The Best Beach Resorts in Vietnam

Between the team, we’ve visited a fair few of Vietnam’s beaches ourselves (we know, it’s a tough gig!) and our clients always share great feedback too. So, we’ve rounded up our top 10 beach spots we regularly recommend and would happily return to ourselves.

Some are peaceful and understated, with quiet bays, golden sands and relaxed resorts that are perfect for switching off. Others have a bit more buzz, with beach bars, late-night cocktails and plenty of culture. The south tends to be warmest from November to May, while central hotspots such as Hoi An are best between April and August. And with some of the warmest sea temperatures in Southeast Asia and a truly spectacular coastline that stretches nearly 2,000 miles, it’s no wonder Vietnam’s beaches are some of our team’s favourites.

Make sure you include at least one of these resorts on your next Vietnam multi centre holiday. Here’s our Top 10 pick of the best…

 

TL;DR: the top 10 beaches in Vietnam

• 1. Hoi An: Charming town with nearby beautiful beaches – perfect for mixing sightseeing with beach days.
• 2. Lang Co Bay: Quiet luxury spot between Hue & Hoi An with peaceful bay and mountain views.
• 3. Phu Quoc Island: Tropical paradise with white sand, clear water, and lots going on.
• 4. Mui Ne & Phan Thiet: Close to Ho Chi Minh with lively nightlife and great kite surfing,
• 5. Nha Trang: Good for nightlife and water sports. Busy but quieter beaches close by for balance.
• 6. Ninh Van Bay: Exclusive luxury resorts for the ultimate peaceful, luxury escape.
• 7. Con Dao Islands: Remote and quiet with great beaches and jungle trails.
• 8. Quy Nhon: Largely undiscovered by tourists with an authentic local feel.
• 9. Danang: City meets beach with a long clean sandy stretch and mountains nearby.
• 10. Ho Tram: Almost unknown. A quick, quiet beach break near Ho Chi Minh. Calm and uncrowded and great for R&R.

 

Hoi An: ideal for combining culture and beach

We’ve all got a bit of a soft spot for Hoi An – and once you’ve been, it’s easy to see why. Most of our clients prefer to stay in the magical lantern-lit town itself, soaking up the atmosphere, history and culture. But Hoi An isn’t complete without a bit of beach time and most of our clients enjoy taking day trips or late afternoon visits to nearby beaches such as An Bang. About 2 miles out of the centre, An Bang has a lovely stretch of soft, golden sand with stunning views across the sea and the distant Cham Islands. It’s a brilliant spot to unwind, swim in water that rarely dips below 24°C and enjoy some fresh seafood as you sink your toes into the sand.

Back in Hoi An, the old town is a dream, perfect for wandering through winding streets packed with little shops and cafés. While you’re there, have a bespoke suit tailored and explore iconic sights including the Japanese Covered Bridge and the bustling Hoi An market.

 

Lang Co Bay: ideal for 5-star seclusion between Hue and Hoi An

Lang Co Bay is situated about 30 miles north of Hoi An and is the perfect pitstop if you’re travelling between Hue and Hoi An.

Its quiet, crescent-shaped bay is framed by mountains on one side and is home to just a handful of luxury hotels and very little else (which is all part of its appeal). It’s perfect for a few nights of rest to recharge before continuing your journey.  While you’re there, the Hai Van Pass offers some of the most breathtaking photo opportunities in central Vietnam, with dramatic mountain roads and sweeping coastal views.

 

Phu Quoc Island: the ultimate tropical beach paradise

 Everyone always come back raving after a visit to Phu Quoc. It ticks all boxes for a wonderful beach escape: white sands, turquoise seas, gently swaying palms and that ultimate tropical island getaway.  Whilst it used to be a bit of a sleepy village, Phu Quoc has quickly become one of Vietnam’s top beach destinations. Set in the waters of the Gulf of Thailand, not far from the Cambodian coast, this teardrop-shaped island is Vietnam’s largest, and arguably, its most idyllic.  There’s a good mix of places to stay, from remote beachfront hotels to livelier spots near bars and restaurants.

One of the island’s most beautiful beaches is Sao Beach (also known as Star beach). This quiet beach boasts classic soft white sand and calm, crystal-clear water.  Long Beach is the most popular stretch, running down much of the west coast from the main town of Duong Dong. Here you’ll family-friendly hotels, and incredible sunsets.  If you want to venture further afield, Phu Quoc is also excellent for island hopping. You can explore the islands just off the southern coast around An Thoi or head to the quieter northern isles if you want to get really off-grid. The cable car ride is also a must. It’s about 8 kilometres long, running from An Thoi to Hon Thom Island, offering fabulous views over the sea and the islands. Beyond the beaches, there’s plenty of jungle to explore inland if you fancy a change of scenery. Plus, you can visit local pepper farms or fishing villages for a proper taste of island life.

 

Mui Ne & Phan Thiet: ideal from Ho Chi Minh

Mui Ne and the neighbouring Phan Thiet also get glowing feedback from our clients – especially those wanting to round off a trip to Ho Chi Minh City with some beach time, without the need for another flight. Thanks to a new highway, the drive from Ho Chi Minh City now takes just over two hours. Some parts of Mui Ne have become a little overbuilt and suffered erosion over the last few years, however, there are still idyllic stretches of beach offering soft white sand and a relaxed feel, plus some excellent luxury beachfront hotels.  It’s a brilliant spot if you like your days to be quiet and relaxing but fancy a bit more going on in the evening, with a good choice of bars and restaurants. Mui Ne is also a hotspot for kitesurfers, with ideal wind conditions from October to April.

