Beaches In Vietnam That You Cannot Afford To Miss

Location: Phu Quoc Island Phu Quoc is the largest island of Vietnam. The entire island is dotted with spectacular beaches, but Long Beach is by far the famous. It is not only a popular haunt for sunbathers and swimmers, but the blue waters and golden sands attract photographers and sunset lovers as well. Squid Fishing, hiking, snorkelling, kayaking and jet skiing are popular beach activities. Another popular activity is to rent bikes and cycle around the town. Long Beach is one of the best beaches in Vietnam.

Best Time: March to late May or Late October to December

How to Reach: The beach is located only four kilometres from the airport. The airport can be reached by frequent flights from Can Tho City, Ho Chi Minh City and Rach Gia. Another way to arrive here is through the train or the high-speed ferry.

Known For : Po Nagar Cham Towers Long Son Pagoda Nha Trang Cathedral

Location: Nha Trang Nha Trang is a cosmopolitan city known for its energetic vibe. The Nha Trang Bay is considered to be one of the most beautiful bays in the world and has become a popular scuba diving destination. The Nha Trang beach is home to Rainbow Divers, Vietnam's first PAD-Certified Diving Center. Water sports such as snorkelling, wakeboarding, kite surfing and banana boat rides are common. The perennially warm waters of the beach also support kite-boarding and sailing. This beach in Vietnam is home to a number of luxurious spas and hotels that offer the perfect retreat from Vietnam's party lifestyle.

How to Reach: Nha Trang can be reached from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City by flight, motorbike, road, train or bus.

Best Time: February to April

30 Nha Trang Attractions

Known For : White Sand Dunes Fairy Stream Kitesurfing in Mui Ne

Location: Phan Thiet one of the sleepy strip of beaches in Vietnam that served as a fishing village, Mui Ne is rapidly developing into a mass tourism site, with a string of coastal resorts. However, the fishing village vibe still remains with large round boats that the locals use to catch fish. The tranquillity of the beach makes it a perfect location for sunbathing, jogging and walking. The beach is also a happening place and is well known for kitesurfing, swimming, surfing and windsurfing. Mui Ne is also considered to be one of the best sailing locations in the world.

How to Reach: The easiest way to get to Mui Ne is by flying to Nha Trang. It can also be reached by road from Ho Chi Minh City.

Best Time: Throughout the year

9 Mui Ne Attractions

Known For : Marble Mountains Golden Bridge My Khe Beach

Location: Da Nang A significant fight area during the Vietnam War, Da Nang Beach is better known for its pristine beach with its stretch of white sand, picturesque coral reef, palm leaves swaying in the wind and idyllic blue waters. Marble Mountain sits majestically in the middle of the beach. This beach in Vietnam is known for its breathtaking sunsets - the scenery is straight out of a van Gogh painting. The collective of three beaches - My Khe, My An and Non-Nuoc - is called the Da Nang Beach.

How to Reach: Da Nang is close to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi and can easily be reached by bus, train or motorbike. Da Nang also has an airport of its own.

Best Time: February to May

41 Da Nang Attractions

Location: Hoi An If your beach mantra is 'eat, swim, sleep, repeat', then An Bang beach is the perfect destination for you. Frequented by the expat community, this beach in Vietnam is dotted with numerous lively bars and manicured gardens where you can waste your days away sipping cocktails and soaking in the sun. It is the perfect location for a relaxed day off.

Best Time: March to May

How to Reach: Hoi An can be reached by road or bus from Da Nang, Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City

Location: Phu Quoc Island Star Beach is not as popular as Long Beach as it is not as tourist friendly; however, it is as impressive. The pristine waters and white sands coupled with gentle swaying palms and large boulders of the beach in Vietnam are perfect for sunrise and sunset views. The unique part of the beach though is the fact that it lights up at night due to the plankton, conferring a glow to the water as if someone lit a lamp inside the water. It makes for a very pretty sight.

Best Time: March to late May or Late October to December

How to Reach: The beach is located only four kilometres from the airport. The airport can be reached by frequent flights from Can Tho City, Ho Chi Minh City and Rach Gia. Another way to reach is through the train or the high-speed ferry.

Location: Hoc Loi Penninsula If you are an unconventional traveller or a backpacker, looking for some peace and quiet amidst the raging tourism industry of Vietnam, the idyllic Doc Let Beach is the perfect location for you. This beach in Vietnam has almost nonexistent tourist facilities but is picture perfect thanks to its scenic landscapes. The beach is generally unoccupied, and it will almost feel like a private beach. Doc Let beach is popular for its salt fields, a coveted spot amongst photographers.

Best Time: November to February

How to Reach: Take bus #3 from Nha Trang and get off at the last stop and walk to the beach.

Location: Con Dao Archipelago Con Son Island has a dark history. The French built a prison here to confine the most notorious prisoners owing to its distance from the mainland. That distance has served to be a blessing as the island is still in top-notch pristine condition unspoilt by tourists. The island has beaches in Vietnam with activities such as biking, trekking and diving. It is also home to green sea turtles.

