Vietnam,
a country reminiscent of a war-torn epic that rang of rock-and-roll,
decadence, and destruction was, up until recently, visited by only the
adventurous traveler. Though late in its arrival as a member of part of
the Southeast Asian travel belt, today this crescent-shaped land with
innate tropical beauty has attracted international appeal, leading to an
influx of budget tourists and luxury travelers alike from across the
globe.
Cheap,
tropical, mysteriously alluring — Vietnam’s climate provides the
perfect beach vacation, while offering ample opportunity to peek down
one of history’s infamous alleyways. Travelers will find a gamut of
beaches dotting the coast including chill backpacker hangouts, luxurious
resort getaways and sleepy fishing villages. From Central Da Nang to
the southern capital of Saigon — north to south — lie five beaches every
traveler should check out in their quest for the perfect beach when
booking cheap flights to Vietnam.
1) Hoi An
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Hoi
An is an enclave of beautifully preserved yellow and blue buildings
that makes you feel like you just stepped back in time into an
18th-century trading post. Sapphire waters lie on the other side of a
10-minute bike ride north through stagnant rice paddies, old French
colonial villas, and the occasional propaganda billboard. The beachfront
of the famed China Beach — the beach where soldiers were sent for
R&R during the war — makes up the southern stretch. Recently named
one of the most luxurious beaches in the world by Forbes, this white
sand beach is home to comfy resorts and secluded swaths of sand.
Hoi
An, however, has much more to offer than just a beach. Declared a
UNESCO world heritage site in 1999, this coastal village was once known
as the premier trading post in Southeast Asia for the Chinese and
Japanese. A bike ride around The 5 Must See Beaches In Vietnamtown takes
you back to life in a small far-flung trading settlement. However,
since the influx of visitors, shoppers are more likely to come across
trinkets and “made-to-measure” one-day tailors than authentic goods.
Market
life is still prevalent next to the river where you will find fishermen
paddling along in their boats, stirring up their catch of the day. For a
sense of life before modern times, head into select buildings in the
Old Quarter where you can view 200-year-old interiors that have been
preserved for public viewing.
2) Quy Nhon
If
you decide to include Quy Nhon in your itinerary, expect to encounter
only a trickle of foreigners stopping by on their way to Nha Trang. In a
country besieged by tourism, Quy Nhon can truly be described as an
authentic experience. Crowds of Vietnamese gather on the beach to play
volleyball at sunset and offer hearty “hellos.” A few large hotels graze
the southern beachfront, but since the Vietnamese aren’t keen to
sunbathing, you’ll likely find the beach to yourself.
A
relatively small coastal city in Central Vietnam, Quy Nhon embodies a
relaxed tempo not likely to be found in other Vietnamese cities. Grab a
bike and slip along Nguyen Hue Road where a number of grins will greet
you from people sitting in colorful plastic chairs. The longer you stay
in Quy Nhon, the more you will appreciate the carefree lifestyle here.
3) Doc Let
This
tranquil and secluded beach just north of popular Nha Trang offers a
few small, hard-to-find, resorts. As Lonely Planet enticingly puts it,
“the resorts on the beach are fairly isolated. If you’re staying here,
be prepared to do nothing but lay around.”
When
I was there I stayed at Paradise Resort, a small, 25-bungalow resort
run by Mr “Chere,” a French expat who has lived in Vietnam for over 20
years. You can rent a bungalow for the night, and the price includes
three meals a day. The gregarious owner is very inviting and keen on
getting all his guests to have a great time, making this resort seem
more like a stay at a friend’s than a hotel.
The
resort is flanked by a small fishing village that proves an interesting
excursion when not baking on the beach. During the midday you’ll find
hawkers rocking in hammocks to escape the sun while children run a-muck
between farm animals and the streets.
4) Nha Trang
Nha
Trang has always been popular with the Vietnamese, but lately more and
more backpackers and affluent travelers have been making their way here.
The busy southern strip of the city is crammed with restaurants, SCUBA
schools, and tour companies ready to take you out to sea and to one of
the numerous islands scattered just off the coast. For those not ready
to take the full plunge into the world of SCUBA, snorkeling is a great
way to get intimate with the ecological kaleidoscope beneath the surface
(and even copious amounts of alcohol found on the boat ride out).
Mama
Hahn’s Booze Cruise runs daily tours to four islands under the sails of
their two lanky dinghies: the “lazy boat” and the “party boat.”
Steadfast swimmers up for socializing with other international
miscreants and an accompanying jovial Vietnamese guide should bee-line
it to the party boat. As long as you stay buoyant and don’t swallow too
much salt water, you’ll be sure to make it back to nurse that lingering
hangover by nightfall. Don’t say you haven’t been warned.
5) Mui Ne
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The 5 Must See Beaches In VietnamMui Ne, in Southeastern Vietnam, is a notable backpacker and resort beach, especially for those interested in kite surfing. On those windy days so common in Southern Vietnam, throngs of kites can be seen making polka-dot patches in the sky. The resort side of the beach is heavily subtitled in Russian to cater to the growing amount of tourists escaping the Russian winters. A manager at one of the multitude of seafood BBQ restaurants that checker Mui Ne road astutely observed, “[The Russians] are coming here a lot. I think it’s because it’s hot and very cheap.”
Though
not easy, you can still find budget accommodations on the resort side
of the beach for about $10-15, which is great considering that the
backpacker side of the beach has lost nearly all its beachfront to
erosion. A grey, impending concrete wall is now slammed by waves during
high-tide leaving any idea of beach strictly to the imagination. There
are a few bars and generic sit-downs here, and the low volume of traffic
makes a motorbike tour up the 6-mile street safe and the best way to
scope out the rest of what the area offer.
The
resort side of the beach, lying on the southern end of Mui Ne, still
has its sand, and the restaurants and bars there enjoy a party
atmosphere well into the night. Just remember, Vietnam is not nearly as
rife as Southern Thailand when it comes to beach parties, bean bag
chairs, and fire twirlers — not that you’ll miss any of those things
when you’re travelling here with cheap flights to Vietnam.
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