Tropical beach paradise beckons

      People who like to bask in the tropical sun and frolic in warm water by day and then party all night will not want to miss Hai Hoa beach in the northern province of Thanh Hoa’s Tinh Gia town.
Powdery sand and clear water make sunbathing and swimming a pleasure and the two year old facilities here are rather good. Three-star hotels Cao Nguyen and Xanh Ha ACB offer bars, karaoke, sauna massages and swimming pools. Smaller hotels like Dai Duong and Binh Minh are reasonably priced and restaurants here offer clams, oysters, squid and codfish for under VND100,000.
Heading to Thanh Hoa province, tourists will notice Nghi Son Industrial Park which is 25 kilometers from the beach. Attractions near the beach are Hon Me Island to see the lighthouse, Tinh Hai Bastion, Lach Bang Fishing Port, Ba Lang Church, Quang Trung Temple and Truong Lam Grottoes.
Famous destinations in the province include Sam Son Resort with its smooth beaches, emerald waters and view of Truong Le Mountain, the Ho Dynasty Citadel, which was built in block granite and depicts the creativity and industriousness of the working people seven centuries ago, Ba Trieu Temple, Ham Rong bridge and the 16-hectare Ben En National Park with its breathtaking hills, mountains, rivers and lake with 21 islets that resembles Ha Long Bay.
Doc Cuoc Temple, Dao Grotto and Do Mountain are other interesting destinations in the area.
Indigenous specialties such as fried codfish and shrimp make good gifts.
For privacy, tourists can charter a car or bus on the Hanoi-Hai Hoa route. Tours can be booked at ITT Tourist Company, 8 Tran Nguyen Han street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi, tel: (04) 3926 3060 or at Vietnam International Trade and Tourist Company, 7/159 Hong Mai street, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi, tel: (04) 625 4414.
Accommodations can be booked at Cao Nguyen Hotel, tel: (037) 8727 888, Xanh Ha ACB hotel, tel: (037) 8727 768, Binh Minh hotel, tel: (037) 3611 666, (037) 3611 777 or at Dai Duong hotel, tel: (037) 8727 555, (037) 8727 666.