Top 10 Best Beaches in Vietnam to Visit (with Photos & Map)

Where is the best place to temporarily seclude yourself from bustling city life? The answer is that nothing is more relaxing than the atmosphere of beaches. If you are heading to Vietnam, don’t forget to pay a visit to some of the top 10 best beaches in Vietnam.

Vietnam has over 3000 km of coastline with the richness of countless stretches of sand, tropical islands, caves and lagoons. The country is famous for tourists thanks to many stunning beaches along the coastal line.

Are you a beach lover? If yes, do not skip these 10 best beaches in Vietnam, which are beautiful and swimming-friendly:

1. My Khe Beach, Danang

It is a pity when spending your days in Danang without visiting one of the most charming beaches in Vietnam, namely My Khe , beside Non Nuoc beach and Bac My An beach.
Just 5km from the city center and 25km from Hoi An, a picturesque beach appears in front of you. Suitable for family trips, My Khe beach attracts tourists by its pristine beauty with a 10km coastline lasting from the base of Son Tra Peninsula to the Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son).
Highlights: My Khe beach has been voted by Forbes as one of the six most attractive beaches in the world. The long stretch of smooth white sand, slight slope, gentle waves, clear and warm water, blue sky, white clouds, and beautiful coconut trees create the glamorous natural scene. The beach is also a great place for sunbathing, jet-skiing, surfing, yachting, fishing, and snorkeling.
What to do: One special thing about My Khe beach is that the water is warm all year around, so you can swim at any time of the year. The beach is safe for swimmers because it is not so deep; and flag swirls, life saving buoys, and a rescue team are always available. Much more than that, you will witness a different My Khe with an orange coat during sunset. You will be captivated with the glorious sunset.
When to visit: Being attractive in both day and night, this beach is in its most beautiful state from May to October.
If you want a peaceful, natural and relaxing place, My Khe beach will be your ideal destination with unforgettable impression.

Aside from centuries-old Buddhist temples, colonial shop-houses, handicraft lantern, and quaint museums in Old Town, Hoi An is home to a number of stunning beaches including An Bang. A 10-minute drive from Hoi An ancient town by car, you will see a distinctive destination in the north of Cua Dai beach with 4km stretch of sand. An Bang beach used to be underrated by locals. After the erosion of Cua Dai beach, it began to catch attraction from tourists. It is one of the few beaches which is not spoiled significantly by development.
Highlights: CNN listed An Bang in the Top 100 Best Beaches in the world. An Bang looks awfully charming with rows of thatched umbrellas and reclining lounge on the powdery sand in combination with white-crested waves, blue colors of water and sky. When enjoying your time at the beach, you will see neighboring mountains, Da Nang Bay and the far-off Cham Island.
What to do: The beach is a popular spot for swimming, paddle boarding and surfing. All these activities make the most of your day in the sun. Local people usually come here to swim when the sun rises and walk along the shoreline when the sun sets. You will feel very peaceful when you do as the locals do.
Another enjoyable thing you can do at the beach is picnicking or barbecues at night. The place is a little laid back and it has no high rise yet. Visitors should come and enjoy the seascape now while it still remains natural beauty.
When to visit: The best time to visit is between February and May. If you plan to go there by motorbike or bicycle, remember to park at the entrance of the beach to avoid scammers.

3. Hon Chong Beach, Nha Trang

One of the most impressive destinations in Vietnam is Hon Chong beach. Hon Chong, also known as the Husband, is in the north of Tran Phu beach and accessible within a five-minute drive by car from the iconic Po Nagar Cham Towers.
Highlights: Hon Chong is a complex of overlapping large rocks with all types of shapes that stretches out towards the sea from the high bank. These rocks stack on each other in a natural way. It is amazing to know that waves and rain have not been able to knock over the rocks for thousands of years.
Hon Chong is also a quiet beach with piled rocks and deep blue water. The intersection of mountain and sea make it a poetic tourist destination. It is a cluster of rocks that creates exotic beach scene.

What to do: Visit Five fingers on the top edge of Hon Chong when you are there. Five finger rock is a strange rock which has five giant fingers clearly outlined. VND 25,000 will be charged if you want to climb on the rocks. It is worth paying as you can enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of crescent beach and surrounding small islands. It is quite dangerous, so be sure to follow the instruction from security team when walking on the stacked rocks.
The beach is great for diving, scuba diving, and surfing. This is also an ideal place for relaxation in tranquil atmosphere. Visitors can walk to enjoy extensive natural scene or go to an open air coffee shop for refreshment. If you want to escape from the hustle, do not hesitate to spend some days in Hon Chong beach.
When to visit: The period of December and May is seen as the best time to visit Hon Chong beach.

