Da Nang

The large city of Da Nang is located on the coast of Central Vietnam, and it is an underrated destination that many travelers skip over. Da Nang is home to a number of historic and religious landmarks, including the iconic Lady Buddha statue. Just outside of the city of Da Nang, you can hike through the gorgeous Marble Mountains and admire statues carved into the Am Phu Cave. For epic views, make your way to the Ba Na Hill Station via the cable car and enjoy the scenery along with great local restaurants. Of course, no trip to Da Nang would be complete without visiting the beach. Non Nuoc Beach boasts a long white sand coast that visitors and residents alike will appreciate.

Tay Ninh

The city of Tay Ninh is found in the south of the country, and it is a destination that provides a fascinating insight in Vietnamese culture. Start with a trip to the Cao Dai Temple, which represents the relatively little-known religion of Caodaism. Caodaism began in Tay Ninh, and the temple is a sort of mecca for followers of the religion. The inner hall of the temple is a kaleidoscope of color, with even the priests dressed in yellow, red and blue garments. If you’re up early in the morning, make your way to the Long Hoa Market. Opening each day at dawn, this market bustles until sunset but is packed with locals in the early morning. Tay Ninh is surrounded by the Nui Ba, Heo and Ba Den Mountains, which means that there are excellent hiking trails for those in search of some outdoor recreation and stunning views.

Most Underrated Destinations in Vietnam

Doc Let
Nha Trang is by far the most popular coastal resort in Vietnam. Head less than an hour along the coast, however, and you’ll get to Doc Let. Many visitors prefer Doc Let because the beach here is a whopping 10 miles long, and it is quieter and cleaner than Nha Trang. Doc Let is within walking distance of several hotels, and there are also local fisherman who will sell you their catch and even cook it for you right on the sand. If you happen to be staying in Nha Trang, it is well worth a day trip to get to Doc Let and experience the slower, scenic way of life in the area.

Ky Co Beach, Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh

Situated on the peninsula that hems in the Thi Nai Marsh opposite the coastal city of Qui Nhon, the beach of Ky Co is very far from the atmosphere and amenities of any city beach that Nha Trang can offer. Instead, this secluded slice of paradise lies slightly south of a 5-star, luxury resort development, and comes as a welcome change once you’ve passed all the newly constructed buildings. The feeling here is much more like that of a beach you might discover on a must-visit tropical island; the sand is soft, the water is clear and pure azure blue, and there are even a number of large rocks protruding from the water – making it seem like a mini Ha Long Bay. This is the ideal place to kick back with a mid-road-trip picnic. It’s even possible to camp here, given its out-of-the-way location.

Long Beach, Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s secret weapon when it comes to beach destinations – an island where so many beautiful beaches are found that it’s difficult to select the best one. We’ve managed to do so! Long Beach is located on the southeast coast of this beautiful island; it’s a spectacular 20-kilometer stretch of sand which is the focus of tourist and local activity on the island. Foreigners wanting to visit the island can do so thanks to a government initiative that allows 30-days visa-free, meaning tourism has positively flourished here. Phu Quoc officially became Vietnamese territory thanks to a boundary line drawn by the French colonial powers in 1939, but Cambodian claims to the island – known in Khmer as Koh Trol – remain a reality.

Mui Ne Beach, Phan Thiet

200-kilometres north of Ho Chi Minh City lies the fishing village of Mui Ne. However, there are a number of things about this wonderful location – other than its simply stunning and serene beach – that mean its fortunes are fast-changing. Vast, white-sand dunes nearby – which include lakes and swamps in the midst of the terrain – make for a captivating backdrop to hot-air balloon rides. Ruins of the Cham culture, native to southern Vietnam until it was defeated by the Vietnamese in the 15th Century, lie at nearby Phu Hai. And plenty of fisherman going about their daily business make for an interesting slice of daily life. Resorts have been popping up along the coast, but so far, the incredibly local atmosphere at this best beach location in Vietnam remains unchanged.

Doc Let Beach, Hon Khoi Peninsula

Whilst many tourists find themselves sunbathing and splashing around in the bustling resort city of Nha Trang just a few kilometers to the south, Doc Let Beach sits as a haven of solitude on the nearby Hon Khoi Peninsula. The hotels here are more atmospheric than they are in many busier beachside locales in Vietnam, meaning that the feeling of being on an exclusive couples getaway is much easier to summon. Doc Let is 18-kilometres of chalk-white sands and can be summed up in three parts: the north is where most of the resort and tourist action is to be found; the mid-section of this beach is unfortunately home to a huge Hyundai factory; the relatively empty south is backed by woodland and offers the most Robinson Crusoe feeling. The beauty of this Vietnamese beach is quite something, that’s for sure.