Vietnam’s
long coastline is home to some of the best beaches in Asia. The country boasts
more than 3400km of coastline, with infinite stretches of warm blue water, fine
sandy beaches, hidden coves, lovely lagoons, and tropical islands ringed with
even more beaches.
Although
Vietnam has a temperamental climate that inundates the country with plenty of
rain that doesn’t mean that there aren’t beautiful beaches to enjoy. You just
need to know when to go!
Being
aware of the climates of each area in Vietnam will certainly help you to plan
your beach vacation in Vietnam. If it’s clear skies, hot sun, and beaches that
you’re after, the best time to visit Vietnam is between the months of October
and December. Vietnam’s best beaches are located in the southern part of the
country, but some nice beaches can be found in the north near Hanoi. Be aware
of weather conditions though. The best time to visit Vietnam’s northern beaches
is between the months of May through August.
Northern Vietnam
The
north central coast of Vietnam has dozens of beaches that don’t often figure
into the itineraries of most travelers to the area. Although most beaches in
northern Vietnam aren’t equipped with beach facilities, they still offer a
wonderful break away from Vietnam’s northern cities. Between the months of July
and August, the coastline is battered with heavy rain and typhoons and the heat
and humidity are at their worst.
Halong Bay
Halong
Bay is best known for its towering limestone outcroppings rising out of the
sea, stunning sunsets, and authentic junk boat tours. It’s not a place that one
would naturally think of when looking for a beach vacation in Vietnam, but
you’ll probably be surprised to learn that Halong Bay has several small beaches
that will simply blow your mind away.
Bai Chay Beach
Bai
Chay Beach draws crowds of beachgoers from the capital ciy of Hanoi, especially
on summer weekends. Although the beach is nowhere near as idyliic as the
beaches in southern Vietnam, it is still a delightful getaway if you have
limited time for a beach vacation in Vietnam.
Southern Vietnam Beaches
Southern
Vietnam has some of the very best beaches in Vietnam, and they are easily
accessible from Ho Chi Minh City. Vung Tau. Phan Thiet, and Miu Ne are all
within a few hours of HCMC.
The
best time to visit Southern Vietnam is between the months of December and May,
when the weather is hot and humid. Rain showers are frequent, but dark skies
never last for long. The wet season, which runs from June to October, brings
regular downpours and typhoons.
Vung Tau
Just
a short trip from Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau is one of the most popular beach
resorts in Vietnam and it tends to get very crowded during the months of
December through to May. The beach doesn’t compare to other beaches in Vietnam,
but its close proximity to HCMC makes it a popular summertime destination.
Phan Thiet
Phan
Thiet is an old Cham outpost that is renowned for both its fishing fleet and
its fish sauce (nuoc mam). Visitors to Phan Thiet will know they have arrived
when they can smell the pungent aroma of
fish sauce in the air. The town, which has a populartion of approximately
75,000 people, is a picturesque fishing town that usually has hundreds of
multi-hued fishing vessels floating nearby. The nearest beach is a few
kilometers east of town, but the biggest tourist attraction is 22 kilometers
away at Mui Ne Beach. With its rolling sand dunes, smooth water, a
clean beach and swaying palm trees, many travelers to Mui Ne insist that it is
one of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam.
Mui Ne Beach, Mui Ne Bay
Any
time of year, Mui Ne Bay in Southern Vietnam boasts hot, sunny weather,
stunning landscape, and miles of fine white sand beaches. This beautiful resort
area is famous for its gorgeous beach and sand dunes; world-class windsurfing
and kite surfing.
Mui
Ne, being in such close proximity to Ho Chi Minh City, attracts a lot of
attention from residents looking to escape the city for a weekend of fun in the
sun. Local attractions include a golf course designed by Nick Faldo, fishing
villages, remote sand dunes, and fresh seafood 24/7.
Mui
Ne Bay is easily accessible by bus from Phan Thiet, while the bus ride from Ho
Chi Minh City takes about three hours.
Hon Chong Beach, Ha Tien
Hon
Chong Beach is a silky white sand beach with calm tropical water. The beach is
located in Ha Tien, which is on the border with Cambodia. The entire area
shelters some really nice beaches. Other nearby attractions include Tien Cave
and its interesting rock formation
The
Hai Tac islets are also a nice option, especially for scuba drivers. The
islands are accessible by boat from Ha Tien, and the biggest of these islands,
Ho Doc, also has some splendid white beaches.
