Get Lost This Summer at the Movie-like Beaches of Quy Nhon
Quy Nhon is a coastal city in Binh Dinh Province, located in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam, about 650 km from Ho Chi Minh City and around 1,050 km from Hanoi. The period from May to September is the best time of the year to visit Quy Nhon due to its dry, cool weather and mild sunshine. Hence, tourists can freely explore outdoor activities and fully enjoy their trip.
Not only does Quy Nhon offer beaches, but it also has high hills suitable for activities like hiking and camping. Here are some interesting places you shouldn't miss this summer:
Check-in at Stunning Blue Beaches:
Ky Co - Eo Gio: In Quy Nhon, missing out on Ky Co - Eo Gio would be a real pity. Located about 25 km from the city center, Ky Co is famous for its beautiful and pristine natural scenery.
In the early morning, the sunrise light sparkles on the sea water, creating shimmering rays. The long stretches of golden sand, backed by towering, lush green mountains, are at their best. At this time, the beach is still sparsely populated, so no matter where you point your camera, you'll be pleased with your photos. If you have time, you should watch the daily seal circus performances here.
Taking a canoe to Eo Gio, you will be amazed by the stunning beauty from afar. Eo Gio is shaped like a bow, with rugged, perilous rocky cliffs over 70 m high. From the high rock outcrops, you will see a small bay surrounded by two mountain ranges, looking like a pair of arms embracing the beach. At sunset, when the sun retreats to the west, the sea here turns a reddish-orange hue, creating a magical scene.
Hoang Hau Beach: Hoang Hau Beach is located in the Ghenh Rang Tien Sa tourist area, about 3 km southeast of Quy Nhon city center. This place is named after Empress Nam Phuong, the wife of the last Nguyen Dynasty king, Bao Dai. The gentle waves softly hitting the rocky promontory make visitors feel comfortable and peaceful.
Hoang Hau Beach lies between steep rocky cliffs, creating a wild and majestic beauty. Tourists can engage in many interesting activities such as swimming, hiking, and admiring the vast sea and sky. On the beach, round, smooth stones are stacked like bird eggs. The natural stone wall in front of the beach shields the waves, creating a calm and peaceful water area.
Hon Kho: When visiting Quy Nhon this summer, don't forget to go to Hon Kho, as this is the time when the sea is calm, the waves are gentle, and nature's beauty is heartwarming. Although it lacks green trees like Ky Co, Hon Kho boasts a tranquil beauty with its colorful coral reefs. Here, visitors will witness a moss-covered path stretching between the mainland and Hon Kho, created from golden moss that appears only when the tide recedes.
To get to Hon Kho, visitors need to first reach the Nhon Hai fishing village. After that, you will take a local canoe for about 10 minutes to reach the destination. Guides here will show you the best photo spots at Hon Kho. The main activities chosen by many tourists are swimming, snorkeling to see coral, and paddling SUP boats to admire the vast blue sea.
Due to its distance from the mainland and strict conservation, visitors can view a diverse range of marine life and access precious coral reefs. This will be a wonderful opportunity to explore the amazing underwater world.
A rather interesting experience is taking photos with a fly cam from above. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to pose; the guides will show you how to move and position your hands to get those perfect shots.
Wandering All Day on Cu Lao Xanh: Cu Lao Xanh is a small island blessed by nature with scenic beauty. If you're planning a trip to Quy Nhon, not visiting Cu Lao Xanh would leave your journey incomplete. To get here, visitors can take a canoe or a wooden boat, with travel times varying depending on the mode of transport.
Thanh Nien Flagpole: This is considered a symbol and pride of the local people on the island. The project started on July 8, 2014, and was completed at the end of August 2015. The flagpole, made of granite, stands over 22 m tall and faces the Hoang Sa archipelago. The pole is inscribed with the sovereignty, longitude, and latitude of Cu Lao Xanh island. Behind the flagpole are two relief logos of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Vietnam Student Association.
Lighthouse: Another notable structure on the island is the Cu Lao Xanh lighthouse, built in 1890, located at an altitude of 118 m above sea level. The 16 m tall cylindrical tower is made of large stone blocks and painted in three colors: white - black - white.
