Where is the best resort for a Vietnamese holiday? The great journey of the Belyaevs. Useful information about Vietnam

Vietnam can offer its guests more than three thousand kilometers of coastline. Beautiful sea waves, white sand beaches, outlandish islands and bays await fans of beach holidays and water sports enthusiasts. Most of the most famous beaches is located in the south of the country. Tourist season there it starts in October and ends around the end of February. The rest of the time it often rains.

The northern part of the Republic of Vietnam also has good resorts located near Hanoi. You can have a great rest on them from May to October. Let's consider the five best resorts to choose the most suitable one according to personal preferences.

Three best resorts in Vietnam

The country has many beaches and resorts of different levels. In order to find out which of them are in the south, which are in the north, which are adjacent to major cities or airports, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the map in Russian, which indicates their location.

Map of the best beaches

The most beautiful beaches and best hotels in Nha Trang

Nha Trang is considered the most popular resort city in Vietnam and is called its “beach capital”. located 30 km from the resort. The tourist influx season lasts almost all twelve months of the year; the most ideal time for a holiday is January-August. The fewest guests in Nha Trang are from October to December.

The resort is ready to offer travelers a lot of interesting things:

beautiful, well-groomed beaches that are quite long and wide;
active sports (diving centers);
Hon Che entertainment island for the whole family, connected to the resort by cable car;
picturesque waterfalls;
lots of entertainment (night discos, parties);
a large number of restaurants, cafes;
cosmetology centers with therapeutic mud and sources;
cultural and historical attractions (Monkey Island, temples, Long Son Pagoda, etc.);
hotels for every taste, from luxury to cheaper.

The central part of the resort will delight you with its developed infrastructure and quality service. The city beaches in this area are seven kilometers long and are covered with white sand consisting of small particles of shells. The water near the shore is clean and transparent. Every morning the coastal area is cleaned. There are showers, changing rooms, toilets, and medical aid stations.

Almost all beaches are municipal, so most often you don’t have to pay to enter them. Money will only be needed to pay for the rental of a sun lounger or umbrella.

The beaches on the islands are usually purchased by hotels. Well proven hotel complexes"Ana Mandara Beach Resort"(five stars) and "Sofitel".

The ideal time to holiday in Nha Trang is January-August.

As for the prices for entertainment offered at the resort, on average they are as follows:

renting a jet ski for thirty minutes – forty to forty-five dollars;
parasailing 1 person – twenty dollars, two people – thirty-five dollars;
banana ride for fifteen minutes five people - forty dollars;
Catamaran ride for an hour - forty-five dollars.

Coast of Phan Thiet and Mui Ne

These two resorts are located only twenty kilometers from each other, so let’s consider them as a single whole. The resort area of Phan Thiet is several kilometers away from the city. Many young people who love water sports and golf relax here. There are signs in Russian everywhere, and cafes offer menus in Russian.

The Mui Ne Peninsula is also famous for its surfing and kiting schools, of which there are more than twenty. They employ instructors who speak Russian. For an hour of surfing they charge about fifty dollars, for kitesurfing – seventy dollars.

You can relax at these resorts in any month. The main influx of tourists occurs from November to April. But the sea is calmer, on the contrary, from April to November.

Hotels are represented by bungalows, villas, and buildings of respectable hotels. Each offers clients private beach, equipped with sun loungers and umbrellas. Prices double rooms in hotels by the sea they vary around thirty dollars. Very good hotel considered Victoria Resort (four stars).

As for the review of the beaches, it is as follows:

Phan Thiet Central Beach is located right in the city. Suitable for those who are too lazy to travel far.
Tien Tan (Phan Thiet, Ke Ga lighthouse area) – quiet place. The water brings a lot of garbage and turbidity due to big waves. If the first one is regularly cleaned, then it is difficult to get rid of the turbidity. The entire infrastructure ends with the operation of hotels. There is practically no entertainment.
Pu Hai Beach (near Phan Thiet)– quiet, surrounded by respectable hotels that keep the coastal area clean and well-groomed.
Hon Rom (twelve kilometers from Mui Ne)– a secluded and beautiful place without entertainment and hotels. City bus number one goes here.
Rang (Mui Ne central beach) It has developed infrastructure, many hotels, schools active species sports. It's always crowded here. The entrance to the water is gentle. The passages to many sections of the beaches are blocked by hotels.

