THE BEACH

     The “Season” in Cua Lo is May through August. The sun rises over the ocean before 6am and doesn’t set until around 8pm. The water is bathtub warm, and the seas are typically a lulling calm.

     Vietnamese tourists (mostly from Hanoi and from the Nghe An province) flock to Cua Lo during the summer. And yet, for the better part of the day, the beach is fairly desolate. You see, the Vietnamese (unlike sun-worshipping Westerners) rue direct sunlight.

     The beachfront is undergoing a makeover. Soon, there will be lots of entertaining options beyond simply swimming and sunning.

     During the “Off-Season” (from September through April), Cua Lo is a local’s hangout, with far fewer tourists in attendance. This will change, however, because the seas are suitable for swimming pretty much year-round. And while the water temperature does drop in the winter, it is still enjoyable. And with all the soon-to-be added extras, Cua Lo promises to be a year-round beach destination.

     The beach itself is a nature paradise. At dawn, you’ll find fishermen with their nets hauling in catch, others in round-bottom boats bobbing in the surf, and women with conical hats digging along the shoreline for clams and snails. The beach is buffered from the street and hotels by a tree-lined promenade, which will soon pass on that responsibility to a more landscaped, but nonetheless green, eco-friendly, multi-use area.

     Cua Lo’s beach is clean and cozy—the water, warm and inviting. You can sun or swim or just float on your back. Bottom line: Cua Lo beach is chill…

{Writer’s Note: The second photo is an artist rendition}