Vietnam’s vast turquoise waters and beautiful beaches continually attract locals and tourists to visit its shores. Over the years, the tourism of the country has expanded, and now, numerous luxury resorts can be found along these coasts.
Vietnam’s tropical weather is also something to look forward to—the year long summer is a treat for beach lovers. With over 300 coastlines that feature tantalizing sand beaches throughout the country, there’s no wonder why Vietnam is a top destination for sunny enthusiasts.
Here are among the best beaches in Vietnam, in no particular order:
1. City Beach, Nha Trang
The pride of Nha Trang’s vital tourist hub revolves around its beaches. The city is home to a long shoreline with various beaches beside a number of luxury hotels, shops and restaurants.
Though these white-sand beaches are connected, not one is the same. Each section of the coast features a different view, a distinct character, and sensation. There are seven beaches in Nha Trang:
- Nhu Tien Beach. This privately owned beach fits those who prefer exclusivity and privacy. It has white sands, a line of palm trees and splendid views of the nearby mountains. Because of its remote location and closeness to Diamond Bay Resort & Spa, (affiliate link) tourists who visit the beach are perceived to be more affluent.
- Bai Dai Beach. If you’re considering a day trip at the waterfront, Bai Dai Beach is one of the most accessible option. It’s 28 kilometers south of Tran Phu Beach and has a more informal mood. There are nearby local bars that sell light fruit juices and beers.
- Bai Tru Beach. This beach destination is close to Vinpearl Amusement Park. If you’re cruising through the city, this is the closest to the plazas and hotels. You can also access Bai Tru Beach via canoe, car, motorcycle, or ferry.
- Tran Phu Beach. As the most famous beach in the city, Tran Phu has a lot of tourists and visitors during peak hours of the day. It’s known for the adjacent Tran Phu Street that features an array of iconic beachfront resorts. You can also find many gift shops and museums around the section.
- Hon Cong Beach. North of Tran Phu, Hon Cong Beach has a quieter ambiance. It has a rockier shoreline, so it’s less popular than other shores. However, this beach is free to enter. At the same time, you’ll have an unparalleled view of the neighboring islets.
- Doc Let Beach. The beach is known for its mid-range accommodations. Perfect for solo travelers and backpackers, the Doc Let Beach has a younger crowd. You’ll find surfers, too. Around the area, there are a handful of local shops and restaurants.
- Jungle Beach. Connected to Ninh Phuoc Village, The Jungle Beach is a relaxing getaway that’s more remote than other beaches. You’ll have access to fishing villages nearby and the jungles in the region. This is perfect for those who are searching for a nature-inspired locale.
2. Lang Co Beach, Hue
Boasting 10 km. of white shoreline, Lang Co Beach is a top destination for day trippers. The town also has a bustling fishing community, so its beach and ports are quite lively during day time.
Since Lang Co Beach is located on the central coast of Vietnam, you’ll see amazing natural landscapes all over town, including the dazzling Truong Son Mountains. The beachfront’s view of the blue Eastern Sea will also leave you speechless. The beach is situated a little more than an hour south of Hue city.
The beach is open to everyone, and if you’re not staying in any of the nearby luxury resorts, you can drop by the Lang Co Beach Village where they rent out beach huts. There are several beaches shacks set up during summer. Here, you can request BBQ meals as well as fresh seafood caught during the dawn. The more popular dishes you can get here include snails, squid, and clams.
Getting There: The beach is prominent in town, so it’s easy to approach locals and ask for the direction of the beach. But since there are various hotels along the coast, travel using a motorbike or a bicycle is popular. They also have a Lang Co Taxi service. The taxi’s head office is located at Highway 1A, Lang Co Town. You can also call them via 0905 0985 15.
3. An Bang Beach, Hoi An
The most popular Hoi An beach is An Bang. Its beautiful stretch of white sand and uninterrupted views of the Cham Islands make it a must-see destination in the district.
Unlike city beaches, An Bang Beach has a more humble character. Along its shorelines, you’ll see locals’ fishing boats and children playing all around. There are a few watersports operations in the area. You can rent parasailing and jet ski facilities, too.
You can also find lightweight woven bamboo basket fishing canoes that have a circular design. These traditional boats are still operated by the town’s fishermen.
Along the seashore, you’ll find restaurants and luxury hotels in Hoi An. You can visit the popular Soul Kitchen Bar & Restaurant, which is a known hangout spot for tourists. If you want to explore the town, the Cua Dai is a 3 km. walk from the beach.
Getting there: Since it’s along the central coast, you can just follow the Hai Ba Trung Street to get to the beach entrance.
