Beaches near Ho Chi Minh City: Can Gio, Vung Tau, Ho Tram, Con Dao and Mui Ne
Central Ho Chi Minh City has no sea. Where to go: Can Gio is the closest, Vung Tau is 2 hours by boat, Ho Tram about 2 hours by car, Con Dao an hour's flight, Mui Ne 4–5 hours.
There's no sea in central Ho Chi Minh City: the city sits on the Saigon River, and the coast is two hours or more away. The closest beach is Can Gio (Cần Giờ), more than 40 km south, but it lies by the river mouths and is very basic. For proper swimming people go to Vung Tau (about 2 hours by fast boat), Ho Tram (about 2 hours by car), Con Dao island (about an hour by plane) or Mui Ne (4–5 hours by bus).
| Where | Time from the centre | How | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can Gio (Cần Giờ) | about 2 hours, 40+ km | bus 75, car + Binh Khanh ferry | a day trip: mangroves, monkeys, seafood |
| Vung Tau | about 2 hours | Greenlines DP fast boat, bus, car | a weekend in a seaside town |
| Ho Tram | about 2 hours by car, 110–120 km | car, hotel transfer | a quiet beach and resorts |
| Con Dao | about 1 hour by plane | Vietnam Airlines, VASCO | clear water and nature, 3–4 days |
| Mui Ne | 4–5 hours, about 200 km | bus, limousine van, train to Phan Thiet | a week by the sea, kitesurfing in winter |
Sights and attractions: addresses and contacts Open in Telegram
Does Ho Chi Minh City have a beach?
Central Ho Chi Minh City has no beach. Since 1 July 2025 the former Ba Ria–Vung Tau province, including its coast and the Con Dao islands, has been part of Ho Chi Minh City (National Assembly Resolution 202/2025/QH15), so on paper the city now includes the beaches of Vung Tau, Ho Tram and Con Dao. In practice they are still 2 hours or more from District 1. Hotel addresses now say "TP. Hồ Chí Minh"; older maps still show "Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu".
What is the closest beach to Ho Chi Minh City?
The closest beach to central Ho Chi Minh City is 30/4 Beach in Can Gio (Cần Giờ), more than 40 km south. There's a single road, and it includes the Binh Khanh ferry: at weekends and on holidays the queue for the ferry can take hours. City bus 75 takes about 2 hours 10 minutes. Can Gio beach is wild and quiet and few people swim there; visitors come for the Vam Sat (Vàm Sát) mangrove forest, Monkey Island and seafood. Construction of the Can Gio bridge to replace the ferry began on 15 January 2026, with completion planned for 2029.
How do you get from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau?
The fastest way from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau is the Greenlines DP fast boat: about 2 hours down the river and along the coast. In May 2025 the boat left its old pier at Bach Dang, so check the boarding point at the ticket office. FUTA buses leave from Mien Tay (Western) bus station, Hoa Mai from bus stations and city offices. Since spring 2026 cars with up to 9 seats can use the new Bien Hoa–Vung Tau expressway. Details are in Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau.
Where to swim in Vung Tau, and what to watch out for?
In Vung Tau people swim at Back Beach (Bãi Sau): about 8 km of golden sand with loungers and cafés. Front Beach (Bãi Trước) is by the port, full of boats — go there for the sunset, not to swim. Back Beach has rip currents and people have drowned there, so only go in near the lifeguard towers and never in rough seas. In spring and at the start of the rainy season jellyfish and sea worms wash up at Back Beach, usually thinning out by July — keep an eye on the water with children.
What are Ho Tram and Ho Coc?
Ho Tram (Hồ Tràm) and neighbouring Ho Coc (Hồ Cốc) are a quiet stretch of coast east of Vung Tau, about 2 hours by car from Ho Chi Minh City, 110–120 km. Ho Tram beach runs for about 10 km along the forest, lined with resorts rather than a town. There's almost no public transport to the beach itself: people go by car, Grab or hotel transfer. On the way you pass Long Hai (Long Hải), with its fishing village and the Dinh Co (Dinh Cô) temple by the sea.
How do you get to Con Dao?
Flights to Con Dao (Côn Đảo) leave from Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City: Vietnam Airlines and VASCO run 10 to 22 flights a day, about an hour in the air. The planes are small, and tickets for holidays and weekends sell out early. The fast ferry from central Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao keeps starting and stopping: in 2024 the route lasted just over two months, the crossing takes 5–6 hours and sailings are cancelled in bad weather. Flying is more reliable. Con Dao is a 3–4 day trip; a day trip isn't worth it.
Is Mui Ne worth the trip from Ho Chi Minh City?
Mui Ne is for a week by the sea rather than a weekend. It's about 200 km from Ho Chi Minh City: a bus or limousine van takes 4–5 hours, the train to Phan Thiet about 4 hours, then 26 km by taxi. Mui Ne isn't part of Ho Chi Minh City; it belongs to Lam Dong province. It's dry from November to April, and the kitesurfing wind blows from late November to March. More in getting to Mui Ne and Mui Ne month by month.
When should you go to the beach from Ho Chi Minh City?
Go to the beach from Ho Chi Minh City in the dry season, December to April: little rain and roads stay clear. From May to November it rains almost every day, usually in the afternoon, and boats to Vung Tau and Con Dao are cancelled in strong wind. At weekends and on holidays — especially Tet and 30 April–1 May — the road to Vung Tau and the Can Gio ferry are packed, so set off early. Month-by-month weather is in Ho Chi Minh City weather.
FAQ
Is there a beach in Ho Chi Minh City? Not in the centre. The closest is Can Gio beach, more than 40 km away and about 2 hours on bus 75. Since July 2025 Vung Tau and Con Dao are formally part of the city, but they're 2 hours or more away.
What is the nearest beach to Ho Chi Minh City? 30/4 Beach in Can Gio (Cần Giờ). People go mainly for the mangroves and seafood: the beach is wild and few swim there.
How long does it take from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau? About 2 hours on the Greenlines DP fast boat; by bus from 2 hours, depending on traffic.
Is Vung Tau part of Ho Chi Minh City? Yes, since 1 July 2025: the former Ba Ria–Vung Tau province became part of Ho Chi Minh City.
How do you get to Con Dao from Ho Chi Minh City? By plane from Tan Son Nhat: Vietnam Airlines and VASCO, 10 to 22 flights a day, about an hour.
Where is the calmest swimming near Ho Chi Minh City? Ho Tram is the quietest — about 2 hours by car, along a forest, no city crowds. In Vung Tau swim only near lifeguards: Back Beach has rip currents.
When should you go to the beach from Ho Chi Minh City? December to April, the dry season. From May to November it rains often and boats are cancelled in wind.