Staying in Bai Chay: the beach, Sun World and the cruise port of Ha Long

83 accommodations

Bai Chay is the tourist heart of Ha Long, on the west bank of the Cua Luc strait at the foot of the Bai Chay bridge. Its name means "burning beach", and the beach is still the centre of everything: a long curve of sand facing the first islands of the bay, backed by a seafront promenade, gardens and a row of hotels. Behind it, the streets climb a low hill crowded with small hotels, seafood restaurants, massage parlours and shops, and at its western end rise the cable car towers of Sun World Ha Long.

On this site the Bai Chay zone covers the beach and the streets around it, the hill behind the seafront, the Sun World area and the Ha Long International Passenger Port, roughly from the bridge to the edge of Hung Thang. Since July 2025 Bai Chay has also been the name of a much larger ward that includes Hung Thang, so many addresses further west are written with "Bai Chay" too; here, Hung Thang has its own page, because it is a different kind of place.

Who should stay in Bai Chay?

Bai Chay suits first visits to Ha Long, families with children, couples and anyone travelling without a car. It is the one area of the city where you can walk from your hotel to the beach, to dinner, to the night market and to Sun World, and where taxis and limousine vans from Hanoi drop passengers at the door. It is also the most practical base for a day cruise: the Ha Long International Passenger Port is in Bai Chay itself, and Tuan Chau harbour is 15 to 20 minutes away by taxi.

The trade-offs are crowds and noise. On summer weekends and Vietnamese holidays the beach and the seafront fill with domestic tourists, the karaoke bars of the hill stay busy late, and hotel prices rise sharply. In winter, by contrast, many restaurants close early and the beach is almost empty. Travellers who want quiet nights, a pool with a view or a large apartment often prefer Hung Thang or Tuan Chau.

Hotels and other places to stay in Bai Chay

The 83 properties listed in this zone are mostly hotels, with a few villas, apartments, guest houses and resorts. Bai Chay has the widest range in Ha Long: simple family-run hotels on the streets of the hill, a large group of three-star hotels near the beach, and international four- and five-star hotels on the seafront and around Sun World, several with outdoor pools and rooms facing the bay. Guest ratings are good overall, with a median close to 9 out of 10 on this site.

As a guide for 2026, rooms in simple hotels and guest houses cost up to about 900,000 VND a night, three-star hotels about 900,000 to 1,800,000 VND, four-star hotels about 1,800,000 to 3,500,000 VND and five-star hotels from about 3,500,000 VND, with Friday and Saturday nights, the summer months and public holidays such as 30 April and 2 September at the top of the range. Sea views are the main supplement: in Bai Chay the rooms that face the bay over the promenade are the ones that sell out first.

Two details are worth checking in each listing. Many small hotels on the hill are reached by steep streets, which matters with heavy luggage. And breakfast is not included by default: the listings say whether it is offered and in what form.

What is there to do in Bai Chay?

The beach is the main attraction in summer, when the water is warm and a bathing area is marked out in front of the promenade; in winter it is a place for walks along the promenade. Sun World Ha Long spreads across both sides of the coast road. By the sea are the Dragon Park, with roller coasters and a free-fall tower, and the Typhoon Water Park, open mainly in summer. The Queen Cable Car crosses the water from the coast to Ba Deo hill, where the Sun Wheel, a giant Ferris wheel, and a Japanese garden look over the bay and the bridge. In 2026 the cable car costs about 380,000 VND for an adult and about 280,000 VND for a child, and the Dragon Park about 300,000 to 400,000 VND for an adult; the Dragon Park opens on Friday afternoons and at weekends, and the cable car and the Sun Wheel run into the evening.

In the evening Bai Chay comes alive along the seafront and around the night market, where stalls sell souvenirs, pearls and local snacks, and in the many seafood restaurants where you choose fish, crab, clams and squid from the tanks. Chả mực, the fried squid cake of Ha Long, is the dish to try. The Bai Chay bridge, lit at night, is a short walk from the eastern end of the beach.

How do you get to Bai Chay?

From Hanoi, shared limousine vans and coaches reach Bai Chay in about 2.5 to 3.5 hours by expressway, for about 200,000 to 300,000 VND per person in a limousine; most drop passengers at hotels, and coaches stop at Bai Chay bus station, west of the centre. From Van Don International Airport, about 50 km away, the drive takes 45 to 60 minutes. From Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, count on 2.5 to 3 hours.

For the cruises, the Ha Long International Passenger Port is in Bai Chay, with berths for sightseeing and overnight boats as well as for large international cruise ships; check in your booking which harbour your boat uses, because many overnight cruises leave from Tuan Chau, 15 to 20 minutes west by taxi. Hon Gai, the old centre, is about 10 minutes away across the bridge. Taxis and ride-hailing cars are everywhere in Bai Chay.

When is Bai Chay at its best?

The busiest months are May to August, when the beach season and the school holidays fill the hotels, especially at weekends; book early for those dates and expect higher prices. March to May and late September to November are the most pleasant months for a stay that mixes a cruise and the town: mild, often clear, with calmer seas. From December to February the weather is cool and grey, the water too cold for most swimmers, and the beach quiet, but hotels are at their cheapest and Sun World's cable car still runs. Storms are most likely between July and September; when the bay is closed to boats, Bai Chay is the area with the most to do on land.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bai Chay the best area to stay in Ha Long?

For a first visit, usually yes: it has the beach, Sun World, the night market, the widest choice of hotels and restaurants, and a cruise port within the area. Hung Thang is better for apartments and quiet, Tuan Chau for early cruise departures, and Hon Gai for local life and value.

Can you swim at Bai Chay beach?

Yes, in the warm months, roughly May to October, when a bathing area is marked out in front of the promenade. The water is calm and shallow, sheltered by the islands of the bay. From December to February it is too cold for most swimmers.

How far is Bai Chay from the cruise harbours?

The Ha Long International Passenger Port is in Bai Chay, a short taxi ride from most hotels. Tuan Chau harbour, where many overnight cruises board, is about 15 to 20 minutes away by taxi. Many cruise companies also pick up guests at hotels in Bai Chay.

Is Bai Chay noisy at night?

The seafront, the night market and the karaoke bars on the hill are lively until late, especially on summer weekends. For quieter nights, choose a hotel set back from the main streets, a higher floor, or one of the hotels around Sun World and towards Hung Thang.