South Central Coast Travel Guide
Lantern boats on the Thu Bon River, Hoi An, at night. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
The South Central Coast is Vietnam's holiday seaboard: the lantern-lit old town of Hoi An, the modern beach city of Da Nang, and the long sandy bays of Nha Trang and Quy Nhon. It is the densest concentration of beach resorts in the country.
Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was a 16th-century trading port where Japanese, Chinese and European merchants met; its covered bridge, assembly halls and tailor shops survive intact. Da Nang counters with the Dragon Bridge, the Marble Mountains and My Khe Beach. Inland, the My Son Cham sanctuary preserves the brick towers of the Champa kingdom.
Destinations in South Central Coast
Hoi An Ancient TownUNESCO-listed trading port: lanterns, the Japanese Covered Bridge and tailor shops.
My Son SanctuaryUNESCO-listed Cham brick towers in a jungle valley, an hour from Hoi An.
My Khe BeachDa Nang's long white-sand beach, one of the country's best city beaches.
Da NangThe Dragon Bridge, Han River waterfront and Marble Mountains.
Nha TrangThe resort city: island boats, Po Nagar Cham towers and a long beach.
Marble MountainsFive limestone hills south of Da Nang: caves, pagodas and viewpoints.
Po Nagar Cham TowersThe 7th-12th century Cham towers above Nha Trang.
Quy NhonThe quieter beach city: Ky Co, Eo Gio and Cham towers without the crowds.
Hover a region to explore it. Click a city pin to open its guide.
Top Cities & towns in South Central Coast
Regional food
- Cao lau (Hoi An's thick noodle dish, made only here)
- White rose dumplings (banh bao banh vac, the Hoi An speciality)
- Mi Quang (turmeric noodles with shrimp and pork, the Quang Nam classic)
- Bun cha ca (fish cake noodle soup, the Nha Trang bowl)
Getting there
Da Nang International Airport (DAD) is the region's hub, 30 minutes from Hoi An. The Hai Van Pass railway between Hue and Da Nang is one of Asia's great train rides. Nha Trang's Cam Ranh Airport (CXR) sits 35 km south of the city.