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For our upcoming Vietnam trip in March, we are looking to explore a new location, preferably one that is a bit less frequented by typical tourists.
We plan to spend several days on the coast prior to returning to a beloved spot in the Hoi An countryside. Initially, we considered spending a few nights on Cham Island, but we want to evaluate all possibilities before making a decision.
While we appreciate being near the ocean, we aren’t keen on just lounging on the beach. We greatly enjoy boat excursions, kayaking, bicycling (as long as it’s not too strenuous!), exploring markets, visiting temples and historic sites, local cuisine, and staying in boutique hotels or homestays rather than large resorts.
Primarily, we seek a place where we can simply relax for a few days, engage in some water activities, and experience genuine local Vietnamese life. We definitely do not want to be dependent on our lodging for all our meals.
Considering these factors, which of the following would you recommend and why?
Dong Hoi
Tam Ky
Quy Nhon
Cham Island
Thanks a lot!
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Tam Ky??? OK got it now, you don’t mean the town, pleasantly located on Highway 1, but a stretch of beach in the district, over the Trong Giang River on the long sandy spit.
I cycled all down this coast/spit and plenty of nice spots. Then again I’ve also cycled all the way down the coast to Vung Tau and the beautiful beaches are endless.
I’d still vote for Quy Nhon as it has so much more to offer.
Quy Nhon would be my preference.
Haha I’m in a Tru in Buon ma Thout now. We may go to Lao Cai or Tam Ky next. I need 12 more nights this year to retain my diamond status with Hilton 😁 they’re inexpensive 3 star hotels. They seem to be targeting the locals. Not sure why? but a bunch of them popped up in Vietnam overnight.
Tam ky will be the new An Bang beach so go before it is loosing his charmes.
Has got some nice spots to visit, like the heroic mother statue and art village
Cham Island we felt like we were walking atm’s.
Didn’t like it at all.
Replying to jolanda b
Jolanda, interesting prediction and you might be right. We met people in an bang recently who were told the same. Is there reasonable accomodation in Tam ky? Also, nearby local restaurants? Interested for another trip but we do love south of Quy Nhon. An bang has really changed and we’re looking for new places, less touristy, if possible.
I’ve been to all these places except Cham Is, all quite different but my favourite would be Quy Nhon. Beautiful beach, great food, going back next year. Went to Dong Hoi for second time last year, smaller than Quy Nhon, bit of a foodie place really, lots of great local options & more & more western options. Tam Ky left me scratching my head, I don’t get it, it seemed to only have coffee shops but no food, we walked the streets for well over an hour looking for somewhere local to eat & it was very underwhelming, we were told later it is where a lot of government offices are, not much happening at all. We finished up eating at our hotel which was a bit disappointing.
I’m not sure you’re going to find water sports at any of these places, but I could be wrong. I wasn’t really looking for it either. Even at An Bang this year there were no jet ski’s, or parasailing, on of the locals told us there had been an accident & they had shut it down
ColVal
I have not been in Tam Ky but it is on my radar screen.
Tam Ky is a popular summer vacation place thus far frequented by the domestic market.
But in my opinion, it will not be long before it is known to the international market.
I understand that Hilton has (or will) opened a TRU by Hilton hotel in Tam Ky.
So yes, if you don’t mind mingling with local Vietnamese folks mostly with limited foreign language skills, I think Tam Ky fits your definition of “off the beaten path”.
I stayed in Dong Hoi for 6 days this year (rain and storms) and loved it. Not so much to do except wander about etc. Like most affluent Vietnamese towns plenty of shops and less old style stuff. Great riverside park and walkway and round the corner for good beaches.
Quoy Nhon is one of my favourite coastal towns. Good quality cheap seafront hotels, standard Vietnam town and busy fishing and commercial port. Again a nice seafront promenade. Good views due to sea and high surrounding hills. Steep climb going south but easy to reach long sand peninsula to the north by bicycle.
Tam Ky – why?? Stayed once, just a highway town – maybe missed something. Best part is the small coastal road that has ferries for 2 wheelers (ie bypass Tam Ky).
I’ve never been to Cham Island.
Replying to SimonPedal
Additionally, I forgot to reply to your other post about best places, sorry. Most of my favourites are more routes than places. The N W Circuit (Sappa, Dien Bien Phu, etc); The HCM Highway (Hanoi to Saigon); DaLat (3 different routes up); much of the coast south of Da Nang all the way down to Saigon, loads of little gems; Delta Area.
However, re cycling in any of those towns you list here, it’s worth looking at Google maps in terrain mode. You’ll see that the hills (mountains) come down nearly to the sea. This means any easy cycling tends to be north or south, rather than inland.
South of Quy Nhon are lots of nice bays and small fishing villages, but it’s a 200m climb up over the coastal road to get there. Stunning views though. Much easier pedalling going north and the long sandy peninsula.