With some 2,000 miles of coastline and thousands of islands, Vietnam has a vast choice of beaches, from bustling, city-side arcs of sand with abundant facilities to remote, little-visited coves.
Many beaches lie alongside working fishing villages, which means you’ll have the perfect opportunity to sample the catch of the day as part of your Vietnamese beach experience. Some come with breathtaking views, particularly those around Halong Bay in the north, while others offer access to hiking and cycling trails.
Here are 16 of the best beaches in Vietnam.
My Khe Beach, Danang
My Khe Beach, Danang
The long arcing stretch of coastline that runs for almost 20 miles along the central east coast stretching between the cities of Danang and Hoi An is known as the Gold Coast, thanks to the number of beaches here that regularly top lists of Vietnam’s finest.
My Khe Beach, Danang
One of the northernmost is My Khe, where the white sand and shallow, calm waters in a spectacular shade of aquamarine make it a favorite of families who can take shade under the palms that line the city side of the beach, or under the many straw umbrellas on the sand. A number of fishing boats hauled up on the sand offer fresh catch.
Non Nuoc Beach, Danang
Non Nuoc Beach, Danang
South of My Khe in the central Gold Coast is Non Nuoc Beach, which retains a slightly more upmarket feel thanks to the number of international hotels that line the coast here. Aside from the typically golden sands, there’s much more to do here than simply lie on the beach.
The Co Co River runs parallel to the beach and offers boating trips, while there are also a number of high-end shops selling Vietnamese souvenirs and several links golf courses.
Bai Chay Beach, Halong
Bai Chay Beach, Halong
With magnificent views over the misty karst formations of Halong Bay, Bai Chay translates as “burned beach”—not that you’ll find charred remains here, rather, a long stretch of pale sand. The name actually comes from a local legend in which Vietnamese soldiers took on Mongolian invaders and set their ships on fire.
Today, the coastline has been replaced by a long, curving road and the man-made beach backs onto that. Stretching for around 500 yards long and 100 yards wide, it’s divided into public spaces and smaller stretches that are dedicated to the many hotels that line the coast.
Lang Co Beach, Hue
Lang Co Beach, Hue
Set on Vietnam’s East Coast between Danang and Hue, Lang Co stretches for around six miles alongside National Highway 1A and offers a near-perfect location.
One of the best beaches in Southeast Asia, it was once voted among the 30 best bays in the world thanks to its fine, pale yellow sands, mostly calm and shallow seas, and a backdrop of verdant mountains.
Lang Co Beach, Hue
The southern end of the beach fronts the town of Lang Co where there are shops, bars, restaurants and ATMs giving it more of a resort feel; while further north has a more rural atmosphere with fishing boats dotting the beach and open rice paddies on the roadside.
If time allows, the surrounding hills are worth exploring too. Notable sights include the Bo Ghe waterfall and Hoi Mit springs that feed into Lang Co’s lagoon.
Bai Dai/Long Beach, Nha Trang
Bai Dai/Long Beach, Nha Trang
Head some 15 miles south of the buzzing town of Nha Trang to find a near-perfect stretch of beach, this time on a long sandbar that runs along the coast.
Formerly a militarized area, the beach is not as commercially oriented as many others in the country, save for several hotels that line the coast that offer umbrellas and sun loungers, as well as drinks and snacks.
Bai Dai/Long Beach, Nha Trang
Outside of the hotels, the beach is mostly as nature created it, with calm, shallow waters backed by the flats of the Thuy Trieu Lagoon.
Canh Duong Beach, Hue
Chan May Bay
This gorgeous 10-mile arc of white sand overlooks the sweep of Chan May Bay, near Hue. Yet to be developed in any significant way, save for a handful of boutique hotels, the beach sits alongside lush, green mountains and is lined with casuarina trees, giving it a picture postcard feel.
Boat hire is available for those looking to see the local fishermen’s work up close, and their catch can be ordered in the authentic seafood restaurants that line the beach.
Can Gio Beach, Ho Chi Minh
Can Gio Beach, Ho Chi Minh
Part of the Can Gio Biosphere Reserve, also known as Monkey Island, Can Gio Beach is unusual by Vietnamese norms in that it is made of dark-colored sand rather than the usual dazzling white.
This is thanks to its position on a natural mangrove-covered peninsula at the confluence where three rivers, the Vam Co, Saigon and Dong Nai enter the sea.
Don’t let that deter you, though. On the one hand the waters are lovely and calm for swimming, and the beach’s location means it’s often quiet, even in the busiest of seasons.
Can Gio Biosphere Reserve, Ho Chi Minh
What’s more, the biosphere reserve is packed with things to do, including kayaking among the mangroves on the natural canals, visiting the Vietnam War-era Guerrilla Base in Sac Forest, and seeing the crocodiles at Vam Sat Forest.
Front Beach, Vung Tau
Front Beach, Vung Tau
The Vung Tau peninsula is one of the most glamorous tourist spots in Ho Chi Minh City, home to beaches, marinas, hotels and golf courses.
The peninsula’s western edge is flanked by two hills known locally as Big and Little Mountain and between them is a pretty, compact stretch of white sand known as Front Beach, or Bai Truoc.
Front Beach, Vung Tau
One of the best beaches in Vietnam, this beach is also home to a small fleet of fishing boats that add an authentic feel to a visit. There’s a tree-lined and flower-filled park and promenade, perfect for walking or cycling using bikes rented from local vendors.
