Detailed review of resorts in Vietnam: where to have a good rest

A country rich in history with over 3400 kilometres of coastline. Here everyone will find his or her perfect corner. Forget templated images: a beach holiday in Vietnam is a unique combination of the turquoise South China Sea, authentic culture, modern infrastructure and amazing nature, from tropical islands to lively city promenades. It has everything for an unforgettable holiday: warm seas all year round in the south, delicious cuisine, a variety of resorts and excellent value for money.

Where to go: an overview of key beach destinations in Vietnam

The coastline stretches 3,444 kilometres from Quang Ninh Province to the Mekong Delta. A beach holiday in Vietnam requires no filter: most coastal areas are as good as Mediterranean resorts, but win in the details.

Phu Quoc: an island without the noise

Located in the south-west of the country, Phu Quoc is often referred to as the ‘pearl island’. It is the perfect destination for those looking for a relaxing tropical-style beach holiday in Vietnam. With a coastline of about 150 km, the island offers both secluded lagoons (Bai Sao with white sand, Ganh Zau) and developed areas with hotels to suit every taste – from luxury villas to cosy bungalows in palm groves. The water here is consistently warm (+28-30°C), and the atmosphere favours complete relaxation away from the noise. In addition to relaxing on the beaches, Phu Quoc offers snorkelling and diving off the southern islands of An Toi, visits to pearl farms and black pepper plantations, and a colourful night market in Zuong Dong.

Da Nang and Hoi An: elegance and culture by the sea

Da Nang is the third largest city in Vietnam, offering a modern beach holiday with the magnificent beaches of Mai Khe and Non Nuoc (often included in lists of the best in Asia). Wide sandy strips, high-class hotels (including 5*), proximity to the airport and iconic sights (Marble Mountains, Hai Van Pass) make it a convenient choice. Nearby, the charming ancient city of Hoi An with its beaches (An Bang, Cua Dai) offers a more chamber-like atmosphere and cultural immersion. In the evenings, Hoi An is transformed by hundreds of silk lanterns, creating a unique romantic atmosphere. From Da Nang, it is also convenient to visit the Marble Mountains or the famous Golden Bridge in Ba Na Hills Park. This region is ideal for couples, comfort lovers and those who want to combine the beach with sightseeing.

Nha Trang: the capital of sand madness

This resort is the complete opposite of Fukuok. Nha Trang is a vibrant city with a 6-kilometre sandy beach that never sleeps. There’s a bustling nightlife, street food (especially fresh seafood) beckons with flavours, and dozens of hotels offer sea views. The beach is perfect for families with children, thanks to its gentle entrance and calm sea. If you are looking for active holidays, entertainment and developed infrastructure, this is the place to go.

Mui Ne (Phan Thiet): wind, waves and sand dunes

The resort area of Mui Ne, located near Phan Thiet City, is a mecca for kite and windsurfing enthusiasts due to its stable winds (especially from autumn to spring). The atmosphere here is more relaxed than Nha Trang, with plenty of gesthouses and rustic-style resorts. Besides water sports, Mui Ne attracts with its unique red and white sand dunes and colourful fishing harbours. A great choice for active young people and those looking for a budget holiday without the hassle.

How to choose the perfect resort for a beach holiday in Vietnam?

The choice depends on your priorities. The season is important: Southern resorts (Phu Quoc, Mui Ne, Nha Trang) are ideal for holidays in winter (from December to April), central resorts (Da Nang, Hoi An) – in spring and summer. Northern beaches are better to visit in summer.

Recreational style is also important:

• Families with children will find Nha Trang and Da Nang with their infrastructure, calm sea and family-friendly hotels, as well as the quiet beaches of Fukuoka;
• For romance and seclusion, look to Fukuoka, the remote beaches of Phan Thiet or islands like Condao;
• For outdoor activities and sports, choose Mui Ne (kite/windsurfing) or Nha Trang (diving, water activities);
• Nightlife and entertainment: Nha Trang is the clear leader;
• Culture + beach: Da Nang and Hoi An.

Practical Aspects:

1. Flight: The main international airports are Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang (Cam Ranh), Phu Quoc. Check for direct flights or convenient connections from your city.
2. Movements: Domestic flights between resorts are quick and inexpensive. Bus and train services are also well developed.
3. Accommodation: Vietnam offers a huge range of accommodation from budget guesthouses to luxury global chains and secluded villas. In recent years, boutique hotels and eco-formats have been actively developing.
4. Cuisine: Vietnamese cuisine is a separate reason to go. Fresh seafood, pho bo, spring rolls, exotic fruits are all affordable, tasty and safe.

Beach holidays in Vietnam: conclusions

A beach holiday in Vietnam is a kaleidoscope of experiences. From the white-washed bounty beaches of Fukuoka and the golden sands of Da Nang to the red dunes of Mui Ne and the bustling coastline of Nha Trang, the country offers an amazing variety of landscapes and atmospheres. Add to this warm seas, delicious food, hospitality, developing infrastructure and affordable prices, and you have the perfect holiday destination to satisfy the needs of any traveller. All that remains is to choose your perfect Vietnamese beach!

Vietnam’s resorts form a multi-layered landscape of experiences. Beaches, thermal zones, cultural centres, island archipelagos, rice valleys and mountain terraces all fit into one trip. The country offers not just holidays, but a palette of climates and sensations: from tropical humidity to invigorating coolness, from palm trees to pine forests.