Just down the road, Phan Thiet also boasts some beautiful stretches of beach and great hotels.  The town itself is the lively capital of Binh Thuan province with a harbour that’s packed with colourful fishing boats. It’s a major production hub for fish sauce which is a key ingredient in local cooking.   The town’s beach is popular with locals, and the lack of big crowds gives it a more authentic feel.

If you fancy a break from your sunbed, you could take a day trip to the nearby white and red sand dunes.  Often included in organised sunrise tours, it’s one of the only desert-like landscapes in Southeast Asia, with incredible scenery and stunning stretches of rolling dunes and soft sand.

 

Nha Trang: ideal if you like water sports and nightlife

While it’s not as popular as it once was (and a few of the team have found it a bit overdeveloped) Nha Trang still has its place. Located on the south-central coast of Vietnam along a long stretch of sandy shoreline, it offers a great choice of water sports, nightlife, and restaurants. If you don’t like to be in the thick of it all, we recommend staying in one of the hotels on the edge of the town, so you can enjoy the peace and quiet with all the buzz just a short walk away.

Also, as well as the jet skiing, diving, and snorkelling available, there are plenty of island-hopping tours which offer a great way to see more of the beautiful coast.

 

Ninh Van Bay: ideal for luxury holidays and honeymoons

Set in the broader coastal area around Nha Trang and backed by jungle-covered hills, Ninh Van Bay is just a 45-minute drive away, yet it feels worlds apart in terms of atmosphere. The luxury resorts here offer a real sense of luxury, seclusion and exclusivity, with many only accessible by speedboat – ideal if you’re after something a little bit special for a couples holiday or a honeymoon.

With spas, yoga pavilions, villas with private pools and butler services, these hotels are all about indulgence and switching off completely. All set in a quiet, natural setting with incredible beaches and some great snorkelling thanks to its clear waters and coral reefs.

 

Con Dao islands: Ideal for a natural beauty and jungle trails

Tucked off the southern coast of Vietnam, the Con Dao archipelago is made up of 16 islands and islets.  The most popular is Con Son, the largest of the lot. It’s hard to believe that it was home to a notorious prison during colonial times, as if offers natural beauty, quiet powdery beaches and a handful of high-end hotels.  It’s only an hour’s flight from Ho Chi Minh City, but it feels much further removed. Whilst there’s not a huge amount to do, that’s all part of the charm.

It’s the sort of place where you spend your days between the beach and the hotel pool, maybe with a little snorkelling in the colourful reefs or a gentle walk.  At the moment, it’s still relatively undeveloped, especially compared to some of Vietnam’s other beach destinations, and the lack of crowds definitely adds to its appeal if that’s the kind beach escape that you like.  Much of the island is covered by Con Dao National Park and there are some lush jungle trails to explore if you fancy a break from the beach. Or if you’d like to learn more about the island’s dark past, the Con Dao Museum and the old prison buildings are well worth a visit.

 

Quy Nhon: ideal for off the tourist trail beaches

Quy Nhon is one of Vietnam’s best-kept secrets when it comes to tourist travel. This coastal city is relaxed and still largely off the international tourist trail, with very few foreign visitors.  Yet it offers some of the country’s most scenic and peaceful beaches. It’s not a destination that many of our clients have visited (yet!) but it’s definitely gaining interest.  The main city beach, running alongside Xuan Dieu street, is wide, clean and often empty during the day.  Just south of the city, the stretch of sand at Bai Dai (Long Beach) is more secluded, backed by coconut palms and rolling hills, and offers a more upmarket escape.  It’s home to a small number of luxury beachfront resorts. To the north, Nhon Hai offers a more off grid escape with a local atmosphere although there are limited options when it comes to places to stay, while Ky Co Beach, a little further around the coast boasts dramatic cliffs and turquoise water with great visibility for snorkelling. Despite some development, especially around the southern coast, and a handful of international hotels, Quy Nhơn still feels largely undiscovered by tourism and so if you like the idea of discovering somewhere before the crowds arrive, and don’t mind a bit of trailblazing, this could be the place for you!

 

Danang: ideal for a city + beach combination

Da Nang is Vietnam’s third-largest city, and whilst it isn’t usually top of the list for most beachgoers, it’s still an all-rounder when it comes to combining sun, sea, a long clean beach and easy access to cultural sights and mountains.  My Khe Beach is the city’s pride and joy – a wide stretch of sand that’s gives a glimpse into authentic Vietnamese life. At sunrise, locals gather for tai chi and early swims, while in the evening, the beach fills with fishermen.

The sea has a strong undercurrent, especially in the winter months, but it’s relatively sheltered by the Nui Son Tra peninsula so swimming is generally safe.  Of course, while you’re here you’ll want to experience the incredible sights and culture of Da Nang including the Marble Mountains, the iconic Dragon Bridge, and the nearby Cham Museum. All in all, it’s a beach-meets-city kind of place, with skyscrapers on one side, sea on the other, and the best of both worlds in between.

 

Ho Tram: ideal for a quiet beach escape from Ho Chi Minh

A virtually unknown beach resort, just a couple of hours from Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Tram is great for a short beach break at the end of a multi-centre holiday to Vietnam.

There’s not much in the way of a town centre, but you’ll find a handful of resorts dotted along the coast, including some more upmarket options that have appeared in recent years. The focus here is on R&R rather than nightlife or shopping with a calm, uncrowded beach.  It’s ideal for a couple of days of downtime after seeing the sights of the rest of the country.

If you’re ready to find your perfect Vietnam beach, simply get in touch with our team. We’d love to run you through your options for the perfect itinerary and create a multi-centre holiday to Vietnam for you and your loved ones.