Cua Lo Beach Travel Guide | Seafood, Beaches and New Attractions in Nghe An, Vietnam
Summer is here!
When people think about a beach holiday in Vietnam, places like Da Nang and Nha Trang often come to mind. However, there is another beach destination that is especially worth knowing if you live in Hanoi or north-central Vietnam.
That place is Cửa Lò Beach (Cua Lo Beach) on the coast of Vinh City, Nghe An Province.
White sandy beaches, shallow water, seafood restaurants that stay lively into the evening, and freshly caught squid all make Cua Lo a great place for a summer trip.
In this guide, I will introduce how to get to Cua Lo Beach, the best things to do, local seafood to try, hotels, and suggested itineraries, based on my own visits.
Contents
What Is Cua Lo Beach?
How to Get to Cua Lo Beach from Vinh and Hanoi
Best Time to Visit Cua Lo Beach
Things to Do at Cua Lo Beach
Swim Around Binh Minh Square
Enjoy the Sea View from Lan Chau Island
Visit VinWonders Cua Hoi and Song Ngu Island
Explore Fresh Seafood at Hom Market
Visit the Night Squid Market
Seafood to Try at Cua Lo Beach
Recommended Hotels Around Cua Lo Beach
Suggested Cua Lo Beach Itineraries
Half-Day Cua Lo Itinerary
Two-Day Cua Lo Itinerary
Summary
What Is Cua Lo Beach? A Local Beach Resort in Nghe An
Cua Lo Beach (Cửa Lò) is one of the best-known beach resorts in north-central Vietnam and is located along the coast of Vinh City in Nghe An Province.
It is especially popular with Vietnamese domestic travelers, including families and tour groups from Nghe An and nearby provinces during the summer.
Compared with Da Nang or Nha Trang, Cua Lo is still much less internationalized.
That is part of its charm.
Visitors can experience a more local Vietnamese seaside atmosphere, with busy seafood restaurants, local families enjoying the beach, and fishing boats bringing fresh seafood ashore.
How to Get to Cua Lo Beach from Vinh and Hanoi
Cua Lo Beach is only about 20 minutes by car from central Vinh City, so it is very easy to reach.
Local buses also operate between Vinh and the Cua Lo area.
From Hanoi, you can fly to Vinh in around 40 minutes by plane.
This makes Cua Lo a good option for a weekend trip from Hanoi.
You can also combine your beach trip with sightseeing in Vinh City or a visit to Pu Mat National Park in western Nghe An Province.
Best Time to Visit Cua Lo Beach
The best time to visit Cua Lo Beach is generally from April to September.
Outside this season, some restaurants may close, and temperatures can be too cool for swimming.
If your main purpose is to enjoy the beach, seafood, and summer atmosphere, I recommend visiting during the warmer months.
Things to Do at Cua Lo Beach
So, what can you actually do at Cua Lo Beach?
Here are some of the best places and experiences to enjoy.
Swim Around Binh Minh Square
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| Beach around Binh Minh Square |
The area around Binh Minh Square (Quảng trường Bình Minh) is one of the most popular places for swimming at Cua Lo Beach.
The beach here is wide and lively, especially in the late afternoon.
If you travel about 1.5 kilometers south from Binh Minh Square, you will reach Cua Hoi Beach (Cửa Hội).
Compared with the busy atmosphere of Cua Lo Beach, Cua Hoi is quieter and more relaxed.
Enjoy the Sea View from Lan Chau Island
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| Lan Chau Island (Đảo Lan Châu) |
Lan Chau Island (Đảo Lan Châu) is located at the northern end of Cua Lo Beach.
Although it is called an island, it is connected to the mainland.
One of the main reasons to visit is the beautiful coastal view from the lighthouse.
From here, you can look out over the sea and see Song Ngu Island in the distance.
The entrance fee is around 20,000 VND.
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| View of Song Ngu Island from Lan Chau Island |
Visit VinWonders Cua Hoi and Song Ngu Island
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| VinWonders Cua Hoi (VinWonders Cửa Hội) |
VinWonders Cua Hoi (VinWonders Cửa Hội) is a large entertainment complex developed by Vingroup, one of Vietnam’s largest private companies.
The complex includes an amusement park, water park, restaurants, and hotels.
