1. VUI-Fest Ha Long – a street food paradise by the bay at night
1.1. Where is VUI-Fest Ha Long, and what makes it attractive?
VUI-Fest Ha Long is a vibrant coastal night street with many attractive entertainment activities. (Source: Collected)
VUI-Fest Ha Long is located at Sun Porto Town, Sun Elite City (Ngon Hai Dang area, Ky Quan street, Bai Chay). The space is designed in a modern coastal night street model with a series of food stalls, a light check-in area, an art performance stage, and street activities taking place continuously in the evening.
What delights many people when visiting this place is the feeling of being lively enough but not too crowded. Visitors can leisurely stroll along the streets, listen to acoustic music, watch street art performances, and then stop to enjoy any snacks they encounter along the way. From stalls with seafood smelling of charcoal grill to eye-catching drink carts, everything creates a very "summer beach outing" atmosphere.
Unlike many traditional night markets focused on shopping, VUI-Fest Ha Long strongly emphasizes entertainment combined with culinary experiences. This is what has quickly made it a familiar meeting point for young people, families, and groups of friends looking for a place to eat and play at night in Ha Long.
1.2. Why are the snacks at VUI-Fest Ha Long loved by many tourists?
The first thing that makes the snacks at VUI-Fest Ha Long so appealing is their diversity. Just take a stroll around, and visitors can find all sorts of food, from local specialties to trending dishes on social media. There are stalls specializing in grilled seafood, places selling quick fried snacks, and even booths dedicated to drinks and desserts perfect for enjoying while walking.
The open space by the sea also makes the dining experience here different. Sitting outdoors, feeling the sea breeze, and listening to street music while enjoying food makes everything much more comfortable than eating in a closed restaurant.
Another plus point is the quite accessible pricing. Many dishes are sold in small portions, allowing visitors to try multiple items in one evening without spending too much. This is also why groups of young friends often choose VUI-Fest Ha Long as a nighttime gathering spot when traveling to Ha Long.
Furthermore, most dishes are prepared fresh on-site, preserving their heat and appealing flavors. The aroma of grilled seafood or freshly fried snacks is almost impossible to pass by without stopping.
1.3. The ideal time to explore the cuisine at VUI-Fest Ha Long
The period from 6 PM to 10 PM is usually when the night street is most crowded and lively. This is also when the weather is pleasant, the lights start to come on, and art performances become more vibrant.
If you want to enjoy snacks at VUI-Fest Ha Long while watching the sunset, you can arrive early around 5:30 PM. This is when the coastal sky turns beautiful colors, perfect for taking photos before starting your culinary journey.
During summer or on weekends, the number of visitors is usually quite high, making the atmosphere even more bustling. However, for those who prefer a more relaxed and less crowded experience, weekdays are more suitable.
On major holidays, the area often features additional art performances, music, or nighttime entertainment activities, making the experience richer than usual. This is also when many stalls update their menus with new dishes to serve visitors.
2. Must-try snacks at VUI-Fest Ha Long
2.1. Grilled meat and craft beer combo at Sun Bavaria Ha Long restaurant
At Sun Bavaria Ha Long restaurant, located in the Ngon Hai Dang area, the exclusive "Grill & Share" menu features giant platters, bringing together fresh seafood characteristic of the heritage bay and premium BBQ meat slabs grilled over open flames. Each piece of meat and squid sizzles on the hot grill, retaining its juiciness and releasing a rich aroma amidst the breezy sea air, making it ideal for sharing joyful moments with close friends.
An indispensable highlight of the night festival menu is the premium Sun KraftBeer fresh craft beer, perfectly brewed and served directly from the restaurant's taps. The cool, refreshing, and rich taste of this exclusive beer is the perfect catalyst, enhancing the sweetness of seafood, the richness of grilled meat, and keeping the guests' party energy at its peak before the main show of the art performances begins.
Craft beer at Sun Bavaria restaurant Ha Long
2.2. Grilled seafood
Speaking of snacks at VUI-Fest Ha Long, grilled seafood is definitely the first choice for many. As a famous coastal city, the seafood source in Ha Long is quite abundant and retains its natural freshness.
Along the night street, it is not difficult to encounter seafood stalls with glowing charcoal stoves and a fragrant aroma spreading throughout the path. Grilled shrimp, grilled squid, grilled oysters with scallion oil, or grilled octopus with chili sauce are the most ordered dishes every evening.
