Tung Thu Beach in Haiphong, Vietnam

Tung Thu Beach is a developed bathing beach on Cat Ba Island within Cat Hai Special Zone, Haiphong. The old WordPress routing to Haiphong is broadly correct at the city level, while current local sources identify the beach more precisely in the Cat Ba settlement area. Unlike the smaller Cat Co coves, Tung Thu sits close to the town side of the island and offers a wider space for ordinary beach use and organized outdoor activities. It suits travelers who want an accessible Cat Ba beach without needing a boat excursion, though the experience is more developed than a remote natural cove.

Haiphong’s 2026 tourism-digitization program includes Tung Thu among the city’s officially promoted tourism locations, confirming that it remains an active visitor beach. The Cat Ba tourism information system describes it as part of the Cat Ba Amatina development and lists free entry. It also notes services associated with outdoor events, camping-style activities and recreation. Those details point to a beach that functions both as a place to swim and as an event or group-activity space.

Current local-government reporting independently confirms the exact location in the Cat Ba area of Cat Hai Special Zone. That is useful because another tourism page indexed under a similar name contains inconsistent text about a different island, showing why fresh identity checking matters. The reliable routing is straightforward: Tung Thu is on Cat Ba Island near town, not a boat-only beach on Cat Dua Island.

The beach can be reached by road once you are on Cat Ba Island. Travelers staying in Cat Ba town can use a taxi, electric vehicle, scooter or other short local transfer. Walking may be practical from some accommodations, but the actual distance depends on the hotel. The beach’s town-side position makes it far easier logistically than Lan Ha Bay beaches reached only by boat and gives families a simple option when they do not want to organize a cruise.

No dependable current opening timetable was published by the strongest sources reviewed, so the daily hours remain unconfirmed in this record. Free entry does not mean swimming is appropriate at any hour. Use the beach in daylight, follow local flags and safety instructions, and judge the sea before entering. Cat Ba weather can change quickly, and storms or strong wind can affect both water quality and island transport.

A normal visit needs two to four hours. That gives enough time for swimming, relaxing and moving between town and the sand. A longer stay may make sense if you are joining a paid group activity or event. The Cat Ba tourism page notes that some team-building, bonfire, barbecue or event uses may involve fees, so visitors should not confuse free beach admission with free organized use of the space. Confirm prices and permissions before setting up anything beyond ordinary beach recreation.

Tung Thu’s role is different from the better-known Cat Co beaches. Cat Co 1, 2 and 3 are compact coves strongly associated with resort development and scenic headlands, while Tung Thu offers a more open town-side beach environment. That makes it useful when Cat Co areas are crowded or when travelers want more space for a group. It also makes Tung Thu a good practical beach on an arrival or departure day when there is not enough time for a boat trip.

Facilities should be treated as operator- or section-specific rather than universal. The tourism listing mentions recreational services, but it does not establish that every visitor has guaranteed access to lockers, showers, accessible toilets or equipment rental at all times. Carry only the valuables you need, confirm paid services before use and do not leave belongings unattended on the sand. If organizing an event, ask who manages that section of beach and what rules apply.

Accessibility is better than at remote island coves because road vehicles can reach the area, yet the final surface remains sand. No reliable source confirmed a continuous accessibility mat, beach wheelchairs or a step-free route all the way into the water. Visitors with mobility limitations should contact accommodation or local beach management and ask about drop-off points and the firmest approach. For many people, enjoying the waterfront without entering the sand may be easier than reaching the water itself.

Tung Thu is most useful as part of a broader Cat Ba stay rather than as a standalone reason to travel to Haiphong. Combine it with Cat Ba town, viewpoints, the national park or Lan Ha Bay on separate blocks of time rather than crowding everything into one day. The beach’s strength is convenience: once you are on the island, it provides a straightforward place for a swim or rest without another ferry or speedboat. That convenience, plus current confirmation from Haiphong and Cat Hai sources, makes Tung Thu a solid, clearly identifiable beach record for the site.