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When you think of swaying palms, white-sand beaches and turquoise waters in Southeast Asia,  might not be the first country that comes to mind.

Let’s change that.

Among its myriad other natural wonders, the country’s 3400km (2113 miles) of coast hides more than its fair share of resplendent beaches – not to mention the handful of tropical, coral-ringed islands bobbing off shore. Whether you’re looking for a stretch of sand adjacent to one of the country’s buzzing cities, a spot suitable for families or a quiet cove to escape the crowds, our list of the best beaches in Vietnam has you covered.

1. Nha Trang

Best city beach

Forming a magnificent sweeping arc, Nha Trang’s 6km-long (3.75-mile-long) golden-sand beach is the city’s trump card. Sections are roped off and designated for safe swimming (where you won’t be bothered by Jet Skis or boats); two popular lounging spots are the Sailing Club and Louisiane Brewhouse. If you prefer tanning alone, head south toward the airport to avoid the majority of the crowds.

Consider setting out on one of the many reasonably priced island-hopping tours offered along the beach, which include lunch and snorkeling. The beaches north of Nha Trang, around Ninh Van Bay, are also worthy of a day trip.

Planning tip: Full-day boat trips out to the islands are very value priced but expect to join a very full boat. For a more relaxed experience, check out which runs daily snorkeling and diving tours.

2. Mui Ne

Best beach for kitesurfing

Mui Ne was once the jewel of Vietnam’s beach resorts – yet in recent years, harsh tides have eroded much of its golden beach, while overdevelopment has eroded much of its charm. Even so, there are still some nice sections of sand tucked away here, ideal (in season) for those who like to party at night and snooze on chaise lounges during the day. Kitesurfing is also a huge draw: there are several excellent schools and world-class wind conditions between late October and April. The opening of the Dau Giay-Phan Thiet highway in mid-2023 has cut down travel time between Ho Chi Minh City and Mui Ne from 4½ hours to a little over two.

Planning tip: The teaches kitesurfing, traditional surfing and stand up paddle boarding in six languages using IKO-certified instructors.

3. Phu Quoc

Best beach for island hopping

Fringed with white-sand beaches and with large tracts of the interior still cloaked in dense tropical jungle, Phu Quoc has rapidly morphed from a sleepy island backwater to a must-visit beach escape for Western expats and sun-seeking tourists. With its picture-perfect white sand and mineral-water-clear sea, Sao Beach is probably the pick of the lot – yet if you venture off alone and you might find a section of sand all to yourself.

Island-hopping tours visit the islands off of Phu Quoc’s southern coast or its lesser-visited northern coast. You can also catch the reasonably priced, 8km-long (5-mile-long) cable car from the An Thoi Station on the island’s far south to Hon Thom Island â€“ and enjoy panoramic views of these alluring islands during the ride.

4. Ho Coc

Best beach for a HCMC getaway

With golden sands, clear waters and a journey time from Ho Chi Minh City of just 2½ hours, this beach – which stretches for almost 10km (6.25 miles) north of Ho Tram – makes a tempting place to stop. Ho Coc is getting increasingly busy with visitors from HCMC, especially on weekends â€“ but on weekdays, it still remains peaceful.

5. My Khe

Best beach for people-watching

My Khe is fast becoming Danang’s easternmost suburb. In the early morning and evening, the beach fills up with city folk doing tai chi. Tourists emerge during peak suntanning hours; locals prefer the evening, when fishermen still cast off from the sands in their coracle boats. The water can have a dangerous undertow, especially in winter, however, it’s protected by the bulk of the mountain peninsula Nui Son Tra.

6. An Bang

Best beach for endless views

Just 3km (2 miles) north of Hoi An, An Bang is one of Vietnam’s most happening and enjoyable beaches, with a wonderful stretch of fine sand (with less of the serious erosion evident at Cua Dai) and an expansive view of the sea interrupted only by the distant Cham Islands. Staying at the beach and visiting Hoi An on day trips is a good strategy for a relaxing visit to the area.

7. Cat Ba

Best beach for an off-season visit

Rugged, craggy and jungle-clad Cat Ba is the largest island in Halong Bay and a stop-off for some of the many tourist boat trips around the . To that end, the island can get very busy, somewhat shattering the serenity. Yet if you visit during the quieter months, you’ll find beaches that are up there with the best in Vietnam. The three beaches of Cat Co Cove, a 10-minute walk southeast from Cat Ba Town, are perhaps the pick of the bunch.

8. Con Son

Best beach for sheer natural beauty

Isolated from the mainland, the Con Dao islands are one of Vietnam’s star attractions. For decades a site where political prisoners and undesirables were detained, they now draw visitors with their striking natural beauty. The largest of the chain of 15 islands and islets, Con Son is ringed with lovely beaches, coral reefs and scenic bays, and remains partially covered in tropical forests. Just an hour’s flight from Ho Chi Minh City (or a longer ferry ride from several southern cities), Con Son remains relatively undeveloped, more popular with local Vietnamese as a historic site rather than a beach destination. Which is all the more reason to get there soon.

9. Doc Let

Best beach for white sand and shallow waters

Stretching for 18km (11 miles), the chalk-white sands and shallow turquoise waters of Doc Let ensure its place among Vietnam’s best beaches. Unfortunately, the world has caught on – and in recent years, developers have moved in big time, attracting busloads of tourists on tours from Nha Trang. Keep heading north along the coast for more-secluded spots, including Bai Bau and Bai Xep.

10. My Khe Beach

Best beach for shallow waters and family fun

Not to be confused with Danang’s beach of the same name, this My Khe is located a short distance from Quang Ngai in central Vietnam, and boasts a superb beach with fine white sand and good swimming. It stretches for kilometers along a thin, casuarina-lined spit of sand, separated from the mainland by Song Kinh Giang, a body of water just inland from the beach. If you avoid holidays and weekends you’ll have a good chance of having the pretty stretch largely to yourself. The shoreline’s profile has a gentle shelf, making it great (and safe) for children.