1. What does VUI-Fest Ha Long have for an evening food tour?
1.1. Nighttime culinary space by the sea
VUI-Fest Ha Long is located at Bai Chay beach square and is a popular evening gathering spot. (Source: Collected)
VUI-Fest Ha Long is located right at Sun Porto Town, Sun Elite City (Lighthouse Area - Ky Quan Street), Bai Chay, operating since late April and quickly becoming a quite crowded evening gathering spot. Unlike traditional night markets, this place is planned in an open direction, with wide aisles and clearly arranged stalls, so even when crowded, it's not too stuffy.
In the evening, the lighting is arranged evenly, bright enough to see food clearly but still maintaining a gentle atmosphere. A stroll around reveals a clear diversity from seafood, grilled dishes to familiar snacks. Besides food and drinks, the area also offers activities such as music performances, light shows, or fireworks, creating a non-monotonous experience when just going for a meal.
Therefore, the experience here often doesn't just stop at eating your fill, but also involves strolling, observing, and enjoying the atmosphere.
1.2. Why go on a food tour after playing at Sun World?
A popular itinerary in Ha Long is to spend most of the daytime for entertainment and the evening for dining. This is quite reasonable if you visit Sun World Ha Long, as the amusement park has many activities that require movement and energy expenditure.
After a day of experiencing cable cars, water parks, or outdoor games, the body will usually need a more substantial meal. Instead of having to find a restaurant outside, moving to VUI-Fest Ha Long will be more convenient as everything is concentrated in one area.
You don't need to make a list of what to eat beforehand; just take a walk around and choose based on your feeling. This is also why many people choose to combine these two points in one day to save travel time while still having a complete experience.
1.3. Suitable Time to Start
The time frame from 6 PM to 10 PM is generally considered the most reasonable to start a food tour.
Around 6 PM, most stalls are open, and the space is not too crowded, making it quite comfortable to choose dishes. This is the right time to eat main courses as you can sit longer and don't have to wait much.
From around 7:30 PM onwards, the number of customers gradually increases, and the atmosphere becomes more lively. This is suitable for switching to snacks and strolling, as standing to eat or carrying food while moving will blend in better with the crowd.
By around 9 PM–10 PM, you can find a drink stall to rest and end the evening gently. If you go too late, some dishes might be sold out, so going within this timeframe balances the experience with food choices.
If you are planning a trip to Ha Long, you should book Sun World Ha Long tickets in advance to manage your daytime schedule, allowing you to dedicate the entire evening to a food tour without feeling rushed.
2. What to Eat at VUI-Fest Ha Long?
2.1. Fresh Seafood
Seafood at VUI-Fest Ha Long is displayed live, making it easy for customers to choose and assess quality. (Source: Collected)
Seafood remains the most notable part of dining in Ha Long, and at VUI-Fest Ha Long, this is quite evident.
Stalls often display ingredients like oysters, shrimp, squid, and mantis shrimp live for customers to see and choose. Seeing the ingredients before they are cooked helps you visualize the quality of the dish better than ordering from a menu.
Some popular dishes include grilled oysters with scallion oil, steamed or salt-and-pepper mantis shrimp, and grilled shrimp and squid. These dishes are not overly complicated but retain their natural freshness, suiting many palates. A notable point is that most are cooked on-site, so the dishes are still hot when served.
If you are in a group, ordering multiple dishes to share would be more reasonable, saving costs and allowing you to try various types without getting too full from a single dish.
2.2. Snacks
The snack area is a suitable choice to continue enjoying lightly after the main meal. (Source: Collected)
After eating the main dishes, the snack area is a suitable place to continue the journey but in a lighter way.
Dishes like grilled skewers, grilled rice paper, and mixed rice paper are quite common and easy to eat. You can eat while walking without stopping for too long. Additionally, there are sweet options like ice cream, sweet soup, or bubble tea, suitable for balancing your palate after eating grilled food.
The convenience of this area is that each dish comes in small portions, allowing you to try many different items without feeling overwhelmed. Moving between stalls also creates a sense of flexibility, not being tied to one seating spot.
