cable Car‘s Ocean Station, the thrilling Dragon Park, and the fun Typhoon Water Park are all located within a very easy 5-minute walk from the beach.
The Bai Chay night market
- Hours: The market is open daily from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
- What to buy: This is the best place to find beautiful pearl souvenirs, colorful “brocade” bags, and a wide variety of local handicrafts.
- Tip for Indian travelers: To avoid the peak weekend crowds and to have a more relaxed and better bargaining experience, we recommend you visit on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening.
READ MORE: Bai Chay Market & Night Market: A Traveler’s Guide to Ha Long Shopping
Where to stay at Bai Chay beach?
For ourr cherished guests arriving from cities like Delhi or Mumbai, we at Vietnam Story prioritize recommending hotels that offer beautiful sea views, convenient proximity to the Sun Wheel and other attractions, and, very importantly, vegetarian-friendly dining options. Bai Chay has a fantastic range of high-quality accommodation for every budget.
The top tier (For ultimate luxury)
- A La Carte Ha Long Bay: This is an ultra-modern and stylish hotel that is famous for having the city’s highest and most spectacular infinity pool views.
- Vinpearl Resort & Spa (on Reu Island): For a truly exclusive escape, this is a private island resort located just a short speedboat ride from Bai Chay. It is a haven of peace and offers wonderful wellness activities, like daily morning yoga sessions right by the beach.
- InterContinental Ha Long Bay: As the newest addition to the region, this is the absolute pinnacle of luxury, offering stunning design and private beach access.
The mid-range and group-friendly options
- Novotel Ha Long Bay: This is a very reliable and popular choice, known for its excellent service and its wonderfully central location.
- Muong Thanh Luxury Ha Long Centre: With its large capacity and central location, this is an excellent and convenient choice for our large family groups.
Vietnamstory tailored tips for a perfect stay
At Vietnam Story, we love to share our local, insider knowledge to make your experience even more comfortable and special. Here are our tips, curated just for you.
- Navigating the seafood and finding vegetarian food: While Bai Chay is a true seafood haven (you must try the fresh Grilled Squid!), our vegetarian guests should head towards the Cái Dăm area. This is where you will find a great selection of high-quality and authentic vegetarian (Chay) restaurants.
- A beautiful Bai Chay Bridge stroll: We highly recommend you take a sunset walk across the bridge’s dedicated pedestrian lane. It offers a unique and spectacular aerial perspective of the bay and the city, all without needing to buy a cable car ticket.
- Our photography “secret”: For a truly breathtaking, bird’s-eye view that is away from the crowds, we recommend a hike up Bai Tho Mountain (Poem Mountain), which is tucked behind some local houses in the Hòn Gai area. It is a challenging 30-minute climb, but it offers the most authentic and beautiful “old world” view of the entire bay.
- Your wellness retreats: Many of the beautiful Bai Chay resorts now offer wonderful 60-minute traditional Vietnamese body treatments and peaceful meditation workshops that are specifically curated for international guests who are seeking relaxation and rejuvenation.
A quick comparison: Bai Chay Beach and the nearby Tuan Chau Beach
To help you choose your perfect base, here is a simple comparison between the two main beach areas in Ha Long.
| Feature | Bai Chay Beach | Tuan Chau Beach |
| Vibe | Urban, high-energy, and very central. This is the heart of the action. | Private, quiet, and more resort-focused. |
| Activities | The Night market, the Cable car, and a huge variety of pubs and restaurants. | Golf, Seaplane tours, and it is the main departure point for the luxury cruises. |
| Crowds | High, especially on the weekends. | Low to Medium. It is much more exclusive. |
| Accessibility | It is walkable to the Sun World complex and the main tourist attractions. | It is a 15-minute taxi ride to the main city center. |
Conclusion
Bai Chay Beach offers the perfect “best of both worlds” solution for Indian families. It provides the beautiful, relaxing, and safe beach environment that everyone desires, while also placing you right at the epicenter of world-class entertainment at the Sun World complex and the vibrant cultural experience of the night market. It is a destination that effortlessly caters to every member of the family, from the thrill-seeking teenager to the parent who wants a relaxing evening stroll. It is the perfect, stress-free base for a complete and happy family holiday.
At Vietnamstory, our expertise lies in crafting these perfectly balanced family adventures. Let us help you choose the ideal hotel in Bai Chay and plan an itinerary that is filled with fun for everyone. Contact us today, and let’s start planning a trip that will create lasting family memories.