The perfect Vietnam beach holiday
With over 2,000 miles of coastline, there are plenty of beaches to choose from. Vietnam borders the South China Sea, from its very southern tip at Mua Bai Bung as far north as the port of Haiphong, in the Gulf of Tonkin, and it’s a beach-lover’s paradise. As you travel through the country you’ll pass mile after mile of undeveloped sands, with nothing but small fishing communities dotting the picture-perfect landscape.
The Selective Asia team has travelled extensively in Vietnam, and we’re confident that we’ve unearthed the very best of the country’s beaches on our travels. The following are a few of our favourite Vietnam beach holiday destinations.
Southern Vietnam Beaches
The 11km of sand that links Phan Thiet with the fishing port of Mui Ne is amongst the very best that Vietnam has to offer. The region has hotels and resorts to suit every budget, there’s great sailing, windsurfing and kite surfing facilities, and you’re just a five-hour drive by car from Ho Chi Minh City.
The up-and-coming island of Phu Quoc lies 62 nautical miles off the southern tip of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. The island formerly belonged to Cambodia and is still disputed territory with the Khmer people (you can see Cambodia from the northern shores of Phu Quoc). There are large stretches of totally undeveloped beaches to enjoy on the island, with nothing but the odd fishing village in view. Now is definitely the time to visit, as big development plans are in the making.
Further to the east of the Mekong Delta but equally as picturesque, perhaps more so is the idyllic island of Con Dao..if you want undiscovered, empty sands and a real dinner party boast then this is the island for you!
If you want that perfect ‘picture postcard’ beach, look no further than Nha Trang. Whilst the town itself is certainly more developed than many of the other Vietnam beach holiday destinations, you can’t fault its looks. And there is also the little matter of the Six Senses Hideaway at nearby Ninh Van Bay, which is certainly amongst the very best beach resorts in Vietnam, perhaps Asia.
The best beach weather in southern Vietnam is from October/November to April, with the exception of Nha Trang, which gets good weather most of the year, outside of September to December.
Central Vietnam Beaches
Undoubtedly the most sought-after destination in central Vietnam, the UNESCO-protected town of Hoi An is just 5 km from the beautiful Cua Dai Beach. Whilst Hoi An itself is popular with visitors for its wealth of cultural interests, Cua Dai Beach is delightfully undeveloped, with just a handful of resorts lining miles of sand.
To the north of Hoi An, en route to Danang, lies China Beach, the famous R&R destination for American GIs during the Vietnamese-American conflict. The beach has recently started to receive a significant amount of investment, and development is under way on a number of luxurious resorts. The Nam Hai has been open since 2008 and is already regarded as one of the top beach resorts in Asia.
Towards the southern boundaries of the central region is Quy Nhon, the least known of the beach destinations listed on this page. That won’t be the case for long though. Currently there are just two resorts in the area, including the Life and Wellness Resort Quy Nhon, but plans are in place to bring Quy Nhon into the main holiday picture. Enjoy it before everyone else does.
The best beach weather in central Vietnam is from January to September
Northern Vietnam Beaches
The north undoubtedly suffers in comparison to the beaches further south because there simply isn’t the quality of resort to ensure a great beach holiday. The island of Cat Ba in Halong Bay is one of the few exceptions, although it’s not in the same league as Hoi An or Mui Ne. If you want some relaxation time in northern Vietnam, we’d recommend an extended stay on board a traditional junk in Halong Bay.