

Where is Sam Son Beach? It is about 180 kilometers from Hanoi (Source: Collected)
1. A glance at Sam Son Beach
About 180 kilometers from Hanoi City and around 16 kilometers from Thanh Hoa City, Sam Son is the most famous beach in Thanh Hoa. It is also one of the most beautiful beaches in Central Vietnam, often called the “ideal destination for relaxation in Indochina.”
Stretching 9 kilometers in a crescent shape from the foot of Truong Le Mountain to Quang Cu Commune, the beach boasts fine, flat sand and a broad expanse of several thousand meters. The waves are strong but there is no deep water or underwater rocks, making it perfect for swimming and beach activities.
Not only is it ideal for fun, but the seawater at Sam Son has the right salinity and temperature beneficial for health, making it a great place for relaxation and rejuvenation.
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2. When is the best time to visit?

You can visit Sam Son—the best Thanh Hoa Beach—anytime of the year (Source: Collected)
The best time to visit Sam Son Beach is during the summer months of May to August, when the weather is dry and warm. This is also the peak tourist season, attracting millions of visitors. For a quieter experience, autumn offers cooler weather, fewer crowds, and more stable prices. Visitors can also immerse themselves in local culture by attending festivals, such as the Prayer Festival at Doc Cuoc Temple (16th of the second lunar month), the Banh Chung-Banh Giay Festival (12th of the fifth lunar month), the Cau Ngu Festival with Boat Racing (15th of the fifth lunar month), and the Sam Son Beach Tourism Festival (mid-April).
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3. Things to do on your trip to Sam Son Beach
Sam Son offers a range of enjoyable experiences, from swimming and relaxation to sampling local cuisine.
3.1. Take part in beach activities

Thanh Hoa’s Sam Son Beach offers four beautiful areas for swimming and beach activities (Source: Collected)
Sam Son has four main beaches—A, B, C, and D—each catering to different needs. Beach A is bustling with a gentle slope and strong waves, ideal for wave jumping, and photo opportunities with boats and rocky cliffs. Beach B has moderate waves, suitable for families with many beachfront snack bars. Beach C is known for its lively atmosphere, clean sand, and entertainment activities, while Beach D is near fishing boat areas, offering a more peaceful experience and insights into local life. Besides swimming, visitors can rent bicycles to ride along the coast to enjoy the natural scenery, play team-building games, experience thrilling water sports like jet skiing and banana boats, and watch the stunning sunrise.
3.2. Explore the lifestyle of local fishermen
A unique experience at Sam Son Beach is visiting a small fishing village nestled along the beach, where visitors can enjoy the peaceful and rustic life of the local people. Amid the lively development of Sam Son Beach, the village retains its peaceful charm. At night, you can watch the fishing boats set sail, and at dawn, you can witness the boats returning with fresh catches. You can also visit the bustling morning fish market, purchase freshly caught seafood, and chat with local fishermen to learn more about their way of life.
3.3. Enjoy delicious dishes from seafood

Sam Son is renowned for its fresh seafood, caught daily by local fishermen (Source: Collected)
ALT: Enjoy delicious dishes from seafood
The cuisine at Sam Son Beach is incredibly appealing, offering a wide variety of fresh seafood caught daily from local fishing boats. There are also many delicious local specialties like nem chua (fermented pork), cha tom (shrimp cake), and banh rang bua (rice cakes) that you can enjoy or take home as souvenirs. Some notable restaurants include:
- Vu Bao Sam Son Restaurant: BT45-05, FLC Sam Son Main Gate
- Hong Thanh Sam Son Restaurant: No. 13, Tran Nhan Tong Street
- Tuan Nam Restaurant:
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- No. 05, Tran Nhan Tong Street (100 meters from FLC Gate)
- No. 21, Tran Nhan Tong Street (200 meters from FLC Gate)
3.4. Visit tourist attractions near Sam Son Beach
Around the beach, there are several interesting places to explore and experience local culture, such as:
- Truong Le Mountain: From the top, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the sea and rock cliffs. The winding path up Truong Le Mountain is also picturesque, lined with lush trees.
- Hon Trong Mai Rocks: These rocks are associated with a legend of eternal love. The rocks are a natural marvel, with three rocks stacked atop each other, resembling a rooster and a hen.
- Co Tien Temple: Located at the end of Truong Le Mountain, the temple is a famous spiritual site of Sam Son Beach tourism. The temple offers insights into the local spiritual life.
- Doc Cuoc Temple: One of Thanh Hoa’s notable spiritual sites, where visitors can admire ancient architecture, learn about local life, and enjoy the surrounding scenic beauty.
- Cot Do Market: Located on Le Loi Street, this market is a major shopping center in Sam Son to buy local specialties and experience the vibrant market atmosphere.

