Best beaches near Saigon
By Christina Reed,
Vung Tau boasts a broad sweep of dark sand
Locals and visitors both agree that most candidates for best beach in Vietnam can be found in the country’s south. Whilst Nha Trang has traditionally been a hugely popular holiday destination for international and domestic tourists, beach-lovers looking for a coastal retreat close to Saigon should check out the beaches of Vung Tau.
Popular with big-city residents and expats alike, the sandy resort of Vung Tau often becomes crowded at the weekend as 9-5ers flee the heat of the city. The beach town is located on the coast of the South China Sea and is around 120kms from Saigon, easily accessible by road in around two hours. Visitors can also take the hydrofoil from the city, which departs every two hours.
There is plenty to do in the town and the nightlife is bustling here too with a couple of nightclubs located on the beachfront. The busiest beaches are Back Beach and Mulberry Beach. More on Vung Tau.
Vung Tau is perfect for a relaxing break away from the city doing nothing. However, adventurers will definitely find plenty to keep them happy here. A trek to Jesus Hill is definitely worth the effort. The hill is located in the middle of the town and houses a huge statue of Jesus at its peak. The statue stands at 32 metres tall and can be seen from everywhere in the town.
After the strenuous climb to the top, your efforts will be rewarded with stunning views over the whole town through the statue’s secret window. The Whale Temple and the Guan Yin Temple are also must-sees whilst you are in town.
Mui Ne is another popular getaway for beaches close to Ho Chi Minh City. Located just five hours from Saigon, the city was formerly a quiet, coastal town which was surrounded by plantations of dragon fruit that stretched for miles with poor roads which made it difficult to reach.
However, because of its close proximity to Saigon, this once sleepy resort has experienced massive development in the past decade, and seems to be hot on the toes of some of the most popular and long-established beach resorts such as Nha Trang, with resorts lining the shore close to the city.
Mui Ne was a fishing village before tourists arrived
The road which runs parallel to the beach is awash with numerous restaurants and night time haunts, but doesn’t seem to have the same over-developed feel as Nha Trang. Mui Ne is famous for its seafood, and local fare can be found at beachside restaurants for a reasonable cost. Different types of fish are cooked in a soup of pineapple and tamarind, with large shrimp poached in coconut cream another speciality.
Mue Ne is considered an expensive choice compared with other destinations in Vietnam and visitors can expect to pay up to 25 per cent more for hotel rooms in the high season – between December and March.
One of the things that makes Mui Ne such a popular destination is the sand dunes that line the coast just a little outside of the city and look like a mini-desert. There is a lot to do in the bustling city, with markets and plenty of hawker food. Watersports lovers will be in their element here since shacks along the beach offer kite and windsurfing and lessons are available through most guesthouses. More on Mui Ne.
Those looking to kick back, relax and take an occasional dip to cool off will find the beach clean and perfect for swimming. Whilst this beach is hardly an undiscovered gem, it remains the perfect spot for a weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle of life in the big smoke.
Located just a four hour train ride from Saigon, and located beside the Ca Ty River, Phan Thiet is the relaxed capital of the Bin Thuan Province. There is little to do in the main city but a few kilometres out of the city via Highway 1 will take you to some fantastic and untouristy beaches. The port is sleepy with a village-feel and the view of the fishing boats looks like it has been picked straight from a postcard. Whilst there is very little to do here, the quiet town makes the perfect spot for a day trip out of the city.
