First published July 2018 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle
This post was last updated 6 years ago. Please check the comments section for possible updates, or read more on my Updates & Accuracy page.
INTRODUCTION | GUIDE | MAP | RELATED POSTS
The coast of Phu Yen Province and Quy Nhon, in south-central Vietnam, is ripe for exploration. Its potential is extraordinary: An irresistible, honey-combed coastline with long peninsulas, rocky outcrops, dramatic bluffs, forested hills falling to the ocean, secluded bays, arcing beaches, rugged islands, thriving fishing villages, coastal cities, and glistening, calm seas. This coastal region is destined to be an extremely big deal: a star of Vietnam’s beach scene. But, despite a surge of interest in the last few years, the coastline of Phu Yen and Quy Nhon has yet to be developed for mass tourism, and is thus far more serene, local, sparsely populated, and ‘genuine’ than Vietnam’s other ‘beach darlings’, such as Nha Trang and Phu Quoc. As always, the window of opportunity for travel to this region before it inevitably turns to mass tourism is short: already the crowds, the coaches, the cement trucks, and the international resort chains are arriving. If you’re an independent traveller, don’t wait: go now.
The spectacular coastline of Phu Yen Province & Quy Nhon is ripe for exploration
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GUIDE: PHU YEN & QUY NHON BEACHES
On this page, I’ve written a full and detailed guide to exploring the coastline of Phu Yen and Quy Nhon. I’ve divided this guide into sections, including an extensive list of beaches and bays, accommodation, food and drink, and transportation options, and some historical and geographical context. This guide is written as if travelling from south to north along the coast: starting from the bays south of Tuy Hoa all to way to the beaches north of Quy Nhon. This region is ideal for independent travellers, and by far the best way to explore it is by motorbike, bicycle, or private vehicle. I’ve marked a route on my map which serves as a rewarding road trip for those with their own wheels. However, beach-hopping is also possible by a combination of local buses and taxis. Click on the sections in the contents below for more details:
*Please support Vietnam Coracle: If you use the relevant links in the following guide to book your accommodation & transportation in Phu Yen & Quy Nhon, I make a small commission. All my earnings go straight back into this website. Thank you.
CONTENTS:
MAP:
The Beaches & Coastline of Phu Yen & Quy Nhon:
View in a LARGER MAP
LOCATION & BACKGROUND:
Although steadily gaining ground, Phu Yen and Quy Nhon are still part of Vietnam’s off-the-beaten-path beach scene. It’s a fabulous area that’s just begging to be explored. There’s a still, slow, silent – almost holy – quality to parts of this region. One can imagine it as the setting for ancient parables. Indeed, its character befits its name: Phú Yên means ‘Rich Peace’. And, to some extent, this part of the country is bound up with the history and legend of Vietnam. The Cham Kingdom ruled from the city of Vijaya until the 15th century, and then, in the late 18th century, the Tay Son brothers rose up from near present-day Quy Nhon to overthrow the ruling imperial dynasty; a rebellion that is often portrayed as the precursor to the great nationalist-socialist independence movement of the 20th century, against the French and the Americans.
Despite increasing interest, Phu Yen & Quy Nhon are still off-the-beaten-path beach destinations
The popularity of Phu Yen’s and Quy Nhon’s coastline has been rapidly growing over the last few years, especially among domestic travellers. Its reputation was boosted when the Vietnamese movie, Tôi Thấy Hoa Vàng Trên Cỏ Xanh (I See Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass), directed by Victor Vũ and released in 2015, chose Phu Yen as a filming location for much of the movie, including a now-famous beach scene on Bãi Xép. But foreign travellers, too, who traditionally skipped the area on their way between Nha Trang and Hoi An, have started to discover the serene beauty and great beaches of Phu Yen and Quy Nhon. Thus, the area is on the cusp of big changes: several travellers’ enclaves have already sprung up, and investment is starting to pour in for the development of its fabulous beaches. Much like Phu Quoc Island 10-15 years ago, now is the time to visit Phu Yen and Quy Nhon, before the beaches are cordoned off for development and isolated fishing communities fade away.
Now is the time to visit Phu Yen & Quy Nhon, before it’s incredible beaches are inevitably developed
Phu Yen Province is bounded by the Cả Pass to the south and the Cù Mông Pass to the north, over which lies Quy Nhon and the province of Binh Dinh. Although Phu Yen Province is roughly 70% highlands (the mountains in this region reach nearly 1,600m [5,250ft]), it’s the coastline that most people come here for. And this mountainous topography makes those beaches all the more spectacular, as the steep, rocky – sometimes forested – slopes slide into the ocean in dramatic fashion, creating dozens of sheltered bays, rocky coves, and crescents of sand book-ended by rugged outcrops. The Đà Rằng River, the largest in Central Vietnam, flows out to the sea at Tuy Hoa (capital of Phu Yen Province) in a great, gaping estuary. Even when I first travelled here, on my bicycle in 2005, I was struck by the width and scale of this great river mouth. Once it provided a trade route to the interior for the Kingdom of Champa, but now its flow is greatly reduced, partly due to large dams upstream.
The topography of Phu Yen & Quy Nhon’s coast is characterized by bays, rugged headlands & lagoons
Phu Yen is a sparsely populated province, and most of the population is involved in agriculture of some kind. Indeed, animals, such as cattle, pigs and chickens, far outnumber people. Quy Nhon city, however, has a population of around 300,000. Part of what makes travel in this region so pleasant, is that local people are particularly friendly to travellers and have an appealingly polite yet informal disposition. The majority are Kinh (ethnic Vietnamese), but there are also pockets of minority ethnic groups, such as the Cham. Quy Nhon was once Thi Nai, an important port during the time of the Cham Kingdom. The ancient Cham capital of Vijaya was located near present-day Quy Nhon from the 11th to the 15th centuries. In 1471, the last of several major wars and battles led to the Vietnamese defeat of Champa. The Côn River flows into the East Sea just north of Quy Nhon, via a large, sheltered lagoon. Again, this was an important trade way for the Chams. These days, a long, raised causeway (at 2.5km it’s the second longest sea bridge in Vietnam) crosses the estuary from Quy Nhon to the Phuong Mai Peninsular. The physical legacy of the Kingdom of Champa can be seen throughout this region in the impossibly exotic (definitely something taken from the set of an Indiana Jones movie) Cham temples, mostly constructed of red brick with very distinctive floral motifs. (Read more about the Cham temples in this region here.)
The region was once a centre of Cham culture, whose capital was at Vijaya, near present-day Quy Nhon
Much of the south-central coast is reminiscent of Greece. Indeed, there’s something Homeric about it: the “wooded” Ionian Islands remind me of the eucalyptus-studded coast south of Quy Nhon, and the stark, arid beauty of the Cyclades reminds me of the dry, sand-strewn coast north of Quy Nhon. I travelled regularly to Greece from a young age, and studied its history at university, and I’ve always been struck by the resemblance ever since I first started visiting Vietnam’s coast, in 2005. And, like the Greece that I visited as a child, the south-central coast suffers from coastal pollution. It’s a huge problem all over Vietnam, but on the coast, especially in the fishing villages, it’s at its most shocking. The polystyrene, the plastic, the sewage, the household garbage, the stench: the horror. It’s an appalling mess. Visitors should be aware of this. The beaches that already have some kind of tourist infrastructure are generally kept clean, but once you venture off the beaten path, to secluded bays and fishing hamlets, you need to expect a certain level of trash. These are working beaches, fishing beaches, and fishing is an industry that creates a lot of waste. Hopefully, like Greece, the problem will be addressed soon.
Much of Phu Yen & Quy Nhon’s coastline is reminiscent of Greece, with its pretty fishing villages & bays
BEACHES, BAYS & ISLANDS:
Below is a list of beaches, bays, islands, and peninsulas in Phu Yen and Quy Nhon. I’ve written a description of each one, as if travelling from south to north along the coast. Each beach is illustrated with a photograph, and all of the places below are marked on my map, as are the roads and lanes to access them (if you have your own wheels). In the descriptions, I’ve included some recommendations of places to eat and drink, but for places to sleep go to my Accommodation section.
Click a beach below to read more about it:
- Vung Ro Bay & Mon Beach
- Tuy Hoa City & Beach
- Long Thuy Beach
- Bai Xep Beach & Ong Cliff
- Mui Yen Cape & Yen Beach
- An Hai Beach & Mai Nha Islet
- Da Dia Cliffs & Beach
- Ganh Do Beach, Song Cau & Xuan Dai Bay
- Xuan Thinh Peninsular: Bai Om, Tu Nham & Vinh Hoa Beaches
- Vinh Cuu Peninsular: Bai Tu Nham 2, Bai Tram & Bai Nom Beaches
- Xuan Hai, Bai Rang, Bai Bau & Bai Bang Beaches
- Bai Xep Beach & Cu Lao Xanh Island
- Quy Hoa Village & Hoang Hau Beach
- Quy Nhon City & Beach
- Phuong Mai Peninsular: Nhon Hai, Eo Gio & Ky Co Beaches
- Trung Luong Beach & Beyond
Vung Ro Bay & Mon Beach [MAP]
Coastal Phu Yen Province begins at the top of the spectacular Cả Pass. From here, the views down to Vung Ro Bay are glorious. Spreading between green mountains, Vung Ro Bay is a perfect blue lagoon, dotted with fishing boats, floating fish farms, and a handful of cargo ships. From the top of the Cả Pass, a road leads steeply down to the bay and follows the shore. Several floating restaurants (bè nổi) are accessed by boat and serve fresh seafood in wooden structures on the calm waters. Visible to the south of the bay is Hon Nua Island, a rugged little isle with dramatic cliffs on one side and a good beach on the other. It’s possible to charter a boat to the island from the floating seafood restaurants, or from Dai Lanh Beach.
Vung Ro Bay, seen from the Cả Pass, is a glorious lagoon of blue water surrounded by green hills
Around the eastern headland of Vung Ro Bay lies Bai Mon Beach, a superb parcel of sand wedged between two boulder-strewn hills. Entrance to the beach is 20,000vnd, which includes a trek up the long, winding stairs to Mũi Điện Lighthouse, where there are stupendous views out to sea and down over the beach. Behind the lighthouse is a pylon marking the most easterly point on mainland Vietnam (although this is also claimed by Mũi Đôi on Hon Gom Sandbar). A separate, steeper, staircase leads down from the lighthouse to the beach itself. Cool off from the walk with a swim in the clear, calm waters of Mon Beach. Its popularity is growing, but providing you visit on a weekday outside of the national holidays, the beach shouldn’t be too crowded. There’s a little food shack, Quán Chú Mười, near the entrance, and they can even arrange for a night camping on the sand: see Accommodation for details. (For more information about Vung Ro Bay and Mon Beach see this guide.)
Bai Mon Beach is a parcel of sand wedged between two boulder-strewn hills: the swimming is excellent
Heading north from Mon Beach, the coast road meanders down a strikingly scenic, rocky hillside, giving way to pretty coves and crescents of sand, and a wonderful vista over the long, empty beach of Bai Goc. From here, the sand essentially stretches all the way to Tuy Hoa city (25km), broken only by a couple of river estuaries. There’s no development here yet, but much of the coastline is given over to shrimp farms. Several fishing villages line the road, and the inlets are filled with the blue-painted boats of the local fishing fleet. Most of the road is in excellent condition, much of it brand new as it passes behind Tuy Hoa Airport. All of this, of course, suggests that there are big plans for the future development of this coastal region.
