Cua Lo Beach

The Cua Lo Beach, with its enchanting and gentle beauty, is an unmissable destination in central Vietnam. With its smooth white sand, crystal-clear waters, and fresh air, Cua Lo Beach attracts visitors from all over to relax and enjoy peaceful moments by the seaside. It's the perfect place for leisurely walks along the shore, sunbathing under the blue sky, and indulging in delicious seafood at beachside restaurants. With its pristine and simple scenery, Cua Lo Beach offers an exciting and memorable travel experience for every visitor. 

Cua Lo Beach is one of the most attractive tourist destinations (Cre: vietnamonline.com)

The geographical location of Cua Lo Beach

Cua Lo Beach is located in Cua Lo town, northeast of Nghe An province, Central Vietnam. Specifically, it is located northwest of Vinh city, about 15 kilometers away from Vinh and about 70 kilometers from Ha Tinh.  Cua Lo Beach is known as one of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam, an ideal destination for travelers from all over. Cua Lo is always a name mentioned when it comes to beaches in Vietnam.

Cua Lo Beach is located in Cua Lo town, Nghe An province (Cre: visitnghean)

Cua Lo Beach stretches 12 kilometers long, along Binh Minh Boulevard, with gentle slopes and fine white sand adorned by countless rows of casuarina trees. In recent years, local authorities have been actively promoting Cua Lo tourism, resulting in a bustling array of restaurants and hotels in the Cua Lo tourist area, all equipped with modern amenities.

Currently, Cua Lo Beach is divided into three main bathing areas: Lan Chau, Song Ngu, and Xuan Huong. The Lam River flows into Cua Hoi, flowing into the East Sea along a southward current, carrying silt to keep the water around Cua Lo clear all year round. Additionally, Cua Lo Beach is sheltered by Hon Ngu Island, so the sea waves are gentle, making it suitable for swimming.

The best time to visit Cua Lo Beach 

The best time to visit Cua Lo Beach is from April to September each year, during the summer and autumn. During this time, the weather in Cua Lo is usually warm and sunny, creating ideal conditions for relaxing on the beach and participating in outdoor activities such as swimming, kayaking, or even surfing.

Additionally, summer and autumn are also the times when Cua Lo is less affected by heavy rain or storms, allowing tourists to enjoy their vacation more comfortably and safely.

The best time to visit Cua Lo Beach is from April to September each year (Cre: visitnghean)

Some famous places when traveling to Cua Lo Beach

• Some appealing islands

One of the places you should consider visiting when in the Cua Lo Beach tourist area is Lan Chau Island and Hon Ngu Island.

Lan Chau Island is located close to the coast, resembling a giant toad stretching out into the open sea. It is famous for its beauty and pristine nature. Lan Chau Island is situated to the northeast of Cua Lo Beach, dividing Cua Lo Beach into two separate areas. At the peak of Lan Chau Island stands the villa of King Bao Dai, from where you can observe the entire scenery of Cua Lo Town and the open sea.

Lan Chau Island in Cua Lo Beach (Cre: visitnghean)

Another equally attractive destination to Lan Chau Island is Hon Ngu Island. This location is approximately 4 kilometers away from Cua Lo. What makes it special is that it consists of two large and small islands resembling two fish, hence also known as Song Ngu (Two Fish) Islands. Hon Ngu Island is located more than 4 kilometers from the shore, comprising two large and small islands. The larger island is 133 meters high, while the smaller one is 88 meters high above sea level, with a total area of 2.5 kilometers, making it convenient for sightseeing. On the island, there is Bai Chua (Pagoda Beach), built in the 13th century, featuring a pagoda and pagoda garden. From Cua Lo Beach, motorboats are available to take tourists to visit Hon Ngu Island. Hon Ngu Island is famous for farming barramundi fish, which is one of the renowned dishes.

Hon Ngu Island in Cua Lo Beach (Cre: visitnghean)

• Cultural heritage associated with tourism in Cua Lo

The town of Cua Lo currently has 40 tangible cultural heritages, including 04 national relics (Van Loc Temple, Hoang Van Family Church, Mai Bang Temple; church, Nguyen Trong Dat tomb area).

In addition, there are also 06 types of intangible cultural heritages with 97 intangible cultural heritages developed and preserved within the area of Cua Lo town. Notably, the " Yen Luong Temple Festival'' has been recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national-level intangible cultural heritage.

In addition to the appeal of a "seaside resort paradise", tourism combined with discovering and experiencing the local folk culture of a region is becoming a new trend chosen by many visitors when coming to Cua Lo.

Mai Bang temple in Cua Lo town (Cre: visitnghean)

Some activities when traveling to Cua Lo Beach

• Visit and experience the fish market in Nghi Thuy fishing village

Experiencing the daily life of fishermen is one of the interesting activities when you visit Cua Lo Beach resort. The image of fishermen pulling nets and women wearing conical hats catching clams in a rustic and simple way has left a strong impression on many tourists.

The boats were filled with fresh fish, squid, shrimp, and crabs, each with a mission. Customers walking around, choosing, and negotiating prices are typical scenes of Vietnamese fish markets.

Most tourists are very excited and during their stay in Cua Lo, they arrange to go to the fish market to explore and experience firsthand.

