Vietnam’s long central coast is heating up as an attractive beach getaway. Jade Tye highlights two contrasting destinations for the romantic and intrepid at heart to celebrate Valentine’s Day
SAND, sea and seafood make a great match this Valentine’s Day. If you are looking to explore new beach destinations, you won’t need to go very far. Vietnam’s central coast is gaining attention from beach-lovers and honeymooners.
Couples will be rewarded with a more relaxed and less crowded at mosphere amid palm-fringed beaches and picturesque craggy coastlines against the backdrop of mountain ranges and windswept dunes.
February marks the end of the wet and cold season which starts in October.
So instead of scorching heat, you get cool, sunny days with occasional rainy spells. The warm, dry season falls between March and September. With a string of quaint beach towns yet to face the onslaught of mass tourism — from the modern metropolis Danang to the secluded, paradisiacal Quy Nhon — Vietnam’s sun-baked coast offers a refreshing romantic beach holiday.
URBANE ESCAPE
More than just a gateway to the world heritage sites of Hue and Hoi, Danang is a brilliant urban beach hub in its own right. With an international airport to provide convenient connections, the fast-growing coastal city lined with an impressive 60km-long shoreline, offers a booming culinary scene, exciting street food and lively nightlife.
Danang unfurls an endless stretch of beaches with the most popular being My Khe and Non Nuoc. The preferred choice is Non Nuoc beach for its soft sand, gentle slope and year-long mild waves. Once a low-key fishing area, Non Nuoc beach is now lined with fine luxury beach resorts such as Sheraton Grand Danang Resort.
The year-old property sits on the clean, manicured beach with a clear view of the iconic Marble Mountains. This group of five marble and limestone hills house 17thcentury Buddhist temples and sacred caves. The 258-guestroom hotel also boasts the longest infinity pool in Danang and is only 14 km (20 minutes) from both Danang International Airport and Hoi An Old Town.
Among the six restaurants and bars, the Tea Lounge is noteworthy for its serenity while sipping fine teas and coffee, while The Grill serves succulent steaks and seafood (the flame-grilled giant tiger prawns are remarkable). Choose a table closer to the rear of the all-day dining restaurant, Table 88, for a view of the Marble Mountains.
For a special treat, head for Shine Spa which has curated a treatment for couples called Spa Romance. The 140-min package (conducted in a spacious couple room equipped with a steam room and jacuzzi) consists of steam, foot soak, choice of body massage, green tea body scrub and flower bath, ending with a fruit platter and wine.
Among several body massage options, the signature Shine Massage is recommended for its calming effect — using the long-flow Vietnamese massage technique with melted candle wax containing lavender, mandarin and salt butter. While treatments are conducted in private rooms (where each is scented with lemongrass, orange, green tea or jasmine), guests can opt to enjoy foot and upper body massages at the poolside cabanas.
Especially for this special occasion, it’s worth splurging on a deluxe seaview room not only for the stunning vista but also for the soothing sound of the waves.
EXCLUSIVELY ROMANTIC
Lying 300km south of Danang and literally on the opposite end of the spectrum from the big city is the little known Quy Nhon (pronounced “hwee ngon”).
The unhurried city of 700,000 with wide boulevards and pleasant streets, retains much of its gentle provincial vibe without the excesses of Hanoi and Saigon. Crossing the street in Quy Nhon is a stress-free, sanely affair. Its biggest asset though is its unpretentious allure. From historical relics and wild sea-scapes, to an interior of lush mountains dappled with desolate sand dunes.
The once important port during the Chamera showcases several ruins dating from the 12th century. On the coast, the most Instagrammed sight is Eo Gio (pronounced “ehyo yor”, meaning “windy pass”), a craggy cove etched out of rock cliffs by mighty waves and winds. These winds rush inland, sculpting a desert like landscape of towering sand dunes, where in summer sand-boarding is a popular activity.
Equally electrifying is the sensational seafood (Bong Benh village’s restaurants on stilts offer a scenic proposition), which far surpasses Nha Trang’s claim to fame.
Nary a foreign tourist can be seen easily at the city centre as most flock to the copper-toned sandy beaches. One of the loveliest beaches is Bai Xep, a mellow bay studded with offshore islands and adorned with colourful fishing boats, as well as a new luxury resort which opened last December (2018).
Dreamy, private beach. Anantara Quy Nhon Villas occupy a private stretch of beach, a rarity in Vietnam.
Containing only 26 pool villas, with a mix of beachfront and elevated beach views, these are the most intimate of all accommodations in Quy Nhon.
Designed with romance in mind, the sleek, contemporary villas accentuated with warm wood finishes, melds Anantara’s understated style with the location’s down-to-earth charm.
The full glass frontage extends from bed to bath areas, presenting an almost cinematic scene. In the day, fishermen in coracles (traditional round woven bamboo basket boats, distinct in the central region) go about preparing their lobster traps, which at night, festoon the sea with their bright starry lights.
The freshest catch lands at the resort’s restaurant Sea.Fire.Salt, which pairs each dish with over 30 locally-infused salts and served on a salt brick. The cliff side spa is both a sight and an experience to behold.
Sharing the same beach and located next door is its sister property Avani Quy Nhon Resort.
OTHER NOTABLE BEACHES
Hoi An — The Unesco World Heritage town is also blessed with beaches. An Bang beach, 4km from the centre of the Old Town is big on surfing depending on the winds. Locals also recommend its reasonable street food. For the best beach and one which you can almost have all to yourself, check in to Hoi An’s top resort, The Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai. It frontsaone-km stretch of Ha My beach, offering an unrivalled fine sandy beach and serenity.
Mui Ne — Located 200km from Ho Chi Minh City, strong cross-onshore winds make this destination popular for windsurfing and kite-surfing. It is also well-known for its striking red and white sand dunes, offering a fun-filled day of sand boarding (sliding down the slopes on plastic sleds) and quad biking. Another natural landscape to behold is walking through a shallow stream called Fairy Stream which snakes along red and white sand cliffs.
Nha Trang — This south coast city is the country’s most famous beach destination. The main City Beach runs six kms along the city’s limit. Being a big tourist destination, the beach is well kept and boasts a wide gamut of lodgings for any budget as well as an array of water sports. Well-known for one of the country’s best seafood hubs, where lobsters from around Nha Trang are prized for their sweetness and delicate texture. To retreat from the crowd beaches, couples can head for Ninh Van Bay’s luxurious resorts, where they can share tranquil moments.