The best beaches in Vietnam

The best beaches in Vietnam can be found all along its coastline, and since Vietnam owns more than 3400km of coastline, we’d say there are plenty of beautiful beach vacations to choose from! You’ll find infinite stretches of warm blue waters, fine sandy beaches, hidden coves, lovely lagoons, and tropical islands that are ringed with even more beaches.

Although Vietnam has a temperamental climate that inundates the country with plenty of rain that doesn’t mean that there aren’t beautiful beaches to enjoy. You just need to know when to go!

Northern Vietnam Beaches

The north central coast of Vietnam has dozens of beaches that don’t often figure into the itineraries of most travelers to the area. Although most beaches in northern Vietnam aren’t equipped with beach facilities, they still offer a wonderful break away from Vietnam’s northern cities. 

Bai Chay Beach

Bai Chay Beach draws crowds of beachgoers from the capital ciy of Hanoi, especially on summer weekends. Although the beach is nowhere near as idyliic as the beaches in southern Vietnam, it is still a delightful getaway if you have limited time for a beach vacation in Vietnam.

Halong Bay

Halong Bay is best known for its towering limestone outcroppings rising out of the sea, stunning sunsets, and authentic junk boat tours. It’s not a place that one would naturally think of when looking for a beach vacation in Vietnam, but you’ll probably be surprised to learn that Halong Bay has several small beaches that will simply blow your mind away.

Southern Vietnam Beaches

Southern Vietnam has some of the very best beaches in Vietnam, and they are easily accessible from Ho Chi Minh City. Vung Tau. Phan Thiet, and Miu Ne are all within a few hours of HCMC.

The best time to visit Southern Vietnam is between the months of December and May, when the weather is hot and humid. Rain showers are frequent, but dark skies never last for long. The wet season, which runs from June to October, brings regular downpours and typhoons.

Vung Tau

Just a short trip from Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau is one of the most popular beach resorts in Vietnam and it tends to get very crowded during the months of December through to May. The beach doesn’t compare to other beaches in Vietnam, but its close proximity to HCMC makes it a popular summertime destination.

Phan Thiet

Phan Thiet is an old Cham outpost that is renowned for both its fishing fleet and its fish sauce (nuoc mam). Visitors to Phan Thiet will know they have arrived when they can smell the  pungent aroma of fish sauce in the air.

The town, which has a population of approximately 75,000 people, is a picturesque fishing town that usually has hundreds of multi-hued fishing vessels floating nearby.

The nearest beach is a few kilometers east of town, but the biggest tourist attraction is 22 kilometers away at  Mui Ne Beach.  With its rolling sand dunes, smooth water, a clean beach and swaying palm trees, many travelers to Mui Ne insist that it is one of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam.

Mui Ne Beach, Mui Ne Bay

Any time of year, Mui Ne Bay in Southern Vietnam boasts hot, sunny weather, stunning landscape, and miles of fine white sand beaches. This beautiful resort area is famous for its gorgeous beach and sand dunes; world-class windsurfing and kite surfing.

Mui Ne, being in such close proximity to Ho Chi Minh City, attracts a lot of attention from residents looking to escape the city for a weekend of fun in the sun. Local attractions include a golf course designed by Nick Faldo, fishing villages, remote sand dunes, and fresh seafood 24/7.

Mui Ne Bay is easily accessible by bus from Phan Thiet, while the bus ride from Ho Chi Minh City takes about three hours.

Hon Chong Beach, Ha Tien

Hon Chong Beach is a silky white sand beach with calm tropical water. The beach is located in Ha Tien, which is on the border with Cambodia. The entire area shelters some really nice beaches. Other nearby attractions include Tien Cave and its interesting rock formation

The Hai Tac islets are also a nice option, especially for scuba drivers. The islands are accessible by boat from Ha Tien, and the biggest of these islands, Ho Doc, also has some splendid white beaches.

Ho Coc

From the southern area of Vung Tau to south-central Phan Thiet, you can expect to see long stretches of beach. Unfortunately, most of it has remained inaccessible. If you’re interested in sampling some of the beach life here, head to Ho Co, a serene sandbar that is located about halfway along this stretch of property.