A new coast road winds along the ocean from Bai Mon beach to Bai Goc beach, all the way to Tuy Hoa
Tuy Hoa City & Beach [MAP]
Accessed from the south via an impressively long bridge, Tuy Hoa is a pleasant city on the flood plains of the Da Rang river estuary. Although very few travellers spend any time here, Tuy Hoa’s wide main streets (on an easy to navigate grid system) lead from the bustling city centre to the extensive municipal beach. During the spring and summer months, the beach is excellent for swimming. The newly refurbished beachfront promenade boasts lots of trees, kitsch sculpture parks, and public showers. There’s virtually no one here during the daytime. In town, you can pay a visit to the Thap Nhan Cham temple (dating from the 14th century), tuck into some fresh seafood at the string of local riverfront restaurants, drop into Tuy Hoa Market, and even ride up the helter-skelter lane to the top of Chop Chai Hill for some extraordinary panoramic views. If you’re craving Western food, stop by at Bob’s American Cafe. Accommodation options are good and plentiful. As Tuy Hoa is one of the two cities on this stretch of coast (the other being Quy Nhon), it’s a transport hub for travel within the region and beyond. Connections by rail, road, and air are all good – see Getting There & Around for details.
Tuy Hoa is a likable city with a long, wide, empty beach, yet very few foreign visitors stop here
Long Thuy Beach [MAP]
Heading north on Le Duan Street along the coast from Tuy Hoa, past the concrete skeletons of huge resorts under construction, small lanes lead off the road to Long Thuy, a little fishing village at the northern end of what is essentially Tuy Hoa Beach. Long Thuy is notable for its interesting narrow backstreets, lined with crumbling homes, small temples, and cowsheds. Although the beach here is nice, it’s currently undergoing renovations: the construction of a seafront promenade. From the beach, it’s possible to charter boats out to Hon Chua and Hon Dua islands, lying just offshore. There are a couple of seafront restaurants and mini-hotels on the seafront (see Accommodation). For more about Long Thuy Beach see this guide.
Long Thuy is an interesting fishing village with a decent beach & a warren of narrow alleyways
Bai Xep Beach & Ong Cliff [MAP]
Follow the back-roads just north of Long Thuy village. A network of narrow lanes leads through a cluster of fishing communities gathered beside a long beach. The small, cramped houses are so tightly packed that there isn’t any easy access to the beach. But when the lane turns to concrete slabs and leads over a hill, the space suddenly opens up, and Bai Xep Beach comes into view. Famous among Vietnamese film buffs as the location for the 2015 movie, Tôi Thấy Hoa Vàng Trên Cỏ Xanh (I See Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass), this is a lovely little beach of white sand, bookended by rocky bluffs. A sign with images from the movie announces your arrival at the entrance to the beach (there’s a small admission fee). A pathway leads down to the sand, where a thatched structure offers food, drinks, sun-loungers, and beach toys for fairly reasonable prices. Walking trails head to the top of the cliff, known as Ganh Ong, at the north end of the beach, from where there are beautiful views over the coastline. The swimming and general setting of Bai Xep are very nice indeed, but it can get very busy on weekends and public holidays with domestic tour groups, and trash is, predictably, becoming a problem.
Bai Xep is a pretty beach that was a filming location for Tôi Thấy Hoa Vàng Trên Cỏ Xanh (2015)
Mui Yen Cape & Yen Beach [MAP]
Continuing north of Bai Xep Beach, the road veers slightly to the east, as it begins to follow a long and topographically complex peninsula, created by an inlet and a large lagoon. The unique and interesting terrain in this area is partly a result of ancient volcanic eruptions, which pushed rivers of molten lava down towards the sea. There are lots of interesting rock formations, cliffs, hidden coves, and wonderful beaches around here. By taking a series of small, paved lanes east toward the sea, you’ll eventually come to Mũi Yến, a beautiful and very peaceful spot at the tip of a headland which almost touches Hòn Yến, a rocky islet comprised of geometric volcanic rock formations. Mui Yen has a few local cafes, some with hammocks under tropical almond trees, where you can swing in the sea breeze, drinking a coconut while taking in the views over the picturesque coastal scene. Swimming and snorkeling are both good here, but be careful of sharp rocks. It’s possible to practically walk over to Hon Yen Islet, but the cafes can also arrange for a coracle to row you across. Surrounding the cape there are fishing boats and lobster cages. It’s a really lovely little spot: there’s something timeless and poetic it. A small shrine sits atop the sandy cape, below which a collection of Chinese-style circular tombs cluster around the volcanic rocks leading down to the sea, watched over by the black wall of rock on Hon Yen Islet. On the lane just before reaching Mui Yen Cape, there are a couple of good bánh bèo stalls (little dishes of savoury rice flour curd; a speciality of Central Vietnam).
The cape of Mui Yen is a quiet & atmospheric place, defined by the volcanic rock outcrops offshore
Just around the north side of Mui Yen Cape, accessed via more narrow lanes, is Yen Beach, a long, gorgeous sweep of sand between two volcanic cliffs. It’s a stunning setting, and as yet there’s no development whatsoever. Lap it up while you still can, because this beach has ‘International Luxury Hotel Chain’ written all over it. There are a couple of access points to the beach: one of them leads to a giant old tropical almond tree growing by a village temple, where women and children gather in the shade to eat and sell street snacks in the afternoons, while the fishermen tend to their nets on the sand. The swimming all along Yen Beach is marvellous.
The beach on the north side of Mui Yen Cape is gorgeous & completely undeveloped
An Hai Beach & Mai Nha Islet [MAP]
More quiet, rural back-roads wind over a volcanic bluff jutting into the sea north of Yen Beach. Potholes mark the road surface as it passes through isolated farming and fishing communities. Haystacks, arranged in pylons, lie by the roadside with cattle munching at them, while children play in the sandy front yards of small, brick and red-tile-roofed homes. At An Hai village there’s a sizable fishing fleet moored offshore, with the smaller vessels drawn up on the sand. Good beaches spread either side on the small headland here, stretching for kilometres in both directions. The beach on the north side is cleaner and calmer, with a few fishermen’s homes by the water, several fishing canoes, lobster cages on the beach, and a collection of large, smooth boulders. On the southern beach, by the village, you can hire a boat to take you across to Cu Lao Mai Nha Islet, a rugged but green isle just across the water. Another back-road heads inland north of the village to a new bridge across an inlet, where there are lots of floating restaurants serving good seafood. This makes a convenient lunch stop. West of here, Dam O Loan Lagoon is worth exploring if you have some extra time. If not, continue over the bridge and along the straight road through casuarina trees towards the volcanic cliffs of Da Dia.
An Hai beach & fishing village lies opposite Cu Lao Mai Nha Islet, which can be reached by boat
Da Dia Cliffs & Beach [MAP]
Ganh Da Dia is a hook of land at the northern tip of the long peninsula which starts just above Tuy Hoa. Accessed via a series of pretty country roads, some of which are currently in quite poor condition, the volcanic cliffs of Da Dia are a popular attraction for domestic road-trippers and tour groups. Despite getting very busy on weekends and public holidays, there’s generally only a trickle of visitors on the weekdays. Like much of the topography in this region, the cliffs of Da Dia were formed when a volcanic eruption caused a river of molten lava to run downhill to the sea, where it met the cooler temperatures of the water and became the solid, eerily geometric rock formations that it’s now famous for. When I first visited, about 10 years ago, there was nothing here but the cliffs themselves. These days, however, an entrance gate has been erected (and an entrance fee charged: 20,000vnd), a plank walkway constructed around the rock formations, and a parking lot to accommodate all the coaches and cars. It’s a fairly untidy sprawl of temporary food and drink shacks, souvenir stalls, and piles of trash. However, the setting is still very scenic and the cliffs are impressive, so it’s definitely worth the trip.
The Da Dia cliffs were formed when a volcanic eruption caused molten lava to run downhill to the sea
Da Dia Beach, stretching south of the cliffs, is a gorgeous sweep of sand. It’s good for bathing, and there are a few food and drink shacks along its shores. North of the cliffs, a paved pathway leads across a grassy, boulder-strew coastline to a Ganh Den Lighthouse. An attractive and peaceful spot with views over the bay, this has become a selfie-trap for many young Vietnamese travellers. I camped here with my friends, overlooking the jagged shoreline, back in 2008. Sadly, there’s now quite a lot of trash lying around: polystyrene food containers, beer cans, soda bottles. It’s such a shame, because the groups of young people here seem to take such pleasure in their natural surroundings, only to leave their litter behind.
Stretching south of the rock formations, Da Dia beach is a beautiful sweep of sand & clear water
The cliffs of Da Dia are easily accessed from the south or west via decent roads, but there are also two interesting alternative routes in either direction (see the red lines on my map). From the south, it’s possible to cut through An Ninh Dong hamlet and over the hill, ending up on Da Dia Beach. However, there’s a small section of off-road involved: it should be fine in dry weather, but best avoided in wet conditions. From the northwest, a long wooden-plank and bamboo bridge (two wheeled vehicles only: 5,000vnd toll) crosses the Phu Ngan river estuary from Highway QL1A. On the other side, there’s a short section of muddy road before a good, paved road leads through rice paddies and eventually joins the main route to Da Dia Cliffs.
North of the Da Dia cliffs, a lane leads to Ganh Den lighthouse, perched on a rocky headland
The villages that dot the extensive cultivated plain between Da Dia and Chi Thanh, on Highway QL1A, serve some good street food in the afternoons, including bánh xèo (savoury rice flour pancakes). There’s also a mysterious old citadel near Chi Thanh, between the north bank of the Phu Ngan River and Highway QL1A. The scant remains of An Tho Citadel (dating from the early 19th century) can be seen at the museum at the centre of the moated, walled enclosure. There’s not much to see, but there’s an appealingly calm, forgotten atmosphere to the place, and it’s very lush.
Between the Da Dia cliffs & Highway QL1A, Thanh An Tho citadel is an interesting little excursion
Ganh Do Beach, Song Cau & Xuan Dai Bay [MAP]
After the bamboo bridge over the Phu Ngan River, join Highway QL1A heading north along the coast. This section of Vietnam’s infamous main artery is one of the most scenic of its entire length, passing a honeycombed coast of cliffs and bluffs, mountains and lagoons, islands and bays. From here all the way to Quy Nhon, Highway QL1A/1D is in great condition. But remember, despite the scenery, this is still the notorious Highway 1 where trucks roar past without a care for smaller vehicles, and long distance coaches cut the bends at ferocious speeds: ride carefully. The first beach along this section of the highway is Ganh Do, a long, arcing spit of sand. At its northern end are a few places to stay or stop for a drink and a swim.
After joining Highway QL1A, via a long bamboo bridge, the road passes by Ganh Do beach
Before a steep pass leading over to Song Cau, there’s an optional back-road (see the red line on my map) that rounds a headland via a scruffy fishing village where there’s a jetty with boats to take you across the water to Nhat Tu Son Island. It only takes a couple of minutes to make the crossing and there’s a small beach on the rocky, green island. If the weather is good, it’s a worthwhile excursion. However, riding the road along the harbourfront here serves as a disturbing reminder of how out of control the waste-disposal situation is in Vietnam’s thousands of fishing communities: the mess is biblical. The volume of polystyrene boxes (for packaging fish in ice) and the viscosity of the black seawater is shocking. It’s the same story all along Vietnam’s coastline, and one wonders how anything can survive in these polluted waters. It’s a reminder that fishing is a messy (and big) business, and that fishermen in Vietnam are amongst the poorest people in the country. What the future holds for the people (and the fish) in communities like this, and how the ocean can cope, remains to be seen.