Where to relax on Phu Quoc Island?

Largest island country, located in the Gulf of Thailand, has its own airport. It is considered one of the most popular resorts due to the abundance of beautiful and well-kept beaches. Offers its guests a lot of entertainment:

tours to the jungle or mountains;
excursions to the farm and pearl museum;
visit to a farm specializing in growing black pepper;
fishing, where they catch squid, crabs and other marine life;
diving and snorkeling lessons (the cheapest lessons and equipment rental);
many restaurants and cafes.

The most luxurious hotel is LaVeranda Resort&Spa, which has a huge tropical garden and a French bakery. In general, accommodation on the island is expensive compared to other Vietnamese resorts.

The best beaches on the island are:

We bring to your attention a short video review of Bai Sao beach.

Vietnam is considered one of the favorite beach holiday destinations for Russians lately. It is not yet as crammed with tourists’ money as it is. Therefore, prices here are still pleasantly pleasing. Russians are treated very well. The USSR once helped Vietnam in exchange for a promise to follow the bright path of socialism. We turned away from the path, but Vietnam, rather due to its religious beliefs, remained a very kind, unspoiled and safe country for tourists.

The only thing that can scare you in Vietnam is the rain and pickpockets. Northern part countries are exposed to the former regularly and intensively. In this regard, most tourists go to the south, to beautiful sandy beaches, an abundance of sun, fruit and positive emotions. But here the second ones are already lying in wait for them. You need to be very careful in places with large crowds of people - in markets, beaches, tourist sites. Do not show that you have large sums of money or expensive gadgets. This is not accepted here. Carry your bag over your shoulder, it’s more secure. All the same, compared to other countries in the region, Vietnam is very low level crime.

More than half of Vietnam's borders are seacoast. Accordingly, there are a lot of beaches here. In the north, around Haiphong and Halong Bay there are good beaches, but the warm season here coincides with a period of heavy rainfall. Therefore, the beaches of the north are not popular among vacationers.

"Good ones" beach places begin south of central Vietnam. These areas are not as susceptible to monsoons. The climate is more like tropical. There are three ancient towns here - Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An. They have good beaches for diving.

Hue

The last emperors of Vietnam lived here. It is located between the sea and the mountains, there is magnificent nature, the beaches are wide white sand. Lang Co beach is used by divers to dive to the coral reef.

Da Nang is a major city and port of the country.

There are many attractions here, such as marble mountains. China Beach is famous throughout Vietnam for its soft sand. Surfing championships are held here, so we can say that the waves on the beach are quite big. In addition to China Beach, there are several other beaches that deserve attention.

Hoi An - this place is over 2000 years old

There are two beaches here - the popular Cua Dai and An Bang, recently opened by tourists. Both have clean, soft sand and well-developed infrastructure.

The next popular beach region is in. This is the most "promoted" among tourists region of Vietnam. There is everything here that your heart desires. And entertainment, and shopping, and the most snow-white beaches Vietnam. Directly opposite the resort there are several islands that are also popular with tourists. Hotels have been built there and infrastructure is being improved. If you are looking for peace and solitude, then Nha Trang is not for you. The beaches here are crowded with tourists in the “high season” no worse than in Anapa. Therefore, choose places away from the center or come when "boom" will already subside.

This place is one of the safest in Vietnam; there are no storms or long tropical downpours. The sun appears in the sky almost every day. average temperature sea +26. Here are ideal beaches for families with children, diving and water activities. For those who like waves and wind, it is better to choose Phan Thiet.

By the way, about diving. It is the cheapest in Vietnam. There are a large number of diving clubs in Nha Trang and Van Phong Bays. The depths here are shallow, up to about 30 meters, but there are living coral reefs, caves, and various algae.

Phan Thiet and Mui Ne are one coast, with a conditional division into villages

Phan Thiet is considered a family resort; European couples with children or romantic trip. Here you can stay in a bungalow next to the sea and enjoy the sound of the surf. The white sand dunes make this place unique. The best time to visit is at sunrise or sunset. This is an unforgettable sight. The fishing harbor will delight you with cute Vietnamese boats.

