Bai Chay – The new investment hotspot on Northern Vietnam’s coastal ap

“Back in the 1990s, whenever we went on company trips, we only came to Bai Chay to swim and eat seafood, then went straight home. The sea was polluted, services were poor, and no one wanted to stay overnight.” Recalling those days, Ms. Hanh, a retired civil servant from Hai Duong, brings back memories of a time when Bai Chay was seen merely as a shabby, seasonal beach with little appeal. Small wooden boats then only took visitors on a few-hour cruise around Ha Long Bay, stopping at Sung Sot or Dau Go caves before returning, with no dining services and certainly no overnight stays. Quang Ninh tourism was once labeled as “sharpening knives for nine months, striking for three” — bustling only during a few summer months, leaving the rest of the year quiet and unsustainable.

Today, Bai Chay is vibrant all year round with festivals, night streets, fireworks events and lively public squares

Three decades later, Bai Chay has undergone a complete transformation. The once-polluted beach now stretches with fine white sand, clear blue water and well-planned landscapes. Since Sun World Ha Long opened in 2016, Bai Chay has truly entered a new trajectory: tens of thousands of visitors arrive daily, and hotels are frequently fully booked on weekends. No longer is it a place for just seafood and same-day returns; Bai Chay now thrives all four seasons with festivals, night markets, fireworks shows and bustling squares. In the first six months of 2025, Quang Ninh’s tourism sector welcomed about 12.1 million visitors, reaching 116% compared to the same period in 2024 and 112% of the growth scenario target. In Q3/2025, the industry aims to attract 5.45 million visitors. Total tourism revenue is estimated at around VND 16,500 billion — clear evidence of the heritage region’s growing appeal.

Van Don International Airport

Beyond tourism, Bai Chay is also accelerating thanks to comprehensive infrastructure development. The Hanoi – Hai Phong – Ha Long – Mong Cai expressway shortens travel time from the capital to Ha Long to just over two hours. Van Don International Airport opens regional and international connections, while the modern Ha Long Passenger Port can accommodate cruise ships carrying thousands of guests. In the near future, the Cua Luc road tunnel, with an investment of VND 10,000 billion, will connect central areas seamlessly, unlocking new development space for Ha Long. The combined momentum of infrastructure, year-round tourism and rising accommodation demand has propelled Bai Chay out of the shadow of a “seasonal beach” to become a true coastal downtown.

Perspective of the Sun Elite City Coastal Urban Complex

However, what truly draws investors’ attention is not only visitor numbers or infrastructure. More importantly, it is the emergence of integrated coastal urban complexes — the missing piece that allows capital to stay and circulate long term. In this picture, Sun Elite City stands out as a “core project.” Planned on 324 hectares right in the heart of Bai Chay, Sun Elite City is not merely a real estate development, but is shaped as a “city within a city” — where residents can live, enjoy resort-style lifestyles and operate service businesses at the same time.

The greatest appeal lies in its integrated model. Here, Sun Centro Town — a high-rise seaside apartment complex — is inspired by the islands of Ha Long Bay, offering panoramic views of all 1,969 limestone islets. Each apartment is optimized for natural light and ventilation, equipped with modern security systems, QR access and WiFi-connected smart locks. This product not only meets real housing needs, but also represents a “3-in-1” model: permanent living, resort use and short-term rental — perfectly aligned with today’s flexible investment trends.

Perspective of Sun Centro Town – High-Rise Seafront Apartment Complex

Complementing this is a comprehensive on-site amenity ecosystem: glass-roof swimming pools, gym and spa, restaurants and rooftop skybars, turning each tower into a fully integrated living hub. Outside, beachfront commercial and culinary streets, the Vui-Fest night market and Sun Carnival Square create a festive lifestyle, attracting steady tourist flows and securing cash flow for business activities. In other words, Sun Elite City is not only a place to live, but also a tourism–commerce “engine” operating 24/7.

The Bustling and Vibrant Scene of Vui-Fest Night Market

Experts believe that this very combination is what turns Sun Elite City into a “golden coordinate” for Northern investors. According to Dr. Nguyen Van Dinh, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Realtors, Bai Chay (Ha Long) is a market with strong potential and a long development history. The period from 2005 to 2010 witnessed the first land fever here, with a series of new urban areas such as Cao Xanh – Ha Khanh and residential zones from Cot 5 to Cot 8. Especially since 2015, the influx of major capital from leading real estate corporations has placed this area among the most dynamic and attractive markets in Northern Vietnam.

The appeal is further reinforced by other large-scale provincial projects. In June 2025, the Government approved a high-end integrated tourism and casino service complex in Van Don Economic Zone, covering over 244 hectares with a minimum investment of USD 2 billion. The project is planned as a premium integrated resort and entertainment complex with gaming (on a pilot basis for Vietnamese citizens), including casino operations, tourism services, hotels, resorts, condotels, shophouses, shopping centers, offices, convention and conference centers, sports facilities, entertainment and high-quality healthcare services. Once operational, this project will add a new high-end entertainment and resort pole, creating spillover effects for Bai Chay as well. The synergy between a vibrant coastal downtown like Sun Elite City and the future Van Don integrated casino resort is expected to elevate Quang Ninh into a regional tourism, entertainment and investment hub.

From a once-forgotten beach, Bai Chay has “broken its cocoon” to become a flourishing coastal downtown. And in this new development orbit, Sun Elite City stands as the nucleus and foundation that positions Bai Chay as the golden investment coordinate of Northern Vietnam for the next decade.