Best Beaches in Vietnam

When you’re thinking about beaches in South East Asia, then two countries are going to immediately spring to mind. Firstly, you’ll probably think of Thailand, which has been fawned over in Western media for decades. Then, you may think of the beaches in Myanmar, which are also beautiful. However, you’ll also likely think of Vietnam – and if you don’t, you should, as it has some of the best beaches in Asia.

There are many different amazing beaches in Vietnam. But which of them should you try and visit in your lifetime? Well, here are a few of the top Vietnamese beaches.

Best Beaches in Vietnam

Beaches in Vietnam offer clear turquoise waters, white sand as soft as cotton wool and tropical surroundings which often give you the impression that you have been teleported back two hundred years to an era when life moved more slowly than it does today. Beaches in Vietnam are not just for sunbathing, they also offer swimming, snorkeling and water sports such as canoeing or kayaking. Beaches in Vietnam – especially those on islands such as Phu Quoc Island or Cat Ba Island – provide a great place for scuba diving too.

Long Beach, Phu Quoc

One of the most well known beaches in the whole of Asia, Long Beach on Phu Quoc island is an essential visit if you’re going to be in Vietnam. You can get here in around an hour and a half if you get the ferry from Ha Tien, which is a three and a half hour drive from Phrom Penh. Or, you could fly here in just an hour from Ho Chi Minh.

And though it might seem like a bit of a trek to get here, it’s definitely worth it – locals don’t refer to it as “paradise island” for no reason. Whilst there are many spots throughout South East Asia which have been affected by a mass influx of tourists over the years (none more so than Thailand’s Maya Bay), Phu Quoc has managed to maintain it’s natural allure, being relatively unspoilt. Though it might be a little more expensive than the mainland, there’s not too much of a difference in terms of price.

The beaches all along the West coast of the island are worth a visit, and there are many different locations around Phu Quoc that are worth visiting. So, if you’re looking for your own slice or paradise, taking a few weeks here could be a great idea.

Nha Trang beach

Whilst many people only come to Vietnam to see the major cities of Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, somewhere between these too along the East coast you’ll find the city of Nha Trang. Now, Nha Trang isn’t a small seaside town by any means, but it’s well known as having some of the best beaches in the entire country.

Unlike many other cities where the main beach isn’t the best one, this can’t really be said for Nha Trang. The main beach here is pretty spectacular, and it’s extremely long – it can be quite the task to walk the entire length of the beach in one sitting.

The sea is clear, the sand is white, and if long walks aren’t your cup of tea, you’ll be able to find something that is. You could also consider getting a boat to the islands of Hòn Mun and Hòn Tằm, which have some great reefs ideal for snorkelling and scuba diving.

Doc Let Beach

Further North of Nha Trang, but along the same Eastern coastline, you’ll eventually come to Doc Let beach. Many people say that this is one of the best beaches in the entire country, although in recent years more and more tourists are coming to these more secluded beaches.

This is a great beach to come to if you actually want to swim, unlike many other beaches throughout Asia. This white sand beach is very close to the city of the area, so it’s a good choice if you want to combine the two. There are some excellent restaurants quite nearby too. However, if you want a quieter area of the beach, you’re better walking a kilometer or so north along the beach to escape any other tourists.

The water here is pretty shallow, which encourages a lot of people to take their kids here – it’s a good family friendly beach, although it’s a little out the way for many.

Mui Ne Beach

Now, to the South East of Vietnam, where you’ll find the resort town of Mui Ne in the city of Phan Thiet. Although it may seem like it may be an undiscovered beach, it’s actually pretty well known, by the Vietnamese at least. Once upon a time it was a small fishing village, but nowadays there are beach resorts all across the coast of the beach, although they’re not as built up as other beaches in Vietnam. There’s a good balance here between upmarket hotels and cheaper accommodation options too.

This is one of the best beaches in the country for kiteboarding and windsurfing. The water here can get very rough, so it’s definitely not the best option if you’re looking for somewhere to relax. But if you’re interested in dipping your toes into marine activities and adventure sports, then stopping at Mui Ne on your travels is probably a good option.

Ninh Van bay

Now, if high-rise buildings and tons of tourists are your ideal of a holiday from hell, then maybe going to Ninh Van bay would be more suited. There’s a small town here, and although there’s not much to do except going to the beach – it’s definitely worth the journey.

This is one of the hidden gems of Vietnam, and although it’s fairly well known and people do travel here from Nha Trang, it remains unspoiled. Although we often use the word “tourist destination”, it’s not fair to call this place a common destination for tourists. The locals here make up much of the beachgoers, and they’re extremely friendly too. You can also have some fun snorkelling here in the crystal clear water.

There are a few high class resorts here, so if you’re looking for somewhere to take a romantic getaway with just the two of you, then I’d definitely recommend considering going to Ninh Van bay.

Conclusion

It’s honestly quite difficult to pick which beaches are the best here, because like some other South-East Asian countries, it’s become well known for it’s variety. Whilst many people choose to travel to the island of Phu Quoc for a good experience, there are plenty of great options on the mainland too. No matter what kind of beach you’re looking for, you’ll surely find one that will suit in Vietnam.

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