Favored by Russian tourists. It's almost ours here "ghetto". Russian restaurants, local Vietnamese have learned many Russian words, prices are not high in Vietnamese. There are many hotels of well-known chains in Russia. Here pleasant climate, but the winds blow very often, which surfers and kiters adore. Families with children will feel uncomfortable on the beach. If you are not into the above-mentioned sports, then choose a specific time and place to relax here.

Vung Tau is "Vietnamese Riviera"

Golf courses, villas, French names, cozy shops, luxury hotels. The beaches here are varied. There is even a small rocky beach with the cute name Rocher Noire. In addition to the beaches, there is a lot of interesting things here - huge Buddhist and Chinese temples, a royal residence, underground tunnels, a beautiful lighthouse.

Phu Quoc is the most tropical island Vietnam

It is located on the territory national park in the Gulf of Thailand. Its proximity to makes its climate similar to them. The center of the island is occupied by a real jungle, and the beaches can be called the best white sand beaches in Vietnam. Those who come here will find peace and tranquility from the bustle of the city. So far, neither the presence of an international airport, nor hotels, nor shops, nor even a casino violates them.

Fukuoka has ideal beaches for a relaxing holiday. Romantic couples, families with children, and elderly people will like it here. Fans of wild nights spent on the dance floor or in the bar have nothing to do here. For lovers of active shopping, it is better to choose the resort of Nha Trang or Ho Chi Minh City.

If you get tired of carefree doing nothing, then jungle excursions, kayaking around the islands, scuba diving or an excellent Thai massage are at your service.

How to get there?

Airplanes fly from Russia to Vietnam mainly to two airports - Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. From the latter it is more convenient to get to all the main beach places in Vietnam. In this southern country There are more than one and a half dozen airports, some of which have flights from Moscow. You can also find a flight from Russia and fly there, but only with transfers, again, in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. If you love land travel, then it will be much more interesting to get to your desired location by public or rented transport. Yes, it is cheaper when compared with the cost of domestic air travel.

We have collected all the most popular places in Vietnam in this review. If you find something else interesting that we missed, you can write about it in the reviews.

Have a nice trip!

A clean, cozy, uncrowded beach and a warm, pleasant sea are such important things for every tourist and every traveler. Let's figure out which Vietnamese beaches are worthy of attention?

Useful information about Vietnam

About the beaches of Vietnam

We will compare the beaches of 4 Vietnamese resorts: Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Hoi An and Mui Ne. We lived in Nha Trang and Hoi An for many months; we spent only a few days in Phu Quoc and Mui Ne. Therefore, we provide the most complete information, of course, only for the first two resorts. Please, if you have anything to say, add it in the comments to this post.

Hoi An City

A small town with a big history. A very beautiful center, a sea of small temples and museums. This city is almost unknown to our tourists, and I was even once scolded for telling everyone about this wonderful city (quote: “Russian tourists will come and ruin everything, it’s better if they stay in Mui Ne”). I don’t know why Russian tourists have such dislike for Russian tourists, but I continue to praise Hoi An and its magnificent beach.

Beach of Hoi An city

The best time to visit, in our opinion: from May (maybe April) to August.

Pros of the Vietnamese beach in Hoi An

long coastline, gentle entrance, pleasant sand, moderately clear water (not perfectly clear, don’t forget that this is the South China Sea, perfect transparency is simply impossible here);
clean and uncrowded.

Minuses

It is located far from the city center (where most hotels are located), so you need to either rent a bike (drive 10 minutes) or take a taxi or walk, exploring the city at the same time.

The town of Hoi An is very nice, we didn’t live in the city itself, but almost in the rice fields :)) we rented a room from the Vietnamese:

Therefore, we went to the city itself once or twice a week, but still in 3 months we managed to see all the coolest places, which we will write about a little later.

City map

Click on the menu icon in the upper left corner.

Nha Trang city

When we were in Nha Trang: August - October '13, December '13, January - March '14, July - December '14.

The best time to visit, in our opinion: from February/March to September.

