Five beach getaways that fly under the radar in Vietnam

Hanoi (VNA) – No hoard of tourist on crowded beaches, here are five placid stretches of sand where visitors are able to savour the shore and at the same time avoid the crowds.

Dong Chau beach, Thai Binh province

Just because everyone goes to the beach in summer does not mean that visitors have to fight crowds to find a tranquil shore. Dong Chau beach, located in Dong Minh commune, Tien Hai district, the northern province of Thai Binh, is an ideal summer retreat.

The secluded beach boasts stunning beauty; however, it is lesser-known among tourists.

Dong Chau is actually an amazing place since it offers visitors a lot of fascinating experiences. Early birds would find it unforgettable to sleep overnight at beach huts and watch the sunrise. Meanwhile, energetic tourists would love to try catching sesarmidae (a type of tasty crab) with locals. Others could take the eco-tourist approach by taking in the clam and shrimp farms which look like a patchwork mosaic when pictured from above.

Dong Chau is also a heaven for food lovers to explore numerous specialty dishes like nhech salad, fermented jellyfish, jellyfish salad, Quynh Coi fish soup, Cay cake, nem chao Vi Thuy, bun bung, Bo guava, banh gai Dai Dong, banh gio Ben Hiep, and banh nghe, just to name a few.

The best time for visitors to come to Dong Chau beach is between July and September as the temperature is rather hot and ideal for outdoor beach activities. It is a beautiful location for sunrises and sunsets if they want to take pictures because the sun looks bigger and the air seems clearer in Dong Chau than in most places in Vietnam.

Dam Trau beach, Con Dao island

Nestled in Con Dao National Park in the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Dam Trau beach beckons tourists with its powdery-soft white sand shore, turquoise blue water, and beautiful primitive forests.

The beach is so close to Co Ong Airport with commercial planes flying thrillingly close, giving beach-goers a chance to see planes taking off and landing.

The ideal time to visit this beach is from March to September when there are no big waves on the beach, so it is calm and ideal for swimming.

The Bai Dam Trau beach in Con Dao island in Vietnam’s southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, has been listed among the 25 most beautiful beaches in the world, according to a recent article published by Travel Leisure magazine.

Isolated from the mainland, the Con Dao islands are one of the best places to visit in Vietnam. Long used as a prison mainly for political prisoners and resistance fighters before 1975, this place is now recognised for its unspoiled natural beauty.

Located off the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau coast, and 230 kilometres from HCM City, Con Dao consists of 16 islands and islets.

In addition to hiking, diving and watching wildlife, tourists can explore coral reefs, or pay a visit to former Con Dao prison where French colonists and later the Sai Gon regime jailed Vietnamese revolutionaries and opposition forces.

Hoang Hau beach, Binh Dinh province

Hoang Hau (Queen) beach is one of the most stunning beaches in the south central province of Binh Dinh. Located inside the Ghenh Rang Tien Sa tourism site, just two kilometres from downtown Quy Nhon, the beach beckons visitors’ curiosity due to its giant stone eggs that cover hundreds of square metres.

The beach got its name after Queen Nam Phuong chose it for a holiday with her husband, King Bao Dai in 1927.

Quy Nhon city is blessed with a 42km long coastline, abundant seafood and diverse topography comprising mountains, forests, salt marshes, plains, lagoons, lakes, rivers, peninsulas and islands.

Besides Hoang Hau beach, Eo Gio and Ky Co are famous attractions in the city and the local fresh seafood is also worth a try.

The best time to visit Quy Nhon is from January to August when the weather is relatively warm.

Nom beach, Phu Yen province

Bestowed with pristine white sand beach, crystal sea water, and untouched landscapes, Nom beach in the south central province of Phu Yen is also an ideal summer retreat.

Tourists should visit Nom beach from March to August since the weather during this time is suitable for swimming.

From April to May, it gets very hot and between September and December, it is subjected to the stormy season along the central coast.

Phu Yen became popular among visitors after Victor Vu’s film “Toi Thay Hoa Vang Tren Co Xanh” (I See Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass) won an award at the Toronto Film Festival in 2015.

Bai Xep, Yen islet, and Dai Lanh lighthouse are must-see destinations in Phu Yen.

Ky Co beach, Binh Dinh province

Located at the foothills of the towering Phuong Mai mountain range in the peninsula town of Nhon Ly in Quy Nhon city, Ky Co beach is picturesque, possessing both majestic and poetic beauty.

The best feature of Ky Co is definitely the two distinct shades of green/blue water, prominent against its white sand.

To fully experience the beauty of Ky Co, visitors should spend at least half a day here, and should not miss the spectacular sunrise or sunset./.