Vietnam beach resorts: Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Mui Ne, Da Nang and Hoi An — which to choose
Vietnam's main beach resorts are Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Mui Ne and Da Nang with Hoi An, plus Vung Tau, Ho Tram and Con Dao near Ho Chi Minh City. How they differ, when the sea is calm and how to get there.
Vietnam's main beach resorts are Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Mui Ne and Da Nang with Hoi An; near Ho Chi Minh City there are Vung Tau, Ho Tram and Con Dao island. You choose by month and by the kind of holiday you want. Nha Trang is a seaside city with islands, mud baths and diving, with a calm sea from February to August. Phu Quoc is a beach island with resorts, dry from December to March. Mui Ne is a quiet village by the dunes and a kitesurfing hub from late November to March. Da Nang is a big city with a long beach and Hoi An nearby, with a calm sea from April to August.
| Resort | Holiday style | Calm sea | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nha Trang | seaside city, islands, diving, mud baths | February – August | Cam Ranh airport, 35 km away; direct flights from Russia |
| Phu Quoc | beach island, resorts, sunsets | November – March on the west | Phu Quoc airport; about an hour from Ho Chi Minh City |
| Mui Ne | quiet village, dunes, kitesurfing | dry November – April, wind late November – March | via Ho Chi Minh City, then 4–5 hours by bus |
| Da Nang and Hoi An | big city, long beach, old Hoi An | April – August | Da Nang airport |
| Vung Tau, Ho Tram | weekend by the sea near Ho Chi Minh City | December – April | about 2 hours from Ho Chi Minh City |
| Con Dao | islands, nature | see the southern season | about an hour's flight from Ho Chi Minh City |
Which Vietnam resort to choose in winter?
In winter — November and December — choose Phu Quoc or Mui Ne for the beach: they're dry, while Nha Trang and Da Nang are still in their rainy and stormy season. From January Nha Trang is dry too, with a calm sea from February. Mui Ne is great for kitesurfing — the wind blows from late November to March — but Phu Quoc is more reliable for calm swimming. More in when to go to Vietnam and Phu Quoc or Nha Trang.
What makes Nha Trang good?
Nha Trang is a resort city with a city beach along the promenade, from which you go to the islands, mud baths, the Po Nagar towers and diving at Hon Mun. The sea in Nha Trang is calm from February to August; September to December brings rain and storms. More in Nha Trang beaches, Nha Trang islands and flights to Nha Trang.
What makes Phu Quoc good?
Phu Quoc is an island in southern Vietnam for beaches and resorts: the white sand of Sao Beach, sunsets on Long Beach, the cable car to Hon Thom. The rain eases in November, and from December to March it's dry with a calm sea on the west coast; May to September brings rain and waves on the west. More in Phu Quoc beaches and getting to Phu Quoc.
What makes Mui Ne good?
Mui Ne is a quiet resort village by the red and white dunes, about 200 km from Ho Chi Minh City. It's dry from November to April, and from late November to March the wind blows that draws kitesurfers. There are no flights to Mui Ne: fly to Ho Chi Minh City, then take a 4–5 hour bus or limousine van, or the train to Phan Thiet. More in Mui Ne month by month and getting to Mui Ne.
What makes Da Nang and Hoi An good?
Da Nang is a big city with a long beach, the Marble Mountains and Ba Na Hills, and 30 km away is old Hoi An with its lanterns. Da Nang's sea is calmest from April to August; September to December is the rainy and typhoon season, and Hoi An can flood in October–November. In winter Da Nang is cooler than the south: about 21.5 °C as a January daily average. More in when to go to Da Nang and Da Nang or Nha Trang.
Which resorts are near Ho Chi Minh City?
Near Ho Chi Minh City the sea is at Vung Tau (about 2 hours by fast boat), quiet Ho Tram (about 2 hours by car) and Con Dao island (about an hour by plane). The closest beach is Can Gio, about 50 km away, but people go there mostly for the mangroves. More in beaches near Ho Chi Minh City.
Sea temperature at each resort month by month: Vietnam sea temperature by month.
FAQ
Which Vietnam resort to choose in December? Phu Quoc or Mui Ne: they're dry. Nha Trang and Da Nang have rain in December.
Which Vietnam resort to choose in summer? Nha Trang or Da Nang: dry with a calm sea from May to August.
Where can you kitesurf in Vietnam? Mui Ne: the wind blows from late November to March.
Which resort is quietest? Mui Ne, Ho Tram and the north of Phu Quoc.
Where is the sea near Ho Chi Minh City? Vung Tau and Ho Tram — about 2 hours; Con Dao — an hour by plane.