Hidden Eateries to Explore in Do Son

Due to its close proximity to Hanoi and convenient transportation, a 2-day trip to Do Son, Hai Phong, or even a 'fast train' from Hanoi at 5 AM, departing by 9 PM, is sufficient for a beach retreat.

Another reason why people choose Do Son, Hai Phong, is for a quick getaway. Here, 2 days and one night are enough, and more time might leave you with no further places to explore.

Dining and Staying Over

Financially speaking, in the midst of the beach tourism season, don't worry about expenses. With a few million dongs, you can spend comfortably. But if you're not wealthy, just 1-2 million dongs are enough for you and your family to enjoy a refreshing stay in Do Son.

Starting from Hanoi, if not driving a private vehicle, travelers can catch a bus from Yen Nghia Station (Ha Dong), Luong Yen Station, Giap Bat Station, or Gia Lam Station. Only 10-20 minutes per journey, ticket price is 70,000 VND/passenger, with comfortable air-conditioned buses, and the travel time is 2-2.5 hours for the 100 km distance.

Before heading to Do Son, it's recommended to stop by the center of Hai Phong city to indulge in a bowl of seafood noodle soup to satisfy your hunger. Once you get off at Lac Long pier or Tam Bac pier, take a taxi or motorbike taxi to explore the city center, admire the city theater built since 1904. Hail a ride towards Cau Dat Street (the road to Do Son) to reach alley 195 Cau Dat, and savor a bowl of rich and fragrant seafood noodle soup. Despite being tucked away in an alley, the sight of golden crab legs in the pot, the enticing aroma of crab, captivates diners at first glance. The price of seafood noodle soup ranges from 25,000 to 50,000 VND per bowl, depending on whether you opt for crab claws. Regardless of the price, almost everyone leaves with an empty bowl, as the broth is exceptionally delicious, with the natural sweetness of seafood rather than artificial flavorings or MSG.

After satisfying your hunger, you can take a bus to Do Son, with a ticket price of only 25,000 VND per way. However, buses in Hai Phong are not air-conditioned and operate irregularly, sometimes requiring a 30-minute wait for the next one. If you're traveling with a group, consider taking a taxi with a fare under 300,000 VND one way for the nearly 30 km journey to the beach. Taxi companies like En Vang and Hoang Anh often offer budget-friendly packages to Do Son.

As the vehicle enters district 2, numerous motorbike taxis rush to solicit customers for hotels. If you're a first-time visitor to Do Son, it's advisable to avoid these motorbike taxis and stay away from the Xay Dung area if you desire a quiet night by the sea. An ideal accommodation choice is the villas on the hill in district 3, historic residences once used for state guests in the previous century. Famous villas include Truc Dao, Hoa Lan, with room prices ranging from 400,000 to 800,000 VND per night, depending on the season and day. Weekends in summer are the peak period, with room prices potentially exceeding 1 million VND per night. In these villas, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the sea and witness the sunrise right from your window due to their elevated hillside location.

For budget-conscious students, an economical option is the Quan Khu I guesthouse at Thoc pier, offering triple rooms priced at only 400-600,000 VND per night on weekends.

Sea bathing, flying, and jet skiing

After selecting your hotel room, tourists should choose a spot for sea bathing. Unfortunately, Do Son doesn't boast the crystal-clear waters and fine white sand of the beaches in the South Central region. Due to the sedimentation of silt and mud from the river mouth, the sea in Do Son tends to be murky. Travelers often opt for bathing at the second beach, as it features a relatively flat sandy shore with no underwater rocks.

Another option for travelers is to visit Hon Dau tourist area and enjoy the artificial beach where clean sand is sprayed, creating an ideal space for children to play. Within this tourist area, you'll find the largest swimming pool in Southeast Asia, equipped with a wave machine simulating ocean waves. However, currently, the wave machine is undergoing repairs due to damage caused by storm No. 2. The exact time for the operation of this giant machine is yet to be determined.

If you have extra cash to spare and crave an adrenaline rush, you can rent a jet ski for 50,000 VND per minute. Running it for 10 minutes costs 1 million VND, but in return, you get to fly over the water and experience thrilling 180-degree turns.

Another unique experience is parasailing. Priced at 500,000 VND per ride, two people can soar through the air for 15 minutes. A speedboat will zip through the water, lifting your parasail into the sky for a panoramic view of the Do Son tourist area.

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Source: Travel guide from Mytour – Courtesy of: Thanh Nien