Grilled shrimp and squid are seafood dishes loved by many tourists at VUI-Fest. (Source: Collected)
Shrimp are usually grilled whole, preserving the natural sweetness of the sea meat. Just add a little green chili salt or dip with seafood sauce to clearly feel the fresh taste. Grilled squid is also very popular thanks to its moderate chewy and crispy texture and its characteristic aroma when grilled over charcoal.
Scallion oil oysters and sate octopus are attractive dishes worth trying at VUI-Fest. (Source: Collected)
Scallion oil oysters are a dish that is almost always crowded. The oysters are grilled on the spot, with fried shallots, scallion oil, and peanuts, making the rich flavor quite appealing. For those who like spicy food, sate octopus is a worthwhile choice because the aromatic spicy sauce combined with grilled seafood is very flavorful.
An interesting point when eating seafood at VUI-Fest Ha Long is that many stalls allow customers to choose their own ingredients and then have them prepared according to their taste. This makes the dining experience more flexible and suitable for many different groups of customers.
2.3. Skewers and fried snacks
The fried food and skewer area at VUI-Fest is suitable for light snacks while strolling. (Source: Collected)
Besides seafood, the fried food and skewer area is also just as crowded. This is a suitable choice for those who like to stroll and snack without needing to sit for long.
Fried fish balls, grilled sausages, chicken skewers, tokbokki, or french fries appear quite commonly at the stalls. Although these are familiar dishes, what makes them attractive lies in the way they are cooked hot and fresh on the spot, along with a variety of dipping sauces.
Many stalls offer their own Korean spicy sauce, cheese sauce, honey sauce, or garlic butter sauce for customers to choose according to their taste. This is what makes simple dishes much more appealing.
Tokbokki is a favorite among young customers for its easy-to-eat sweet and spicy flavor. The soft rice cakes combined with fish cakes and rich sauce are quite suitable for eating on a breezy evening by the sea.
French fries and chicken skewers are also a "national combo" chosen by many groups of friends while strolling and chatting. Some stalls even add stretchy cheese or sprinkle seasoning powder to enhance the flavor.
2.4. Local Flavor Snacks
Ha Long squid cake is a famous specialty that many tourists choose to enjoy. (Source: Collected)
Ha Long squid cake is almost an indispensable dish. This is a famous specialty of this coastal region, with hand-pounded squid creating natural chewiness. Squid cake is often served with hot banh cuon or white sticky rice, creating a flavor that is both familiar and distinctive.
Banh cuon cha muc brings an unforgettable characteristic flavor of Ha Long. (Source: Collected)
Banh cuon eaten with cha muc has soft rice rolls, a light and refreshing dipping sauce, while the cha muc is rich in flavor and smells of the sea. This combination makes the dish, though simple, very memorable.
Gat Gu Cake is an attractive local dish for tourists who love exploring cuisine. (Source: Compilation)
Additionally, Gat Gu Cake is also a must-try dish if you want to learn more about local cuisine. This type of cake has a soft and chewy texture, often eaten with a flavorful dipping sauce and fragrant fried shallots.
Sam biển is a specialty of Quang Ninh that many tourists are curious to experience. (Source: Collected)
Some stalls also serve quickly prepared sea sam dishes such as sweet and sour stir-fried sam or grilled sam. This is a quite characteristic specialty dish of Quang Ninh and is often a curious experience for tourists.
Bringing local dishes into a modern night street space helps tourists easily access the local culinary culture. Instead of having to find specialty restaurants, now just strolling through the night street allows you to enjoy many famous dishes of Ha Long.
2.5. Refreshing drinks and popular desserts
After enjoying hot grilled or fried dishes, many tourists often seek out drink stalls to balance their taste buds. This area is also very popular with young people thanks to its eye-catching design and many photogenic options.
Fruit tea is a popular choice because of its refreshing, easy-to-drink taste and suitability for the seaside summer atmosphere. Peach tea, strawberry tea, and tropical teas are often decorated with many toppings and vibrant colors.
Milk tea also appears in various versions, from traditional to cream cheese, pudding, or brown sugar boba. Some stalls even design custom cups in a marine style to enhance the check-in experience.
In addition to drinks, fresh ice cream and cold desserts are also chosen by many people. In the summer weather, the feeling of strolling along the beach while eating ice cream is quite pleasant.