This city, like Mui Ne, is extremely popular among our compatriots. Russian signs, Russian menus - sometimes it seemed that you were not in Vietnam, but in Sochi. The city has both pros and cons, but, as it seemed to us, there are much more advantages. We fell in love with Nha Trang with all our hearts for its beautiful city center, very cheap food and accommodation (do not forget that we live not as tourists, but as local residents), for the friendly staff of any place we turn to, for a large number of interesting places, and most importantly, for a good beach.

pros

the city beach is moderately clean, cozy, and not very crowded during the day;
the entrance is gentle, there are no marine life, stones or large shells;
the sand is pleasant, not contaminated with small pebbles, leaves or grass;
thanks to the long and wide coastline, tourists are evenly distributed along the beach without interfering with each other;
In addition to the city beach, there are several more beaches near the city and on the islands (all information on them is in a separate post, the link is given above).

This is the city beach:

This is Zoklet beach (located a few km from the city):

Minuses

Perfect cleanliness is not about Nha Trang. Setting yourself up for a European-level resort means ruining your vacation. This is Vietnam, the local population has a unique attitude towards cleanliness, so if the shore is not cleaned on time, you will be unhappy. Look big photo, fortunately there are a lot of them on our blog and on the Internet in general. Negative reviews mainly come from those who lived on Zoklet beach and studied that territory well: the beach itself is very cool, clean and cozy, but if you move a little away from it, there is already a trash can there. Conclusion: don’t leave and you will be happy :)
In the evenings, the city beach becomes crowded: Vietnamese people have picnics, relax and swim.

We have seen many beaches in South-East Asia and if you are interested in our opinion, then we highly recommend lying on the beaches of Nha Trang, but strictly from March to September. Other months it's not so cool.

Very detailed information about all the beaches of Nha Trang

Nha Trang Map

Phu Quoc Island

When we were on the island: November`13

The best time to visit, in our opinion: never)) or in 2-3 years, when everything is completed there.

Visiting Phu Quoc Island was perhaps our biggest mistake during our travels. In short, the island can be described as follows: an actively developing resort, which now consists mainly of construction sites and trash cans. It's worth going there only when there is at least one large store there, at least one good restaurant, at least one completed road and at least 10 times less garbage. At the end of 2013 this was not the case. The prices are greatly inflated, the level of service is greatly reduced. However, you may be interested in the fact that there are many beautiful places with untouched nature. Now only the coastal areas of the island are developed, so if you go inland, you will see forests and fields, there are almost no people there. Eat state reserve Phu Quoc National Park, which is highly praised. We talked in detail about the island itself here:

It seemed to us that the only advantage of Phu Quoc Island is Long Beach.

Pros of the Vietnamese beach on Phu Quoc island

it is long (albeit quite narrow), the bank is flat;
the sand is very soft, I just wanted to bury myself in it and forget myself;
crowded, but in moderation, no one bothers anyone;
the shore is clean, it is clear that it is taken care of and cleaned frequently;
well-kept houses, lawns, flowers and bushes pleasantly complement the rest; if you wanted to sunbathe - sunbathe, if you wanted to relax in the shade - hide under a palm tree on the lawn.

Minuses

concrete barriers designed to prevent sand from being washed away. They are apparently very necessary, but it is very easy to break your leg on them (they are not in the pictures below, see details);
There is no feeling of freedom and space at all, a narrow strip of good sand is not something worth traveling all the way from Russia for.

When we expressed our negative opinion about the island on Facebook, we received in response 2 photos from the beach of the Canary 3 * hotel (the girl vacationed on Phu Quoc island in 2012 and was very pleased with it):

The sewer pipe and the sticks sticking out of the water also delighted the girl:

Well, to each his own.

Mui Ne

When we were in: January`14

Best time to visit: November to April.

Tourist area in southern Vietnam. It is called a kitesurfer's paradise. And it's also very popular place rest of our compatriots, therefore, like in Nha Trang, there are many Russian signs and every cafe has a menu in Russian. Prices are inflated only for housing, but not for food in cafes. The food is very tasty and filling. Mui Ne is one street. Seriously. Just one long street.

We were only in Mui Ne for a few days and were not happy with it.

After this article, someone agreed with our opinion about bad beaches, someone thought that our photos were unrealistic (they even expressed the opinion that the chickens were painted :)) and talked about their excellent vacation. We asked acquaintances and friends, searched for information on the Internet and made a short excursion with specific facts and figures. Only photos of beaches will be shown here; only like/dislike will be said about hotels. To make it easier to navigate, we now have a map where the expensive hotels, yellow - hotels from $50 and red - from $12.