Doc Cuoc Temple is a must-visit attraction in Sam Son (Source: Collected)
3.5. Buy unique souvenirs and seafood
After visiting Sam Son Beach, don’t forget to pick up unique souvenirs like colorful sea stones, small keychains made from seashells, or shell windchimes sold along the beach. Seafood is also a local specialty worth buying. You can buy freshly caught seafood at morning fish markets on the beach or visit bustling markets like Sam Son Market, Moi Market, and Cot Do Market for good deals on fresh seafood, dry seafood, fish sauce, nem chua, and other local products.
3.6. Drop by Sam Son Beach Square at night
The Beach Square is a new attraction at Sam Son, featuring a green space with trees, grass, and large architectural structures like the model of Hon Trong Mai Rocks and decorative LED lights with Dong Son drum patterns. With a capacity of up to 10,000 people, the square is a place where visitors can enjoy activities late into the night, such as strolling under the sparkling lights, watching street art performances, participating in food festivals, and enjoying free water shows with modern sound and lighting systems.

Take a stroll around the square to enjoy the lively Sam Son Beach nightlife (Source: Collected)
Explore: Hai Tien Beach: An ideal destination to unwind in Thanh Hoa
4. How to get there?
Located about 180 kilometers from Hanoi, traveling to Sam Son is easy and quick, taking just over 2 hours. Visitors can drive via convenient expressways: Phap Van – Cau Gie, Ninh Binh, Cao Bo – Mai Son, and Mai Son – QL45. For a scenic and leisurely trip from Hanoi to Sam Son Beach, you can take a train, with tickets ranging from 160,000 to 280,000 VND depending on the seat class. Another quick and convenient option is to take a bus from Giap Bat Station to Sam Son Station, with fares starting at around 100,000 VND per person.
5. Where to stay during your travel to Sam Son Beach?
As a developed tourist destination, Sam Son offers a variety of accommodation options. While there are fewer high-end Sam Son Beach resorts and hotels, many budget-friendly hotels and guesthouses are located close to the beach. Room rates during peak season start from around 250,000 VND and up. For a great view and convenient location, you can stay at hotels on Ho Xuan Huong Street near the beach. For a more affordable stay, look for guesthouses 500-700 meters from the beach in Areas C and D.

Sam Son provides various accommodation options (Source: Collected)
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6. Extra tips for tourists to Sam Son Beach in Thanh Hoa
To ensure a safe and enjoyable trip to the beach, keep in mind these tips:
- Avoid swimming if the temperature is below 18°C.
- Do not swim on an empty or overly full stomach.
- Do some light exercise before swimming to prevent cramps.
- Spend a few minutes observing the sea before swimming, and avoid areas that appear darker (indicating deeper water) or where the water is unusually calm with smaller waves.
- Do not swim more than 15 meters from the shore or in water deeper than 5 meters, and always heed the swimming limit flags.
- Get out of the water if you experience itching, feeling cold, unusual fatigue, cramps, or vision disturbances.
- San Son Beach has a lifeguard team on duty. If you encounter issues like drowning, seasickness, or cramps, signal for help.
- Follow the designated no-swim times, which are during midday and after 5 PM when the lifeguard team is off duty.

Follow these tips for a safe and enjoyable beach trip (Source: Collected)
Sam Son Beach is a must-visit destination in Thanh Hoa, offering a perfect blend of natural beauty, rich culture, and vibrant activities. Whether you are looking to relax on its pristine shores, savor fresh seafood, or explore local attractions, the beach has something for everyone. With its year-round appeal and diverse accommodations, it promises an unforgettable experience for all.
After visiting Sam Son Beach in Thanh Hoa, travelers can also explore Nghe An, another prominent destination in North Central Vietnam. Here, it is worth experiencing the excitement at VinWonders Cua Hoi, the largest entertainment complex in the region. As a newly established attraction, VinWonders Cua Hoi draws many visitors with a wide array of activities, including thrilling rides, lively festivals, a visit to the ancient 800-year-old Song Ngu Pagoda, and a ride on the region’s only sea-crossing cable car.

Take the sea-crossing cable car to enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of Cua Lo Beach
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