Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh

Quy Nhon is a coastal city between the centre and the south of Vietnam. Known for its beautiful beaches and large selection of seafood. With less tourism than many of the beach towns and cities this is a great option for those that want to avoid the crowds whilst relaxing on the beach. 

Getting to Quy Nhon with motorbike

You will most likely stop at Quy Nhon when following a motorbike route between HCMC and Hoi An. If coming from the south this is likely to mean coming from Nha Trang, 210km away, or the much closer Tuy Hoa, which is less than 100km away. 

Heading north has more options, if sticking to the coast then there is a long drive to Hoi An which is 280km away, or just 175km you have Quang Ngai. But with more time, you can head inland to Pleiku, Kon Tum or Mang Den, before turning north. These offer a nicer ride with a much more different landscape.

Where to Stay

There are 3 main areas you can stay in Quy Nhon: inside the city, in the resorts to the south, and the homestays and resorts to the north. 

In the city there are plenty of options from luxury resorts and hotels, to cheap homestays and smaller hotels. These are the most convenient as you can explore the city, the northern beaches, the southern beaches and the temples to the west. But you are not as close to the quieter beaches in this case. 

In the south there are a number of resorts along the coast which can be quite affordable, as well as some small homestays near Bai Xep beach. There is also a nice hostel called Life’s a Beach in this area. Right next to some of the nice beaches they have great locations although quite far from town. 

The north has a similar story with a fishing village on the coast offering a range of homestays as well as a few large resorts providing a luxury option. Close to Ky Co beach but far from the other sights in Quy Nhon. 

Ky Co Beach

Ky Co Beach, in the north of the city, is the nicest beach in Quy Nhon. cut off with high cliffs on each side most people take a boat to get here although you can ride a bike then pay for an electric car for the final step. The fee is 150k per person and well worth it for how nice the beach is. 

A sandy beach, with clear water. There are sunbeds with umbrellas for rent and a restaurant for food and drinks. The perfect way to relax a day away. If you are looking for more adventure then they have a banana boat and parasailing. 

Bai Xep Beach

Located to the south of the city is Bai Xep Beach. A small beach with a couple of resorts and a small village offering a few homestays. The water can be a little rough with strong winds and can get a little busy but the highlight here is the bar / restaurant overlooking the beach and the seafood restaurants on the beach itself. 

Haven, bar / restaurant, offers a good range of western food and cocktails. All at an affordable price, especially during happy hour. In the evening the beach is full of tables and chairs as local restaurants open up. They bring a selection of live seafood to show, which is cooked nearby and served right by the water. 

Quy Hoa Beach

The beach in the city is the easiest to visit, especially if you are staying nearby. It gets particularly busy early in the morning and in the evening when people finish work. It is a calm beach without any rough waves, which stretches the full length of the city. 

There are multiple bars and cafes either on the beach or across the road nearby so you can spend much of the day here. 

Banh It Cham Temple

About a 30mins ride out of town is the Banh It Cham Temple. One of a number of different temples built by the Cham people over 900 years ago. A unique temple design and structure is well worth the ride to see. 

It is located at the top of a small hill which offers a great view of the surrounding area which is relatively flat. Due to this you are quite exposed to the sun so heading near early morning so that you are not out in the midday sun is recommended. 

Seafood Restaurant

Quy Nhon is packed full of seafood restaurants as well as the beach side ones mentioned at Bai Xep beach. These have a large range of seafood which you can find all over Vietnam but also one special local dish. The giant isopod, bọ biển, has become a popular dish in the city with a similar taste to crab. The appearance makes it a suitable dish for only the brave. It is worth a try but with a high price and small amount of meat there is plenty of other dishes that would be a better choice. 

Summary

Quy Nhon is one of the best options for a beach town in Vietnam, especially for those looking for a quieter city compared to Da Nang or Nha Trang. Most people will stop here for at least one night when heading between Hoi An and HCMC but it is easy to spend more than 1 night here just to relax. 

Related Routes

For those heading between HCMC and Hanoi then Quy Nhon would be included in most routes, but you can find all of our routes here.