4. Monkey Island Beach, Cat Ba, Hai Phong
This mesmerizing island in Cat Ba, nearby Hai Phong city, is known for its fine beach. This location is excellent for casual swimming and mountain trekking. Thousands of islets are also accessible to tourists.
Just as the name implies, another cool feature of this beach town is the plethora of monkeys. Though you’ll meet a lot lurking around, be careful in approaching monkeys that roam free. Most of them would bite those who come too close. To be safe, keep a considerate distance from the monkeys to keep them from being agitated.
Monkey Island Beach is also a popular stop for those who travel via a Ha Long Bay cruise. If you prefer an all-around Monkey Island Beach vacation, you can book at the exclusive resort with the same name. Located about 2 miles from the Ca Ba town, the Monkey Island Beach Resort (affiliate link) has beach bungalows, private accommodation, and restaurants that promote local and international cuisines.
Getting There: To reach Monkey Island Bech, travel via boat from the Beo Port Station. This is about 2 km. from the Cat Ba town. If you’re going for a day trip, you can ride any Ha Long Bay cruise that will pass by the island. Since it’s smaller than the other beaches, some say it’s best to visit the beach during daytime, especially if you don’t have any accommodation within the island.
5. Binh Ba Island, Cam Ranh
Binh Ba Island Beach is one of the more diverse beaches, in terms of the activities you can do in the area. The beach is located in Cam Ranh Bay, in Khanh Hoa Proving, 60 km from Nha Trang.
It’s a popular for its fishing community. They even export their lobsters to nearby countries. Thus, it’s called Lobster Island (đảo Tôm Hùm). And like the previously mentioned Monkey Island, Binh Ba is one of the best island destinations in Vietnam
Similar to Nha Trang’s seaboard, the town possesses two separate beaches: Nom Beach & Chuong Beach. Near these beaches are numerous historic sites like citadels, cannons, and tunnels.
Nom Beach is preferred by families and groups because of its fine sand and clear blue waters. This area is also packed with souvenir stores, karaoke centers, restaurants, and markets. It’s an ideal site for day trips.
On the other hand, Chuong Beach is more secluded. The sands are coarser because it’s close to rock formations. Shallow diving and boat riding are the two most popular activities in this area. Since there are a lot of trekking locations, tourists also enjoy sightseeing around the area.
In Chuong Beach, the other activity tourists can enjoy is fishing. Some fishermen accommodate tourists in their boats and catch a range of saltwater fish. The tour ends by traveling back to the beach and cooking the freshly caught seafood.
Getting there: If you’re coming from Ho Chi Minh City, it’ll take you about 10 hours to arrive at the island. You can take the Ha Linh Bus, located at Pham Ngu Lao Street. Make sure the bus route goes to Cam Ranh. You can expect the fare to be around $8/seat. For buses that have a bed, the fare could go up a few more dollars.
If you’re coming from Hanoi, the travel (1,400km) will be about 30 hours. That means you can expect multiple overnight pit stops. The Hoang Long Bus Line offers a trip from the Giap Bat Bus Station to the island. You can also take the Reunification Express Train to Nha Trang and shuttle the hour from there.
Meanwhile, if you don’t want to spend too much time on travel, you can also get to the island by plane. Local flights are going to Cam Ranh International Airport from Hanoi and Saigon (HCMC). From here you can take a taxi or Grab 15 kilometers to Ba Ngoi Port and ferry from there.
6. Phu Quoc Island
There are plenty of other sunny jewels to discover in Vietnam, so we’ll cap it off the one and only Phu Quoc Island. This paradise is located in the very southeast part of the country, and requires a flight or boat ride to reach.
If you’re looking for white sandy beaches, matched with clear waters, Phu Quoc is a top choice for this. Relax on an array of coastal spots, from lovely hotels. Maybe rent a motorbike and see the vast landscapes. With your own set of wheels, or a cheap Grab taxi, you can head to the far reaches of Phu Quoc.
About 180,000 permanent residents call the island home, so there’s a fair bit commercialization, though still plenty of peaceful oasis to be found. Spread out over 574 km2 (222 sq mi), there are two wards: Dương Đông makes up the largest town and ward on the western side. The only other one is An Thới, on the southern end.
Getting there: The easiest option is Phu Quoc International Airport. From here, you can be at your beachside hotel in a matter of minutes, depending where you settle on this spacious island.
A ferry boat is another popular transportation method to Phu Quoc. From the coastal cities of Rach Gia and Ha Tien you can take one of several shuttles to and from the island.
That’s a roundup of some of the best beaches in Vietnam. If you prefer to stay closer to your base camp in one of Vietnam’s two biggest cities, check out the top beaches near Hanoi. Have fun and remember to wear your sun protection: sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses.