✅ Updated on 11.05.2026
| Resort | Why Visit | Best Season | How to Get There |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phu Quoc | The best beach resort in Vietnam for a tropical vacation. However, it doesn’t feel very authentic — it’s more tourist-oriented | December – March | International airport |
| Nha Trang | Great beaches, nightlife, and plenty of attractions | April – September | Airport available |
| Phan Thiet and Mui Ne | Famous for kitesurfing and massive sand dunes | December – March | No airport — reachable from Ho Chi Minh City by bus or train in about 4 hours |
| Quy Nhon | Quiet beaches with very few tourists and beachfront hotels starting from around $20 per night | April – September | Airport available |
| Da Nang | One of the best beach destinations in Vietnam. Great for surfing, food, and sightseeing. I lived here myself | April – September | International airport |
| Hoi An | The most beautiful town in Vietnam. Beaches here are much less crowded than in Da Nang or Nha Trang | April – September | No airport — reachable from Da Nang by taxi or bus in about 30 minutes |
One thing I really like about Vietnam is how easy and affordable it is to travel between destinations. Flights and buses between beach resorts usually cost around $30–60, so it’s easy to combine several places in one trip.
For transportation, buses are convenient to book online through 12Go. For flights and hotels, I often find the best prices on Trip.com.
1️⃣ Phu Quoc
📍 Location
Phu Quoc is the largest island in Vietnam, located in the Gulf of Thailand near the coast of Cambodia. It’s known for having some of the cleanest beaches in the country and plenty of attractions, including a safari park, the huge VinWonders theme park, and the world’s longest oversea cable car.
☀️ Best Time to Visit
Phu Quoc stays warm year-round, with daytime temperatures around 29–31°C (84–88°F). However, the rainy season lasts from April to November, so the best time for a beach vacation is from December to March.
🏨 Where to Stay
Long Beach is the island’s main tourist area, with the largest selection of beach resorts, cafes, and restaurants.
Recommended hotels:
Ong Lang Beach is quieter and more relaxed — a good choice if you prefer fewer crowds and a calmer atmosphere.
Recommended hotels:
You can also stay in more remote areas near Sao Beach or Khem Beach, but keep in mind that the infrastructure there is still limited compared to Long Beach.
✈️ How to Get There
Phu Quoc has an international airport with direct flights from many cities in Vietnam and Asia.
Another option is taking a ferry from Ha Tien pier. The journey takes about 1.5 hours, and tickets can be booked online via 12Go.
2️⃣ Nha Trang
📍 Location
Nha Trang is one of the most popular beach destinations in Vietnam. The city has two main beaches — the central beach and the northern beach area. The water is relatively clean, waves are usually small, and the entry into the sea is gentle, making it great for swimming.
☀️ Best Time to Visit
The best weather in Nha Trang is usually from April to September, when rainfall is at its lowest and the sea is calmer.
From November to March, the weather becomes cooler and cloudier, with temperatures sometimes dropping to around 22°C (72°F).
🏨 Where to Stay
I’m originally from Russia, and I stayed several times near the North Beach area. It almost feels like a Russian neighborhood — with Russian restaurants, shops, and Russian speech everywhere.
Popular hotels in the north:
Personally, though, I preferred staying in the city center because there’s more nightlife, cafes, and overall energy.
Recommended hotels in the center:
✈️ How to Get There
Cam Ranh International Airport is located about 36 km from the center of Nha Trang and receives both domestic and international flights.
However, from my experience, some international flights are often canceled during the low season because of low demand. In that case, you may need to connect through Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi.
To get from the airport to the city center, you can take a shuttle bus or book an inexpensive transfer through trip.com.
3️⃣ Phan Thiet and Mui Ne
📍 Phan Thiet location and Mui Ne location
Phan Thiet and Mui Ne are two popular beach destinations on the southern coast of Vietnam, located about 27 km apart.
Phan Thiet is known for its local markets, seafood, and historical attractions, while Mui Ne attracts travelers with its scenic sand dunes, long beaches, and excellent kitesurfing conditions.
☀️ Best Time to Visit
Since Phan Thiet and Mui Ne are located in southern Vietnam, the best season is similar to Phu Quoc — from December to March.
The rest of the year is generally considered the rainy season, although showers are often short and temperatures remain warm year-round.
