The New York-based travel site Thrillist has included Cat Co 2 beach on Cat Ba island, northern Hai Phong city, and Thom beach on Phu Quoc island, southern Kien Giang province, on its list of the best seaside getaways in Vietnam.
Thom Beach on
Phu Quoc Island. (Photo: VNA)
Situated 45km to the east of Hai Phong, Cat Ba boasts
crystal-clear waters, jungles and ancient fishing villages, but has managed to
keep a relatively low profile despite being just south of the world-famous Ha
Long Bay.
The travel site described Cat Co 2 as "the most relaxed of Cat Ba’s three
beaches” and a place where travellers can take in a panoramic view of the amazing
island surrounded by spectacular limestone mountains.
It described Thom beach on Phu Quoc island as "Nested in the forest that
dominates this island, Thom beach is too far off the beaten track for coach
tourists but brings in enough intrepid backpackers to sustain the local snack
shacks and their surprisingly delicious homebrewed beer.”
Cat Ba island is set to become an eco-smart island and a national tourism site,
according to Hai Phong’s tourism development plan period 2017-2020.
Located 150 kilometres from Hanoi, Cat Ba consists of 366 large and small
islands, beaches and limestone mountains. In 2004, Cat Ba island was recognised
by the UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve
Meanwhile, Phu Quoc, 40km west of southern Kien Giang province, is dubbed the
"pearl” island.
Phu Quoc features a monsoon tropical climate. It has two seasons, the dry
season from November to April and the rainy season from May to October. The
average temperature is 28 degrees Celsius, allowing visitors to enjoy the
island’s beauty at any time of the year.
The Phu Quoc National Park is one of the most attractive places in the
district. It is home to 929 plant species, of which 42 are listed in the
Vietnamese and world red books of endangered species. The park is part of the
Kien Giang biosphere reserve, which was recognised as a World Biosphere Reserve
by UNESCO in 2006.
Source: VNA
Spanning thousands of hectares and winding gracefully along mountain slopes, hillsides, and riverbanks, the terraced rice fields of Lac Son District present a stunning and captivating beauty. This region, renowned for its remarkable terraced landscapes, is also the centre of Hoa Binh Culture known for numerous archaeological sites.
The life of Mong people in Hang Kia and Pa Co communes of Mai Chau district has improved much thanks to tourism development.
The man-made Hoa Binh Lake, with a water surface area of approximately 9,000 hectares and a capacity of 9.45 billion cubic meters, stretches over 200 kilometers from Hoa Binh to Son La provinces. With the goal of developing into a national tourism area, the Hoa Binh Lake tourism area is expected to not only become the largest tourism centre in the province but also one of the 12 key tourist destinations in the northern midland and mountainous region of Vietnam.
Da Bia hamlet, now Duc Phong, in Tien Phong commune, Da Bac district, was once almost isolated from the outside as the only way to the hamlet was to get a boat ride across the Hoa Binh reservoir. However, as its tourism potential has been unleashed, the hamlet has established itself as one of the most attractive destinations on the tourism map. It has even received the ASEAN Community-Based Tourism Awards in 2019.
In the first 9 months of 2024, Mai Chau district, Hoa Binh province welcomed over 684 thousand visitors to visit and relax. In which, over 516 thousand domestic visitors and more than 168 thousand international visitors. Total revenue from tourism is estimated at over 821 billion VND.
Da Bac district, bestowed with stunning landscapes, is developing ecological and resort tourism offerings. Several tourist sites, put into operation this year, has attracted throngs of high-spending and young domestic visitors.