With over 2,025 miles (3,260 km) of coastline, Vietnam’s beaches are plentiful and diverse. From remote tropical islands like Con Dao to small fishing villages like Phan Thiet and coastal cities like Da Nang and Nha Trang, there is a little slice of sand for everyone on Vietnam's coast.
The following are some of the best beach destinations in Vietnam and offer a plethora of accommodation and activities to keep you busy. You can snorkel, dive, and sail in Nha Trang; shop, stroll, and sightsee in cultural Hoi An, and do nothing but relax on Phu Quoc island.
Vietnam's coastal destinations offer sun, sea, and sand, as well as culture, nightlife, gastronomy (seafood BBQ is a must!), and adventure. Don't forget to add at least one of Vietnam's beaches to your travel itinerary.
#1: Phu Quoc Island
Topping all of Vietnam's "best beaches" lists are the glittering expanses of sand on paradisiacal Phu Quoc Island. This is Vietnam's very own Hawaii; far enough from the mainland to feel super exotic but still very much Vietnamese. If you are looking for a beach vacation in Vietnam, you'll be more than happy you chose to fly to this corner of the Gulf of Thailand.
Long Beach is, you guessed it, Phu Quoc's biggest beach at 12 miles (20 km) long. It's where the majority of the accommodations on the island are, as well as restaurants and shops. The other side of the island is far less developed, reached via quiet roads cut through the dense jungle and ending in palm-fringed beaches straight from a travel magazine.
You could spend a week riding around the island, hopping from white-sand beach to white-sand beach and never stepping on the same sand twice.
#2: Da Nang
Da Nang is one of Vietnam's fastest growing cities, with an ever-evolving skyline of towering buildings and a growing population of local and international expats. It also boasts one of the most beautiful beaches in the whole country and has fantastic weather to boot. Beach days and city nights make Da Nang a dream beach vacation destination.
My Khe beach runs for almost 20 miles (32 km) along the coast from Son Tra Peninsula towards Hoi An. The section closest to the city is the most well-kept, with a number of large seafood restaurants and bars lining the promenade.
With some big name resort chains setting up on the sand itself, you could be forgiven for never leaving the beach. But, making time for trips to Lady Buddha and Marble Mountain will introduce you to more of Vietnamese culture. Heading into the city for incredible central Vietnamese cuisine is also a must.