Best Time: March to October

How to Reach: You can take a plane from Ho Chi Minh City or a ferry from Vung Tau City.

Location: Ho Coc Ho Coc beach is considered to be one of the most primitive and untouched beaches in Vietnam. The beach itself is a long, five-kilometre stretch of golden sand, crystal clear waters and a coastline dotted with sand dunes, coracles and large boulders. Ho Coc is not very accommodating of tourists, owing to its recent discovery. It is advised to visit the area during weekdays as it becomes quite crowded during the weekend. If you have extra time, you can stopover at the nearby rainforests and hot springs.

Best Time: November to February

How to Reach: You can easily get to Ho Coc Beach from Ho Chi Minh City by bus, ferry or your car.

Location: Hue Perched on the spectacular blue Cau Hai Lagoon lays the beautiful Thuan An Beaches. The special thing about these beaches in Vietnam is not the pristine scenery but the vibe. These beaches are all about fun and frolic. The beaches are the perfect place to interact with locals and learn about the culture of the place. Seafood complemented with one too many beers and a gang of cheering natives is the norm here.

Best Time: February to April

How to Reach: The beach is very close to Hue and can be walked from the city.

Known For : Christ of Vung Tau White Palace Vung Tau Lighthouse

Location: Ho Chi Minh City Vung Tau is the closest beach to Ho Chi Minh City and one of the best-liked beaches in the south of Vietnam. Owing to the proximity to Ho Chi Minh City, this is also the most frequented beach. Vung tau maybe a beach with many people, but the beach is maintained very well with a high degree of cleanliness. The best time to visit the beach is on weekdays as it is frequented by the public during weekends and public holidays.

How to Reach: The beach is walking distance from Ho Chi Minh City Center.

Best Time: March - May

5 Vung Tau Attractions

Location: Hoi An Cua Dai is one of the very popular beaches in Vietnam located very close to Hoi An. The beach is known for its white sands, turquoise waters, clear sunshine and tender waves. The beach is a tourist hotspot, but it is maintained very well. Cua Dai is an excellent place to cycle around and makes for excellent biking experiences. For the adventure junkies, Cua Dai has some adventure water sports to offer.

Best time: March to May

How to Reach: Hoi An can be reached by road or bus from Da Nang, Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City

Cat Ba island is a picturesque island. Cat Ba island has an assortment of activities to cater to all kinds of people. Cat Ba island has a wide array of activities to entertain people of varied interests. Cat Ba island has two beaches, Cat Co 1 and Cat Co2 and you can swim in the smooth seawater.

Best Time: April to November

How to Reach: Cat Ba Island can be reached by direct bus from Hanoi

Quan Lan Island offers a picturesque retreat resplendent with white sand beaches. Quan Lan houses the beautiful Minh Chau beach. This beach is the most famous tourist location in Quan Lan Island. The beach has white sands and the calm blue waters are ideal for surfing. Other water sports include Kayaking and Beach Volleyball.

Best Time: April to September

How to Reach: Quan Lan Island can be reached by Cai Rong Port (Van Don Island) by Ferry

A favoured haunt for local expats, the Cam An Beach is situated in a beautiful, quiet part of town. Unfettered by development, the beach is surrounded by a handful of bohemian bars, usually unfrequented by tourists. It flaunts some of the best seafood on the island and a view of the lush mountains. A popular time to visit is during the day, especially in the summer months.

With one of the longest white sand shorelines and clear blue waters, Doi Duong is an ideal place to relax. Located smack in the middle of the city, it has excellent connectivity and several little coffee shops along the beach itself. The more recently constructed Doi Duong Park adjoining the beach is a sight for the eyes. The beach has played a significant role in the rich history of Hưng Long.

Named after the ancient Cham Ethnic, Ca Na Beach is a must visit in South Vietnam. Shaped like a crescent moon, the white sand coast is home to some of the best seafood restaurants in the area. To really experience Ca Na, the recommended mode of travel is by motorbike from Phan Rang City. Frequented by local fishers, nighttime in Ca Na Beach is truly a sight with lights dotting the waters from fishermen’s boats.

A popular site for tourists during the weekends, the Ninh Chu Beach is considered an alternative to an arduous trek around Phan Rang’s Cham towers. A long stretch of sand and clear waters make it the perfect place to kick back and relax. It is also possible to kite-surf and windsurf on the beach provided you bring your own gear.

Hon Chong Beach is a stunning rock beach in Nha Trang, Vietnam. On one side of the beach, there is a cluster of large-sized rocks stacked on top of each other. The name, Hon Chang, comes from this feature of the attraction. The eroding action around the stones has formed a cliff-like structure accessible with some effort by visitors to enjoy a mesmerizing view of the sea and the mountains in the backdrop.