Take time, too, to explore the vibrant resort that leads onto the beach, home to bustling cafés, bars, and restaurants.
Back Beach, Vung Tau
Back Beach, Vung Tau
Sitting on a gentle six-mile curve along the east coast of Vung Tau island, Back Beach (which takes its name from the French colonial era, when it was called La Plage de Derriere) offers an alternative to Front Beach.
Facing the Eastern Sea, the sands here are long and golden with the best offering being the two miles or so at the island’s most southern tip.
Hon Ba Island
The length of the beach means that it seldomly feels overcrowded and there are great views over the rocky outcrop of Hon Ba Island, topped with a small temple. When conditions are right, a causeway to the island is exposed, which you can walk to at low tide, providing you allow enough time for a return.
The experience here is quintessential Vietnam—Vietnamese food and drink hawkers are a-plenty, parts of the beach are home to fishing boats, and the coastal road is a melting pot of restaurants, bars, and hotels.
Long Hai Beach, Long Hai
Long Hai Beach, Long Hai
Easily accessible from Ho Chi Minh City is the pretty beach resort of Long Hai. Sitting across the channel from Vung Tau’s famed Back Beach, it is often less busy, especially on weekdays, than its better known neighbor but has much of the same charm.
Long Hai Beach, Long Hai
Long Hai was originally a fishing village and there is still a fleet that leaves here daily. The catch is displayed both in the market and at the seafood restaurants that line the front.
With a backdrop of wooded mountains, there are a number of scenic trails for walking and the vast Dinh Co Temple, dedicated to a young girl who was washed up on the beach more than 200 years ago and is seen as a protector of the town, is worth a visit.
Hon Gai Beach, Halong
Opened in 2021, this man-made beach is a great example of how a nondescript urban area can be regenerated into a successful beach resort. The beach, which is around half a mile in length and 180 yards wide, was a condition of the building of the new Tran Quoc Nghien coastal road and was designed to offset any environmental pollution caused by a subsequent increase in traffic.
With the city as a backdrop, the views from the white sand beach are quite splendid, a series of small, green islands sitting on a turquoise sea that make it seem much more remote than it is. For those looking to take a stroll, the beach is also backed by a pretty palm tree-lined promenade, while facilities include bathrooms and eateries.
Island Beaches, Halong Bay
Halong Bay
When you think of Vietnam, you probably bring to mind the islands of Halong Bay. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best places to visit in Vietnam, the bay is home to more than 1,600 islands and islets, forming an incredible vista of verdant limestone pillars, some of which are uninhabited and have the feel of a movie set.
Cua Van floating fishing village
While many of them are inaccessible, thanks to their vertiginous nature, others have coves and beaches that can be explored on organized excursions by kayak or junk boat that also visit the Cua Van floating fishing village and the quite magnificent stalactites and stalagmites of Sung Sot Cave.
Cua Dai and An Bang beaches, Hoi An
Cua Dai Beach, Hoi An
At the southernmost end of the Gold Coast near Danang lie this pair of adjacent beaches that serve the city of Hoi An. The Ho River separates the beaches from the main city and gives them more of a rural feel, and the illusion of being on a wide sandbank.
Along the beach there’s pearly white sand and shallow waters, with a number of umbrellas and sun loungers, some of which are owned by the many boutique hotels here.
Hoi An
As one of the best places to visit in Southeast Asia, Hoi An itself is worth exploring while here. Cut through with canals, its Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a mish-mash of architecture including ornate Vietnamese and French-colonial styles, while there is an iconic Japanese-style covered bridge that makes for great pictures.
The food scene in Hoi An is superb, too; visit the local market and stop at one of the restaurants for fresh Vietnamese specialties when you’ve had enough sunbathing.
Read: Best Things to Do in Hoi An
Tran Phu Beach, Nha Trang
Tran Phu Beach, Nha Trang
Nha Trang is one of Vietnam’s up-and-coming destinations but still remains relatively under the radar for many visitors. At the heart of this coastal city is this four-mile arc of golden sands lapped by clear blue waters.
Thanks to the length of the beach, there’s plenty of room to find a private spot to catch some rays. A number of watersports centers offer surfing, snorkeling and diving, and there’s no danger of going hungry thanks to the many restaurants and cafés that line the adjoining coastal road.
Nhu Tien Beach, Nha Trang
Some six miles south of downtown lies Nha Trang Beach, but it may as well be a world away. The hustle and bustle of the city backdrop is left behind in favor of a fantastic arc of the whitest sand backed by jungle-topped mountain ranges.
There’s a distinct lack of commercialism here, aside from a couple of restaurants, so it’s wise for visitors to pack all they need for a visit. Shade is offered by the palms that line the beach.
While here, the surrounding cape and those lush mountains can also be explored on hiking trails that lead to mysterious caves. If you’re looking for a complete escape, this is one of the best beaches in Vietnam.
Doc Let Beach, Nha Trang
Doc Let Beach, Nha Trang
There are several beaches north of Nha Trang, the best of which is Doc Let, one and a half miles of white sand overlooking Van Phong Bay and around an hour’s drive north of the city.
Backed by natural forests, poplar trees and casuarinas, the beach has a rural feel and fabulous views of the bay’s islands.
Shallow, calm seas that stretch out for hundreds of yards make it ideal for families and those less confident in the water, and snorkeling equipment can be hired for anyone who would like to explore the underwater world.
Doc Let Beach, Nha Trang
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