Hon Dau sits at the tip of Do Son Peninsula, about 20 km southeast of central Hai Phong. It's been a weekend retreat for northern Vietnamese families since the early 2000s, built around a small rocky island connected to the mainland by a bridge. Think local beach resort with a water park, seafood restaurants, and views of the Tonkin Gulf — not a luxury destination, but a genuine slice of how people in the Red River Delta actually vacation.
What Hon Dau is and how it got here
The name "Hon Dau" refers to a small island (hon) historically used as a navigational landmark by fishermen. The French built a lighthouse on it during the colonial period — it's still standing and still operational, one of the oldest in northern Vietnam (베트남 / 越南 / ベトナム). The resort area was developed in the early 2000s as part of Do Son's push to become Hai Phong's tourism anchor. It includes a water park, an artificial beach, gardens, and a bridge out to the original island.
It's not a wilderness escape. It's a built-up leisure zone, and knowing that going in saves you from disappointment. What it does well is give you a full day of coastal activity without the travel time of heading to Cat Ba or Ha Long Bay.
Why travelers go
Most visitors are domestic — families from Hai Phong, Hanoi, and the surrounding provinces. Foreign travelers rarely make it here, which is part of the appeal if you're after something unpolished. The main draws: the lighthouse island with its panoramic coastal views, the water park (busy but fun if you've got kids), and the seafood strip along the Do Son waterfront. It's also a convenient half-day add-on if you're passing through Hai Phong on your way to Cat Ba.
Best time to visit
May through September is peak season. The water park operates year-round but only really makes sense when it's hot — June to August is ideal for that. Weekdays are dramatically quieter than weekends; Saturday afternoons in summer get packed with day-trippers from Hanoi (하노이 / 河内 / ハノイ).
Avoid late October through February if you want to swim. The northeast monsoon makes the coast grey and choppy, and half the food stalls close. March and April are shoulder months — pleasant weather, thin crowds, but the water's still cool.
How to get there from Hai Phong
From central Hai Phong (Tam Bac area), Hon Dau is about 20 km southeast. Options:
- Grab car or taxi: 45-60 minutes depending on traffic. Expect 150,000-200,000 VND one way.
- Motorbike: The ride along the Do Son peninsula road is flat and straightforward. Rentals in Hai Phong run 120,000-150,000 VND/day.
- Local bus: Route 03 runs from Hai Phong center to Do Son. Fare is around 10,000 VND, but it takes over an hour and drops you in Do Son town — you'll still need a xe om (motorbike taxi) for the last 3 km to Hon Dau's gate.
From Hanoi, the fastest route is the Hanoi-Hai Phong Expressway (120 km, about 1.5 hours by car, tolls around 160,000 VND). Budget buses from Gia Lam or My Dinh stations cost 100,000-120,000 VND and take roughly 2.5 hours to Hai Phong's Niem Nghia station.
Photo by tran duy anh on Pexels
What to do — five specific things
Walk the bridge to Hon Dau Island
The pedestrian bridge connecting the mainland to the rocky island is the signature experience. It's maybe 200 meters long, nothing dramatic, but once you're on the island you get the old French lighthouse, some wind-battered coastal rock formations, and a 360-degree view of the gulf. Budget 30-40 minutes for the whole loop. Entry to the island area is included in the resort's general admission (around 100,000 VND for adults).
Hit the water park
Hon Dau's water park has wave pools, slides, and a lazy river. It's not Aquatopia — the facilities are aging and the theming is basic — but it works, especially with kids. Separate ticket required: roughly 150,000-200,000 VND for adults. Weekday mornings are the sweet spot if you want to avoid the crowds.
Wander the Do Son beachfront
Do Son Beach itself runs for about 2 km in three zones. Zone 1 (Khu 1) is the quietest and has the best sand. The water isn't postcard-clear, but it's fine for wading. Rent a beach chair for 30,000-50,000 VND and settle in. Early morning is best — by noon the hawkers arrive in force.
Visit the Do Son lighthouse viewpoint
Separate from the Hon Dau island lighthouse, the main Do Son lighthouse sits on a hill above Zone 1 beach. It's a short but steep walk up. The view north along the coastline toward Hai Phong's industrial port is interesting — a reminder that this is a working coast, not just a resort strip.
Catch a seafood dinner at the Do Son strip
The road leading into Do Son town is lined with seafood restaurants. Most are identical — tanks of live crab, mantis shrimp, clams, and fish out front, plastic tables inside. Prices are posted but always confirm before ordering. A solid meal for two with grilled squid, steamed clams, morning glory, and rice runs 300,000-500,000 VND.
Where to eat nearby
Beyond the seafood strip, seek out "banh da cua" — Hai Phong's signature crab noodle soup, made with wide red-brown rice noodles and a broth thick with crab paste. It's the city's answer to pho and arguably more interesting. A bowl costs 30,000-45,000 VND at local shops. "Bun ca" (fish noodle soup) is another Hai Phong staple worth trying — lighter, with fried or poached fish, dill, and tomato broth. Look for small shops on the main road into Do Son rather than the tourist-facing restaurants at the resort gate.
Where to stay
Do Son has accommodation ranging from bare-bones nha nghi (guesthouses) at 200,000-350,000 VND/night to mid-range hotels at 600,000-1,200,000 VND. The Hoa Phuong Hotel and Do Son Resort sit right on Zone 2 beach and are serviceable three-star options. If you want something better, stay in central Hai Phong — the hotel stock there is newer and more competitive — and day-trip to Hon Dau.
For a totally different experience, consider using Hai Phong as a base and splitting your time between Hon Dau and a day trip to Cat Ba, which is reachable by speedboat in about 45 minutes from Got ferry terminal.
Photo by FOX ^.ᆽ.^= ∫ on Pexels
Practical tips locals would tell you
- Bring cash. Card acceptance at Hon Dau and the Do Son seafood strip is patchy. ATMs exist in Do Son town but not at the resort gate.
- Negotiate seafood prices before cooking. The tanks are priced per kilogram. Agree on weight and price, then confirm the cooking fee (usually 20,000-40,000 VND per dish). This avoids the bill shock that catches first-timers.
- Wear shoes with grip on the island. The rocks around the lighthouse get slippery, especially in humid weather. Flip-flops are a bad idea.
- Sunscreen is expensive at the resort shops. Bring your own from a pharmacy in Hai Phong — it's half the price.
Common mistakes to avoid
Don't come expecting Ha Long Bay (하롱베이 / 下龙湾 / ハロン湾) scenery. Do Son is a flat peninsula, not a karst landscape. The water is brownish-green from river sediment — normal for this part of the coast, not a pollution issue. Manage expectations and you'll enjoy it for what it is.
Don't visit only on a summer weekend unless you enjoy crowds. The water park queue times on a Saturday in July can hit 30-40 minutes per slide.
Don't skip Hai Phong city itself. The old French quarter downtown, the flower road (Tran Hung Dao), and the street food scene — especially that "banh mi" from the carts near Tam Bac Lake — deserve at least a half day.
Practical notes
Hon Dau works best as a day trip from Hai Phong or a quick stop on a northern Vietnam loop that includes Hanoi, Hai Phong, Cat Ba, and Ha Long Bay. It's not a destination you'd fly across the country for, but it's a genuine local experience that shows you a side of Vietnamese coastal life the tour buses skip entirely.
Last updated · May 24, 2026 · independently researched, never sponsored.
