1. What makes seafood at VUI-Fest Ha Long so captivating?
1.1. A vibrant beach night market in the heart of Bai Chay
VUI-Fest Ha Long is a prominent nightlife spot in the Sun Porto Town area, Bai Chay. (Source: Collected)
Located in Sun Porto Town, Sun Elite City (near the Lighthouse, Ky Quan street, Bai Chay), VUI-Fest Ha Long is gradually becoming one of the nightlife destinations chosen by many tourists when visiting Ha Long. Unlike traditional seafood markets that feel crowded and quite "local", this place is designed as a modern entertainment – culinary – check-in complex, preserving the spirit of Ha Long's night sea while creating a youthful, easy-to-experience atmosphere for various customer groups.
In the late afternoon, as the sun begins to soften, the area gradually becomes more lively. Rows of illuminated kiosks, the smell of grilled seafood drifting in the sea breeze, and street music create a very unique atmosphere that many tourists often recall after their trip. One of the reasons seafood at VUI-Fest Ha Long is loved lies in the quite comfortable "eat and play" experience. Without needing to sit fixedly in a closed restaurant, tourists can leisurely stroll among the food stalls, choose dishes according to their preferences, and then find a spot near the sea to enjoy the night atmosphere.
The Bai Chay area is already known for being bustling at night, but when combined with a sea festival model like VUI-Fest Ha Long, the dining experience becomes much more interesting. From young groups who love a vibrant atmosphere, families looking for a place to have dinner combined with entertainment, to couples wanting to stroll along the night beach, everyone can easily find a suitable pace of experience.
Another plus point is that this area is quite convenient to combine with a Ha Long sightseeing itinerary. After enjoying entertainment at nearby attractions or watching the sunset over the bay, many tourists often choose to visit VUI-Fest Ha Long for dinner, enjoy seafood, and then continue exploring the night streets. The connection between the seascape, music, and cuisine has made this place an attractive stop for many first-time visitors to Ha Long.
1.2. Fresh seafood with the distinct flavor of Ha Long's sea
Seafood at VUI-Fest Ha Long is highly rated for its freshness and natural flavor. (Source: Collected)
When talking about seafood at VUI-Fest Ha Long, the most concerning aspect for many is the freshness of the ingredients. Seafood here is mainly prepared in a quick-cooking style, prioritizing the preservation of natural flavors, so the quality of the input ingredients plays a very important role. Food stalls often use fresh seafood sourced daily, from familiar types like shrimp, squid, and crab to oysters, mantis shrimp, grilled scallops, or specialties of the Quang Ninh coastal region.
The interesting point is that each stall has its own way of preparation, creating diversity even when using the same familiar ingredients. Some places focus on traditional charcoal grilling, while others combine it with butter-garlic sauce, satay, or cheese to suit the tastes of young tourists. However, most dishes still maintain the spirit of "eating the taste of the sea" with moderate seasoning to clearly appreciate the freshness of the seafood.
Among the most chosen dishes, grilled oysters with scallion oil are almost always on the "must-try" list. Plump oysters, grilled hot on charcoal then topped with fragrant fried shallots, create a feeling that perfectly matches the night sea air. Additionally, grilled squid with satay, grilled shrimp with chili salt, or grilled scallops with cheese are also easy-to-eat dishes, suitable for group orders.
If you have eaten seafood in many different coastal regions, you will often notice that the flavor in Ha Long has a distinct characteristic. Seafood here tends to have natural sweetness, firm flesh, and requires less elaborate preparation. Therefore, many dishes at VUI-Fest Ha Long are appealing with simple grilling or steaming.
Not only domestic tourists, but this seafood area also attracts international visitors due to its modern and accessible presentation. The food stalls are arranged openly, allowing customers to directly observe the ingredients and preparation methods, creating a more comfortable feeling when choosing dishes.
