With 3400km of coastline its surprising Vietnam isn't better know as a beach destination. Long stretches of soft sand, secluded bays, azure lagoons, and dramatic limestone outcroppings all add up to a definitive oceanside experience. The best known seaside locations like Nha Trang have actually been attracting large numbers of domestic and international visitors for some time and therefore offer the most choice in terms of water sports, including Scuba Diving, snorkelling, wakeboarding and kite surfing. Other picturesque beach areas such as Danang have only recently become popular holiday destinations with resorts and private villas springing up close to the white sands, hidden amongst the coconut palms.
Further up the coast from Nha Trang, Doc Let beach offers a quiet alternative with a secluded stretch of powdery sand served by modest tourist facilities and offering a true getaway feel. In the other direction, just a few hours from the southern capital of Ho Chi Minh City, Phan Thiet is another beachside getaway that's drawing plenty of visitors, particularly long term foreign residents. A golf course offers recreation, while the town is also known for its seafood and visitors have a choice of day trips to explore the sand dunes or visit local fishing communities. For the ultimate beach lover's sojourn, Phu Quoc island's postcard beaches are fringed with rainforest. Long Beach is the most developed part of the island, with Ong Lan Beach offering a romantic retreat and Bai Sao beach the ultimate escape. Even more remote, the Con Dao Islands enjoy an isolated location with plenty of quiet sand to enjoy. Tipped to become Vietnam's top beach attraction, the area is also a national park and famous for its biodiversity, with over 1,300 species of sea animals and habitats for rare species including the Hawksbill turtle and the Dugong.
Posted by Wayne Hue