Expensive hotels

Only one person (who scolded me at first, but later turned out to be a very good conversationalist and is now also our subscriber) spoke about his experience of staying in an expensive hotel. Most other people vacationed in Mui Ne on a budget.

Romana Resort & Spa

Hotel: liked it

Cost: $3,760 for several days. Private house with private pool and breakfast.

Beach: liked it

Time of visit: spring 2014

Quote: “There is always security on the beach and they strictly monitor the safety of guests. The shore is constantly cleaned throughout the day, especially during rough waves. We had a great time Honeymoon V the most beautiful hotel with a great setting and excellent service. And, by the way, about the fact that all beaches are similar ( comment on our photos) - a deep lie! We walked around so many of them, everything was clean and beautiful, we didn’t come across any unkempt ones.”

Hotels from $50 per night.

1. Haiau Resort

Hotel: didn't like it

Cost: unknown, but current prices are: $50 per day.

Beach: didn't like it

Time of visit: December 2013 - January 2014

Quote: “When choosing a hotel, no one could definitely advise anything, and nothing was said on the forums. Among the advantages: the hotel was created for surfers, separate houses (rooms), prices in the area for food and things are much lower than in the center, New Year's concert. Disadvantages: the rooms are very old, not cleaned - only towels are changed, far from resort area, the coastline is very dirty (everything is covered in shells, jellyfish, they clean the fish right there, the smell is appropriate).”

3. Mui Ne Central Beach

Information only on the beach.

Time of visit: December 2013

Quote: “If you are going to Mui Ne with a child, and even during kite season, keep in mind that you will mostly be swimming in the pool. There is another option - to rent a hotel not in the center of the Russian beach, but not far from the Red Dunes in Mui Ne. There are several luxury hotels there. The waves there are noticeably smaller and the sea is cleaner. You can already swim there with your child.” Another quote: “On central beach It was almost impossible to swim. To be honest, even in calm weather there was no desire to land and rest. There is quite a lot of garbage there, the sea is muddy and dirty.”

Author of the quote and photo.

Hotels from $12 per night

1. Rang Dong Resort

Hotel: didn't like it

Cost: $12 and $16 per night.

Beach: didn't like it

Time of visit: January 2014

This is our hotel and our beach, we wrote more about them in the post about Mui Ne. Here are just a couple of photos.

Roosters and hens grazed on our beach.
Later we were assured that this could not happen in Mui Ne. They are probably right, we were the only ones with chickens; there were ducks at other points. Very nice.

Cost: $16 per day.

Beach: liked it

Time of visit: March 2014

“Behind the gate there was the sea. It’s difficult to call this place a beach; there were round fishing boats and nets drying there. Moving a little further away you could swim. And in the evenings by the sea it was simply magnificent - palm trees, stars, the sound of waves and - no one around. It’s a miracle, what a place!”

Source of quote and photo.

3. Sunrise Village

Hotel: liked it

Cost: $18 per night.

Beach: didn't like it

Time of visit: May 2013

“We will also think about the location of the future hotel. It seems like our place was not so great. But let’s say almost right behind our hotel there was a shore paved with concrete. Some people may like it, but others may not.”

And a few more photos of Mui Ne.

Vietnam is one of the “rice civilizations” with ancient Buddhist temples lost in the jungle, underground guerrilla tunnels and a rich colonial heritage, perfectly preserved from French times. Vietnam is the Thailand of 20 years ago, not yet trampled by millions of tourists. “Fun, bright, inexpensive” - this is how you can describe local resort life in three words. Incendiary discos until the morning, forbidden pleasures, excellent shopping, unimaginable exotic dishes... Or a relaxing holiday with children, romantic sunsets, mountain hikes And best photos as a keepsake. You choose what you like.

How to get there?

From Moscow to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City regular flights Aeroflot or Vietnam Airlines flight time is approximately 9 hours. And this is the only point that can confuse beach lovers in winter. Our fellow citizens do not need a visa to Vietnam. And if you want to see more in one trip, it’s logical to combine a vacation in Vietnam with a visit neighboring countries– China, Laos, Cambodia, Burma or Thailand. Where is the best place to relax? More on that later.