The towering lighthouse symbolizes the resilient spirit of the Cu Lao Xanh residents who live in harmony with the sea's waves all year round. The structure is significant not only for positioning fishing boats in Binh Dinh and neighboring seas of South Central Vietnam but also as a “guardian eye” of the sea.
At night, from Quy Nhon beach, you can see the lighthouse flickering in and out of view, mystical and mysterious amidst hundreds of twinkling lights like floating lanterns.
Thao Nguyen Rock Field: A short drive of a few minutes will take you to Thao Nguyen rock field, where large, multi-shaped, and colorful rocks can be found. The path down to the rock field is challenging, but the breathtaking view makes up for it. The wide open space of Thao Nguyen rock field is also perfect for camping and enjoying the island's pristine atmosphere.
After that, visitors will be taken to a nearby swimming area to experience fun activities like snorkeling, and kayaking. Don't forget to savor the fresh seafood caught offshore. Specialty dishes you can try include fish cakes, flying fish roe, and squid pancakes.
Feel free to take selfies at no charge.
Phuong Mai Sand Dunes: Located about 20 km from the city center, a 15-20 minute drive. Phuong Mai sand dunes have a unique undulating terrain with fine, golden sand grains. Influenced by the Nhon Ly sea breeze, visitors will see the sand dunes change shape differently each day, with many unique and fascinating patterns.
The best times to visit the sand dunes are early in the morning around 6-8 am or in the afternoon from 4-6 pm. Avoid going at noon after 10 am because the sand will be hot and uncomfortable to walk on.
Here, visitors can walk on the long sandy beach, take photos with the miniature desert scenery, with distant hills in the background. Sand sliding is also an interesting game you can experience.
While in Mui Ne sand dunes, you only slide on thin plastic boards at speeds of 6-12 km/h, in Phuong Mai sand dunes, you can slide at speeds of 30-40 km/h on wooden boards. This is a new and exciting experience you can consider trying.
Xuan Van Mountain: If you love hiking and are in good physical condition, Xuan Van Mountain is a hidden gem that many miss. It is about 5 km from the city center.
The path to the top of Xuan Van Mountain is not a rugged dirt road full of gravel. Instead, you'll walk on stone and cement steps built in the 50s and 60s of the last century by the Phanxico Quy Hoa Parish. The mountain has a total of 14 stages and more than 2,000 steps, each built with a considerable height and distance.
The elevation and height difference from the foot to the top of the mountain is 180 m. Each stage will have a stone slab indicating the stage you have passed, especially when passing stages 7, 13, and 14, which have significant religious meanings.
At the top of Xuan Van Mountain, you can view the peaceful landscape from a height of 242 m above sea level. Visitors will breathe in the fresh air, feel the cool, pure breeze, and the comfort of being immersed in the vast, poetic nature. From the mountain top, you can also see the entire city of Quy Nhon with tall buildings along the long, curved coastline and the sweet blue sea.
Additionally, at the top of Xuan Van, visitors can enjoy light picnics with friends and family. This is especially the best place to watch the sunrise, so you should schedule your visit to make the most of the cool weather and beautiful scenery. Note that you should not go to the top during bad weather or storms as it is quite dangerous. Remember to check the weather forecast before you visit for the best experience.
Nhon Ly Fishing Village: Another must-visit place is the coastal fishing village of Nhon Ly, 20 km from Quy Nhon city center. The image here is associated with carefully painted walls full of artistic quality.
The houses here have the characteristic architecture of the coastal region. They have low roofs and stone fences, with steps or stone stairs leading to the houses. Young tourists may find it easier to imagine the fishing village as a miniature "Hometown Cha-cha-cha" amidst Quy Nhon's sea and sky.
Walking along the unique roads, visitors will feel an oddly pure and natural beauty. The blue sea color is painted on the statues, and the faint sea breeze nearby makes you feel like you've entered a fairy tale paradise.
Unlike the bustling fishing villages full of buyers and sellers in some other coastal areas, this place is unusually quiet. The special thing about coming here is that you can capture unique check-in photos mixed with the inherent poetic charm of the fishing village.
The rows of bougainvillea in front of the houses, the alleys leading to the sea, and the seawalls with direct views of the ocean are all very picturesque. Therefore, just by raising your camera, you can get stunning photos to show off.