The 7 BEST Beaches in Vietnam (2024)

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You may not realise it from looking at a map, but Vietnam is a pretty long country. It takes more than a day to travel from Hanoi in the north to Ho Chi Minh City in the south – unless you take a plane, of course. But if you do that, you’ll miss some of the best beaches in Vietnam. With such a huge country, the climate differs throughout, meaning it’s hard to pin down the best time to visit.

The good news is that there’s no wrong time go backpacking through Vietnam. However, beach lovers tend to want sunshine, so try and avoid the tropical monsoon weather. In the north of the country, this lasts from October to April, while in the south, it’s from May to September. It’s best to work out where you want to visit and plan around that.

For travellers planning some stops at the beach while seeing the entire country, the best times to visit are autumn and spring. This is when the weather isn’t stiflingly hot and humid, and it’s not super-crowded.

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• Who It’s For: Seafood lovers can enjoy delicious Vietnamese cuisine while watching the sunset on these powder-white sands.
• Don’t Miss: Head into central Da Nang after a day at the beach for a show of lights, fire, and water. The Dragon Bridge comes alive at 9 pm on weekends.

Da Nang is one of the most beautiful destinations in Vietnam, and one of the easiest to get to. It’s almost slap bang in the middle of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and boasts more than 28km of coastline. It’s a favourite of locals and tourists alike, with some sections open to the public and others belonging to high-end resorts. Walks on the beach are made even better by the soft white sand and warm waters – and the endless palm trees you can duck under for a bit of shade.

Wanna know more, check out where to stay in Da Nang for the low down on the best digs in town.

• Who It’s For: If you fancy a casual swim without any fears of being swept away, staying in Phu Quoc close to Long Beach is perfect
• Don’t Miss: If you’re looking for a spot to lay down your towel, you can do a lot worse than the 19km of Phu Quoc’s Long Beach.

Long Beach is the quintessential tropical beach in Vietnam – powder white sand coupled with turquoise waters on the backdrop of tropical forest. Locals are friendly; as you’re dozing off, you might wake up to being offered fresh pineapple or a massage.

The waters on this beach are more like a lagoon, so even the most novice swimmer can paddle without fear. If you’re looking for the best beaches in Vietnam to laze in the ocean and chill on the sand, this is it!

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• Who It’s For: Everyone. No Vietnam itinerary is complete without a stop in Ha Long Bay.
• Don’t Miss: Surprise Cave. We won’t give away what’s in there!

Okay, you caught us out. Ha Long Bay isn’t a beach. However, the archipelago in Northern Vietnam is one of the most beautiful destinations on earth. Made up of almost 2,000 islands, the only way to properly see this place is via a boat cruise. During your cruise, you’re likely to stop off on gorgeous secluded beaches, where you’ll enjoy traditional Vietnamese cooking and perhaps swimming and snorkelling. If you can, stay in Halong Bay’s best accommodation for an unforgettable experience.

• Who It’s For: Foodies will love An Bang Beach because of its proximity to Hoi An, which is one of the best places to stay in Vietnam.
• Don’t Miss: The vibrant nightlife scene.

If you’re staying in Hoi An, you’ll have two beaches nearby – Cua Dai and An Bang. While Cua Dai isn’t bad, An Bang is where you’ll want to go as it’s one of the best beaches in Vietnam. With several restaurants and bars where you can claim a deckchair on the sand (you WILL have to order), it’s great for foodies. Of course, it’s no problem to lay down your towel on a quiet spot. It’s a favourite for locals, tourists, and ex-pats, but is still low-key and relaxing. There’s also great snorkelling and swimming here too. What more could you want?!

• Who It’s For: The idyllic Con Dao islands offer a chance to swim, snorkel, and dive away from the crowds of tourists.
• Don’t Miss: Con Dao’s National Park. There are fantastic hiking opportunities in the jungle, and you can meet turtles on the beaches.

The Con Dao archipelago off the south coast of Vietnam isn’t the easiest to get to, and that puts a lot of travellers off. However, if you can deal with that, you’ll be rewarded with some of the quietest beaches in Vietnam. It’s great for a swim, and animal lovers should head to the turtle sanctuary. The closest beach to town is An Hai, but it’s well worth the journey to Bai Bien Dam Trau on the northeast coast.

• Who It’s For: Intrepid travellers looking for somewhere to stop after driving/biking on one of the world’s most beautiful roads.
• Don’t Miss: The twists, turns, and views of the Hai Van Pass that connects Lang Co with Da Nang.

Lang Co might not ring a bell, but the Hai Van Pass will. That’s the road that featured in Top Gear’s biking road trip and tipped travellers off to this stunning mountain road. Lang Co is an almost empty beach in Vietnam where you’ll find a few locals and not a whole lot else. Lang Co Beach offers an opportunity to see Vietnamese life at its purest in a stunning setting.

• Who It’s For: Adventure seekers who want a never-ending list of adrenaline-fuelled activities.
• Don’t Miss: Seafood. Before all the visitors descended on Mui Ne, it was a humble fishing village.

One for the adrenaline seekers, Mui Ne Beach has a lot going for it. The most popular activity here is kitesurfing, but you can also enjoy swimming, surfing, and riding ATVs on Mui Ne’s dunes. Although it was originally a small fishing village, it has seen rapid development in recent years as it’s been named one of the best beaches in Vietnam by many travellers. Nevertheless, it retains its fishing roots, and you can get some sumptuous seafood here!

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ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.

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SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

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1. Security Belt with Hidden Pocket: I never hit the road without my security belt. This is a regular looking belt with a concealed pocket on the inside – you can hide up to twenty notes inside and wear it through airport scanners without it setting them off. This is hands down the best way to hide your cash.

 2. Travel Water Bottle: Always travel with a water bottle – it’ll save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl geopress is a true behemoth amongst water bottles acting as a purifier AND temperature regulator – so you can enjoy a cold red bull, or a hot coffee, no matter where you are.

3. Microfibre Towel: It’s always worth packing a proper towel. Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.

4. Headtorch: Every backpacker should have a head torch! A decent head torch could save your life. If you want to explore caves, unlit temples, or simply find your way to the bathroom during a blackout, a headtorch is a must. Currently, I’m using the Petzl Actik Core rechargeable headlamp – an awesome piece of kit! Because it’s USB chargeable I never have to buy earth polluting batteries.

5.Hammock: Taking a tent and pad on a road trip are not always practical but hammocks are lightweight, cheap, strong, sexy, and allow you to pitch up for the night pretty much anywhere. Right now, I’m rocking an Eno parachute hammock – it’s light, colorful and tough.

6. Toiletry Bag: I always travel with a hanging toiletry bag as it’s a super efficient way to organise your bathroom stuff. Well worth having, whether you are hanging it from a tree whilst camping, or a hook in a wall, it helps to have quick access to all your stuff.

Final Thoughts on the Best Beaches in Vietnam

We’re sure after seeing the seven best beaches in Vietnam, you’ll have found one that matches up with your travel tastes. You could be kite surfing against the backdrop of Mui Ne’s dunes, sampling the best Vietnamese cuisine at Hoi An’s Ang Bang Beach, or enjoying the mix of beach and city life in Da Nang. Whichever you choose, you won’t be disappointed.

Make sure that when you travel to Vietnam, you set aside some time to see some of the awe-inspiring attractions this country has to offer, such as the Dragon Bridge in Da Nang, Hoi An’s old town, and the Hai Van Pass.

For one of the most unique and eye-opening trips there is in Southeast Asia, make sure that Vietnam is on your bucket list. It combines world-class beaches with fascinating history, culture, and cuisine. We just know that you’re going to love it!

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