6 Beaches Near Ho Chi Minh City

Vung Tau is a seaside town about 2 hours away from Ho Chi Minh City by car, making it a popular weekend getaway from Vietnam's largest city. Called Cap Saint-Jacques by French colonists, it features a long coastal promenade connecting 2 beaches, colonial-era architecture, bars and restaurants, as well as beach umbrellas, chairs, loungers, and kayak rental kiosks. While Vung Tau can be visited all year long, we highly recommend making your way here during the week if you prefer a more relaxed setting.

Ho Tram Beach, set within the Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province, boasts 10 kilometres of unspoiled waters, fine, white sand, and palm trees. There’s also a wide range of accommodation options with expansive views of the East Sea, while thatched seafood restaurants close to the Ho Tram fishing village offers deck chairs and camping facilities at affordable rates. Thanks to its rather accessible location, Ho Tram Beach attracts locals and tourists looking to soak up some sun and ocean views while vacationing in Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Coc Beach, located north of Ho Tram Hamlet, is home to mostly mid-range and high-end resorts but it remains one of the most pristine beaches in Vietnam. Accessible within a 3-hour leisurely drive from central Ho Chi Minh City, the beach is 5 kilometres of white sands where you can enjoy a day of sunbathing, swimming, and beach games as well as sampling fresh seafood and Vietnamese cuisine. Do note that the waters at Ho Coc Beach can get too rough or unpredictable to swim depending on the season, so if you’re visiting with weak swimmers, consider checking out Binh Chau Hot Springs instead, located 18 kilometres north of the beach.

Long Hai Beach is mostly frequented by the local Vietnamese during the weekends, offering plenty of hippy bars, seafood eateries, and water sports facilities at affordable prices. Located almost 100 kilometres southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, the beach also houses a wide range of expansive resorts with stylish rooms and villas overlooking the East Sea. The more high-end establishments tend to offer shuttle services for guests departing from Ho Chi Minh City, whether via private car or ferry from District 1.

Doi Duong Beach can be found just outside Phan Thiet, a prominent coastal town about 4 hours away from Ho Chi Minh City by car. This wide sandbar houses plenty of beachfront resorts and hotels, where travellers can relax on sunbeds, enjoy a wide range of water sports or pampering spa sessions during their holiday. Ocean Dunes Golf Club is a 20-minute walk from the beach while the iconic Sand Dunes of Mui Ne are within an hour’s drive.

Con Dao Islands aren't close to Ho Chi Minh in terms of distance, but they are just incredible – quite possibly home to the nicest beaches in southern Vietnam. Consisting of 16 mostly uninhabited islets just off the southern coast of Vietnam, each offers expansive beaches shaded with evergreen trees. Accessible within an hour’s flight from Ho Chi Minh City, the main island was once the site of a French-run prison for Vietnamese involved in the independence movement, but today it’s a popular spot for snorkelling, swimming, and diving. The more remote islets are known for hosting turtle breeding sites, so if you’re visiting between June and September, you may even get a chance to watch turtles laying their eggs.