Many tourists often pair grilled seafood or fried food with fruit tea to reduce the greasy feeling. This is also a popular snack combo chosen by many groups of friends when visiting VUI-Fest Ha Long.
The drink stalls here often have attractive lighting and decorations, making them very suitable for taking photos. Just holding a cup of drink next to the seaside lighting background will give you pictures full of the Ha Long night tourism atmosphere.
2.6. "Hot trend" snacks at VUI-Fest Ha Long
Not only local specialties, VUI-Fest Ha Long also quickly updates many dishes that are popular with young people on social media.
Spicy noodles are one of the dishes that appear quite frequently. With a rich broth and diverse toppings such as sausage, seafood, beef, or hot pot balls, this dish is especially suitable for cool sea breeze evenings.
Mini cup hot pot is also chosen by many young customers because it is convenient and easy to eat while walking. With just a small portion, diners can enjoy full toppings without having to sit for a long time like traditional hot pot.
Baked egg cakes and coin-shaped cakes are two dishes that have recently gone viral. The hot cakes with stretchy cheese filling make many people willing to queue up to buy them.
The interesting point is that many stalls invest in attractive food presentation to serve the photo-taking needs of young tourists. Some corners near the sea or artistic lighting areas are often chosen by many people to check-in with their food.
3. Tips for dining at VUI-Fest Ha Long for a complete experience
3.1. What time is best to visit VUI-Fest Ha Long?
The most beautiful time to explore snacks at VUI-Fest Ha Long usually starts from late afternoon until around 9:30 PM. If you arrive early around 5:30 PM, you can watch the sunset by the sea while leisurely strolling through the street when the crowd is not too large.
From 7 PM onwards, the atmosphere begins to become more vibrant. Stalls light up, street music appears more, and the number of visitors increases rapidly. This is the suitable time for those who want to clearly feel the liveliness of Ha Long's night street.
However, on weekends or during peak tourist seasons, many popular stalls may have long queues. If you want a more relaxed experience, it's advisable to visit on weekdays or arrive before peak hours.
Exactly at 9:00 PM every night, the multimedia show "Thương cảng phồn hoa" (Prosperous Trading Port) along with a spectacular fireworks display will officially kick off at the Lighthouse stage right in front of Sun Bavaria Ha Long restaurant. By choosing food combos from 300,000 VND, tourists will receive a special privilege of getting tickets to watch the super show combining fireworks and DJ music from the most valuable VIP spot on the bay.
3.2. Notes when eating at the seaside night market
Due to the large number of visitors in the evening, keeping track of personal belongings is important. You should bring a small, lightweight bag and limit carrying too many items when moving between areas.
Currently, most stalls at VUI-Fest Ha Long support QR payments, but tourists should still prepare some cash for more convenience when buying small items.
For seafood dishes, prioritize stalls with fresh ingredients and direct preparation. This not only makes the food taste better but also ensures food safety and hygiene.
If you are traveling in a large group, a fun experience is for each person to buy a few different dishes and then share them to try more flavors. This is also how many tourists choose to fully explore the snack paradise here.
Besides eating, don't forget to take time to stroll and enjoy the seaside atmosphere. It is the combination of cuisine, music, and scenery that makes VUI-Fest Ha Long a beloved destination.
4. Suggested itinerary for fun combined with dining at VUI-Fest Ha Long
An itinerary chosen by many tourists is to start from the Bai Chay coastal area in the late afternoon. As the sun's rays soften, walking along the beach becomes much more pleasant.
After checking in the sunset, tourists can move into the night street to begin their culinary exploration. It's advisable to prioritize trying seafood dishes before moving on to fried food or desserts to better appreciate the flavors.
The artistic lighting areas and the pedestrian street within VUI-Fest Ha Long are also very suitable places for evening photos. The reflected lights and the seaside setting create a quite striking background.
An experience loved by many is walking while holding food amidst street music. This atmosphere makes the Ha Long night trip much more relaxing and different from the daytime.
If you want more entertainment, tourists can also combine watching art performances taking place in the night street area.
Amidst the cool sea air, dazzling lights, and a series of attractive dishes, this place offers a very different feeling from ordinary travel experiences. No need for an overly elaborate plan, just a leisurely evening strolling around the night street, enjoying a few delicious dishes, and soaking in the seaside lifestyle is enough to feel a very young and vibrant Ha Long.