4. Beaches in Binh Ba Island, Khanh Hoa

Binh Ba, also called Lobster Island, is a small isolated island located in Cam Binh commune, Cam Ranh city, Khanh Hoa province. The island is 15km away from Ba Ngoi harbor. It used to be occupied by the military and no one from the outside was allowed to visit. Now, the rule has changed but only local people can enter the island.
Highlights: Binh Ba still retains its natural beauty because it is protected well by the soldiers and relatively unspoiled. There are seven pristine beaches on the island including Hon Co, Bai Chuong, Old House, Cay Me, Bai Rua, Bai Nom and Bo De but only three beaches namely Bai Nom, Old House and Bai Chuong are accessible.
What to do: The most beautiful beach on the island is Bai Nom. A stretch of smooth white sand and mountains in two sides with gigantic stones on the top create a spectacular arc-shaped coastline. It is the only beach where you cannot see dawn and sunset. Old House beach is the place where the water is cleanest.
However, because of the rocks, it is a little uncomfortable if you want to swim here. There are many colorful coral reefs under and over water in Old House beach, so you can try scuba diving, snorkeling or sitting on a boat to explore them.
Although Bai Chuong beach is not as glorious as the other two, it is an ideal place for watching the sunrise on Binh Ba island. Furthermore, the island captivates visitors with wild scenery, cheap seafood and friendly locals. This is also a wonderful location for photo shooting.
When to visit: The days between March and September are considered the best period to gaze upon the beaches in Binh Ba.
Note: If you are a foreign visitor on the island, don’t be curious and break the rule in restricted area.

5. Co Thach Beach, Binh Thuan

Another tourist destination should not be missed in Vietnam is Co Thach beach in Binh Thuan province. Located in Tuy Phong district, Co Thach beach is about 90km away from Phan Thiet city, about . This legendary land is famous for many unique features.
Highlights: One special thing you can see at Co Thach beach is the rocks with different colors and strange shapes. Apart from gentle waves and clear water, the beach scene is extremely spectacular with the big rocks wearing a green moss coat.
What to do: Tourists will have an opportunity to witness a constant color change of the rocks under the sunlight. You will be enchanted by kaleidoscope colors of the rocks. They can look purple, red, green, black, white… depending on the angle of the light.
Every year, from February to April, throngs of photographers flock to the beach to capture the stunning glisten of the rocks at sunrise and sunset. It is hard to find such an exotic scenery anywhere else.
What tourist likes the most when coming here is the pristine beauty of the beach. Co Thach pagoda (or Chua Hang) and Hang Son are the nearby places that are worth a visit, too.
When to visit: If you are planning to come to Co Thach beach, do not miss the best time in March - the hunting season for seven colored stones or in August when the most important festival - Nghinh Ong is celebrated.

6. Quy Nhon Beach, Binh Dinh

Even though Quy Nhon beach is not regarded as a tourist destination, it deserves to be a rendezvous for beach lover. The city beach is considered as the Maldives of Vietnam. It is untouched by tourism industry, so most visitors are local people.
Highlights: The first impression when coming to Quy Nhon beach is that it is very clean. There is no rubbish scattering everywhere, no tourist buzz, and no vendors with plastic chairs on the strip. The allure of the beach is crystal clear turquoise water, surrounding green hills, and golden sand. Locals orderly lay wooden tables and chairs on the sand and tourists can use thatch umbrellas and lounge with the cost for just a drink.
What to do: The beach is completely empty during daytime, so you can be free to enjoy all day in the sun. Moreover, Quy Nhon beach is also a good place for people who want to relax in a quiet setting. What a wonderful place to hide away from bustles of city life. Since Quy Nhon is major in the fishing industry, tourists will have an opportunity to enjoy exceptional seafood.
When to visit: If you feel inclined to pure natural landscape, Quy Nhon beach is worth a visit. It’s better to visit Quy Nhon between February to August when the rainy season stops and the weather is quite pleasant.