Which resort should you choose?

If you fly now or in the coming months, then a rain-free holiday is most likely in the south and center of the country. These are popular resorts: Phu Quoc Island, Vung Tau, Mui Ne, Phan Thiet, Nha Trang, Da Nang. Focus on flights to Ho Chi Minh City or Nha Trang, depending on the chosen resort. January and February are “velvet” months, it’s comfortable to relax, the air and water are +25...+28 °C. In March and April it is hot and dry, the temperature is +30…+35 °C. In the summer months it is better to choose resorts Northern Vietnam with a flight to Hanoi. And now we will briefly describe the most popular and rated resorts in the country, where you should go first.

Nha Trang

Nha Trang and its antipode Phan Thiet top the preference rankings Russian tourists. Nha Trang Bay takes an honorable 29th place in the world ranking of the most beautiful resort bays. Nha Trang (Russians from Far East they say “nishtyang”) is growing and developing rapidly, new hotels of international hotel chains appear every year. Many restaurants, shops, colorful markets, a beautiful resort promenade. You won't be bored. After or instead of the beach, you can go on a boat to the neighboring islands - see the monkeys or hang out for the whole day in an amusement park. Temple complexes, Buddha statues, pagodas are a cultural component of the resort. And you can improve your health in local mud baths and thermal baths. Nha Trang has a lot of European youth, decent clubs with trendy DJs, a good choice inexpensive alcohol. A few disadvantages: most hotels are on the second line; Locals come to the city beach, which is used by most tourists, in the late afternoon; after work, they like to relax here with their children. And in the summer months there are many jellyfish near the shore.

Phan Thiet

The complete opposite of Nha Trang. Relaxed, democratic, inexpensive. Most of the hotels are two- or three-story cottages on the shore, comfortably hidden in palm groves. Here everyone smiles at each other, there is no crowd on the beaches, only the sea, the sun and a light, fresh breeze. If flip-flops (aka “flip-flops”), shorts and a white Panama hat are your style of relaxation, but you want to forget about the dress code at least for a while, this is definitely the place for you. Tourists come with children because it is inexpensive, sandy beaches and the entrance to the water is gentle. Couples find romantic sunsets and time to be alone in Phan Thiet. Lovers of large portions of seafood with ice-cold beer will find relaxation here, and local masseuses will make you see “the sky in diamonds” with their little hands. There are no particularly interesting attractions in Phan Thiet and the surrounding area. Tourists tired of the sun prefer to lie idle on the sand to dilute aquatic species sports. And the downside is perhaps the only one. From the nearest airport in Ho Chi Minh City, it will take 5-6 hours to get to the resort by bus or taxi.

Mui Ne

A neighbor of Phan Thiet, this resort is loved by amateurs active rest. Thanks to the constant wind, there is an ideal wave for surfers and kiters and several dozen specialized schools with professional instructors. Prices are tolerable: an hour of windsurfing costs about $50, kitesurfing costs $70. Many speak Russian, and there are several establishments where you will be treated to borscht and dumplings. True, prices at the resort are higher than in Phan Thiet, again thanks to the large number of our tourists. On the central street of Mui Ne you will find spas and massage parlors, cafes and souvenir shops.

Phu Quoc

An island resort in the very south of the country, in the Gulf of Thailand, just 15 km from the coast of Cambodia. Taking into account the size of the island (the largest big Island Vietnam is the size of Singapore) there is room to expand here. Active tourists choose trekking through the jungle, kayaking and canoeing, walks through numerous gardens and parks, and excursions to pearl factories. And diving in coastal waters is considered the most interesting and inexpensive in the country. But the main natural wealth of the island is its luxurious sandy beaches, stretching for many kilometers. There are still very few tourists on the island, although the infrastructure is rapidly developing. Hotels, casinos, golf courses, shopping and entertainment complexes are being built, new airport. But today it is still calm, clean and yet inexpensive resort. Best place You won’t find anything for a quiet family or romantic holiday in Vietnam.

Vung Tau

Popular family resort 130 km from Ho Chi Minh City. It is almost as large and famous as Nha Trang, but it’s stormy night life missing here. But in the evening you can while away the time in bars with live music, which is very rare for Vietnam. The beaches are wide and sandy, in the former villas of the French aristocracy there are now restaurants and guest houses. The choice of hotels is also decent, for every taste and budget. Buddhist temples, pagodas, parks, a former royal residence, caves and underground tunnels - there is where to walk and what to see. There are two disadvantages: petty theft on the beaches and the presence of oil drilling platforms in the water area.

