Menu
Provinces→Locations→Experiences→Blog→Map→
📍 beach · cultural

Mũi Sa Vĩ (Trà Cổ)

Mũi Sa Vĩ in Trà Cổ, Móng Cái is the northeastern tip of Vietnam - the first point on the country's S-shaped map and the first place on the mainland to catch the morning sun. Home to border marker 1378 and a 17km crescent beach, it's one of the most emotionally charged destinations in the country for Vietnamese and a fascinating stop for foreign travelers.

🇻🇳 Northeast Tip of Vietnam🌅 First Sunrise in the North📍 Border Marker🏖️ Tra Co Beach
🧭 Get Directions

Overview

Best Time to Visit
📅 Apr – Sep (beach season); any time for the landmark experience
Entry Fee
🎟️ ~40,000 VND
Opening Hours
🕐 Open daily
Address
📌 Phường Trà Cổ, Móng Cái, Quảng Ninh
ABOUT THIS PLACE

What Makes Mũi Sa Vĩ (Trà Cổ) Special

Mũi Sa Vĩ is the northeastern tip of Vietnam - the point where the country's coastline begins, the first mark on the S-shaped map, and the place that catches the mainland's first sunlight each morning. Located in Trà Cổ ward, Móng Cái city, Quảng Ninh province, the cape sits at coordinates 21°29'N, 108°04'E, where the Bắc Luân River meets the Gulf of Tonkin. This is also where Vietnam's land border with China ends - border marker 1378, the final post in a chain of over 1,400 markers stretching the full length of the Sino-Vietnamese frontier, sits on a small island just offshore. A relief sculpture of three phi lao pines carries the poet Tố Hữu's famous lines: 'Từ Trà Cổ rừng dương đến Cà Mau rừng đước' - 'From Trà Cổ's casuarina forest to Cà Mau's mangroves' - a verse that compresses the entire length of Vietnam into a single image. For many Vietnamese travellers, touching this marker is a pilgrimage.

How to Get There

🚗 Getting There

Móng Cái is approximately 340km from Hanoi, reachable by sleeper bus (7–8 hours, ~250,000–300,000 VND) or by flying to Vân Đồn Airport and continuing by taxi or bus (about 1.5 hours). From Móng Cái city centre, Mũi Sa Vĩ is about 10km east - take a taxi, grab motorbike, or rent a motorbike for the short run. Trà Cổ Beach and Đình Trà Cổ are along the same road. Móng Cái is a popular overnight border-trade destination with plenty of hotels at all price points.

What to Expect

👀 On the Ground

The entrance gate leads to a small landscaped area with the Km 0 coordinate marker, the three-pine relief sculpture, and a viewing terrace over the beach and estuary. Offshore, the white-and-coloured post of border marker 1378 is visible on clear days. The cape itself is low-lying - there's no dramatic cliff - but the symbolic weight of standing at the first point of Vietnam's coastline is palpable, especially at sunrise when the light comes in across a flat sea. Trà Cổ Beach, curving away to the south, is one of the longer sandy beaches in northern Vietnam and relatively calm and shallow, popular with Vietnamese families in summer.

Travel Tips

🧳 Tips

Mũi Sa Vĩ pairs naturally with the rest of the Móng Cái experience: the border town has a lively Chinese-goods market, fresh seafood restaurants, and a distinct cross-border energy unlike anywhere else in Vietnam. Combine it with nearby Vĩnh Thực Island (home to a historic French-era lighthouse) for a fuller Quảng Ninh borderland trip. If you're doing a full northeast Vietnam loop, Mũi Sa Vĩ makes a logical starting or ending point before continuing south along the coast toward Hạ Long Bay.

Insider Tips

Based on real traveler experiences and commonly mentioned advice from multiple visitors.

Use as a starting point to explore Vietnam's diverse coastline extending southward to Cambodia border
Combine with visits to nearby beaches and resorts in the northern coastal region
Consider the symbolic significance as Vietnam's geographic landmark rather than expecting extensive attractions
Come at sunrise - Mũi Sa Vĩ is the first point in northern Vietnam to receive sunlight each day, making early morning the most dramatic time to visit
The famous border marker 1378 sits offshore on a small island (Hòn Dậu Gót) and requires permission from border police plus a boat ride to reach - don't expect to walk up to it
The onshore 'Km 0' marker and the three-pine-tree relief sculpture inscribed with Tố Hữu's verse are the main accessible landmarks and worth the entrance fee
Trà Cổ Beach stretches 17km along a crescent bay - combine the landmark visit with a beach afternoon, especially in summer when the sea is calm and clear
The historic Đình Trà Cổ (communal house), a few kilometres away, is a National Special Relic dating to the 15th–16th century and worth 30 minutes alongside the main visit
Móng Cái city centre is about 10km away and has good seafood; the border market sells cheap Chinese goods if you're curious

FAQ

Common questions from travelers who've visited this place.

What is special about this location?›
It marks Vietnam's northernmost coastal point and the symbolic start of the country's distinctive S-shaped geography that extends to the Hà Tiên border with Cambodia.
How much time should I spend here?›
It is memorable as a quick visit destination. Combine with nearby beaches and resorts for a fuller coastal experience rather than spending extensive time at the monument alone.
What attractions are nearby?›
The location serves as a starting point for exploring northern Vietnam's diverse coastline, with various sea beaches, different sand types, and multiple resorts in the surrounding area.

Similar Experiences

Explore more things to do like this around Vietnam

📸Photography→🎎Culture→🏯History→