Ho Coc
From
the southern area of Vung Tau to south-central Phan Thiet, you can expect to
see long stretches of beach. Unfortunately, most of it has remained
inaccessible. If you’re interested in sampling some of the beach life here,
head to Ho Co, a serene sandbar that is located about halfway along this
stretch of property.
China Beach
Located
between Da Nang and Hoi An, China Beach is most famous for its 20-mile stretch
of luscious beachfront property. This is where US troops landed during the
Vietnam War in the 1970s. It is also known for being a hangout for US soldiers,
and over the years, it has transformed itself into a stunning Asian beach
destination that boasts upscale comfort, service, and amenities.
If
you love surfing, China Beach is the place to visit, especially from September
to December. The beach was the site of Vietnam’s first international surfing
competition in 1992.
There
are also plenty of other activities to do in the area. Day trips from China
Beach include Marble Mountain, My Son, and Hoi An.
The
main beach is next to the Non Nuoc Resort Hotel, but many people argue that the
real China Beach is located 5 kilometers north of the hotel at My Khe Beach.
Known
as the Vietnamese Riviera, Nha Trang is a six-mile stretch of beautiful fine
white sand beach, rolling blue water, lush green mountains, and gently swaying
palm trees. This international beach destination has clean, clear water,
excellent diving conditions, and it has a great reputation for having some
truly spectacular party boat cruises. Boat trips are perhaps the number one
tourist activity in Nha Trang. Most of them offer a full day of scenic viewing
along with home-cooked meals and loads of ice-cold beer.
It
is also well-known as a backpacker haven, with plenty of cheap accommodations
on offer for the frugal traveler. If you are traveling on a budget, be aware of
the beach hawkers who wander up and down the beach with an assortment of food,
beach accessories, jewelry, and food. Their prices are quite expensive compared
to other places in town.
During
the summer, Nha Trang gets quite crowded with tourists who come for the
stunning views, beautiful new resorts, and superb seafood. Nha Trang is also
the gateway to a number of island getaways within the area, with trips to its
outlying islands being some of the most popular activities with visitors.
The
public beach in Nha Trang is called Tran Phu, but the beaches on the north side
of town and on Nha Trang’s outlying islands are much nicer.
Overlooking
the harbor in Nha Tran, you’ll find the Cham temples. The temples are a popular
sightseeing attraction, so expect crowds. The view of the harbor with its blue
water and colorful fishing boats more than makes up for the hustle-bustle
atmosphere of the temples.
Nha
Trang’s other claim to fame is being the number one spot in Vietnam for diving.
There are numerous dive shops in the area where you can become padi-certified.
Snorkeling and diving trips are reasonably priced and come highly recommended
by most divers who have been to the area. There are diving packages for both
novice and experienced divers.
Doc Let Beach
34
km north of Nha Trang lies picturesque Doc Let Beach. Home to stunning beach
resorts and clean white sand beaches, Doc Let is a great place to go if you
want to avoid the crowds at Nha Trang.
Lang Co Beach
Lang
Co Beach is located just 45 minutes away from Hoi An. The area, which has recently
been voted as one of the top 30 beaches in the world, is famous for its
breathtaking natural scenery that includes soft white sand, crystal blue water,
lush tropical forests and green mountains. The beauty of Lang Co was legendary
among kings from the Nguyen Dynasty who came here to build their palatial
complexes for vacation.
Con Dao Islands
Idyllic
beaches are on offer at the Con Dao Islands owing to the isolated location off
the coast. The islands have been protected from tourism because of their remote
location, and because of this, you’ll find some of the most pristine beachfront
property in all of Vietnam.
Phu Quoc Island
Explore
scenic Phu Quoc Island by motorcycle and discover sparkling white sand beaches
backed by lush jungle all on your own. We recommend visiting Long Beach, Ong
Lan Beach, and Bai Sai.
The
island has a handful of mid- to low-end beach resorts for accommodations, and
it is well on its way to becoming a total beach resort destination. Some
travelers have even argued that the Phu Quoc is well on its way to being the
number one choice for best beach in Vietnam because it has the whitest sand in
the country and some of the most stunning sunsets in all of Asia.
Phu
Quoc lies off of Kampot in Cambodia and it is claimed by Cambodia. It can be
reached by air or by ferry.
This
article written by Lanh Nguyen from Vietnam Heritage Travel
For
original article, please visit:
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