Con Dao

“Let’s catch up and overtake Thai Phuket!” – this is roughly how one can voice the ambitions of the Vietnamese tourism authorities on the islands of this archipelago in the South China Sea. The first description of the islands belongs to Marco Polo, and Con Son (the old name of Con Dao) received its notorious fame thanks to the most terrible prison for political prisoners in Vietnam. Today it is a young resort with beautiful beaches and the best hotel complex Six Senses. Most of the island is occupied National Park, many interesting dive sites and fishing spots.

Dalat

A popular international mountain resort in the south of the country, 300 km from Ho Chi Minh City. These places, with their mild climate and natural beauty, resemble French Alps. And it was built during the French colonization of Indochina as a mountain refuge from the sweltering heat. It is cooler here than on the coast, and daytime temperatures, even in the hottest summer months, do not exceed 25 °C, and at night drop to a comfortable 15 °C. From November to April is the dry season, it is better to come at this time. Dalat can be compared to Ubud in Balinese. Here are the best spas and massage parlors in the country, and also offer several options for treatment and healing using traditional oriental methods. These are acupuncture, Vietnamese herbal massage, Indian massage, Tibetan practices of facial and body massage with warm basalt stones. And Dalat has the best themed restaurants serving Vietnamese and French cuisine. As souvenirs, tourists buy the famous Luwak coffee (a palm marten has already feasted on its beans), artichoke tea, ceramic dishes inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and premium quality silk products. It’s logical to combine Dalat with a holiday on the beaches of Nha Trang and a few nights in Ho Chi Minh City.

Danang and Hoi An

Most Popular seaside resorts Central Vietnam. Best season for a beach holiday - March and April. Da Nang has a modern international Airport, the city is the fourth largest and industrial center Vietnam. Nevertheless, it is very picturesque, there are several nearby good beaches, including the famous China Beach - a place for youth hangouts and surfing stations. And 40 km away is the cozy town of Hoi An with a huge amount temples, pagodas, art salons, silk and souvenir shops. This is a museum city, with only 844 officially registered historical monument. Here you should try authentic Vietnamese cuisine and inexpensively replenish your summer wardrobe with silk items self made, literally sewn in front of you. The ancient imperial capital of the country, the city of Hue, is a place of pilgrimage for tourists, history buffs and adventurers a la Indiana Jones, located a few hours away by car from Da Nang.

Halong and Haiphong

Ha Long Bay is very beautiful and unusual place in the north of Vietnam. From Hanoi it takes 3-4 hours (150 km) by bus or taxi. If you've seen James Cameron's film Avatar, the cliffs of Ha Long will remind you of the floating boulders of the planet Pandora. Only in Ha Long do they strangely stick out from the turquoise waters of the bay. The best way to spend a few days in Ha Long is on board a wooden cruise ship. So you can swim to your heart's content in warm and clean water, visit the most beautiful and interesting places, buy authentic souvenirs in the floating village, go down to mysterious caves on the shore and take the best selfies of your life. And don’t forget to try the local delicacy – sweet and sour fish baked in sugar. Ha Long is also famous as the filming location for the films “Indochina” starring Catherine Deneuve and “Tomorrow Never Dies” with Pierce Brosnan as James Bond. Haiphong - cozy resort town near Ha Long. It is reminiscent of Hanoi twenty years ago with its clean flower-filled boulevards, colonial houses and leisurely pace of life. Besides good shopping The city has many temples, inexpensive restaurants, and a decent zoo. The proximity to Hanoi makes it easy to visit Halong and Haiphong in one trip, along with a few days' stop in the capital.

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

A description of the resorts will be incomplete without mentioning the main cities of Vietnam, which are usually visited by almost all tourists, because they are also the air gates of the country. These cities are definitely worth attention and at least a short introductory visit.

