Travel Adventures
Ho Coc Beach
Stretching for 10 kilometres from the bluff just north of Ho Tram hamlet, Ho Coc Beach is an arc of light-coloured sand backed
by densely forested hills. When seen on a good day from the top of the bluff, the curving bay, blue sea and green hills are very
picturesque. Lording it over the entire bay,The Grand Ho Tram is a recently opened integrated resort, which has really put this
area on the map. Although called The Grand Ho Tram, I always think of it as geographically belonging more to Ho Coc. Moving
northeast up the bay, down from the hill, the forest gives way to the sea. Several informal beach shacks and seafood restaurants
offer access to this great portion of beachfront. At the Ho Coc crossroads, Ven Ven Hotel has fantastic food and rooms in a love-
ly, shady setting, albeit on the ‘wrong’ side of the beach road. Opposite, there are two large, sprawling mid and high-end resorts
which charge a small fee for beach access, and where camping is also available. The beach and scenery here are beautiful, but
it should be noted that the sea quality fluctuates during the year, and conditions are often too rough or unpredictable to swim.
The ocean road continues to hug the coast for several kilometres beyond the Ho Coc resorts, passing a deserted, boulder-strewn
coastline that’s great for exploring on two wheels (although trash has really started to blight this area).
Sand, sea & hills: Ho Coc beach is a pretty, curving bay backed by
forest, stretching for 10km
THINGS TO SEE & DO:
The beaches are the main attraction. If you’re staying at one of the beachfront accommodations then you’ll have easy access to
a good stretch of sand. But if you’re a budget traveller or a day-tripper you have a couple of options. Camping is increasingly
popular on both Ho Tram and Ho Coc, and every year more places open beachside campgrounds where you can either pitch your
own tent or rent one. Prices are reasonable and facilities are good. High-end and mid-range resorts generally allow non-guests
to access their beach for a fee and some beach restaurants also rent deck chairs on the sand. Particularly good places include:
Huong Phong Resort, which offers deck chairs and beach access (50,000vnd); Four Seasons Beach (Bãi Bốn Mua), which is in
the middle of the sprawling Saigon-Ho Coc complex, where a 70,000vnd ticket gets you beach access, chairs, and showers; Vien
Dong, where deck chairs are available for 50,000vnd; and Ho Tram Beach Boutique Resort, where a hefty 550,000vnd gives
you access to their gorgeous garden, 2 pools and beach (a good option if you’re planning to stay for the day). There’s still a lot
of undeveloped beach along this coast so finding a patch of sand to yourself is not a problem. However, many other people have
had the same idea and, sadly, they have not bothered to take their trash with them, leaving an alarming trail of litter which now
spoils much of the coastline.
If you’re staying on the sandbar at the western end of Ho Tram beach, accommodations there can usually organize boat rides
along the Ray River and through the dense mangrove that lines the riverbanks. Much of the non-beach side of the road along
Ho Tram is filled with tropical fruit plantations and fish farms; water melons and shrimp make up the majority. Some resorts
can arrange mini tours of the farms. Behind Ho Coc beach, the dense jungle is good to explore on foot; ask the reception at your
hotel to see what they suggest. The most popular excursion from the beaches is Binh Chau Hot Springs. A very pretty 20 minute
ride from Ho Coc beach, these natural springsare a draw for domestic and Russian tourists. The hot water baths, pools, and mud-
baths are very soothing and fun, but try to visit on a weekday as it can get busy at other times. It’s a big complex with many
different hot-spring-related activities on offer. Prices are from 100-500,000vnd, on top of the 80,000vnd entrance fee. Many of
the larger resorts have a range of activities, including paint-balling and fishing. Then, of course, there’s the casino at The Grand
Ho Tram and their world-classgolf course. Note that non-guests are allowed to play at the casino but you will need to show your
passport, and Vietnamese gamers are, by law, not allowed.
The MAG Vung Tau
17