Less well-known than neighbouring Thailand for its beach resorts, Vietnam nevertheless offers countless attractions and paradise-like spots where you can enjoy unforgettable moments of relaxation.
With more than 3,200 kilometres of coastline and numerous islands, Vietnam is an ideal destination for sunny seaside holidays.
To help you choose the destination that will allow you to fully unwind during your trip, we’ve selected 10 beach resorts from North to South, among the most popular with travellers.
And if you dream of combining discovery and relaxation, explore our Vietnam tours with beach extensions — a selection of tailor-made stays blending culture, nature, and pure leisure.
Choose the one you prefer and build your personalised relaxation itinerary with us.
Why plan a beach holiday in Vietnam?
Vietnam is becoming an increasingly popular destination for travellers from around the world — and for good reason. Its stunning coastline, fine sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters make it an ideal place for a seaside getaway.
Here are a few reasons why Vietnam is perfect for a beach holiday:
Paradise-like beaches
Vietnam is home to some of the most picturesque beaches in Southeast Asia. From the pristine white-sand stretches of Phu Quoc to the hidden coves of Nha Trang, Vietnamese beaches offer unmatched natural beauty.
Phu Quoc: This tropical island is known for its unspoiled beaches and turquoise waters, perfect for swimming and water sports.
Nha Trang: Nicknamed the “Riviera of Vietnam,” this coastal city boasts long golden-sand beaches lined with palm trees.
A wide variety of water activities
Vietnam offers countless water activities for every type of traveller. Whether you enjoy scuba diving, snorkelling, kitesurfing or simply swimming, you’ll find ideal spots to practice your favourite hobbies.
For diving and snorkelling, the Con Dao Islands and the coral reefs of Nha Trang are famous for their rich marine biodiversity.
Accommodation for every budget
Vietnam provides a wide range of accommodation options, from luxurious beachfront resorts to charming seaside bungalows and affordable hostels for budget travellers.
Luxury resorts: Properties like the Vinpearl Resort in Phu Quoc offer premium services and breathtaking ocean views.
Bungalows and hostels: For those seeking a more authentic and budget-friendly experience, beach bungalows in Hoi An and hostels in Mui Ne are excellent choices.
Vietnam has also developed a solid tourism infrastructure, with international airports serving major beach destinations and various transport options that make getting around easy.
Why not take advantage of it? Here is the list of our 10 favourite beach destinations in Vietnam.
Cat Ba Island
Located 145 km east of Hanoi, Cat Ba Island is an archipelago made up of 366 islands and islets.
The island is far from being exclusively a beach destination. A wide range of activities is available on Cat Ba, from visiting caves to trekking in the national park, as well as taking a traditional junk cruise from Ben Beo Port.
Nevertheless, the island can also offer well-deserved rest to travellers who have been hiking in the mountains of Northern Vietnam. From the town centre, you can easily access Cat Co 1, Cat Co 2, Cat Co 3 and Tung Thu beaches. What could be better than swimming while admiring a breathtaking karst landscape?
The ideal plan is to combine a traditional junk cruise in Lan Ha Bay (around Cat Ba Island) with some relaxing time on the island’s beaches.
Choosing the right season is essential: opt for May and June, before the rainy period, and avoid weekends, when many Hanoians head to the island’s beaches for fresh air. October and November are also excellent months in terms of weather.
The magnificent coves of Lan Ha Bay
Lang Co Lagoon
Let’s leave Northern Vietnam and head to the central region, more precisely between Hue and Danang. If you choose to travel from Hue to Danang by car or motorbike, we highly recommend stopping at Lang Co Beach.
Located along National Route A1, 30 km from Danang and 70 km south of Hue, Lang Co Beach is the perfect spot for travellers looking to enjoy a swim far from the crowds! Small coves, over 10 kilometres of fine white sand, crystal-clear water and lush surrounding nature… this is the little paradise called Lang Co!
If you really fall in love with the place, you can even spend the night there. A beautiful property called Laguna Lang Co offers the perfect setting to relax during your stay.