Fishing is a messy industry, and the build up of trash in some of the fishing villages is shocking
Song Cau, in the middle of a great bay, is a fishing town through and through. It’s large fleet of wooden boats lies at anchor in the vast, flat, glassy Xuan Dai Bay, a scenic location for a fairly scruffy but likable little place. Song Cau’s fish market (chợ cá) is the real deal: a dilapidated structure teeming in the mornings with people and things from the sea. The fishy aroma is almost unbearable, and it’s probably best not to go wearing flip-flops, as the ground is wet, slippery and full of fish guts. If you can stomach it, this genuine fish market is worth a visit. Other than that, Song Cau’s lovely location belies what is a relatively unremarkable town. There’s some interesting architecture here and there: a few Soviet-looking government edifices and some ‘old’ houses, which, in fact, probably only date from the 1970s at most. A spattering of decent street food stalls, especially around the main square, offer up some good snacks, like nem nướng (grilled pork wrapped in rice paper rolls), and fresh sea snails (ốc xào) in lemongrass, chilli and garlic. There’s a catholic churches, a handful of Buddhist pagodas, and some accommodation options, too.
Song Cau is a large, quite interesting fishing town: these are sea snails on sale in the main square
Xuan Thinh Peninsular: Bai Om, Tu Nham & Vinh Hoa Beaches [MAP]
Opposite Song Cau, the Xuan Thinh Peninsular curls eastward and then south into the East Sea. A small road runs along most of the western and eastern sides of the peninsular, creating a scenic loop. Both roads can be accessed via concealed turn-offs from Highway QL1 (see the red lines on my map). This finger of land hides some extraordinary beaches and coves, none of which are currently developed. It’s ripe for exploration. On the western edge, the lane runs alongside the glassy waters of Xuan Dai Bay, facing the fishing town of Song Cau. The road, which consists of alternating sections of paved and dirt surfaces, is lined with coconut palms for much of the way, and offers access to isolated fishing communities, many of which farm lobster and shrimp. The setting is extremely picturesque, and there are several interesting local shrines and temples. But, as mentioned before, fishing is an industry that produces a lot of waste: in an enclosed, placid bay such as this, it won’t be long before it’s completely out of control. There appears to be very little awareness about waste in these isolated hamlets (although, again, there are government signs about it). Everything gets thrown in the water: plastic, chemicals, glass. These are fairly poor communities and people are just trying to make a living from the sea as best they can, but surely they won’t be able to sustain it much longer if the water pollution continues in this way. In general, the trash builds up in the waters that front the villages: away from these communities, the water is still good for swimming.
The western side of Xuan Thinh Peninsular fronts the placid, serene Xuan Dai Bay, full of fishing coracles
Near the tip of the peninsular, a couple of small lanes lead down to very remote hamlets in stunning locations. The setting is pretty but life in the narrow warren of alleys on the polluted bay doesn’t look great. The holy grail of the entire area, Bai Om is a secluded beach of powdery sand perfectly pocketed between two rugged headlands and backed by coconut palms, right at the tip of the peninsular. I would imagine that, one day, Bai Om will be the jewel in the crown of Phu Yen Province, developed, no doubt, by some exclusive and astronomically-priced resort company. But, for now, it’s empty. However, sections of the bay are used as a trash dump by the local community, so expect some plastic bags, glass beer bottles, and soda cans. It strikes me that the logistics exists to bring these products – the colas, the potato chips, the lagers – in to remote communities like this, but not out again once they’ve been consumed.
At the tip of Xuan Thinh Peninsular, Bai Om is a gorgeous, secluded pocket of sand, still undeveloped
A small road bisects the peninsular almost at the halfway point. Leading from west to east, the road rises sharply through eucalyptus trees, over sand dunes, and down onto the casuarina tree-lined beach of Tu Nham. On this side of the peninsular, the number of empty sand beaches is absurd: they stretch out in all directions, lined with palms and backed by wooded hills. Several scruffy but fascinating villages dot the bays and beaches: it’s worth setting aside at least half a day to explore the area. Again, these are mostly working beaches, so you’ll have to accept the trash. The tourist potential is huge, but for now there are only a couple of places to stay, all located on Vinh Hoa Beach, at the northeastern end of the peninsular. There isn’t much in the way of food and drink on Xuan Thinh Peninsular, but during meal times street food stalls pop up in the villages, as do local rice eateries.
The eastern side of Xuan Thinh Peninsular is spoiled for beaches: arcing sands stretch in all directions
Vinh Cuu Peninsular: Bai Tu Nham 2, Bai Tram & Bai Nom Beaches [MAP]
After rejoining Highway QL1A from the Xuan Thinh Peninsular, there’s yet another concealed turn onto a small lane, which leads to yet another astonishingly beautiful area of empty, undeveloped coast. Again, it’s possible to turn this excursion into a loop by threading a few back-roads together (see the red lines on my map). Turning east off the highway (near where all the roadside shops sell rượu cá ngựa – seahorse liquor), several quiet, paved lanes skirt the waterfront. Eventually, a new bridge leads over the Cu Mong Lagoon to Vinh Cuu Peninsular. Jutting south, two small fishing communities, Hoa Thanh and Hoa Loi, spread along both sides of this narrow finger of land. The west side fronts the lagoon, with lots fishing activity, including floating fish farms, shrimp nurseries, and lobster cages, as well as hundreds of small wooden fishing vessels and coracles. Looking back across the lagoon towards the mainland, forested mountains rise into the blue sky.
Vinh Cuu Peninsular is yet another remote, beautiful, beach-strewn headland to explore
On the east side of the peninsular, a long, continuous beach, (confusingly called Tu Nham, the same as the long beach on Xuan Thinh Peninsular), stretches all the way to the tip of the headland. There’s no development here, just a couple of cafes, seafood shacks, and some fishing trash. Follow the road all the way to the tip, beyond the vast cemetery, and you’ll find a stunning crescent sand beach at the mouth of the Cu Mong Lagoon. Unfortunately, it’s marred by fishing trash, but you can be sure that, one day, people will be paying hundreds of dollars a night for the privilege on staying on this beach.
At the southern tip of Vinh Cuu Peninsular, this crescent beach is completely empty & undeveloped
The fishing hamlets on Vinh Cuu Peninsular are noticeably more affluent than those on Xuan Thinh Peninsular. In fact, they are beautiful little places: tidy, well-kept, calm, and very peaceful. Tucked away in a network of tight concrete lanes under towering coconut palms, the homes of fishing families stand on the sandy ground, awash with bougainvillea, allamanda flowers, and mango trees. Some of the homes are very pretty little villas from the 1970s, with wooden shutters and gated entrances. Family tombs, ancestor shrines, and Buddhist temples dot the hamlets. There’s a small fish market in Hoa Loi, where you can buy lobster straight off the boat for 750,000vnd ($30) a kilo, which will get you about three of them.
The fishing villages on Vinh Cuu Peninsular are very attractive with a pleasant, laid-back atmosphere
Heading north from Hoa Thanh village takes you to the turn for Bai Tram Resort. This exclusive place opened years ago, but is now closed for a major expansion. The beach here is superb, but no longer accessible. Continue northwest on the lane as it follows the shore of the lagoon and then heads inland over sand dunes before turning east to the remote hamlet of Hoa An, at the northern tip of the peninsular. This settlement is an assemblage of concrete dwellings accessed via extremely tight passageways: it’s enough to induce claustrophobia. There are beaches on either side of the hamlet, but Bai Nom, on the south side, is the most spectacular. A wedge of powdery white sand between two rocky headlands, the swimming here is great. There also are a couple of places in the village which can arrange boats out to Cu Lao Xanh Island. Although there aren’t many dining options on Vinh Cuu Peninsular, all the villages have a few street food stalls in the mornings and afternoons.
Bai Nom beach, near Hoa An hamlet, is a great place for a swim, and there’s no one else here
Xuan Hai, Bai Rang, Bai Bau & Bai Bang Beaches [MAP]
Just before crossing the Cu Mong Lagoon, Highway QL1 splits: one branch heads around the western shore of the lagoon, the other follows the eastern shore. The latter is Highway QL1D, which continues along a spectacular coastline all the way north to Quy Nhon (25km), via several excellent beaches, coves, bays, and islands. Beach hopping here is great fun. The first beach along QL1D is Xuan Hai. This exceptionally long sweep of sand stretches for 1okm, from Xuan Hai village in the north to Xuan Hoa village in the south. Even though very few travellers actually stop and bathe here, Xuan Hai beach is one of the most photographed in the Quy Nhon area. This is because of the gorgeous view afforded of it from the side of Highway QL1D as it curls up the hill north of the beach, opening up a vista down its entire length, with a fleet of coracles and fishing boats pulled up on the sand in the foreground. You can access the beach by taking a steep lane down from Highway QL1D just north of Xuan Hai village (see the red line on my map).
Xuan Hai beach is one of the most photographed in the area, thanks to this view from Highway QL1D
North from Xuan Hai beach, Highway QL1D meanders along a glorious and complex coastline of rocky coves, outcrops, and fingers of rugged land that meet ocean like a spread hand, between which crescents of white sand create perfect secluded beaches. Seen from the road, Bai Rang is a ludicrously picturesque beach of golden sand backed by coconut palms. From the highway, a small paved lane leads down to the beach, which still retains a very local feel. There’s no real tourist development here: just a seafood eatery, a few hammocks, and shower stalls. Stop by for a swim and a bite to eat. (For much more about Bai Rang take a look at this guide.)
Bai Rang beach is a lovely sandy cove, easily accessed from the main road & with a local atmosphere
Highway QL1D continues north from Bai Rang, sweeping along the coast beneath the impressive, forested slopes of what looks to be an extinct volcano. The next beach is Bai Bau, a beautiful double cove split in two by a rocky headland. At the moment, only the southern cove is accessible, because the northern beach was closed for renovations at the time of writing (June 2018). Accessed via steep lanes, the rocky cove gives way to a spit of white sand surrounded by cashew and mango trees. It’s a beautiful, enclosed little beach, that feels like it’s all your own. The swimming is excellent and staying here is a great option, especially for budget travellers (see Accommodation for details).
Highway QL1D runs along a scenic coastline under the forested peaks of extinct volcanoes
The next beach along, Bai Bang boasts another attractive arc of sand backed by trees. Unfortunately, parts of the seafront are a bit of a mess at the moment (June 2018) due to the planting of large drainage pipes and the renovation of Hong An Resort, which will soon reopen as Chu Village, complete with some kind of race track (beware noise pollution). However, you can still access Bai Bang at its northern end by taking the lane marked ‘Bai Bang’, where you can buy a drink and have a swim. The lovely beach here is packed with floating lobster farms. There are a couple of accommodation options on Bai Bang.
The southern bay of Bai Bau is a fantastic little beach & home to Life’s A Beach Backpackers
Bai Xep Beach & Cu Lao Xanh Island [MAP]
Continuing northwards up the coast on Highway QL1D, Bai Xep Beach is only 10km from Quy Nhon. Although there’s been a steady drip of visitors to Bai Xep for many years, it’s only in the last few that numbers have risen dramatically, and there’s a real buzz about Bai Xep right now. It’s easy to see why: Bai Xep is a double bay bisected by a wedge of land: the south side is the bathing and leisure beach; the north side is the working and fishing beach. Bai Xep hamlet, which is a tangle of tight alleyways, has retained a local feel, and local life continues much as it did before the arrival of foreign and domestic tourists. There’s still some local street food in the narrow alleys and the fishermen still enjoy their seafood-and-beer sessions in the evenings, with karaoke playing into the night. Having said that, the hostels and resorts are increasing at speed, rapidly encroaching – literally bearing down, in some cases – on the village. The alleyways nearest the beach are awash with English-language signs for ‘Laundry’, ‘Western Dishes’, and ‘Boat Trips’. But it’s also fairly harmonious: some of the budget digs have taken residence is old local homes, which are now given a new lease of life (as opposed to the higher-end resorts, which tend to bulldoze everything in their way and then build something new which claims to echo local culture). Also, local people make up a good percentage of the service staff here.