Nha Trang: the dynamics and rhythm of a maritime city

Vietnam’s resorts on the southern strip of the coast form the epicentre of the year-round tourist flow. Nha Trang is the main hub. The city is building an infrastructure capable of accommodating both family tourists and active travellers. The beaches stretch along the bay for 6 km, the seafront is landscaped, cafes work in the rhythm of day and night. The region offers more than 50 SPA complexes with mineral water and mud baths. Boat trips to Hon Mun, Hon Tam and Bamboo Islands are a must on the programme. In the evening, markets, karaoke bars and jazz scenes are active.

Phantiet and Mui Ne: kiting, dunes, solitude

Beaches in the Mui Ne area line holidays along a strip of white sand. Vietnam resorts in this area offer the format “villa + sea”. Without crowds, without noise, with a constant sea breeze. The complex has become a point of attraction for kiters and surfers. Kite surfing schools are open from November to March. The dunes – red and white – form a landscape reminiscent of a desert rather than a beach. Restaurants along the coast operate a morning catch system: fish, crabs, mussels, squid are all caught within 1-2 kilometres of the shore. The tourist does not order a menu – he chooses an ice tray.

Da Nang: balance between urbanism and nature

Da Nang is building a resort format at the intersection of metropolis and tranquillity. Vietnam resorts in the central part of the country are developing the concept of “urban beach”. The city provides full service: international airport, hospitals, large shopping centres. At the same time, the beaches remain clean, crowded and safe. The sandy line stretches from Marble Mountain to Mai Khe beach. Hotels are located behind a strip of palm trees, and the beaches remain public. In the evening, bridges are illuminated, fountain shows are held on the river and the streets are transformed into a night market.

Hoi An: immersing yourself in the structure of time

Hoi An – the city has been turned into an open-air museum. Resorts in Vietnam do not duplicate this format anywhere else. The architecture combines Chinese pagodas, French colonial houses and Vietnamese craft shops. Hotels are set up inside historical buildings. Tourists do not go for the beach, but for immersion in the cultural code. Cycling, tailor-made clothes, calligraphy classes, lantern festivals – everything is included in the holiday plan without a schedule.

Sapa: resort above the clouds

Vietnam’s resorts in the northern zone move away from the maritime theme and offer a mountainous vertical. Sapa rises to an altitude of 1,500 metres above sea level. The view of terraced fields, mountain ranges and cloud streams creates a feeling of steaming. Tourist stay in gesthouses of Hmong and Dzao tribes. The walks are on routes without tarmac but with tea points and views of waterfalls. The complex is open all year round, but the peak season starts in September when the rice fields are golden. Thermal springs and herbal steam baths add to the alpine cleansing effect.

Phu Quoc: a reboot at one of the best resorts in Vietnam

Phu Quoc is the largest island of the country. Villas are located at a distance, the roads are not busy, the tourist wakes up to the sound of waves. The beaches of Bai Sao, Long Beach, Ong Lang – each offers a different atmosphere. There are pepper farms in the north of the island and pearl plantations in the south. The island operates on a ‘switch off’ principle: no skyscrapers, limited transport and minimalised advertising. Local restaurants operate at the level of author’s cuisine.

Ba Wang and the Northern Thermae: treatment and prevention

Vietnam’s resorts are building a health tourism destination based on a combination of natural springs and traditional medicine. Ba Vang is a unique thermal resort where mineral waters are combined with eastern healing methods. The centres offer acupuncture, acupuncture, acupuncture, wormwood warming, steam inhalation with local herbs. The water temperature ranges from 45-52°C and its composition is calcium, magnesium and sulphur. The resort operates all year round, while minimising population density and focusing on recovery tourism. The availability of treatments, food without flavour enhancers, and quiet rooms are part of the wellness strategy.

Ninh Binh: a combination of nature and bodily resetting

The mountainous landscape of Ninh Binh provides not only panoramas and trails, but also springs with rare water composition. Vietnam resorts in this area organise complexes without high-rise buildings. Accommodation is placed in huts near the water or on terraces of rice fields. Wellness centres introduce the concept of digital detox: gadgets are switched off, signals are blocked, the schedule includes breathing practices and slow transitions between procedures. Meals are exclusively locally sourced. Meals are served on stone slabs, thermal vats are heated with charcoal. The doctor does not prescribe, but accompanies the client in the rhythm of bodily recovery.

Hue: gastronomy as a cultural code

Hue turns travelling into an immersion into the gastronomic past. The former capital of the emperors moulds its cuisine on the recipes of the dynasties. Dishes are served in small portions but with precise geometry. Dinner turns into a ceremony. Tourist participate in gastro-tours to the homes of locals. The chefs are trained to make banh cuon pancakes, bun bo soups, shrimp rolls. Markets become a training ground: smells, products, spells of the sellers.

Condao: an island without time

Condao is an archipelago consisting of 16 islands. Vietnam resorts in this zone destroy the notion of traditional holidays. There are no chain hotels, no advertising billboards, no queues. Accommodation is organised in eco-lodges overlooking the sea. The main format is nature observation. Turtles lay eggs on the beach, monkeys hide in the mangroves, parrot fish swim in the reefs. Centres offer sunrise yoga practices, evening fire ceremonies and talks with mentors.

Features of Vietnam resorts

Complexes build tourist infrastructure according to the principle of depth, not latitude. Beaches operate without fences. Nature is preserved rather than stylised. Restaurants are not decorated in European style – but served on bamboo stands overlooking a rice paddy. The tourist does not consume – he enters the environment. The state implements eco-programmes, supports regional business development, and restricts mass construction. Resorts adapt to this course: they reduce noise pollution, replace transport with electric cars, and introduce programmes for bio-treatment of water.

Conclusion

Vietnam’s resorts are not about entertainment, but balance. Here they provide silence, nature, food, air, movement. The country offers holidays as a return to oneself. If the route starts in the chaos of cities, it can end on the shore, where the surf sounds instead of words.