The fish market in Nghi Thuy fishing village (Cre: baotintuc.vn)

• Sports activities on Cua Lo Beach

A new day begins, and Cua Lo Beach is bustling with sports activities. At Cua Lo Beach, you can freely engage in sports such as volleyball, football, team building, kayaking, and more. To enhance tourism, Cua Lo Beach has introduced various game services, boat rental services, and stand-up paddleboard rental services to enrich the experience and attract tourists.

Some of sports activities on Cua Lo Beach (Cre: visitnghean)

• Explore Cua Lo Beach Tourism Festival

Tourist programs and traditional festivals are held throughout the year in Cua Lo. One of the biggest festivals is the Cua Lo Tourism Festival, which occurs annually on April 30th. This festival marks the beginning of the new tourist season and the traditional fishing season. Lasting for two days, the festival features a wide range of activities including sports events and exhibitions showcasing historical relics. The Cua Lo Beach Festival is also gaining prominence and evolving into a large-scale event, drawing thousands of tourists to participate and immerse themselves in the festivities.

Cua Lo Beach tourism festival (Cre: Nguyen Dao) 

Transportation of Cua Lo Beach

You can travel by many different types of vehicles depending on their suitability. Below are some transportation methods you can refer to:

• Traveling by buses: Currently, there are many buses to Cua Lo, Nghe An. This mode of transportation can be arranged with bus operators departing from various locations in other cities. Traveling by bus helps save money, but it is quite time-consuming.
• Traveling by personal car: Traveling by personal car allows you to have control over your schedule and the flexibility to stop at various attractions along the way.
• Traveling by motorbike: Traveling by motorbike is suitable for adventurous tourists who are experienced riders. The journey can be quite long, requiring you to plan your itinerary carefully and stay focused while navigating through traffic. However, traveling by motorbike allows you to have control over your time and destinations along your journey.
• Airplane: From major city centers, you can choose to travel by airplane to Vinh city. Although the cost is higher than other modes of transportation, it saves time. Typically, traveling to Cua Lo Beach can take 7-8 hours, but by airplane, it can be shortened to 3-4 hours for the entire journey.
• Traveling by train: One of the transportation options you can choose when going to Cua Lo Beach is traveling by train. You can go to the nearest train station and choose Vinh City as your destination. Upon arriving at Vinh station, you will still need another mode of transportation to travel 15 kilometers to Cua Lo Beach.

You can travel to Cua Lo Beach by many different types of vehicles (Cre: internet)

Enjoy delicious dishes at Cua Lo Beach tourism

• Grill herring fish

The waters of Nghe An always abound with herring, especially during the season. However, the herring found in the waters of Cua Lo is renowned for its exceptional taste and uniqueness. Herring is easily identifiable by its small size, flat, thin, slightly elongated body, and light green skin. The fish's belly is marked with distinct serrated lines, and its entire body is covered in numerous small round scales. Herring can be prepared into various delicious dishes such as charcoal grilling, frying, steaming, and more.

Many visitors to Nghe An enjoy grilled herring from the region, which is very crispy, sweet, and boasts a rich flavor with a subtle aroma of smoke, charcoal, and the essence of seawater. This is why grilled herring has become a "specialty" of Nghe An, cherished by numerous tourists and purchased as gifts for friends and relatives each time they visit Nghe An.

Grilled herring has become a "specialty" of Nghe An (Cre: Le Thi Nhu)

• Humboldt squid

Humboldt squid is one of the famous seafood specialties of Nghe An province. This type of seafood is often caught in the waters of Cua Lo and nearby coastal areas. Humboldt squid has delicious meat, especially when cooked into dishes such as grilled squid, sautéed squid with chili sauce, or steamed squid. With its distinctive flavor and high quality, Nghe An's humboldt squid attracts many tourists and is considered an icon of Central Vietnamese coastal cuisine.

The seafood dishes in Cua Lo are extremely enticing to diners (Cre: lagroup.com.vn)

The seafood dishes in Cua Lo are extremely enticing to diners because Cua Lo is a land abundant in seafood, which is processed into delicious and fresh dishes, thus attracting many tourists to experience. Additionally, visitors can also enjoy famous dishes from Nghe An such as Cua Lo clam porridge, eel porridge, Da Do Luong cake, and more.

Some travel experiences for Cua Lo Beach

Before going:

• Preparing essential items: Bring sunscreen, hat, cap, sunglasses, swimsuit, towels,...
• Carrying cash: Some places in Cua Lo may not accept card payments.
• Check the weather: Before you go, check the weather forecast to avoid unexpected obstacles, such as heavy rain or high waves.

When going:

• Maintain environmental hygiene: Do not litter, protect the natural landscape.
• Adhere to beach safety regulations: Do not swim when there are big waves, and avoid swimming too far from shore.
• Take note when participating in sports activities: If you engage in activities such as surfing, windsurfing, or kayaking, ensure you have the necessary skills and safety equipment, and always follow the guidance of experts or locals.
• Try the delicious specialties of Cua Lo in particular, and Nghe An in general, to have memorable experiences.

Conclusion 

Today, Cua Lo Beach is an impressive destination for every tourist. Not only does it have the bustle and excitement of urban coastal tourism, but it also maintains the freshness and pristine nature. Cua Lo Beach encapsulates the beauty of nature, culinary delights, distinctive culture, and serves as a source of pride for the people of Nghe An.

Hopefully this article provides useful information for tourists about Cua Lo beach tourism. If you are interested in a trip to Cua Lo beach, click here. And with Asia King Travel by your side, you can expect a well-organized and memorable trip.

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