Hanoi is the capital of the country. This city will not leave anyone indifferent: old French houses are surrounded by greenery, and two steps around the corner there are ancient temples. Halt a rickshaw and ride along the city boulevards, and in the evening catch a performance at the Theater on the Water. Have dinner at a national restaurant, and the next morning go take a photo at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, look into the Temple of Literature and be amazed at the elegance of the One Pillar Pagoda and throw a coin into the Lake of the Returned Sword. And if you have time and energy left, go to the mountains for a while to see the former French resort Sapa. In one day in Sapa you can feel all four seasons, enjoy natural beauty, see the unique Tafin Underwater Palace and the Thac Bak Silver Waterfall. And the bravest and most resilient will be able to climb highest peak Indochina Mount Fansipan (3,143 m).

Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon, as locals and American tourists usually call it, - main city South Vietnam. Saigon is interesting during the day and does not sleep at night. Colonial buildings of the last century peacefully coexist with skyscrapers, shopping centers and office buildings. You'll be impressed by the former Presidential Palace, and you can buy interesting finds from local designers on Dong Hoi Boutique Street. For lovers military history It will be interesting to go down into the guerrilla tunnels of Cu Chi, and families with children will appreciate river walk along the Mekong with lunch and a visit to a snake nursery. And in the evening it’s so nice to admire the bright lights and life boiling below, while sipping a cocktail or a cool beer at the hotel’s rooftop bar. And with renewed vigor, go in search of “adult” night adventures after an invigorating foot massage. In terms of the number and density of bars, discos, and entertainment on the edge, Saigon is not inferior to Bangkok.

Most come to Vietnam by sea. And what surprise and disappointment overtakes some tourists when they find out that the sea in Vietnam is not always and not everywhere clear and blue. After all, most people think that there are many beaches there and there will be no problems with swimming and sunbathing in Vietnam. And they don't even wonder “What is the sea like in Vietnam?”. The main thing is that it exists!

Anyone who has ever seen Vietnam on a map knows that it is washed on both sides South China Sea, has several islands, and is located in that part globe where there is never winter. But the sea in Vietnam is not always ideal and is not always suitable for a beach holiday. Alas and ah!

Why? There are several reasons why beach holiday By the sea in Vietnam you need to plan very carefully.

Reason one. The South China Sea is not the most transparent, clean, calm and rich in diversity undersea world. It cannot stand any comparison with the same dearly loved Red Sea by our compatriots.

Sea in Vietnam

On the beach of Phu Quoc island

But there is one undoubted advantage - in Vietnam the sea is always warm.

Reason two. It’s impossible to say about Vietnam that this month is a season, and another month it’s not a season at all. The climate in the country is extremely heterogeneous, and if south coast the sun is shining with all its might, and the sea is completely calm, then in the center at the same time there may well be a stormy wind, lashing rain and crazy waves in the muddy sea.

It's important to spend a little time researching before purchasing tickets. climate map Vietnam. And then you won’t have to wonder why your friends returned from popular resort tanned and happy, and you have to watch the palm trees swaying from the gusts of wind from the wet hotel window.

Reason three. The Vietnamese are not known for their love of pedantic cleanliness. This, of course, is their business, we are also not without sin, but the sea in Vietnam cannot be called crystal clear.

This is especially true of the coast near large cities such as Vung Tau or the much-touted city. Yes, people swim there, but while for some, plastic bags and beer bottles floating past go unnoticed, for others it can completely spoil their entire vacation.

To be fair, it should be noted that in the absence of strong winds for several days, the entire coast and sea are cleared, but this is a matter of luck.

Where to find a beach holiday in Vietnam

Bai Sao beach on Phu Quoc island

So what now, in Vietnam there is nowhere to shop? Don't be upset, there are excellent beach places in Vietnam for the soul, body and stomach. It is best to relax on the islands, for example, Fukuoka.

Personally, I didn’t like Mui Ne as a beach holiday. But there are tourists who come to Mui Ne every year and are very happy with their holiday. A matter of taste!

Answering the question what kind of sea is in Vietnam? I would say that there is a beach holiday in Vietnam. But how memorable, useful, interesting and rich in pleasure and pleasant impressions will it be? It depends on how much information you stock up on before traveling to Vietnam and how much patience you have.

One extremely useful information I'll give it to you right now! Below is a calendar of the cheapest flights to Ho Chi Minh City. And from Ho Chi Minh City to the sea it’s very close!

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