11 Best Beaches in Vietnam

Vietnam is home to some of Southeast Asia's most spectacular beaches. That's a fact. It's hard to expect anything less from a country with over 4,000 islands and a coastline of over 2,000 miles. There are stunning beach cities like Nha Trang and Da Nang, magical tropical islands like Phu Quoc and Con Dao, and the cinematic mainland stretches like Bai-Mon.

Discovering all the wonderful local beaches will take you several visits because there are just so many spots to unpack. My love story with Vietnam began on Phu Quoc, and I try to always include this beautiful country in my travel itinerary each year. Here's a handpicked list of the best beaches in Vietnam for a superb time next to the water in this amazing country.  

Best beach in Vietnam

Almost 4 miles of soft, golden sand await you in Nha Trang. A pearl of the Vietnamese coast and its most treasured beach, this resort town checks all the boxes for first-class leisure. On the one hand, its urban stretch is among the finest in Southeast Asia—the water is clear, the infrastructure is top-notch, and there's plenty of space to relax. But then the vibrant town flanks the sands, offering a wide choice of accommodation (scenic skyscraper hotels are Nha Trang's specialty) and a diverse street food scene.

The city is an ideal starting point to get acquainted with Vietnam. Everything is nearby and you can walk everywhere. The long promenade offers fantastic sunset views. If you're into water sports, there are many spots offering equipment for paragliding, windsurfing, snorkeling, and diving. Nha Trang is also a gateway to a magnificent archipelago with over 19 islands. You can enjoy spectacular sea views from the VinPearl Cable Car, which links the city to Hon Tre Island. 

Best for a peaceful tropical escape

Thailand has Phuket, Indonesia has Bali, and Vietnam has Phu Quoc. Located in the Gulf of Thailand off Cambodia's coast, this island has become a major tourist destination in recent years. The rapid development left Phu Quoc with gargantuan ghost towns that emulate European cities (Phu Quoc United Center) and megaresorts, but it didn't wipe out its tranquil tropical soul.

The magical Khem Beach stands as a stronghold of the pre-development Phu Quoc. It's about the coconut palm trees everywhere you look, the soft white sand, and relaxed beach bars dotting the promenade. You will find luxurious resorts here, such as the JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa and Premier Residences, but the vibe is still much more relaxed than on the other island beaches.  

Best for seaside camping

Ho Chi Minh City residents know Ho Coc well—it's one of the most popular beach weekend getaways from the busy megalopolis. This long beach in Southeast Vietnam is fantastic for a total unwind to the music of the waves. It's also the ultimate seaside camping place. The northern section of Ho Coc is filled with various campsites. You'll find everything from modest tents to luxurious glamping structures. Waking up at such a sublime corner of the South China Sea is quite an experience.

The beach is also perfect for picnics, long walks, and swimming when the waters are calm. Ho Coc's southern part is where you find several resorts, such as the gargantuan five-star Holiday Inn and The Grand Ho Tram. 

Best for the luxury seafront hotels and day trips

Futuristic high-rises border the vast golden sands of My Khe. The beach is the premier stretch of Da Nang, an energetic urban hotspot of Central Vietnam and the country's fourth-largest city. Walking My Khe's promenade might give you the impression of being in Miami's South Beach or Rio's Copacabana— it's the same concept of luxurious condos alongside the long bay. The difference is that Da Nang's luxurious accommodations will be more affordable while offering stunning sea views, sophisticated spas, and superb amenities.

The city is also a starting point for some of Vietnam's most famous attractions, including the UNESCO-protected Imperial City of Hue, My Son Sanctuary ruins, the Old Town of Hoi An, and the Huyen Khong Cave in the Marble Mountains. Yes, there will be many exciting day trips if you base yourself here. The strategic location makes My Khe a perfect beach gateway for active travelers who want to make the most out of their time in Central Vietnam. 

Best beach for families with kids

Serving as Hoi An's de facto prime beach area, A Bang is both one of Vietnam's most beautiful stretches and examples of a truly communal beach. Sunsets here bring many local families, who picnic and enjoy each other's company. This adds the soul to beachgoing and lets you peek into the authentic side of Vietnamese leisure. An Bang is ideally suited for families with small children since the water is mostly calm and the access is shallow.