We recommend visiting between April and September to avoid the rainy season.
Lang Co Lagoon, Vietnam
Danang
Danang is one of the favourite destinations for holidaymakers. Coming from Northern Vietnam, it is the first major seaside resort in the country.
Facing the sea and backed by mountains, Danang is one of the five major cities (“municipalities”) of Vietnam, along with Hanoi, Haiphong, Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh City. The municipality boasts more than 90 kilometres of coastline, stretching from the Hai Van Pass to the Marble Mountains. Along this entire stretch, beautiful beaches have been developed, such as My Khe, Nam O, Xuan Thieu, Thanh Binh, Son Tra, Bac My An and Non Nuoc…
A large number of hotels line the beaches, giving you plenty of accommodation options! Most of these resorts also own a private section of the beach, allowing you to relax in complete tranquillity.
Since seaside tourism is very popular here, many activities are available in the area: diving, kite surfing, jet skiing, etc.
Danang now has nearly 1 million inhabitants, and its nightlife is expanding rapidly, to the great delight of visiting travellers.
A very good choice if you want to combine relaxation and entertainment.
Famous dragon bridge in Danang, Vietnam
Hoi An port
The small port town of Hoi An has a lot to offer you: a charming old town, cuisine recognized throughout the country, peaceful countryside all around, and also beautiful beaches nearby.
The municipality of Hoi An has a fairly long stretch of coastline on which three beaches have been developed:
# Cua Dai beach: This is the closest beach to the city centre, and several resorts own private beach areas, such as the Palm Garden Resort. This 5-star hotel offers many activities like sea kayaking, jet skiing or windsurfing!
# An Bang beach: This is the most popular beach for a seaside break in Hoi An. Located 5 km from the city centre, next to Cua Dai Beach, it offers a wide range of accommodation: homestays, 2–3-star hotels, or small charming resorts with private beaches. For example, you can stay at An Bang Beach Hotel, located in a beautiful colonial-style building. The owner is French, which can make things easier!
# Ha My beach: Located on the road from Hoi An to Danang, this is the quietest beach around Hoi An. Very few constructions, making it perfect for a peaceful and relaxing moment. You can stay at Ha My Beach Homestay, located only 100 metres from the beach—simple but with all the necessary comfort.
Spend 1 or 2 nights in the old town to make it easier to visit, shop, and enjoy the best dishes. The following nights can then be spent by the beach, allowing you to fully relax.
Aerial view of Hoi An, Vietnam
Quy Nhon
Quy Nhon is a coastal city in Binh Dinh Province, in Central Vietnam. Historically, the city’s commercial activity has focused on agriculture and fishing. However, in recent years, Quy Nhon has been welcoming many Vietnamese and foreign tourists for seaside holidays. Many Vietnamese people enjoy staying there, especially to taste its highly renowned seafood.
In summer, the city offers visitors magnificent landscapes. The crystal-clear water and white sandy beaches charm travellers, who can also set off on an adventure to the surrounding islands…
Currently, three airlines — Vietnam Airlines, VietJet, and Bamboo Airways — offer direct flights from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to Quy Nhon.
Beach in Quy Nhon, Vietnam
Nha Trang
Nha Trang is undoubtedly the most well-known seaside resort in Vietnam.
The city can be divided into three distinct areas:
# The centre of Nha Trang: The city centre is located along the seafront and offers a huge number of hotels for every budget. This is often the preferred choice of backpackers travelling on a tight budget. The beach is just a few steps away, so why insist on having a hotel pool?
# North Nha Trang: This is where you’ll find the hotels of exceptional quality… many of them cater to an upscale clientele. If your budget allows, we recommend the Amiana Resort and Villas, which offers several pools as well as its own private beach.
