In Halong Bay, in northern Vietnam, the beach on Soi Sim Island\u2014closed for several years\u2014is set to open to the public in August 2026. Though it ranks among the world's 100 finest beaches and sits on the cruise-boat routes, visitors could neither land nor swim there, a place left in limbo. If a beach that could only be viewed from the deck becomes one you can swim at, Halong Bay itineraries\u2014until now devoted to cruising past limestone caves and karst formations\u2014gain a new way to spend time: going into the water. For travelers heading to Halong Bay from Japan, this changes how a trip is put together.<\/p>\n
The reopening of Soi Sim, driven by the Halong Bay-Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board, had originally aimed for the summer of 2026\u2014specifically an opening within July. According to local reporting (DTiNews, July 26), that has been pushed back to August. The beachside rest shelters, the promenade along the foot of the limestone hills, and the tourist-service facilities have already been built and refurbished, so the delay is not due to construction of buildings or walkways.<\/p>\n
One thing giving the reopening momentum is that Soi Sim was named to a U.S.-based rating body's \"Corona Beach 100 of 2026,\" counting it among the world's top 100 beaches. Beyond its white sand and clear water, the island issim (rose myrtle)<\/strong>covered in a shrub called sim, and in summer purple blossoms wash over the hill. The name \"Soi Sim\" itself, the management board explains, was given by local fishermen who saw the sim growing thick on the island. According to the board's materials, more than 78 plant species and 32 animal species have been confirmed on the island, including some rare orchids.<\/p>\n