Bai Xep is a pretty, sheltered bay that’s home to a cool little budget-mid-range travellers’ scene
The budget scene on Bai Xep is undeniably cool, trailblazing, and extremely good value for money. Travellers to Bai Xep can get their cocktails, espressos, home-cooked meals (European and Asian), beautiful beach, and slice of local life – it’s all right here, right now: this is Bai Xep’s time. But one wonders how long it will stay this way. All around the hamlet, land has been cleared for the construction of huge resorts and residences. Enjoy it while you can. There’s a great range of accommodation in all price categories, most of which have excellent bars and restaurants with sea views (see Accommodation for details). And, lying offshore is the long, rocky island of Cu Lao Xanh, which most accommodations can arrange a boat trip to. The water on the island is superb, and there’s good coral, too.
Bai Xep’s popularity is growing all the time, and with it bigger, smarter resorts are popping up
Quy Hoa Village & Hoang Hau Beach [MAP]
Highway QL1D continues north from Bai Xep along the coast, until the road veers inland behind Quy Hoa village and beach. There’s a good view of the beach from the road as you round the cape, with its long, casuarina-lined sands stretching towards a rugged headland. Take the wide new road leading east off the highway to Quy Hoa village and beach (see the red line on my map). There’s easy access to the beach along the seafront road. It’s a pretty spot which is empty during the daytime but pleasantly bustling during the late afternoons, when locals make the short trip from Quy Nhon to bathe in the sea and play on the sand. In the southern corner of the bay, the enormous, hyper-modern, and very unexpected International Center for Interdisciplinary Science & Eduction (ICISE) looks (and sounds) like something out of a Dan Brown novel.
Quy Hoa village fronts a good beach lined with casuarina trees: there’s a great view of it from the road
But the most fascinating aspect of visiting this area is the village itself. Quy Hoa was a leprosy hospital, established by French Christian missionaries in the 1920s, and still functioning, to some extent, today. (Leprosy in Vietnam is now fully contained and under control: most all of the patients here today were admitted long ago). The grounds are expansive, peaceful, beautiful, and fascinating. Although it might not sound like it, wandering around the grounds (which is also a local village, inhabited by generations of the families of former patients) is both an interesting and contemplative experience. Quy Hoa is an aesthetically appealing place: very lush with wide, tree-lined avenues dotted with statues of Christian icons. There are hospital buildings dating from French colonial times, houses from the 1960s, churches, cemeteries, and the tomb of a Vietnamese mystic poet, Han Mac Tu, who died of leprosy here in 1940. The long, palm-fringed sandy beach, lined with the sculpted busts of famous doctors from history, is a beautiful backdrop. Patients walk and work around the grounds – you can stop and have a chat (if you speak some Vietnamese or have a guide as translator with you), and people are very warm and welcoming. It’s a strange, time-capsule of a village. Indeed, it reminds me of Con Son town, in the Con Dao Archipelago. And that makes me think: Con Son was a town built under French colonial rule to facilitate the imprisonment, torture and execution of political prisoners during colonial rule; Quy Hoa was a town built under French colonial rule to facilitate the treatment and research of a terrible illness affecting many Vietnamese. Two different (but also overlapping) sides of empire, I suppose: the political and the religious.
Quy Hoa village, a leprosy hospital established by French missionaries, is a fascinating place to wander
Separating Quy Hoa village and Quy Nhon city, the Ghenh Rang bluff protrudes into a calm bay. A rocky hill covered in eucalyptus trees, Ghenh Rang is a local tourist spot: Quy Nhon residents come to the rocky cove here, called Bãi Hoàng Hậu (Queen’s Beach), to bathe. However, it’s nothing like as appealing as the other beaches nearby. A walkway leads around the bluff, linking Quy Hoa and Quy Nhon. Or, if you’ve got wheels, you can weave around the headland on small roads and down into Quy Nhon (see the red line on my map).
Quy Hoa village is a peaceful, friendly, atmospheric & contemplative place to while away a couple hours
Quy Nhon City & Beach [MAP]
Quy Nhon is one of Vietnam’s most pleasant coastal cities. There’s none of the razzmatazz and tourist mayhem of Nha Trang, and none of the hideous, mega-scale development of Danang. Quy Nhon is simply a Vietnamese city by the sea. There’s a great, long, wide municipal beach, amazing seafood, a good range of accommodation options, lively boulevards and buzzing back-streets. In short, there’s a lot to like about Quy Nhon. And yet, it still only receives a trickle of foreign visitors (although it’s now very popular with Vietnamese travellers). Things are bound to change, of course: already the cranes are busy pulling high-rise apartments and hotels up from their foundations, and it seems inevitable that Quy Nhon, and it’s surrounding beaches, will become one to the stars of Vietnam’s beach scene. For now, there’s an intoxicating, optimistic, happy and playful mood to this city. I’ve always loved it, ever since I first visited on my bicycle in 2005. Most travellers who make it here are charmed by Quy Nhon, and it’s a good place to base yourself to explore the city, the outlying beaches and islands, and Cham towers.
Quy Nhon is a lively city with a good municipal beach and plenty of food & accommodation options
As the capital of Binh Dinh Province, transportation connections to/from Quy Nhon are good, and most travellers to the region will end up spending at least one night in the city. There’s plenty do during your stay. The municipal beach spreads between the Ghenh Rang bluff in the south to the mouth of the Thi Nai lagoon in the north. Its wide sands and calm waters are well-used by locals in the mornings and late afternoons, but during the day it’s empty. The seafront S-Blue Cafe and Surf Bar 1 & 2 are the places to go for sunset cocktails on the beach. Xuan Dieu street runs along the northern half of the city beach. The seafront promenade here is lined with juice and smoothie vendors from late afternoon, and in the evenings some of the best seafood in Vietnam is served at many of the informal restaurants lining the street. My personal favourite is Út Tèo, and I thoroughly recommend a seafood feast here one night. Later in the evening, the T.O.P Pub is a popular hangout for locals and tourists alike: the drinks flow until midnight.
Quy Nhon’s seafront promenade is quiet during the day but packed with food & people at night
Quy Nhon has a decent and growing cafe culture. Sample the range of coffee shops in the ‘Cafe Quarter‘, at the intersection of Do Doc Bao, Hoang Dieu, and Pham Ngoc Thach streets. Apart from seafood, Quy Nhon has a lively street food scene. One of the dishes it’s famous for is bún cá, a spicy fish soup. You can find it all over the city, but Ngoc Lien is a firmly established local favourite. To really explore the street food in this city, head to Ngoc Han Cong Chua street in the evening, which is buzzing with food stalls.
Quy Nhon has a great street food scene: check out the stalls on Ngoc Han Cong Chua Street
Phuong Mai Peninsular: Nhon Hai, Eo Gio & Ky Co Beaches [MAP]
Across the Thi Nai Lagoon from Quy Nhon, via one of the longest causeways in the country, the Phuong Mai Peninsular is a wide, rugged, sand-swept area with some of the most amazing coastal scenery anywhere in Vietnam. Ever since the new QL19B road opened several years ago, people have slowly been discovering this strikingly beautiful promontory. As access has gotten better, so more and more previously hidden beaches have opened to visitors. Despite some major investments, tourist development is still in its infancy. But all the infrastructure is already in place, meaning you can get to almost all the beaches and islets in this region. Crowds are large on weekends and holidays, but other than that, visitor numbers are reasonable and general cleanliness is good. But it’s on the cusp: this year (2018) in particular has seen a surge of social media buzz about the beaches of Phuong Mai Peninsular.
Phuong Mai Peninsular stretches north & east of Quy Nhon, hiding some magnificent beaches & coves
On the right side after crossing the causeway over to the peninsular, Cua Bien (Seagate) is an adventure theme park with a climbing wall, zip line, kayaking on the lagoon and other water-related activities. Continue straight ahead on wide empty roads and turn down a small, concrete lane heading to the southern tip of the peninsular, to Nhon Hai fishing village. A scruffy little place with an end-of-the-line feel, Nhon Hai occupies a fabulous position on a crescent sand bay hemmed in by cliffs, with a couple of rocky islands just off shore. The sea here is an attractive turquoise colour. Boats take visitors on short snorkeling trips to the islands and floating restaurants. A new, elevated road is under construction around the cliffs south of the village, which will eventually lead to the long, white sands of Hai Giang Beach just behind the headland. (Hai Giang can also be reached by road from the north, but at the time of writing the road was in bad condition.) Wandering through the village is interesting, and there are a couple of Buddhist temples. At the southern end of Nhon Hai beach, there’s a good hostel (see Accommodation for details).
Nhon Hai beach, at the southern tip of the Phuong Mai Peninsular, is a pretty bay & fishing hamlet
The northern end of the peninsular is reached via the wide and empty Highway QL19B, which slices through a sandy, arid landscape. A turn off leads to the hideous and humongous new FLC Resort complex, complete with golf course and safari zoo, probably the first of many such developments in this area. On the other side of the resort, three fishing villages – Eo Gio, Nhon Ly, and Xuong Ly – cluster around the base of a barren outcrop. There are attractive beaches on either side of the headland, where dozens of blue-painted wooden fishing boats lie at anchor. The villages themselves are fascinating and rough around the edges. A tangle of narrow passages weave from one side to the other, like a medieval village. Buddhist pagodas, monuments, and colossal statues dot the villages and hillsides. Pathways criss-cross the arid hills, affording marvellous views. There are plenty of seafood restaurants to choose from here, and it’s very popular with Vietnamese visitors, who come by the busload. But in the tight alleyways, it’s easy to lose the crowds. Personally, I find Xuong Ly, on the south side of the headland, the most attractive and least touristy of the villages. Most people simply refer to the villages and headland as Eo Gio. It’s one of those places that wasn’t on the tourist radar until very recently, and now finds itself the centre of attention for domestic travellers and foreign investors. There’s a fair amount of hassle on the streets by touts, and overcharging of foreign visitors is quite common. Most restaurants and guest houses offer boat trips to the nearby islets, such as Hon Seo, where there’s good snorkeling and bathing.
The fishing villages of Eo Gio, Nhon Ly & Xuong Ly nestle at the base of a rocky promontory
Probably the most talked about beach in Vietnam right now, Ky Co is a drop-dead gorgeous wedge of white sand between two giant rocky buttresses, which isolate the beach completely. Until recently, it was only possible to access Ky Co by boat (chartered from Eo Gio, Nhon Ly, Xuong Ly or Nhon Hai villages), but now there is an absurdly steep and scenic road running atop the cliffs south of Eo Gio, before descending almost vertically to the beach itself. It’s possible to drive as far as the parking lot, after which you must transfer to a 4×4 for the final descent (or walk). Parking is 5,000vnd; entrance is 60,000vnd; and the transfer is 40,000vnd. But, trust me, it’s worth it. Ky Co justifies the hype it has received over the last year. The first glimpse of it really is jaw-dropping.