7. Beaches in Con Dao Islands, Ba Ria-Vung Tau

If you are wondering where to stop by on your trip to Vietnam, then select Con Dao islands as your first choice. Con Dao islands, also called Con Dao National Park, are an archipelago of 16 islets in the south of Vietnam that are isolated from the mainland. Therefore, Con Dao islands are the home of many stunning unspoiled beaches.
Highlights: In the top list of pristine beaches, Con Son island appears to be an ideal place where you can see plenty of glorious beaches and bays, namely Lo Voi beach, An Hai beach, Bai Suoi Nong, etc. One of the most appealing beaches of Con Dao island is Bai Dat Doc. Surrounded by bushy woodland and rocky mountains, this beach welcomes travelers to the world of breathtaking natural landscape.
What to do: In Con Dao islands, Dam Trau beach is a popular spot for swimming and sunbathing with light waves, clear blue water and colorful coral reefs.
Apart from exploring the traumatic past of this land with ochre French colonial buildings and jails, it is worth immersing yourself to the magnificent beaches.
Travelers can also go through a tunnel to reach the nearby beach, namely Bai Suoi Nong. Because of this geographic separation, Bai Suoi Nong is almost complete pristine with white sand and lush mangroves.
Are you a fan of camping? Then go to Lo Voi beach and An Hai beach along Ton Duc Thang street. These two beaches are well-known location for shore excursion. Group travelling can gather to play with waves and do camping here. Lo Voi beach is charming with long white sand and poplars whereas An Hai (the largest beach) captivates visitors with the covering of numerous majestic mountains.
Nothing is more enjoyable than stepping on the sand of the beach in the morning to enjoy the sun rays, letting your hair blow in the salty breeze with the outlook to the infinite turquoise ocean or strolling along the town to experience idyllic and serene life. All these things bring us a sense of calmness and relaxation.
If you want to find yourself engaging more closely with expansive beaches and evergreen trees, Con Dao islands are the best option.
When to visit: The best time to visit Con Dao island is from March to September. If you are lucky, you will see turtles laying eggs during this time.

8. Long Beach, Phu Quoc Island

As the largest island in Vietnam, Phu Quoc is home to many beaches scattered around. Long beach, also called Bai Truong, is one of the must-see places on Phu Quoc island. The beach is located on the west coast of Phu Quoc island with 20km coastal line.
Long beach is divided into two sides: the north and the south. The northern end of the beach is inundated with hotels, guesthouses, hostels, bars and restaurants, meanwhile, the southern end of the beach is where you can find shopping streets, marina upscale restaurants, luxury resorts, villas, and pearl farms. The beach is easily accessible on foot.
Highlights: What makes Long beach attractive are swaying palm trees, long stretch of soft yellow sands, clear and calm water. Specially, there is one hanging beach-side palm tree in the northern section of the beach. This is the favorite place for taking wedding photos. The beach offers a wide variety of recreational activities, including swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, jet skiing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, squid fishing, and biking around the town. In fact, beaches at Phu Quoc island are considered among the best beaches for snorkeling in Vietnam.
What’s more you do is renting a bicycle or motorbike to explore pearl farms and traditional fishing villages in the southern end of the beach. If you do not want to participate in the activities, just make your paradise by relaxing on a sun lounge, enjoying tranquil atmosphere with sparkling beach, shimmering pellucid water and dancing palm trees beneath a cloudless sky.
Long beach also indulges photographers with breathtaking and glamorous sunset views. It has long captivated visitors thanks to this spectacular scene. Therefore, Long beach is worth an ideal destination in the list of places to go in Phu Quoc.
When to visit: Are you planning to spend your holiday in Phu Quoc? If yes, remember to book your tickets to the island on ideal days between December and May.

9. Quan Lan Beaches (Quang Ninh)

Situated within Bai Tu Long Bay, there is a wonderful island namely Quan Lan. The island is a beautiful landscape with 11km2 stretching from Van Don mountain to Giot mountain, like a princess sleeping under the sands. There are three well-known beaches in the island: Quan Lan, Son Hao and Minh Chau, of which the Quan Lan is the closest to the pier. These are beautiful beaches that are easily accessible from Hanoi - the capital of Vietnam.
Highlights: Unlike many other beaches near Hanoi and in the north of Vietnam, all three beaches are really nice and clean with smooth white sands along the shore and blue water. Especially, it is absolutely spectacular to see beautiful phosphorescent sheen of the water at night.
The thing that many of you may like most is that the beaches are not really touristic and the area still remains pristine without the impact of human. Due to the remoteness, the accommodation is still poor. There is no taxi here, you have to take a tuk tuk or rent a bicycle to get around the island. However, it is extremely enjoyable to spend your days in a tranquil nature.
What to do: The best things you can do here are lying on a hammock, breathing fresh air, listening to the rhythm of waves lapping the sand, feeling the green casuarina pines swaying and whispering with the wind or comfortably immersed in the water without being bothered. Therefore, many visitors can’t help being fascinated with the peace, pure nature and the locals here.
You can get here either from Halong Bay (1.5 hours) or from Cai Rong Pier (45 minutes). If you are exhausted with daily hustle and bustle of the urban life and want to relax in harmony with nature, come to Quan Lan island to enjoy tranquil atmosphere.
Quan Lan Island really brings the flawlessness, the purity, and the immensity of the crystal waters for people that once set foot in this beautiful virgin island.
When to visit: The most ideal time to visit Quan Lan is during April, May, September and October.
Note: Avoid visiting this island during the summer months, from June to August since this is the peak season for local travelers.