1.3. Modern kiosk model, suitable for many customer groups
The open kiosk model is the distinguishing feature of the culinary area at VUI-Fest Ha Long. (Source: Collected)
One of the aspects that makes seafood at VUI-Fest Ha Long different from many other coastal dining areas is the modern open kiosk model. Instead of focusing on one large restaurant, this area develops in the form of many small food stalls combined with spacious public areas. This helps create a more flexible dining experience, especially suitable for tourists who like to explore many dishes in the same evening.
Visitors can easily walk along the stalls to check dishes, prices, and preparation styles before deciding to order. For groups of young friends, this is often quite an interesting experience because everyone can share and try many different dishes instead of just sitting in one fixed spot.
Families with young children also often appreciate this space because the walking area is wide, airy, and easy to move around. While adults enjoy seafood or drinks, children still have space to stroll, admire the sea, and participate in street activities that take place in the evening.
In addition to the dining aspect, VUI-Fest Ha Long also creates the feeling of a miniature coastal festival area. Lighting decor corners, art performance areas, or pedestrian streets make the culinary experience more vibrant. This is also why many people not only come for dinner and leave but often spend the whole evening playing, checking in, and exploring the area.
2. Seafood dishes at VUI-Fest Ha Long that you must try
2.1. Grilled Seafood (Nướng Mọi)
Among the many dishes sold here, grilled seafood is always the most popular choice. As night falls, the aroma from the charcoal grills spreads throughout the street, creating a very characteristic feeling of a seaside area at night. The appeal of seafood at VUI-Fest Ha Long is that despite being prepared quite simply, it still retains its natural freshness.
Grilled oysters with scallion oil are a seafood dish loved by many tourists at VUI-Fest Ha Long. (Source: Collected)
Grilled oysters with scallion oil are a dish available at almost every stall. The oysters are grilled just right to maintain their juiciness, topped with fried shallots and roasted peanuts for a rich, aromatic flavor that isn't too greasy. Many tourists enjoy ordering this dish with a cold beer while listening to music by the sea.
Grilled squid with satay sauce is a prominent seafood dish chosen by many diners at VUI-Fest Ha Long. (Source: Collected)
Grilled squid with satay sauce is also a quite "popular" dish in the evening. Fresh squid is grilled over hot charcoal, retaining its natural chewy and crispy texture. The mildly spicy satay sauce makes the dish richer in flavor but does not overpower the sea essence. Additionally, there are grilled shrimp with chili salt, grilled scallops with cheese, or grilled mantis shrimp – dishes that are very suitable for group sharing.
The highlight of the grilled seafood here is that diners can easily choose dishes according to their taste. If you prefer the original flavor, you can choose plain grilled or steamed. If you prefer richer flavors, many stalls offer additional options like garlic butter sauce, spicy sauce, or cheese.
2.2. Dishes with Rich Local Ha Long Flavors
Besides grilled dishes, many tourists visiting VUI-Fest Ha Long also want to try dishes that carry the characteristic flavors of Quang Ninh. This is why dishes like seafood congee, seafood vermicelli, or Ha Long squid cake are always in high demand.
Ha Long squid cake is a famous specialty of this coastal region. Unlike many industrial squid cakes, Ha Long-style squid cake is usually hand-pounded to maintain its natural chewiness. When fried, it has a distinctive aroma and the clear sweetness of fresh squid. This dish is often served with white sticky rice or hot steamed rice rolls.
Additionally, seafood congee is a suitable choice for windy sea evenings. The congee is cooked with seafood broth, giving it a natural sweet and light taste, combined with shrimp, squid, or clams, making it quite easy to eat. For many families with young children or the elderly, this dish is often prioritized because it is light on the stomach yet still rich in sea flavor.
Some stalls also serve horseshoe crabs – a specialty of the Quang Ninh coast that is not easily found elsewhere. Horseshoe crabs are often prepared in various ways such as sweet and sour stir-fried horseshoe crab, grilled horseshoe crab, or horseshoe crab salad, offering a rather unique flavor.