An incredibly steep & scenic lane leads along the cliffs to Ky Co beach, offering stunning coastal views
Ky Co is already very popular with domestic tourists, but if you spend the hours between 1-3pm at Ky Co and walk to the far south end of the beach, you should have it largely to yourself. Vietnamese travellers, unlike many Western ones, like to be where the action is: on Ky Co this is at the centre of the bay, where the boats come and go at the pier, photography kiosks take your picture on the sands, a beach restaurant serves food (and techno music), and jet skis can be rented. But stroll further down the beach, and you’ll find it much more peaceful. There are caverns and pretty little coves at the far end, too. The water is perfect for bathing and there are showers, changing rooms, bamboo-and-thatch huts, and a couple of snack outlets. Litter is not yet a problem, because staff are employed to go around constantly picking up the trash that people discard on the beach, and because Ky Co has a no outside food and drink policy. A resort is currently under construction at the northern end of the beach, and change, I guess, is inevitable. This is a sort of ‘soft opening’ for Ky Co: a period of time when anyone can visit, before the luxury resorts take over.
Ky Co beach, wedged between two steep, rocky cliffs, has received a lot of attention on social media
The money shot of Ky Co Beach is actually above the bay, before you reach the parking lot. On the ocean side of the road, at the crest of the hill before dropping down to the car park, there’s a communications tower. The ledge here affords a panoramic view down over Ky Co: get your cameras ready.
One of the best views of Ky Co beach is from the communications tower near the entrance
Trung Luong Beach & Beyond [MAP]
At the northern end of the empty expressway (QL19B) running the length of the Phuong Mai Peninsular is Trung Luong beach and village. Beautifully situated at the north end of the the long, arcing beach stretching all the way from Eo Gio, Trung Luong is backed by boulder-strewn hills and a gigantic seated Buddha presiding over the entire bay. Walking the hundreds (I didn’t count the exact number) of steps up to the Buddha is great exercise and you’ll be rewarded with astonishing views across the bay, all the way back to Quy Nhon. Below the Buddha, Trung Luong village is a mix of concrete box homes and older, tile-roofed houses from the 1980s. Exploring its backstreets is interesting, especially in the late afternoons when street food is available here and there. The beach itself is very attractive and good for bathing. The new, tasteful Crown Resort is great for a cocktail overlooking the sands (see Accommodation for details).
Trung Luong is a lovely, arcing beach at the northern end of the Phuong Mai Peninsular
From Trung Luong, coastal roads DT640 and DT639 curl along a beautiful stretch of ocean, past some tantalizing beaches and bays. The ride from Trung Luong all the way to Tam Quan (90km), where the road ends as it meets Highway QL1A, is a glorious road trip if you have your own wheels. There’s little in the way of tourist infrastructure, but the scenery is fantastic, the beaches are golden, and the rewards for those who travel it are huge. For a map of this stretch of road and the coast beyond it, all the way to Hoi An and Dong Hoi, take a look at my Coast Road guide.
From Trung Luong, coastal back-roads lead northwards along 90km of empty beaches & bays
ACCOMMODATION:
The following accommodation options are listed as if travelling from south to north along the Phu Yen and Quy Nhon coast; corresponding to the same place names as my list of beaches above. All the accommodation options below are marked on my map. I’ve included everything from guest houses to hotels, resorts to hostels, camping to luxury residences. You can support this website by booking hotels through the links on this page (see below for details).
Click a place name below to read about the accommodation options there:
- Vung Ro Bay & Mon Beach
- Tuy Hoa City & Beach
- Long Thuy Beach
- Bai Xep Beach & Ganh Ong Cliff
- Mui Yen Cape & Yen Beach
- An Hai Beach & Mai Nha Islet
- Da Dia Cliffs & Beach
- Ganh Do Beach, Song Cau & Xuan Dai Bay
- Xuan Thinh Peninsular: Bai Om, Tu Nham & Vinh Hoa Beaches
- Vinh Cuu Peninsular: Bai Tu Nham 2, Bai Tram & Bai Nom Beaches
- Xuan Hai, Bai Rang, Bai Bau & Bai Bang Beaches
- Bai Xep Beach & Cu Lao Xanh Island
- Quy Hoa Village & Hoang Hau Beach
- Quy Nhon City & Beach
- Phuong Mai Peninsular: Nhon Hai, Eo Gio & Ky Co Beaches
- Trung Luong Beach & Beyond
*Please support this website by using the BOOK HERE links in the hotel listings to reserve your accommodation on the island or by using the search box below. All my reviews are independent and I never receive money in return for writing about a hotel. Thank you.
Vung Ro Bay & Mon Beach [MAP]
Although there’s no real accommodation options in Vung Ro Bay at this time, it is possible to camp on Mon Beach, and this is a great way to spend a night. Just to the right, after going through the entrance gate to Mon Beach and passing the bridge, a little concrete path leads down to a small, corrugated-iron-roofed structure, called Quán Chú Mười. Run by a pleasant Vietnamese couple, two-man tents are available to rent for 100,000vnd ($4) a night. Or, if you have your own tent, you can pitch it for free (you just have to pay the 20,000vnd entrance fee). Depending on the weather conditions, you’re free to make camp anywhere on the grounds, including right on the glorious, wide, golden sands of Mon Beach, next to the sapphire-coloured surf. This is excellent value for budget travellers, and there can be few better located campsites in Vietnam.
Alternatively, Dai Lanh Beach (a short ride south of Vung Ro Bay) has a few good mini-hotels. (Read more about accommodation on Dai Lanh Beach here.)
It’s possible to rent a tent & camp on the sands of Bai Mon beach for 100,000vnd ($4)
Tuy Hoa City & Beach [MAP]
Tuy Hoa has a good range of accommodation options for all budgets. Most of the places to stay are around Hung Vuong Street, which is just a few blocks from the beach. Although there are several hotels right on the beachfront road (Doc Lap Street), they are generally big, soulless edifices, aimed at domestic tour groups. However, a hotel building boom is set to commence on the beach in the near future.
• Kool House: $5-$15; [MAP] – A funky, tasteful, and unexpected place to stay, Kool House is tucked away down a back street. Dorm beds and private rooms are set in an attractive villa with classy, modern furnishings. It’s excellent value for money. If you’re a budget traveller in Tuy Hoa, you shouldn’t need to look any further: [BOOK HERE]
• Budget Mini-Hotels: $10-$20; [MAP] – Hong Ngoc, Thanh Lam, and Thanh Long are all good, clean, cheap mini-hotels with private rooms and bathrooms.
• CenDeluxe Hotel: $60-$100; [MAP] – On weekdays you can stay in this large, plush, business-style hotel on the outskirts of Tuy Hoa for a fairly reasonable rate. The views from the rooms and the rooftop bar and restaurant are fantastic. It’s well-equipped, with modern furnishing, a swimming pool, and decent service. Don’t expect much from the buffet breakfast, though. If this hotel is within your budget for a night, it’s not a bad deal: [BOOK HERE]
• Kaya Hotel & Saigon-Phu Yen Hotel: $40-$70; [MAP] – These two mid-range hotels, aimed largely at domestic tour groups, are both fine for a night if you’re a mid-range traveller. Kaya Hotel looks smart from the outside, but inside it’s beginning to fall apart. The rooms are large with good views and there’s a decent pool [BOOK HERE]. Saigon-Phu Yen Hotel is also several storeys high and in need of some renovations. But the location, near the riverfront and the beach, is nice, and there are great views from the rooms and a big pool: [BOOK HERE]
Tuy Hoa has many accommodation options in all price ranges: this is a guest room at CenDeluxe Hotel
Long Thuy Beach [MAP]
• VietStar Resort & Spa: $65-$90; [MAP] – A lush, calm oasis, set back from the ocean, VietStar (also called Sao Viet) is a couple of minutes west of Long Thuy village. Spacious bungalows dot a small hill with extensive gardens. It’s very peaceful despite its location nearby the main road: [BOOK HERE]
• Violet Hotel (0573 793 477) & Trung Hau Hotel (0573 793 216): $10-$15; [MAP] – These mini-hotels are a stone’s throw from Long Thuy’s beach, both offering decent rooms at reasonable prices, some with balconies looking out to sea.
Long Thuy has a couple of mini-hotels near the beach, and VietStar Resort is also nearby
Bai Xep Beach & Ganh Ong Cliff [MAP]
There’s currently no accommodation on Bai Xep Beach and Ganh Ong Cliff (although, if you’re lucky, you might be allowed to camp for the night). The nearest accommodation is VietStar Resort and the mini-hotels in Long Thuy village: see above for details.
There’s no accommodation on Bai Xep beach, but you can stay at nearby Long Thuy beach instead
Mui Yen Cape & Yen Beach [MAP]
For the time being, there’s no accommodation on Mui Yen Cape or Yen Beach. However, I expect that a couple of simple guest houses (nhà nghỉ) and homestay-style places will open up very soon, on account of the increasing number of budget travellers on motorbikes who are beginning to explore the area. For now, head to Long Thuy or Tuy Hoa for a place to stay the night.
For the time being, the nearest accommodation to Mui Yen beach is Long Thuy or Tuy Hoa
An Hai Beach & Mai Nha Islet [MAP]
There’s no accommodation on An Hai Beach at the moment, but it’s sometimes possible to arrange for camping overnight on Mai Nha Islet. However, it’s best not to count on this. Again, the nearest places to stay are Long Thuy or Tuy Hoa.
There’s nowhere to stay on An Hai beach yet, the closest accommodation is Long Thuy or Tuy Hoa
Da Dia Cliffs & Beach [MAP]
Surprisingly, considering it’s popularity among domestic tourists, there aren’t really any accommodation options near the Da Dia Cliffs. There are several signs for nhà nghỉ (local guest houses) in the area, including Chi Thanh on Highway QL1A, but none that I saw were particularly worth mentioning. I’m sure a few places to stay will pop up soon, though. In the past, I’ve camped on the grassy hills near the lighthouse. For now, most visitors to Da Dia come as part of a day trip from Tuy Hoa or Quy Nhon.
In the past, I’ve camped at Da Dia, but most visitors come as a day trip from Tuy Hoa or Quy Nhon
Ganh Do Beach, Song Cau & Xuan Dai Bay [MAP]
There are several nhà nghỉ (guest houses) by the roadside as Highway QL1A passes by Ganh Do Beach. Nha Nghi Hung Mai (tel: 0257 3699 999) has large, clean rooms for around 200,000vnd ($10) and is fine for a night. It’s also possible to stay right on the beach at Biet Thu Ganh Do (tel: 091 827 17 75), which has a good location on the seafront. A few minutes further up the road, Kim Gia Trang (tel: 0573 743 134) is a large and ornate roadside guest house. In Song Cau, Laura Hotel (tel: 0257 3728 879) is on the edge of town, with decent rooms for around $15. But there are also a couple of guest house along the highway north of town, including AStop (tel: 0257 3876 768) which has chalets and an infinity pool right on the Xuan Dai Bay.
Song Cau is a fishing town: there are several guest houses & mini-hotels in & around town
Xuan Thinh Peninsular: Bai Om, Tu Nham & Vinh Hoa Beaches [MAP]
So far, there are only a couple of accommodation options on the beautiful long, empty beaches of Xuan Thinh Peninsular. They are right next door to each other on the sands of Vinh Hoa Beach, at the northeastern end of the peninsular. Both offer good, fairly simple, clean, and affordable rooms/dorms on a glorious stretch of palm-backed sand. This is the very early stages of tourism in this area, so come now and see it in its infancy, because things are only going to getting bigger. As well as the following two accommodations, you can find plenty of great ‘wild camping’ spots on Xuan Thinh Peninsular, if you have your own equipment with you.
