Quy Nhon: Vietnam's Coastal Underdog, Before It Isn't
TripAdvisor named it one of Asia's top trending destinations for 2026. I spent five days on Quy Nhon's beaches trying to figure out why it's taken this long — and what's still genuinely different here from Da Nang and Nha Trang.
Da Nang has an airport with direct international flights and a beachfront lined with towers. Quy Nhon, 300km further south on the same coastline, has a domestic airport, a handful of low-rise hotels, and — on the Tuesday afternoon I walked Quy Nhon Beach — roughly four other people on two kilometres of sand. TripAdvisor's 2026 Travellers' Choice named it one of Asia's standout trending destinations, and Vietnam's central coast finally has a second act beyond Da Nang and Hoi An.
Why Quy Nhon, and why now
Quy Nhon has had the geography the whole time — a long crescent of city beach, a working fishing harbour, Cham towers a thousand years old — without the infrastructure that turned Da Nang into an international hub. That's changing slowly: Phu Cat International Airport (UIH) now handles more domestic routes, several new mid-range beachfront properties opened through 2025, and the coastal road connecting Quy Nhon to Ky Co and Eo Gio got a genuine upgrade. It's the same story as Sapa's rise — access catching up to a place that already had the goods.
Editor's tips
- Fly domestic into UIH from Hanoi or HCMC rather than routing through Da Nang — it adds a layover for no benefit
- October-March brings occasional rain and rougher seas; April-August is the reliable beach window
The city beach and the Cham towers
Quy Nhon Beach runs nearly the length of the city, wide and clean, with none of the sunbed-vendor density of Nha Trang. A short taxi ride out, Thap Doi (Twin Towers) and Banh It sit largely unguarded and uncrowded — genuine 11th-13th century Cham brick architecture you can walk around at your own pace, a contrast to the roped-off, ticketed experience at Vietnam's more famous heritage sites.
Editor's tips
- Visit Thap Doi at sunset — the brick towers catch the light and the site empties out entirely after 5pm
- The seafood market strip along Xuan Dieu street serves the same catch as hotel restaurants at a third of the price
Ky Co and Eo Gio: the postcard side trip
Twenty minutes north of the city, Ky Co beach and the Eo Gio cliffs deliver the turquoise water and jagged limestone that usually requires a boat trip and a tour group elsewhere in Vietnam. Here it's a coastal road, a motorbike or taxi, and considerably fewer people doing the same thing. Ky Co's beach clubs rent loungers for a few dollars; Eo Gio's clifftop paths are free and best walked in the cooler morning hours before the midday sun flattens the colour.
Editor's tips
- Rent a motorbike for the Ky Co-Eo Gio loop if you're comfortable riding — public transport doesn't cover this route well
- Arrive at Eo Gio before 9am for both the light and the empty viewpoints
Where the money still goes further
A beachfront three-star room runs $35-55 a night in Quy Nhon versus $60-90 for the equivalent in Da Nang; a full seafood dinner for two at the harbour-side restaurants rarely clears $20. The value gap is the clearest sign this is still an emerging rather than an arrived destination — worth using while it lasts.
Editor's tips
- FLC Quy Nhon and Anya Resort sit at the higher end if you want a resort experience with beach access
- Local guesthouses (nha nghi) in the city center run $15-20 and put you walking distance from the beach and seafood strip
Getting there and getting around
Phu Cat Airport (UIH) sits about 30km from Quy Nhon city, with domestic flights from Hanoi, HCMC, and Hai Phong running 70-90 minutes. A taxi into the city runs roughly $12-15; pre-booked airport transfers through your hotel are typically cheaper. Within the city, walking covers the beachfront and towers; a rented motorbike ($5-8/day) opens up Ky Co, Eo Gio, and the surrounding countryside.
Editor's tips
- Grab (ride-hailing app) works reliably in Quy Nhon city for short hops
- The train station connects to the main Reunification Express line if you're combining Quy Nhon with a longer north-south Vietnam trip
Find the Best Flight Deals
Fly into Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, then a short domestic hop to Phu Cat Airport (UIH) near Quy Nhon.
Where to Stay
Beachfront three-star: $35-55/night. Resort-level (FLC Quy Nhon, Anya Resort): $80-150/night. City guesthouses: $15-20/night.
Tours & Activities
Book Ky Co and Eo Gio day trips, Cham towers tours, and motorbike rentals through local Quy Nhon operators.
Frequently asked questions
Fly into Phu Cat Airport (UIH) from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City (roughly 70-90 minutes), or take the Reunification Express train, which stops at Dieu Tri station about 10km from the city.
Quy Nhon is exactly the kind of quieter alternative Vietnam's coast still has to offer — the towers, the water, and the seafood already in place, without Da Nang's density. The direct flights and boutique hotels are arriving; the emptiness on the beach on a Tuesday afternoon won't last indefinitely.
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Camille Laurent
Senior Travel Editor · Based in Lisbon · Bali
Camille has spent the last 9 years living in or reporting from over 60 countries. Former contributor to Condé Nast Traveler and Monocle, she focuses on Southeast Asia, Mediterranean Europe, and the Middle East. Currently based between Lisbon and Bali.
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