Sầm Sơn Town: Beaches, Temples and Nature

Sầm Sơn Town combines a distinctive coastal beach with the Trường Lệ Mountain Range and several historic and cultural sites. This gives the destination several facets: swimming areas and seaside relaxation sit alongside woodland, rock formations and temples. When planning, consider whether the beach, nature or culture will shape your stay—these priorities can also help you tailor your search for a holiday apartment to the kind of trip you want.

Beach and Coastal Landscape

Sầm Sơn Beach is crescent-shaped and stretches from the foot of the Trường Lệ Mountain Range to Quảng Cư. It extends for about 9 kilometres from Cửa Hới, at the mouth of the Mã River, to Vụng Tiên. Four swimming areas—A, B, C and D—divide the beach. Fine white sand, a gentle slope and moderate waves characterise it; these features make it a place for swimming, relaxation and leisure activities.

The Trường Lệ Mountain Range offers a different perspective on the landscape. It is covered by a special-use forest and is considered an area of scenic beauty and biological diversity. If you do not want to plan your trip around beach days alone, you will find a natural area here that complements Sầm Sơn’s coastal character.

One of the most striking formations is Hòn Trống Mái. The rock formation consists of three rocks: one large rock below and two smaller ones above. One of the upper rocks resembles a rooster, the other a hen. Hòn Trống Mái is located in Trường Sơn Ward and is recognised as a tourist site. Its unusual shape makes it a distinctive contrast to the open beach landscape.

Temples and Traditional Festivals

Đền Độc Cước stands right next to Sầm Sơn Beach and is a nationally recognised historical and cultural monument. A winding path with old stone steps leads to the temple on the Trường Lệ Mountain Range. This makes the visit accessible on foot via a clearly described route. The Đền Độc Cước Festival takes place every year on the 16th day of the second lunar month and attracts many visitors and local residents. As the date follows the lunar calendar, check the date for the relevant year when planning your trip.

The Tô Hiến Thành Temple, known as Đền Trung, is also a nationally recognised historical and cultural monument. It is part of a monument and landscape complex that includes Đền Độc Cước, Đền Cô Tiên and Hòn Trống Mái. These sites connect the coastal and mountain landscapes with a rich cultural history.

Đền Cô Tiên stands on the summit of Đầu Voi Mountain, at the western end of the Trường Lệ Mountain Range, in Trường Sơn Ward. From the temple courtyard, the view extends across the East Sea, with Hòn Mê Island in the background. Hoàng Minh Tự Temple, meanwhile, was built during the Trần Dynasty and is located in Quảng Vinh Ward. It is recognised as a provincial-level historical and cultural monument.

Hoàng Minh Tự also has a traditional commune-level festival, held annually on the 24th day of the first lunar month. Along with the festival at Đền Độc Cước, it offers another opportunity to plan your trip around cultural events. Both dates follow the lunar calendar, so take this into account when planning your days in the area.

Find a Holiday Apartment to Suit Your Trip

In Sầm Sơn, the beach, mountain landscape and cultural sites offer distinct themes for your trip. First, consider whether you want to spend most of your time swimming and relaxing, taking in the scenery, or visiting temples and festivals. Then, when searching for a holiday apartment, you can focus on a location that suits the places you plan to visit. That way, you can choose your accommodation based on the kind of holiday you actually want.

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