• Ocean Beach Hostel: $5-$15; [MAP] – Offering clean and sparse dorms in a classic tropical-beach-shack, Ocean Beach Hostel has got everything a backpacker looks for in a budget beach hostel. A great place to relax by the ocean without spending too much money: [BOOK HERE]
• Timothe Beach Bungalow: $25-$35; [MAP] – A step up in price from its neighbour, but still offering good value for money, Timothe Beach Bungalow has attractive, minimally furnished, modern, white-washed bungalows right on the beach, some with balconies and terraces. Try to book in advance: [BOOK HERE]
There are a couple of very good budget guest houses/hostels on the beautiful & empty Vinh Hoa beach
Vinh Cuu Peninsular: Bai Tu Nham 2, Bai Tram & Bai Nom Beaches [MAP]
There’s nowhere to stay on Vinh Cuu Peninsular yet: locals call it a ‘free beach’ (bãi biển tự do). However, if you’re lucky you might be able to camp on the beachfront at Hoa Thanh village, where there are showers and a couple of seafood shacks. But, if you’re a foreign traveller, you’ll probably need to register with the local authorities, and this can sometimes be a problem. Bai Tram Hideaway Resort is currently undergoing a major expansion and will be closed for the foreseeable. When it eventually reopens, I’m sure it will be lovely, but very exclusive.
As the Bai Tram Hideaway Resort is under renovation, there’s nowhere to stay on Vinh Cuu Peninsular
Xuan Hai, Bai Rang, Bai Bau & Bai Bang Beaches [MAP]
There’s only a smattering of accommodation on these beaches at the moment, but new places are under construction, and I’m sure the scene will grow very quickly as this area becomes more and more popular with travellers:
On Bai Rang Beach there is nowhere to stay but, if you’re lucky, the owners of the beachfront eatery might let you camp (with your own tent).
• Life’s A Beach Backpackers: $5-$15; [MAP] – This is the perfect budget beach retreat. Located on the southern cove of Bai Bau, Life’s A Beach Backpackers (also known as Life’s A Beach 2) is exceptionally good value for money and just what most sun-sea-and-sand-seeking backpackers are looking for. With dorm beds and tents for as little as $5 a night, and private rooms for less than $15 a night, Life’s A Beach is cheap enough for even the most frugal of budget travellers. Its setting, on a lush hillside with an easy descent through the rocks to an isolated beach, is marvellous. There’s a beach bar, restaurant, music, and all the backpacker vibes you’d expect from a Southeast Asian beach hostel. It’s an extraordinary set-up, really, and some people fall for it so much they end up staying a lot longer than they intended: [BOOK HERE]
Life’s A Beach Backpackers is excellent budget value & has this beach practically to itself
The other option on Bai Bau Beach is Trung Duong (tel: 0983 615 873), just up from Life’s A Beach. Here there are shabby but cheap (200,000vnd) bungalows near the beach. But it’s difficult to find a reason to stay here over Life’s A Beach. The second of Bai Bau’s coves is taken up by Bai Bau Resort. However, this was undergoing repairs at the time of writing (June 2018) and showed no signs of reopening soon.
Bai Bang Beach is the site of Chu Village Resort (tel: 0903 872 728). Currently being refurbished, it should be open by the time you read this. I wasn’t able to take a proper look around, but the new renovations seemed to include some kind of a race track, which was already disturbing the peace of this area. A bit further up from Chu Village, Cat Homestay (tel: 0888 188 179) is a new place with only a handful of clean, simple, cheap (200,000-350,000vnd) rooms set around a garden. It’s by the roadside, but there’s easy access to the beach via a shady lane. Next door, follow another lane to Bai Bang Resort where the owners of the cafe/restaurant should let you camp on the beach for around 200,000vnd a night (the resort itself wasn’t open at the time of research due to renovations).
Another budget choice on Bai Bau beach is the run-down but scenically located Trung Duong
Bai Xep Beach & Cu Lao Xanh Island [MAP]
Over the past few years, a clutch of excellent budget and mid-range accommodations have opened on Bai Xep beach and fishing hamlet. And, around Bai Xep hamlet, several high-end resorts dot the sands. On Cu Lao Xanh Island there are a few homestays in the main fishing village, which make for a rustic night next to the perfect blue seas:
• Big Tree Backpackers: $7-$10; [MAP] – Relaxed, casual, cheap, and cool, Big Tree Backpackers offers dorm beds in bright mixed dormitories. The beachfront bar (including craft beers) and restaurant (including pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven) is excellent, sheltered under the leaves of a tropical almond tree. It attracts a mixed crowd across all age ranges and nationalities: [BOOK HERE]
• Home of Dreamers: $10-$30; [MAP] – From dorm beds to private doubles with sea-view balconies, Home of Dreamers is an eccentric little place on a alleyway just back from the beach. Attractively decorated in pastel tones with mural-painted walls, and furnished with potted plants, wooden chests and dream-catchers hanging from the ceiling, this is an atmospheric budget accommodation. The beach is just one minute walk away: [BOOK HERE]
• Confetti Guest House: $5-$25; [MAP] – Right at the entrance to Bai Xep hamlet, just after turning off the main road, Confetti is housed is a long, wood-shuttered and palm-thatched building. Hung with lanterns and surrounded by tropical fruit trees, Confetti more than makes up its lack of beachfront location in its style and decor. There’s a funky yet classy feel to this place: all the rooms and spaces have been thoughtfully decorated and designed. There’s a mixed dormitory or private rooms with views over Bai Xep village to the ocean. The home-cooked Vietnamese meals are delicious: [BOOK HERE]
There is a cluster of excellent budget guest houses & hostels in Bai Xep: this is Confetti
• Haven Vietnam: $35-$50; [MAP] – One of the pioneers of the Bai Xep beach scene, Haven has private rooms right next to the beach in a cosy villa-style house. Rooms are tastefully and brightly appointed, some with balconies with terrific views of the beach. Haven is now firmly in the mid-range price category. It’s great for couples or small families: [BOOK HERE]
• Life’s A Beach Guest House: $6-$50; [MAP] – Another of the Bai Xep trailblazers, Life’s A Beach now have three properties in the area. The Guest House features a range of rooms, including a dormitory and private rooms with sea-views. There’s an informality and charm to the playful, rustic-chic decor here, and the general vibe is cheerful and understated. It’s right on the beach: [BOOK HERE]
• Life’s A Beach Apartments: $35-$45; [MAP] – The only accommodation on the north side of Bai Xep, Life’s A Beach Apartments offer a colourful, homey, breezy space with sea views out across the bay to Quy Nhon. The apartments are beautifully designed, full of natural light, and well-proportioned. It’s very popular, so book in advance: [BOOK HERE]
• AVANI Resort & Spa: $120-$200; [MAP] – This long-running high-end resort (formerly the Life Wellness Resort) was refurbished a few years ago, and since then has become extremely popular. Rooms are spacious, bright, clean, and classy. They’ve found the right balance of modern and traditional – there’s even some echoes of Cham architecture. The pool is lovely and the resort has a large slice of Bai Xep beach. But most of all, the location is fabulous: looking out over the bay with the islets and fishing boats dotting the water: [BOOK HERE]. Just south of AVANI, the Anantara Resort is under construction, which promises to be another classy, high-end accommodation.
• Casa Marina Resort: $60-$100; [MAP] – A new addition to the Bai Xep accommodation scene, Casa Marina is a sprawling complex of rooms and bungalows. Easily recognizable by its distinctive, giant, thatched-roofed reception (it looks like some kind of bamboo space craft), Casa Marina has huge but stark and empty rooms, most with great sea views. There’s a pool, lots of beachfront, and gardens, but it has none of the intimacy of the mid-range options on Bai Xep, and lacks the classiness of AVANI: essentially, Casa Marina fills the price gap between the two. It’s perfectly fine and pleasant enough for a short stay, but perhaps not that memorable: [BOOK HERE]. Just north of Bai Xep, O.Six Resort has recently opened on a very lush section of beachfront land [MAP].
View of Casa Marina Resort, one of the increasingly plush places to stay on Bai Xep beach
Quy Hoa Village & Hoang Hau Beach [MAP]
There’s no accommodation in Quy Hoa village itself, but there’s one resort (see below) perched on the cliffs just south of Quy Hoa. Otherwise, head to Quy Nhon for accommodation:
• Aurora Villas & Resort: $80-$150; [MAP] – Occupying a spectacular position on the rocks above the sea, Aurora is a large, high-end resort that tends to attract Vietnamese families. The views are great and the accommodation is comfortable but not worth the high rates: [BOOK HERE]
There’s no accommodation on Quy Hoa beach, but Aurora Resort is perched on the cliffs nearby
Quy Nhon City & Beach [MAP]
There’s a good range of accommodation across all budgets in Quy Nhon, and there are more opening up all the time. Expect a lot more budget hostels on the back-streets in the near future, and high-rise luxury hotels on the beachfront road. Below is my pick of Quy Nhon’s accommodation, but for a full listing click here:
• O.M.E Hostel: $5-$10; [MAP] – With clean, well-kept single-sex and mixed dorms for as little as $5 a night, O.M.E Hostel is a great option for budget backpackers. It’s located on a leafy street near the centre of town. There’s a relaxed atmosphere with a rooftop for drinking, eating and chatting. Because it’s popular with Vietnamese backpackers you’ll get to meet some domestic travellers as well as foreign: [BOOK HERE]
• John & Paul Inn: $5-$15; [MAP] – With a classic Western backpacker vibe, John & Paul Inn has good dorms, cheap drinks, live music performances, foosball, sports on a big screen, and an all-around sociable atmosphere. It’s a lively, popular place and you might find it difficult to get a bed, so book in advance: [BOOK HERE]
• Halo Hostel: $6-$10; [MAP] – Another cheap, bright, cosy little hostel with dorm beds and a couple of private rooms, Halo Hostel is a warm and friendly place that feels a bit like a homestay. It’s got a typically Asian ‘cutie’ vibe and is popular with young Vietnamese couples on a budget: [BOOK HERE]
Sea views like this have led to a building boom of high-rise hotels & apartments in Quy Nhon
• Sao Bien/Starfish Hotel: $7-$20; [MAP] – Immaculately clean and very reasonably priced, Sao Bien Hotel (also known as Starfish) has private rooms, some with balconies (but some are windowless). Its location, close to the city beach, makes the low rates particularly good value for money: [BOOK HERE]
• Wow Hotel: $20-$30; [MAP] – In amongst a cluster of good, mid-range mini-hotels, Wow Hotel has clean, airy rooms with crisp white sheets. It’s a bright and comfortable accommodation that’s close to the beach and city centre: [BOOK HERE]
• Seagull Hotel: $60-$80; [MAP] – With a prime location right on Quy Nhon’s beach, Seagull Hotel underwent major renovations not long ago, and has since become a very comfortable mid-range hotel with fantastic sea views from its balconies. Although the standard is still below what I’d expect for the money, it ticks all the boxes for a night if you’re a couple or family on a mid-range budget, or a business traveller: [BOOK HERE]
• Muong Thanh Hotel: $50-$80; [MAP] – This large Vietnamese hotel chain specializes in big ugly hotels along the coast. However, the rooms are spacious and well-appointed, and there’s a big pool and sea views. Not much character, but it’s about as close as Quy Nhon gets to a business-class hotel (although that’s set to change very soon with the imminent opening of other big hotel chains): [BOOK HERE]
Recently renovated, the Seagull Hotel is currently the best mid-range hotel in Quy Nhon
Phuong Mai Peninsular: Nhon Hai, Eo Gio & Ky Co Beaches [MAP]
Considering its rapidly growing popularity, there aren’t that many accommodation options on the beaches of Phuong Mai Peninsular (yet). However, there are a couple of hostels, a handful of local guest houses, and a brand new, ultra-modern resort. It’s also possible to camp at Cua Bien (Seagate) theme park on the Thi Nai Lagoon, and pretty soon there’ll be accommodation available on Ky Co beach, too:
• Nhon Hai Beach Hostel: $5-$20; [MAP] – With very cheap, cosy but sparse dorms and several simple, clean private rooms, Nhon Hai Beach Hostel is the only real option for staying on this beautiful bay at the southern tip of the Phuong Mai Peninsular. A couple of nights here and you’ll be very relaxed indeed. It’s directly on the beach and there are lots of walks and boats trips around the area from here: [BOOK HERE]
• FLC Luxury Resort: $100-$200; [MAP] – This enormous, sleek, modern resort has spacious, bright rooms with amazing sea views. It’s aimed at package groups and sticks out like a sore thumb, towering over the fishing villages of Eo Gio. They’re still building the surrounding infrastructure, including shopping malls, golf courses and the like: [BOOK HERE]
• Eo Gio Guest Houses: $10-$20; [MAP] – There are a few local guest houses (nhà nghỉ in Vietnamese) in Eo Gio village and on the seafront. I don’t find any to be particularly good, but if you want to stay here, just head down to the beachfront lane and check out what’s available.