10. Cat Co Beaches (Cat Ba Island - Hai Phong)

Cat Ba island is an islet belonging to Halong Bay. Among 367 islands making up the Cat Ba Archipelago, Cat Ba is the largest one which contains three small and beautiful sandy beaches, known as Cat Co One, Cat Co Two and Cat Co Three.
Highlights: Cat Co One and Cat Co Three is great for daytime stroll thanks to a cliff facing pathway that links the two beaches. Cat Co Two offers a romantic getaway with many bungalows and chalets.
Almost half of the island is surrounded by thick green jungle of Cat Ba National Park - a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Additionally, the island has captivated visitors with inexpensive scrumptious foods and plenty of amazing activities such as rock climbing, kayaking, snorkeling, discovering hidden nature, etc…
The beaches are wonderful place for sunbathing and swimming. They are full of swimmers during summer time, so if you don’t want to be overwhelmed with crowds on the beach, avoid going there from May to July. If you want a cleaner and quieter beach, go to the nearby Monkey island. The first thing that attracts visitors here is the breathtaking landscape.
The most interesting thing in Cat Ba is a magical phenomenon called bioluminescent plankton. You have to take a night time dip to see the tiny luminous sparkles dancing with the water’s movement. Besides, the view of boats and harbor in this islet is very nice. It is worth spending one to two hours to witness the sunset at Cannon Fort Cat Ba and experience unforgettable memories.
When to visit: The months during spring and autumn are ideal for staking a spot and spending all day long on looking out into this shimmering bay thanks to ideal conditions in rainfall, temperatures and sunshine.
Note: There aren’t many roads on the island, so the best way to explore it is hiring a motorbike. That’s truly an amazing place to spend your holiday.

Vietnam is the destination of countless tropical islands, coves, lagoons and infinite stretches of sand. The combination of tranquil atmosphere and breathtaking views of the beaches are well worth the effort. These charming beaches are waiting for you to discover. So it may be a challenge if you want to visit the beaches with limited time.

If you want to enjoy the beaches to the fullest, avoid peak season for tourists (summertime). Vietnam is a tropical country, so the best time to visit Vietnam is February to April (spring) and August to October (autumn) because it’s the ideal time with moderate temperatures and light rain.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Is there any difference between My Khe Beach, Non Nuoc beach and Bac My An Beach?

A: Up to now, the layout of beaches in Danang is like this:
– My Khe beach is the furthest beach to the north and serve mostly local people. There are many restaurants as well as bistros around. It is the closest beach to Danang’s most populous areas, and possesses a beach-sided park.
– Non Nuoc beach is far away from Danang city center to the south and off Marble Mountains. This area is slated for resort development to draw foreign tourists.
– Bac My An beach is located in the middle and closer to the Non Nuoc beach than My Khe one. More eateries are found more in this beach than at the Non Nuoc, but lesser than at My Khe. This beach is less popular than the two ones above.

Q: Is it safe to swim in Vietnam beaches?

A: Generally, it is SAFE to swim in the Vietnam beaches. Beachgoers are advised to research on their destinations before visiting. Authorities will alert swimmers if there is possibly an issue but be actively alert to any red, dark blue or brown water. Swimmers should be wary of undertows.

Q: Are there sharks in Vietnam?

A: There are possibly sharks in the ocean of Vietnam, but do not get panicked. The South China Sea (or East Vietnam Sea) flowing around Vietnam is known for its huge number of inhabitants, and the water temperature is not lower than 20 degree Celcius. Sharks do not like shallow beaches with crowds of noisy tourists. So the risk of meeting a shark in this sea area is not likely. To see such deep-sea habitats, you need to go diving deeply using diving gears.