2.3. Local Specialty Dishes
If you want to experience cuisine in a truly "Hạ Long style", you can find local specialties.
Cha muc (Squid Cake) is a signature dish with a crispy exterior and chewy interior, often served with sticky rice or banh cuon. (Source: Collected)
Cha muc (Squid Cake) is the most popular dish, often eaten with sticky rice or banh cuon. The crispy texture on the outside and chewy inside creates a different sensation compared to ordinary patties. Additionally, seafood noodle soup (bun hai san) is also a suitable choice if you want a soupy dish that is easier to eat after trying many grilled items.
These dishes are not overly complicated but are representative of local cuisine, adding depth to the meal instead of just stopping at fast food.
2.4. Drinks and Resting Areas
After eating quite a lot, stopping at a drink stall to rest is necessary.
At VUI-Fest Ha Long, you can easily find stalls selling fruit juices, lemon tea, milk tea, or light alcoholic beverages. Some stalls are designed like mini bars with soft lighting and simple seating, enough to rest for a while.
This is also the time to conclude the food journey, transition to a relaxed state, and observe the surrounding atmosphere.
3. Suggested 1-Day Itinerary Combining Fun and Food Tour
A day in Ha Long will be more reasonable if you divide the experience into different time slots, instead of cramming everything into one go. This approach not only helps conserve energy but also allows each activity to be savored more.
Lively shows attract many guests at VUI-Fest Ha Long.
In the morning, you don't need to wake up too early, but you shouldn't start too late either. A gentle stroll along Bai Chay beach or sitting at a cafe overlooking the sea will help your body "warm up" before engaging in the main activities. Afterwards, head to Sun World Ha Long to begin your fun journey. The morning is usually favorable for experiences like cable cars or high-altitude sightseeing as it's not too crowded yet, and the light is softer, making photography easier and more beautiful. If you go early, you can also avoid some of the peak hour queues.
Around noon, you should consciously slow down. You don't need to eat too much; just a light meal sufficient to refuel is fine. Afterwards, taking time to rest is quite important, especially if you've been active in the morning. You can return to your hotel to rest or find a cafe or restaurant with a cool ambiance to relax. "Pausing" mid-day will help you maintain good physical condition for the evening.
In the afternoon, you can return to Sun World Ha Long to continue playing or explore more. (Source: Collected)
The afternoon is the most flexible time. If you still have a lot of energy, you can return to Sun World Ha Long to play the remaining games or explore areas you haven't had time to visit. If you're a bit tired, just take a leisurely stroll around Bai Chay area, enjoy the sea air, or take some extra rest. This is also the time to "recharge" before the most important part of the day: the evening food tour.
When the weather starts to cool down, around 6 PM onwards, move to VUI-Fest Ha Long. Instead of eating right away, you should take a walk first to observe the overall stalls, see which areas are crowded and which dishes are attractive. Then, start with main dishes like seafood or local specialties to ensure you eat enough and are moderately full. Once settled, you can move on to snacks, walking around and trying small portions to avoid getting bored.
Towards the end of the evening, you should find a drink stall, order a beverage, and sit down to rest. This is when the pace slows down, suitable for relaxing and ending a long day. The feeling of going from morning play to evening dining will be quite complete if you maintain such a balanced schedule.
4. Food Tour Experience at VUI-Fest Ha Long
When you first arrive, you should take some time to walk around to get a general idea of the area, avoiding hasty food choices. It's usually best to prioritize seafood first as it's the main course, then move on to snacks, and finally drinks.
Going in a group is more convenient as you can share dishes and try more varieties. Additionally, it's advisable to have cash ready as some stalls may not yet support electronic payments.
Another important point is portion control. If you eat too much right from the start, it will be difficult to continue trying other dishes. Eating slowly and in smaller portions will make the experience longer and more enjoyable.
The food tour at VUI-Fest Ha Long is not overly complicated but is sufficient to provide a complete evening. The combination of seafood, snacks, and the night market atmosphere creates a relatively balanced experience.
When combined with a play schedule at Sun World Ha Long, the entire journey from morning to night becomes more seamless. If you have a plan, preparing tickets in advance will help you manage your time and make the most of the evening for culinary exploration.