The opening of FLC Luxury Resort is the beginning of major development on the Phuong Mai Peninsular
Trung Luong Beach & Beyond [MAP]
Apart from the two places listed below, there are several cheap local guest houses (nhà nghỉ in Vietnamese) near the intersection of roads QL19B and DT640 in Trung Luong village.
• Crown Retreat: $70-$90; [MAP] – Recently opened, the Crown Retreat is the only place to stay right on Trung Luong beach, and it’s very good. With a great position just up the bank from the ocean, guest bungalows are tastefully furnished, cosy, and very comfortable. All rooms have sea views, and rates are about right for the quality. There’s a good pool and restaurant, too: [BOOK HERE]
• Trung Luong Camping: $5-$20 | Tel: 094 209 0909; [MAP] – Just a couple of minutes beyond Trung Luong village on the wonderful ocean road, Trung Luong Camping is great value for budget travellers. Offering tents or little private chalets for very reasonable prices, Trung Luong Camping attracts a young Vietnamese crowd on weekends, but is quite empty during the week. The position is amazing: squeezed between boulders on a rocky bit of coast with access via a pathway to a secluded beach. There’s a bar and food, too.
Trung Luong beach has a couple places to stay, including the new, scenically situated Crown Retreat
FOOD & DRINK:
Although not necessarily famous for its cuisine, Phú Yên Province and Quy Nhon have a lot to offer the hungry traveller. Some of the best seafood I’ve had anywhere in Vietnam has been in this region, and local street food is both plentiful and delicious, focusing on dishes that just happen to be some of the most popular for foreign palates. In general, I have included specific places to eat and drink in my descriptions of individual beaches above, and marked them on my map. However, below is a brief overview of the kind of food and drink you’ll find as you travel through this region:
Phu Yen & Quy Nhon have great seafood, street food, and even some Western options
Popular regional dishes include cơm gà (chicken rice), bánh xèo (filled savoury rice flour pancakes), bánh căn (savoury rice flour cakes), bánh bèo (savoury rice batter flans), bún cá (fish noodle soup), and chả cuốn (filled fresh spring rolls, also called bánh cuốn in this part of Vietnam), all of which you’ll see by the roadside, particularly from the afternoon onwards, in almost all towns, villages, and hamlets. Look out for the signs in Vietnamese and dig in. A plate of any of the above rarely costs more than a dollar or two (20,000-40,0000vnd). In general, food is spicier in coastal Central Vietnam, which is often attributed to the legacy of the Indianized ancient kingdom of Champa, which flourished in this region between the 11th and 15th centuries. (For recommendations of specific street food stalls, see the markers on my map, or the individual descriptions of each of the beaches).
Street food stalls can be found all over the region, even in small fishing hamlets
[Back to Food & Drink contents]
SEAFOOD & WESTERN:
Seafood is a highlight of visiting this stretch of Vietnam’s coastline. The seafood here is fresh, varied, reasonably-priced, and delicious. Prepared in hundreds of different ways, Vietnamese are expert seafood cooks. There are lots of clusters of classic, informal Vietnamese seafood restaurants (quán hải sản) throughout the area that this guide covers. From floating restaurants in beautiful bays to bustling eateries on city seafronts, they are all fabulous places to dine. I’ve marked several clusters of seafood restaurants on my map and mentioned them in my descriptions of specific beaches. As an example, Út Tèo restaurant, on the seafront road in Quy Nhon, serves some of the best seafood I’ve ever had in Vietnam. Seafood is best enjoyed in a group; it’s not really something you can indulge in if you’re travelling solo. Ordering can be difficult, because of the variety of dishes and the absence of English translations at most restaurants. However, with an open and adventurous palate, and being willing to make some mistakes, you should be able enjoy many a seafood feast while travelling through Phu Yen and Quy Nhon.
Because Phu Yen Province and Quy Nhon aren’t yet popular tourist destinations, there isn’t much Western food available. However, there are a few good options if you’re craving some home comforts. Quy Nhon and Bai Xep beach both have a decent range of Euro-US fare, as do all the higher-end accommodations in this region. There’s even one or two unexpected Western joints, such as Bob’s American Cafe on the back streets in Tuy Hoa.
Some of the best seafood I’ve ever had in Vietnam has been on the seafront promenade in Quy Nhon
[Back to Food & Drink contents]
CAFES & BARS:
As with the rest of Vietnam, there are local cafes across Phu Yen Province and Quy Nhon. Quy Nhon, in particular, has a thriving cafe scene, especially around the area that I call the ‘Cafe Quarter‘. There are also several good seafront bars for sunset cocktails or an ice cold beer after a day in the sun. In Quy Nhon, the Surf Bar and T.O.P Pub are popular hangouts in the cool evenings. Bai Xep beach has a cluster of places right on the ocean with great cocktails. Some of the beachside accommodations across the region also have good bars. (See my map and descriptions of individual beaches for specific recommendations.)
There are several beach bars in Quy Nhon & surrounding beaches, & Quy Nhon has a vibrant cafe scene
GETTING THERE & AROUND:
Getting to and from Phu Yen and Quy Nhon from almost anywhere in Vietnam is fairly straightforward. There are direct bus connections from most coastal and Central Highland cities, flights from Hanoi and Saigon, and trains connecting all stations on the main north-south line. Once there, by far the best way of getting around the region is with your own wheels (either motorbike, bicycle, or hired car and driver), but there are also some public transport connections:
SEARCH & BOOK TICKETS:
*Please support Vietnam Coracle: you can search all transportation options to Phu Yen and Quy Nhon and make bookings directly from this page by using the Baolau.com search boxes & links throughout this guide. If you make a booking, I receive a small commission. All my earnings go straight back into this website. Thank you.
Phu Yen is served by Tuy Hoa’s Dong Tac Airport, across the Da Rang River south of Tuy Hoa city. Quy Nhon is served by Phu Cat Airport, 30km northwest of the city. Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific, and Vietjet all operate daily flights between both airports to and from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Check the airlines’ websites for details or compare flight times and prices on Baolau.com. Taxis and airline shuttle buses connect both airports with their respective cities. As Phu Yen and Quy Nhon become more popular, there will surely be more domestic flights and, eventually, international flights to regional hubs.
Tuy Hoa & Quy Nhon both have airports with regular flights to/from Saigon & Hanoi
BY TRAIN:
Tuy Hoa train station is on the main Reunification Express line: almost all north-south trains stop here. Quy Nhon station, however, is on a spur line, which means that most travellers to Quy Nhon by train will in fact arrive at Dieu Tri station (10km west of Quy Nhon) on the main line, from where you can get a taxi into the city. However, several trains do serve Quy Nhon station directly, including one train a day in each direction between Saigon and Quy Nhon. On the main line, there are around a dozen trains each day in both directions, linking Tuy Hoa and Dieu Tri with Saigon and Hanoi, via all main station stops in between. One of the most convenient and popular trains is the SE4 night train, departing Saigon in the evening and arriving in Tuy Hoa or Dieu Tri the next morning. Check current schedules, ticket prices, availability, and make bookings through Baolau.com or the Vietnam Railways website.
Tuy Hoa, Quy Nhon & Dieu Tri stations are all connected by daily trains on the main north-south line
BY BUS:
Long distance buses connect Tuy Hoa and Quy Nhon with all coastal cities between Saigon and Hanoi, and also many destinations in the Central Highlands. The Tuy Hoa bus station and Quy Nhon bus station are both large but reasonably easy to navigate. Long distance buses, including sleeper night buses, are pretty comfortable these days, although if travelling between coastal cities I still prefer to take the train. If, however, you’re heading to the highlands, you’ll have to take a bus. Prices are reasonable (usually cheaper than the trains) and road connections are getting better all the time. Popular destinations from Tuy Hoa and Quy Nhon include: Danang (6-8 hours), Nha Trang (3-4 hours), Dalat (7-8 hours), and Ho Chi Minh City (12 hours). Compare prices, times, bus companies, and book tickets on Baolau.com. One of the most popular and trusted long distance bus companies is Futa (Phuong Trang): check times and prices on their website.
Bus connections to Phu Yen & Quy Nhon are good, linking most major coastal & highland cities
GETTING AROUND:
Transportation infrastructure in the region (particularly the roads) is surprisingly good, especially considering the awkward terrain: lakes, rivers, lagoons, and mountainous spurs. Road access to the sea and beaches is good, thus this really is the perfect area to explore with your own wheels: motorbike, bicycle, or hired car (with driver). If you don’t already have a motorbike, they can be rented from many of the accommodations in the area. Some hotels can also arrange a car and driver for a day or more (usually around $100 a day). There are taxi companies in Tuy Hoa and Quy Nhon (for example: Mai Linh and Sun Taxi) which are good for excursions to beaches. A local bus network connects some of the towns between Tuy Hoa and Quy Nhon, such as Song Cau. Again, your accommodation should be able to offer more information about this. But, ultimately, the coastal back-roads of Phu Yen and Quy Nhon are best explored with your own two wheels, by following some, if not all, of the roads and lanes that I’ve marked on my map. With your own transportation you can really delve into this region, reaching beaches and fishing villages that are way off the beaten path, and exploring what is surely one of the prettiest parts of coastal Vietnam. (The beaches of Phu Yen and Quy Nhon are part of my Beach Bum and Coast Road motorbike routes.)
To really explore the back-roads & beaches of Phu Yen & Quy Nhon, it’s best to travel on two-wheels
WEATHER:
The best time of year to visit the coast of Phu Yen Province and the beaches around Quy Nhon is from March to September. During these months the weather is usually clear, dry, hot and sunny: the kind of weather you expect on a tropical beach. The seas are also calmest at this time of year, making it perfect for swimming. The months from October to February can be windy, wet and surprisingly bleak. The seas can be rough, and this region sometimes lies in the path of typhoons coming in from the east during October and November.
The best time to visit the beaches of Phu Yen & Quy Nhon is between March & September
Disclosure: I never receive payment for anything I write: my content is always free and independent. I’ve written this guide because I want to: I enjoy the beaches of Phu Yen and Quy Nhon and I want my readers to know about it. For more details, see my Disclosure & Disclaimer statements here
A lot of the links to these accommodations don’t work. Do they still exist?
Hi Emily,
If a link to an accommodation doesn’t work, try googling the name of the accommodation and seeing what comes up: then, if you can find a contact email, social media page or phone number, you can try to contact the accommodation directly to ask for more information about their current status.
Best,
Tom
Does anyone know the current situation at Bai Om? I have heard different things, but it does seem true that someone started developing it, and stopped some time ago. Some say you can go there freely, others that you have to kind of sneak in or something, and others that it is closed.
Before I tackle the longish and most likely bump, holey, and sandy approach, it would be nice to hear from someone that’s been out there lately. On top of that, I don’t want to get in any trouble or have my day spoiled by security thugs either.