It opened in 2024 and has quickly become one of the main attractions in the Cua Lo and Cua Hoi area.
It is especially popular with families on weekends and public holidays.
About four kilometers offshore is Song Ngu Island (Đảo Song Ngư).
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| Cable car to Song Ngu Island |
A cable car connects the mainland area near VinWonders with the island.
Development on Song Ngu Island is still continuing, with new entertainment areas, restaurants, and attractions being added.
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| Inside Song Ngu Island |
Explore Fresh Seafood at Hom Market
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| Hom Market (Chợ Hôm) |
If you want to see a local seafood market, I recommend Hom Market (Chợ Hôm), one of the best-known seafood markets in the Cua Lo area.
The market is usually crowded with both local people and visitors.
You can see freshly landed shrimp, crab, blue swimming crab, squid, and many other types of seafood.
One of Cua Lo’s most famous specialties is mực nháy, or extremely fresh squid.
The name refers to squid that is so fresh that its skin may still appear to shimmer or change color shortly after being caught.
It is one of the seafood products Cua Lo is especially proud of.
The market is busiest from around 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., when seafood is brought in from fishing boats.
Visit the Night Squid Market
If you visit between around March and August, try going to the night squid market near Lan Chau Island.
From around 7:00 p.m., fishermen bring in squid that has just been caught.
You can see rows of containers filled with mực nháy, some of which are still moving.
It is a very local experience and one of the most interesting things to see in Cua Lo at night.
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| Map of Night Squid Market |
Seafood to Try at Cua Lo Beach
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| Squid is a must! |
Some of the most popular seafood dishes in Cua Lo include:
mực nháy (fresh squid), crab, blue swimming crab, shrimp, Spanish mackerel, clam porridge, eel porridge, and oysters.
Clam porridge is especially comforting and has a mild, gentle flavor
There are many seafood restaurants along Binh Minh Street (Bình Minh) in front of Binh Minh Square, so you can simply walk around and choose the restaurant that looks best to you.
Here are a few restaurants I often visit or recommend:
Gió Biển Restaurant: Conveniently located near Cua Lo Beach.
Hằng Đằng Restaurant: When I asked people on Facebook for restaurant recommendations in Cua Lo, this was the restaurant mentioned most often.
Thúy Hiếu Restaurant: A more local-style restaurant with a large menu.
Hồng Lộc Clam Porridge Restaurant: Famous for its clam porridge.
Recommended Hotels Around Cua Lo Beach
There are many mid-range and upscale hotels along Binh Minh Street.
Some of the cheapest hotels may have basic facilities, and in some cases hot water may not always be reliable.
If comfort and a resort atmosphere are important to you, these hotels are good options:
Suggested Cua Lo Beach Itineraries
Half-Day Cua Lo Itinerary: Seafood and Lan Chau Island
Morning: Take a taxi from Vinh City to Cua Lo Beach
Lunch: Enjoy seafood around Binh Minh Street
Afternoon: Walk around Lan Chau Island, then return to Vinh
One-Day Cua Lo Itinerary
Morning: Swim at Cua Lo Beach or walk around Lan Chau Island
Lunch: Seafood lunch
Afternoon: Visit VinWonders Cua Hoi and take the cable car to Song Ngu Island
Evening: Relax on the beach as the temperature becomes cooler
Night: Visit the night squid market and have dinner at a seafood restaurant
Two-Day Cua Lo Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Vinh City → Travel to Cua Lo → Seafood lunch → Visit Lan Chau Island → Night squid market
Day 2: Early morning at the beach → Visit VinWonders Cua Hoi → Relax around Cua Hoi Beach → Return to Vinh City
Summary
Cua Lo Beach is a great choice for anyone living in Hanoi or north-central Vietnam who wants to say:
“I want to go to the beach this weekend!”
“I want to experience a local Vietnamese beach resort!”
“I want to travel around Nghe An Province!”
With easy access from Vinh City, fresh seafood, beaches, local markets, Lan Chau Island, and newer attractions such as VinWonders Cua Hoi, Cua Lo is an enjoyable destination for both a day trip and an overnight stay.
If you are planning a summer trip in Vietnam, consider adding Cua Lo Beach in Nghe An Province to your travel list.
See you again!
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