# South Nha Trang: This area is rapidly developing, with many resorts lined up along the beach…
We recommend combining a relaxing stay in Nha Trang with a visit to the My Son Sanctuary, which was for a long time (4th–13th century) the religious capital of the Cham Kingdom. In the city of Nha Trang itself, another Cham temple stands: Po Nagar, built in 781 to honour the goddess Yan Po Nagar, the legendary founder of the Champa Kingdom.
Nha Trang Beach in the early morning, Vietnam
Vung Tau
Vung Tau, once called Cap Saint Jacques by the French, is the seaside resort of Ho Chi Minh City.
During the colonial period, it was quite an important seaport, and Paul Doumer, then the French Governor-General of Indochina (and future President of the Republic), had a mansion built there — the White Villa (Bạch Dinh) — which still stands by the sea.
As a seaside resort, Vung Tau is worthwhile if you want to stop on the way to the Central Highlands. You can enjoy warm water and the beautiful white sandy beaches along the coast. You can also taste local seafood and the region’s renowned beer.
All of this takes place under the watchful protection of Christ, who gazes down at you from the heights of his hill overlooking the bay!
Sunset over a beach in Vung Tau, Vietnam
Mui Ne
Mui Ne is the seaside resort of the Phan Thiet commune in Binh Thuan province. Located midway between Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City, Mui Ne is especially popular with outdoor sports enthusiasts. Constant winds along the coast make it ideal for windsurfing, kitesurfing, and other water sports year-round
Mui Ne is also famous for its sand dunes, where you can even try sandboarding. It’s a small desert in the heart of Vietnam that has become particularly popular thanks to Instagram! It’s definitely a cool destination for cool people.
As a weekend getaway for Ho Chi Minh City residents, the area has developed a wide range of hotels and restaurants. Mui Ne is also a favorite spot for Russian tourists, so don’t be surprised to see restaurant menus translated into Russian!
For travelers on a budget or families, we recommend staying at Mui Ne Xua Cafe Hostel. For those who want a higher-end experience, Pandanus Resort offers stunning bungalows!
Fishermen on a beach in Mui Ne
Phu Quoc Island
Located at the southernmost tip of Vietnam, Phu Quoc is the largest island in the country. It was acquired relatively recently by the Vietnamese people (around the mid-19th century) and administratively belongs to Kiên Giang Province.
So, what can you do on Phu Quoc? First and foremost, relax and enjoy the beaches. We recommend Bai Truong Beach on the southwest coast, Bai So and Bai Dam on the southeast, as well as the wild coves of Bai Ong Lang in the north. Today, it is also possible to arrange scuba diving sessions at several locations around the island for coral enthusiasts. The water is warm and shallow, allowing you to discover tropical fish and colorful reefs all year round!
Phu Quoc also has a nature park, and we recommend taking a forest walk in the northern part of the island. Other activities include visiting a Cao Dai temple built in 2008 or exploring pepper and pearl farms, among other attractions.
Beach on Phu Quoc island
>> Our full article about Phu Quoc
Con Dao island
Con Dao is an archipelago of 16 islands, but only one of them is inhabited: Con Son.
Today a paradise, the island nonetheless has a less glorious past: known as the “Poulo-Condor Islands” by French colonizers, it hosted one of the main prisons of Indochina starting in 1862, where all political opponents were imprisoned. You can visit the remains of some of these prisons, such as Phu Tuong Camp or Phu Hai Prison.
If you don’t believe in ghosts (many Vietnamese avoid the island out of fear of spirits…), you can still enjoy your stay on this island surrounded by beautiful beaches: Lo Voi near the town center, Dam Trau in the north. Other beaches and coves are less accessible, such as Ong Dung and Dam Tre Bay.
Con Dao is also an ideal place for diving! Magnificent coral reefs surround the island, and you can see colorful fish, turtles, and perhaps even dolphins.
The island also hosts a 20,000-hectare national park, where you can go on some beautiful hikes. The entrance fee for the park is 60,000 VND (about 2.5 USD) per person. At the park office, you can obtain an English map of the hiking trails.
Con Dao
You now know the 10 beach resorts that we prefer for a beach circuit in Vietnam.