Thanks.
Hi Henry,
Yes, the last time I was there – over a year ago – construction hadn’t started and access to the beach was easy. But it was just after that when people started saying that the beach had been roped off and development had begun. I suppose there’s a chance that construction has halted and therefore you can sneak onto the beach, but I don’t have any good information about that. Perhaps there’s a Quy Nhon Facebook group that might know more about it.
Best,
Tom
Thanks, Tom, for your reply. Was the road as bad as some reviewers say?
The most recent info I’ve found online was a review from 8 months ago, here it is here:
”
8 months ago
(Translated by Google) The beach is clean, the water clear, empty, but recently there is a construction resort that has been fenced. If you ride a motorbike, go to the fence area and open the door yourself, because they only hook temporarily but not locked. Service around almost no. About 1 year is beautiful again.
”
This sounds pretty promising..
I don’t use Facebook myself. I know it can be useful but I swore it off years ago.
Hi Henry,
The road there is just a single-track paved lane, but if they’ve started construction perhaps it’s been widened. However, even if that’s the case, the surface would likely be torn up because of all the trucks plying to and from the construction site. Either way, it’s not a great distance, so it’s worth at least giving it a try.
If you do go, please write about your experience here – that would be a great help to me and other readers.
Tom
Ok, I will. After looking at some of your other posts my list of spots to hit along the coast is getting really long. The depth of your knowledge is impressive and has given me a lot of great ideas. Thanks a lot.
Thanks, Henry. And I hope you have a good trip.
Tom
Hi Tom,
Do you have suggestions for inland gateways? Just in case we want some change from the sea sceneries.
Hi Roberto,
You can head inland at several points and join the Truong Son Dong Road. Take a look at this guide.
Tom
Tom, just want to thank you for the extremely useful guide to Tuy Hoa and Quy Nhon.
I spent 7 days following your route, and was the only person at Bai Mon Beach, Bai Xep, Yen Beach, and Trung Luong beach. All wonderful for swimming indeed. I also climbed up 1,000 steps to see the Buddha (and amazing view) in Trung Luong. Unfortunately I missed the Xuan Thinh Peninsula though…
The street food in Quy Nhon was delicious and cheap. I’d recommend Sisters Tavern if you’re craving Western food.
In case people are trying to figure out travel times… if you’re in a rush, and want to see most of the beaches, I think you would need 2 days in Tuy Hoa and 3 days in Quy Nhon. Of course, it would be better to slowly make your way up or down the coast. The bus between Tuy Hoa and Quy Nhon is 70,000 dong and takes 1.5 hours.
Hi Darren,
Glad to here you enjoyed your travels along this stretch of coast.
Thanks for your trip report and sharing the useful information on travel time and the bus route – very helpful.
Tom
Thanks for the excellent post. We toured up the coast on our bicycles in December 2019.
We also really liked Qui Nhon city – the street food was so good that we decided to stay an extra night.
Just an addition to your accomodations for Tuy Hoa. We stayed in a great little homestay 2 kms south of town, Trại Hoa Vàng (the Yellow Flower), tel +84 93 474 71 47. The owners were super helpful, nice rooms with outdoor bathrooms facing a lush courtyard garden. The newish homestay is attached to a large family villa, set back from the street. Highly recommended!
Hi Lindsay,
Thanks for the homestay suggestion – I’ll try to take a look next time I’m in the area.
I’m glad you enjoyed Quy Nhon too.
Tom
Hi Tom thank you very much for your great site, where I already spent a lot of time!
My girlfriend and I are planning a 7 week motorcycle tour across Vietnam in February and March. We will start in Saigon and we are currently considering driving via the back roads directly to Dalat or if we prefer to drive along the coast and then make a trip to Dalat later? In Mui Ne we were already last year and we don’t have to go there again this year.
Are there places and beaches between Saigon – Muine and Cam Ranh that are especially beautiful and recommendable or is it generally more beautiful from Nha Trang – Hue? Actually we want to drive along the coast from Cam Rhan / Nha Trang to Hui / Dong Koi.
How many days do you have to plan from Phong Nha to Haiphong / Cat Ba? Is it worth the effort or does it make more sense to send the bike by train to Haiphong? I have seen that all your routes from Phong Nha to Hanoi are through the backcountry, why is that?
A quick question about the weather. We start around 10.02 in Saigon. What about the climate border at the end of February and in March? In January you can say that everything behind Nha Trang is not optimal, how does it move in February and March?
Best regards Max
Hi Max,
You’re not missing anything particularly special if you ride straight to Dalat from Saigon.
However, from Dalat you should take Road QL20 & QL27 due east down to Phan Rang. Because then you can take the Nui Chua Coast Road (one of the best coast roads in Vietnam) from Phan Rang to Cam Lap Promontory, Cam Ranh and Nha Trang.
From Phong Nha to Hai Phong is 2-4 days riding (depending on how much distance you want to cover each day). The inland road is the Ho Chi Minh Road (see sections 6, 7 & 8 of this guide). It’s quite a good ride until around Cam Thuy and Cuc Phuong National Park, when you turn due east towards Ninh Binh and Hai Phong. After that it’s not a very nice ride, with lots of industry and trucks and not much scenery.
The reason my routes go inland on the Ho Chi Minh Road is because quite a lot of the coastal route from Phong Nha to Hai Phong isn’t particularly interesting and the traffic can be quite bad.
The weather at that time will be similar – the further north of Nha Trang you go, the more likely it is that the temperatures will be cooler and some rain about.
I hope this helps,
Tom
Wauuuuuu Im really amazed at this great website.
Really bored of the usual travel books, I was browsing the net in search of something different but what I found is way off my deepest wishes. Many many Thanks for this.
However, now Im more confused than ever as Im reading unexpected info that really allure me.
The CAM RANH BAY , the NAM DU ARCIPELAGO/ HON SON and now these beaches around QUY NHON and much more to be read yet.
But now I feel like writing a bit about my plan. After 1 month exploring Cambodia (temples, trekking, tribal & floating villages, river cruises, maybe natural parks) Ive decided Vietnam will be about islands and beaches only. Maybe a week in the MEKONG AREA. Therefore, Im trying to figure out the best ‘off the beaten track’ sea places where to go.
2 years ago in the Philippines 40 days of heavy rains out of 2 months so I really do want to escape that possibility. Ive just noticed the best time for QUY NHON beaches is March to Sept while I should be there end of February. Id rather go somewhere else than being again in the typhoons craziness.
So maybe you can advice me and make my trip an unforgettable experience but for the good reasons.
Id be greateful if you could inform on your best itinerary as it was your traveling plan.
Just little about myself. I will be traveling for 1 month and my plan is to move between the Qui Nhon area and the Mekong Delta ending for the last 3 days in HCMC. I love spending time in the place and not running here and there all the time. When worthy I can move every day, maybe along the coast following your map, but also I love staying still, laying on the beach of a paradise tiny island for days and weeks.
Once again so many many thanks for your wonderful insights.
Ill surely get back to you the more I plan and deep into your website.
Best wishes
Francesca
Hi Francesca,
Thanks. I’m glad you like my website.
At that time of year, you should stay in the south if you want to avoid bad weather conditions. Anywhere between Nha Trang all the way south to the Mekong Delta should be good weather conditions at that time of year. So I would recommend Cam Lap Promontory and the Nui Chua Coast Road, or island hop between all of the following: Nam Du, Hon Son, Pirate Islands, and Phu Quoc.
If you look at those guides in detail you will be able to work out an itinerary to suit you.
I hope this helps,
Tom
Great site mate. Took a bike down to bai om yesterday and had the whole place to myself. I see what you mean by the rubbish through the fishing villages on the way, out of control. Picked up some live lobsters on the way back to Quy Nhon, the owner was kind enough to boil them free of charge. Going to check out some beaches to the North today and do a bit of fishing. Will check out the Cham towers tomorrow. Quy Nhon is a bit like Nha Trang 25 years ago, but I fear it will be heading in the same direction.
Cheers
Hi Paul,
That’s sounds great. Fresh lobsters – lovely! Yes, I agree about Quy Nhon, and I think it’s almost certain to follow the path of Nha Trang. But, I guess, there’s a lot of beach to go around on that coastline.
I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip,
Tom
SO thankful to have come across this gem of a write-up! It’s exactly what we’ve been looking for in attempting to plan our trip through Central & North Vietnam! So thorough and well-organized! I do have a question: we’re only going to have about 4 full days to spend in the region in August before heading north towards Hoi An. What area do you recommend staying as a home base if our plan is to just to take mini-day trips motorbiking up and down the coast?
Hi Haylea,
Well, good places for a base are probably Bay Xep Beach, Quy Nhon City or Tuy Hoa City, depending on which areas you intend exploring on day trips. Of the two cities, Quy Nhon is the more likable. Bai Xep Beach is a little travellers’ enclave which is nice and small, but relatively touristy. Another option would be to base yourself somewhere remote like Vinh Cuu Peninsular, and making day trips to busier places from there.
All of the above mentioned places are included in the guide on this page – both under Beaches and Accommodation.
I hope this helps,
Tom
Went to check out Ky Co beach last week. If you go with family or a big group and need a homebase for the day, would recommend.
Price list April 2019:
100k entry
5k parking
40k transfer down the steep road
150k per beach chair
10k shower
Closes at 5pm. Still, road going up the hill is great and beach is clean and has lifeguards. But the price on everything is kind of annoying.
Thanks. Yes, Ky Co Beach is lovely and the prices are reasonably.
Tom
Thank you and exciting to know that you love my country even more than ourselves. Your guide with real experiences are awesome. Your photos are excellent with perfect and art view that can make reader feel hungry to come to these places immediately.
BTW, I am an owner of an accommodation in your trips with your highlight home-cooked Vietnamese meals. Let me know when you come back then I can invite you a home-cooked dinner with sea food again.
Best regards
Duy
Hi Duy,
Thank you, I’m glad you like my guides.
And thank you for the dinner invitation – maybe next time I’m passing through 🙂
Tom
Hi Tom! Thank you so much for the best site about my favorite country Viet Nam. I’m really your fan! Have used your site since 2016 and visited amazing places in the north and south of the country. Please don’t stop to please us with splendid articles and acquaint with fabulous roads, mountains, beaches, cuisines and people for sure!
From Russia with love 🙂
Alexander
Thanks, Alexander. Really great to hear you like Vietnam so much and that my articles have helped you find your way around.
I hope you get to come back soon,
Tom
Another great post, good observation and insightful view about history of each place .
Thank you, Frank, I’m glad to hear you liked it.
Tom
This is it! The most awesome beaches guide ever made to one of the most beautiful (if not the best) coastal area of Vietnam. My hat off for the amount of insight you’ve got, Tom! Soon after reading this guide, I’m planning coming back and will touring from Qui Nhon to Phu Yen March next year. Aside from enjoy reading your article, I keep recalling my sadness for what the Gov should do: instead of taking care of the poor fishing villages in one of the poorest region in central Vietnam and protect the environment; they are busy thinking of how to take over every beaches with penny money to the fisherman and turn into real estate business for them self. So, just like Tom said, go and visit all of this as soon as possible, before the trash and the resort invade all of them. Keep writing Tom!
Thanks, Tuan Anh.
It’s great to hear you enjoyed this guide and like the Phu Yen and Quy Nhon area so much. I hope you enjoy your trip there next March.
Tom
Epic, Tom! Can’t wait to get to Quy Nhon after reading this. Awesome guide.
Thanks, Sam.
Yes, it’s a wonderful area, I’m sure you’ll love it.
Tom