The Ti Top Island is situated about 7-8km south-east of Bai Chay. This displays a beach shaped like a crescent moon and sand that has been washed to a snowy white by the tide.
November 22, 1962, this tiny island had the honour of receiving a visit from astronaut Ghermann Titov, a hero of the former Soviet Union, accompanied by President Ho Chi Minh. To perpetuate the remembrance of their visit, Uncle Ho named the place Ti Top Island. It has now become an attractive beach for visitors and has various of tourist services.
Thirty-five years afterwards, on June 27, 1997, Ti Top returned to the island having his name. Deeply moved, he wrote in the souvenir book of the Management Board of Halong Bay: “My deepest thanks to destiny, which has allowed me to come back to this tiny island.†It has become a beach attracting many visitors.
From about 14km east of Bai Chay is Ti Top Beach. It takes the shape of a crescent encompassing the island. Small though it might be, it wins kudos for its quiet and airy atmosphere, its clean and clear waters, as well as its alluring landscape. At present, there has a bar in the island which also provides swimming costumes, floats and lukewarm shower. Fresh water was carried to the island from inland. Ti Top Beach has become a popular tourist destination.