Many seafood restaurants dot the promenade, so you can have a hearty local meal while enjoying a stunning sunset. The beach is also popular among Da Nang residents looking for a more peaceful experience. It's just a 30-minute drive from downtown. Cycling is a scenic way to reach A Bang from Hoi An. 

Best for mesmerizing views

Surrounded by the cliffs and green hills, Ky Co is a spectacular crescent-shaped bay on the South Central Coast. Its dramatic looks are reminiscent of the epic oceanic coves of Portugal and Asturias in Spain. The beach greets you with clear turquoise water and sweet white sand. While it may look wild, it's a resort stretch.

There's an entrance fee (around 4 USD), which includes the bus transfer. Another way to get to Ky Co is by a speedboat. Considering the remoteness and stunning looks of this beach, the entrance fee is absolutely warranted.    

Best beaches in Ha Long Bay

Cat Co Coves is the name of three numbered beaches on Cat Ba Island in the UNESCO-protected Ha Long Bay. Connected by a wooden walkway, each of these moon-shaped coves offers magnificent views of the limestone formations, along with white sand and emerald waters. While the nature here is still sublime, the coves are far from a hidden secret. Tourist fame brought questionable megaresorts that were built right at the edge of the water.

Nevertheless, these beaches are still gorgeous and must be visited if you're exploring the diverse Cat Ba. The best way to experience them is to walk from one to another, enjoying the breathtaking panoramas. Cat Co 3 is the one with shallow water access and a calmer vibe, compared to Cat Co 1 and 2. 

Best for the powdery white sand

If you were to choose the dreamiest beach in Vietnam, Doc Let can easily win the competition. The sand is soft and white like clouds here. The transparent blue water adds to the allure. It's also a perfect beach for families as the shallow access makes wading and playing in the sea effortless for kids and stress-free for parents.

Doc Let is Ninh Hòa's main stretch, located an hour's drive away from the energetic Nha Trang. The beach is a fantastic destination for a laid-back retreat—spend your days lounging on the white sands, sipping coconut juice under the palms, and eating bahn mi, pho soup, and bun bo nam bo (the warm noodle salad with stir-fried beef) at numerous street food places on the main town's road. You will also find many moderately priced homestays and modest resorts right next to the water. 

Best for unique geological formations

Gành Đá Đĩa is one of Vietnam's most unique and impressive natural places. Translated as "The Sea Cliff of Stone Plates," it's a mesmerizing coastal area of over 35,000 lava-formed polygonal-shaped columns. The site is Vietnam's answer to Northern Ireland's Giant’s Causeway. Local legend says the stones are remnants of petrified cutlery left by ancient immortals after a seaside banquet thousands of years ago. The sight of cascading boulders juxtaposed with the turquoise sea, and hit by the waves, is captivating.

While you can't swim or use the formations for jumping, there's a gorgeous sandy beach nearby. The sand is golden, with many stones here and there. Called Biển Bãi Bàng, this stretch is a perfect accompaniment to your Gành Đá Đĩa visit. For more stunning coastal panoramas, follow the hiking trail from the lava rocks to the Ganh Den Lighthouse.   

Best for the cinematic scenery

Many Vietnamese people recognize Bai Mon beach from the film "Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass." Premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2015, the movie immortalized the gentle beauty of this magnificent corner of Phú Yên province. This cove offers perfect golden sand and spectacular views of the emerald sea.

Visit the Dai Lanh Lighthouse, which crowns the green hill towering over the beach, for the best panoramic view. There's a 20k (less than 1 USD) fee to enter Bai Mon and the cape. Note that swimming is generally not permitted due to strong currents—this beach is ideal for contemplating nature, picnicking and soaking in beautiful vistas. 

Best for an authentic beach town break

Not as big as Da Nang and not as sophisticated as Nha Trang, Quy Nhơn offers that sweet spot of balancing authenticity and a great tourist proposition. All roads here lead to the gorgeous promenade and the miles-long white sand beach. While luxurious resorts started popping up next to the sea, Quy Nhơn retains a charming old-school vibe and remains mostly local.

It's also a surprisingly cool destination for digital nomads. The cozy, tree-lined streets are filled with coffee shops, the prices are low, the beach is never far away, the street food is buzzing, and you've got a great choice of accommodation. For history, visit the ornate Thap Doi Cham Towers, constructed between the 11th and 13th centuries. Travel south to the Xuân Hải fishing village for a picturesque bay with hundreds of fishing boats.