🏨 Where to Stay
- Mui Ne Beach is the main tourist area, filled with beach resorts, cafes, and kitesurfing schools.
- Phu Thuy is a quieter and more local neighborhood with affordable accommodation and lower prices, though the beach itself is less scenic.
- Phan Thiet Beach is a budget-friendly option closer to the city. It’s good for a short stay and getting a feel for local Vietnamese life, but the atmosphere and beaches are less impressive compared to Mui Ne.
✈️ How to Get There
There are several ways to reach Phan Thiet and Mui Ne from Ho Chi Minh City:
- Bus or minivan: The most popular option. Travel time is around 3.5 hours, and tickets can be booked online through 12Go.
- Train: Trains from Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet take about 4 hours. From the station, you can continue to Mui Ne by taxi or local bus.
4️⃣ Quy Nhon
📍 Location
Quy Nhon is a beach city in central Vietnam that still feels relatively undiscovered compared to destinations like Nha Trang or Da Nang. That’s exactly what makes it special: fewer tourists, quieter beaches, and a much more relaxed atmosphere.
☀️ Best Time to Visit
Quy Nhon is located in central Vietnam between Nha Trang and Da Nang, so the climate is very similar.
The rainy season usually lasts from October to March, while the best beach weather is from April to September.
🏨 Where to Stay
The best area to stay is near the central beach, where you’ll find many beachfront hotels with sea views.
I stayed at TMS Apartments and can recommend it.
Other good and affordable hotels include:
✈️ How to Get There
There are several ways to reach Quy Nhon:
- By plane: Phu Cat Airport is located about 30 km from the city center and has flights from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, and other cities.
- By train: Quy Nhon lies on Vietnam’s main North–South railway line, making it easy to travel here from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and other major destinations.
- By bus: Sleeper buses and minivans regularly connect Quy Nhon with cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.
5️⃣ Da Nang
📍 Location
Da Nang is the fifth-largest city in Vietnam, with a population of around 1.3 million people — and it’s also my favorite city in the country.
The city has an impressive coastline stretching for about 25 km, and you can even walk or ride a scooter all the way to nearby Hoi An. Da Nang is also one of the main digital nomad hubs in Vietnam, with a large international community, modern cafes, and plenty of coworking spaces.
☀️ Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Da Nang is during the dry season, from April to September, when you can expect sunny weather and calm seas.
🏨 Where to Stay
The best area to stay is My An, especially if you’re a digital nomad or long-term traveler. This neighborhood has lots of western-style breakfast cafes, coworking spaces, gyms, and bars.
Here are some good and affordable hotels in Da Nang:
- MK Riverside Apartment — great river views
- Balcona — beachfront location
- Monalisa
- Sea Queen
✈️ How to Get There
The easiest way to reach Da Nang is by plane, since the city has a large international airport located close to the center.
A taxi from the airport to the beach area usually costs around $3.
6️⃣ Hoi An
📍 Location
Hoi An is considered the most beautiful town in Vietnam and is located just 20 minutes from Da Nang. Because of this, it’s very easy to combine both destinations in one trip.
Hoi An is famous for its lantern-lit streets, historic architecture, cafes, and relaxed atmosphere. But it also has a great beach scene.
The most popular beach here is An Bang. Compared to Da Nang, it’s usually much less crowded, and the shallow entry into the sea makes it especially convenient for families with children.
There are many beachfront cafes where you can order a coffee or lunch and use the sunbeds for free. One of my favorites is Sound of Silence Coffee Shop.
☀️ Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Hoi An is from April to September, during the dry season.
🏨 Where to Stay
- Old Town — best for travelers who want to stay close to historical attractions, cafes, and the famous lantern streets.
- Cam Nam Island — a quieter local neighborhood located just outside the center.
- An Bang Beach — ideal if you prefer beach resorts, surfing, and a more relaxed seaside atmosphere.
✈️ How to Get There
There are several ways to reach Hoi An:
- By plane: The nearest airport is in Da Nang, about 30 km away. It has both domestic and international flights. A taxi from the airport to Hoi An costs around $15.
- By scooter: If you’re staying in Da Nang, renting a scooter is one of the best options. Rental prices are usually around $6–8 per day, and the ride to Hoi An takes about 30 minutes.