China Beach, Danang

Located between Da Nang and Hoi An, China Beach is most famous for its 20-mile stretch of luscious beachfront property. This is where US troops landed during the Vietnam War in the 1970s. It is also known for being a hangout for US soldiers, and over the years, it has transformed itself into a stunning Asian beach destination that boasts upscale comfort, service, and amenities.

If you love surfing, China Beach is the place to visit, especially from September to December. The beach was the site of Vietnam’s first international surfing competition in 1992.

There are also plenty of other activities to do in the area. Day trips from China Beach include Marble Mountain, My Son, and Hoi An.

The main beach is next to the Non Nuoc Resort Hotel, but many people argue that the real China Beach is located 5 kilometers north of the hotel at My Khe Beach.

South Central Vietnam

Nha Trang Beach

Known as the Vietnamese Riviera, Nha Trang is a six-mile stretch of beautiful fine white sand beach, rolling blue water, lush green mountains, and gently swaying palm trees. This international beach destination has clean, clear water, excellent diving conditions, and it has a great reputation for having some truly spectacular party boat cruises. Boat trips are perhaps the number one tourist activity in Nha Trang. Most of them offer a full day of scenic viewing along with home-cooked meals and loads of ice-cold beer.

It is also well-known as a backpacker haven, with plenty of cheap accommodations on offer for the frugal traveler. If you are traveling on a budget, be aware of the beach hawkers who wander up and down the beach with an assortment of food, beach accessories, jewelry, and food. Their prices are quite expensive compared to other places in town.

During the summer, Nha Trang gets quite crowded with tourists who come for the stunning views, beautiful new resorts, and superb seafood. Nha Trang is also the gateway to a number of island getaways within the area, with trips to its outlying islands being some of the most popular activities with visitors.

The public beach in Nha Trang is called Tran Phu, but the beaches on the north side of town and on Nha Trang’s outlying islands are much nicer.

Overlooking the harbor in Nha Tran, you’ll find the Cham temples. The temples are a popular sightseeing attraction, so expect crowds. The view of the harbor with its blue water and colorful fishing boats more than makes up for the hustle-bustle atmosphere of the temples.

Nha Trang’s other claim to fame is being the number one spot in Vietnam for diving. There are numerous dive shops in the area where you can become padi-certified. Snorkeling and diving trips are reasonably priced and come highly recommended by most divers who have been to the area. There are diving packages for both novice and experienced divers.

Doc Let Beach

34 km north of Nha Trang lies picturesque Doc Let Beach. Home to stunning beach resorts and clean white sand beaches, Doc Let is a great place to go if you want to avoid the crowds at Nha Trang.

Lang Co Beach

Lang Co Beach is located just 45 minutes away from Hoi An. The area, which has recently been voted as one of the top 30 beaches in the world, is famous for its breathtaking natural scenery that includes soft white sand, crystal blue water, lush tropical forests and green mountains. The beauty of Lang Co was legendary among kings from the Nguyen Dynasty who came here to build their palatial complexes for vacation.

Con Dao Beach

Idyllic beaches are on offer at the Con Dao Islands owing to the isolated location off the coast. The islands have been protected from tourism because of their remote location, and because of this, you’ll find some of the most pristine beachfront property in all of Vietnam.

Beach play Phu Quoc Island

Explore scenic Phu Quoc Island by motorcycle and discover sparkling white sand beaches backed by lush jungle all on your own. This stunning island  situated just off the coast of Kampot in Cambodia is being heralded as the new “Phuket”.

The island has a handful of mid- to low-end beach resorts for accommodations, and it is well on its way to becoming a total beach resort destination. Some travelers have even argued that the Phu Quoc is well on its way to being the number one choice for best beach in Vietnam because it has the whitest sand in the country and some of the most stunning sunsets in all of Asia. Without a doubt, it is certainly known for being one of Vietnam’s most beautiful islands.

We recommend visiting Long Beach, Ong Lan Beach, and Bai Dai. Phu Quoc can be reached by air or by ferry.

Bai Dai Beach, Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam

Bai Dai Beach sits in a Viet military area. The beach is beautifully remote with sparkling white sand and picturesque vistas.