2.3. Seafood Paired with Craft Beer and Refreshing Drinks
An evening at VUI-Fest Ha Long often doesn't just stop at dinner. Many people choose to spend more time enjoying the night sea atmosphere, listening to music, and chatting with friends. Therefore, accompanying drinks also become a noteworthy part of the culinary experience here.
Grilled seafood is often paired with cold beer or craft beer to enhance the "chill" feeling when sitting by the sea. For tourists who do not drink beer, this area also offers many choices such as fruit juices, lemon tea, fruit tea, or refreshing sodas.
The open atmosphere, street music, and sea breeze make the dining experience here more relaxing than eating in an enclosed restaurant. This is also why many groups of young friends often choose VUI-Fest Ha Long as a gathering spot in the evening when traveling to Ha Long.
3. Tips for a Better and More Complete Seafood Experience at VUI-Fest Ha Long
3.1. Ideal Time to Explore the VUI-Fest Ha Long Seafood Area
To fully appreciate the atmosphere of this seaside area, the most suitable time is usually from around 6 PM to 10 PM. This is when the weather has cooled down, the stalls start to become lively, and many street entertainment activities take place.
The period from 7 PM to 9 PM is often considered the "golden hour" because the area is beautifully lit, the atmosphere is bustling, yet still comfortable enough for a stroll. If you want to take check-in photos, you can arrive a little earlier to enjoy the sunset while avoiding peak hours.
On weekends or during the summer tourist season, the number of visitors at VUI-Fest Ha Long increases significantly. Some popular stalls may have longer waiting times for food than usual, especially in the evening. Therefore, if you are traveling in a large group, you should proactively choose seats early or prioritize ordering combos to save time.
To fully experience the atmosphere of this seaside town, the most suitable time is usually from around 6 PM to 10 PM.
3.2. How to order when dining in a large group?
A quite useful experience when eating seafood at VUI-Fest Ha Long is to go in groups to try more dishes. Seafood is usually suitable for sharing, so the more people, the easier it is to order a variety.
Many stalls currently offer seafood combos including grilled, steamed, or hot pot dishes at more reasonable prices than ordering individual items. This is a suitable choice for families or groups of friends as it saves costs and is easy to balance portions.
If you want to experience many flavors, you can order by alternating between grilled and soup dishes. For example, start with grilled dishes like oysters, squid, and shrimp, then order seafood porridge or seafood noodles to feel fuller.
A small note is to order dishes in batches rather than ordering too many at once. This helps the food stay hot, maintain its deliciousness, and avoid waste. Additionally, for dishes made from fresh seafood, enjoying them immediately after preparation is usually significantly tastier.
4. Suggested itinerary for entertainment combined with seafood dining at VUI-Fest Ha Long
Many tourists often spend an entire evening exploring the VUI-Fest Ha Long area because it offers not only cuisine but also many coastal entertainment activities. A popular itinerary is to start from late afternoon, when the weather is more pleasant and the sunset begins to cast over the bay.
After strolling along the beach or taking photos at the areas along Ky Quan street, visitors can visit the festival street to explore the stalls, enjoy light drinks, and then continue to explore the seafood area. The period from 6:30 PM onwards is when the atmosphere begins to become more vibrant with lights, music, and an increasing number of visitors.
Experience the atmosphere at VUI-Fest with friends
If you go with friends, many people often choose to eat seafood while also taking check-in photos because this area has many modern sea festival-style decor spots. The rows of illuminated kiosks, the coastal walking street, or the bay-view background are all quite suitable for capturing evening memories in Ha Long.
After dinner, visitors can continue to stroll along the coast or participate in entertainment activities near the Bai Chay area. Combining sightseeing – dining – and entertainment in the same location makes the itinerary lighter, requiring less travel but still offering the characteristic experience of Ha Long at night.
If you are looking for a meeting point that offers both cuisine, a fun atmosphere, and a relaxing resort feel when visiting Ha Long, VUI-Fest Ha Long is a choice worth adding to your itinerary. Especially for those who love exploring local sea flavors, this area offers a quite complete experience from the food, the space, to the characteristic nightlife of Bai Chay.
