Possessing a 500m- long sandy coast, Bai Chay is a large, beautiful beach, closes to the coast of Ha Long Bay and attracts thousands of people to enjoy the blue water every day in the early morning and late afternoon.
The name of Bai Chay originates from different legends. An ancient legend has it that in 1287, the Mongols led by the great Truong Van Ho (a Vietnamese name for this Mongolian general) attacked Vietnam and was driven back by general Tran Khanh Du. Many Mongolian ships were set a fire and drifted to shore aided by high wind setting the forest on fire. Since then this stretch of beach became known as Bai Chay or scorched beach.
Another folk legend said that previously boats often anchored on the western side of Cua Luc. Acorn-barnacles firmly attached to these boats’ sides and underneath, and might wreck the boats. Therefore, the fishermen had to use casuarinas leaves to burn them. From the side of Hon Gai and other nearby places, people always see the fire blazing up from here, so Bai Chay got its name.
Before 1979, Bai Chay had been a large town, and bordered with Viet Hung and Hoang Bo districts. In April1979, the eastern part was divided into Bai Chay and Gieng Day ward. On 10th August, 1981 Bai Chay was officially part of Hong Gai town. Currently, travellers can make a trip to Bai Chay by going with the Ha Long – Bai Chay tour 2 days 1 night, or they can sleep on the Ha Long cruise for 2 days 1 night to get there.