Located in Central Vietnam, Da Nang is often overlooked due to its famous neighbouring city, Hoi An.
However Da Nang is a lively, coastal city with a relaxed vibe that feels much less touristy and hectic compared to both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
We spent 4 months living in Da Nang and the laidback lifestyle, affordable prices and amazing Da Nang beaches were a big reason for our love of the city.
We were able to rent an apartment just 5 minutes walk from the best beaches in Da Nang and all the beaches are completely free and open to public access which is so rare for beaches as beautiful as this!
While the coastline further south, near Hoi An, is dominated by beach resorts, the Da Nang beaches are easily accessible from the main beachfront road in the city, there is a gorgeous beachwalk route, the beaches are white and sandy while the sea is gorgeous blue.
Honestly it amazes me that there is such a stunning coastal city like this and it’s not more popular or internationally famous, it definitely feels like a hidden gem of southeast Asia!
Don’t skip a visit to Da Nang in your Vietnam itinerary! Here are the best Da Nang beaches to check out during your visit.
My Khe Beach, Da Nang
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The top Da Nang Beaches to enjoy
My An Beach
My An beach, Da Nang
My An beach in Da Nang will always be my favourite as it’s just a 5 minute walk from our apartment.
With golden sand, crystal-clear blue water and plenty of cheap beach shacks for a refreshing coconut, you can easily spend the day here and I would say it’s one of the most beautiful beaches in Da Nang.
The water temperature is warm all year round, which amazed me (I’ve never lived anywhere like that before!) and the stunning views of the green peninsula mountains, the white Lady Buddha in the distance, the gorgeous palm trees and relaxed atmosphere make this a beautiful place to spend the day, the afternoon or for a sunrise or sunset swim.
It’s also home to a couple of my preferred “fancier” beach bars, while these aren’t actually that fancy, they are a bit more expensive than the beach shacks but they have proper seating and table service.
Paradise Beach Bar
Maia Beach Bar
My An Beach sign
Paradise beach bar is my favourite and you can get 3 for 2 during happy hour 12-6pm each day. Maia Bar also recently opened and is another great option although I usually find they have less drink selection.
My An beach is one of the best beaches for surfing in Da Nang and you’ll find a couple of surf rentals along here. Generally surfing in Da Nang is only really possible during the winter when the waves are bigger. After the rainy season and around January to March is usually the best time.
My An is also where you’ll find Bai Tam Dem which is the night swimming beach and Khu Chieu Phim - the beach outdoor cinema which is part of the Paradise Beach Bar.
Beach cinema at Paradise Beach Bar
The Beach walking path
My Khe Beach
Right next to My An beach is My Khe beach which is most well-known as Da Nang City Beach and is one of the most famous beaches in Danang. When we first arrived in Da Nang, we stayed on Nguyen Van Thoai street and it was amazing to just walk 5 minutes up the road and have access to this beautiful beach right here!
My Khe is a smooth white sand beach with blue waters (unless it's the rainy season when it looks more grey!) and lots of small beach shacks and sun loungers all surrounded by idyllic palm trees to give you some spots of shade too. There are also two volleyball nets which are very popular with local volleyball teams and expats and always in use on the beach.
Volleyball nets on the beach
To prove its beauty, My Khe was once voted as one of the six most attractive beaches in the world by Forbes Magazine, a fact which is emblazoned on the beach sign for everyone to see!
You’ll find water activities here such as parasailing and jet ski rental. There are also plenty of beach shacks offering massages and sun lounger rental for very affordable prices. So it’s no surprise this is one of the most popular beaches in Da Nang!
The My Khe Beach sign with the Forbes Magazine quote
My Khe beach shack
Bai Bien Beach
Traditional fishing boat on the beach
A continuation of My Khe is the Bai Bien Beach area which is also backed by the beach walking path which runs the whole length of this waterfront.
Bai Bien is less developed, there’s only one or two shacks here, the beach isn’t as wide, there’s more palms for shade and there’s no sun lounger rental. You can swim in the sea here and have a quieter, more relaxing time on the beach.
Bai Tam Phan Van Dong
The terrace at East West Brewing Company in Da Nang
Phan Van Dong beach is the next beach along, further north on the coast above Bai Bien and My Khe. At the very southern point, you’ll find a section of buildings with bars and restaurants. These are the most developed bars and restaurants on the beachfront in Da Nang.
Our personal favourite is East West Brewing Company which is apparently the only beachfront brewery in Southeast Asia. Although craft beer prices are a bit higher than an average beer in Vietnam, it’s still a cheap price to pay for such an amazing view.
Esco Beach Bar is also popular and they have small pools to take a dip in on the beachfront too.
Further up, you’ll find the largest area of Bai Tam Phan Van Dong beach, there is a large paved area which often has art displays or people play games there. The beach is generally quieter up here with less of the bigger beach bars available.
Man Thai Beach
Son Tra beaches
Stretching the length of Son Tra beach front, this is a chilled out, large sandy stretch of the beach with amazing views of the peninsula and the white Lady Buddha statue.
In the summer when the water is much calmer, you can see the sun rise over the peninsula and it’s absolutely stunning!
Man Thai is one of the busiest areas for fishermen in Da Nang and you’ll see hundreds of the small round coconut boats out on the water. They bring their catch straight up to the beach and sell it right there on the sand.
Son Tra Peninsula beaches
If you choose to spend some time on the Son Tra Peninsula, this is where you’ll find the quiet beaches. It’s definitely easiest if you have your own scooter to get around or if you’re staying at the Intercontinental Da Nang Sun Peninsula Resort.
Tien Sa Beach is a small sandy cove on the north side and it is a lot quieter than any of the city beaches in Da Nang. There are reports that the road to it is sometimes closed by the hotel but it is a public beach and certainly more secluded than most of the other beaches in Da Nang.
Black Rock Beach is another option although there is a bit of a hike to get there from the parking and you’ll need to get there by scooter. There are also a few monkeys so watch out!
Again, there are reports of the hotel guards blocking access here so be aware.
Non Nuoc Beach
Wyndham Royal Beachfront Resort Hoi An
This is one of the resort beaches to the south of the city which is lined with popular luxury resorts such as Furama Resort, Hyatt Regency Da Nang and TIA Wellness among others.
The public can still access and use the beaches here but of course the prices for a drink or a sun lounger at the hotels are much higher.
This is honestly not a very lively beach, there’s no beach shacks or bars and due to so many unfinished hotel constructions along the beach too, it feels very eerie and isolated. I much prefer the vibe and amenities at My An, My Khe or Bai Tam Pham Van Dong Beach.
Bien Thanh Binh
Looking down on the beach from the top of Hai Van Pass in Da Nang
Located on the other side of the city, in Da Nang Bay, Bien Thanh Binh is more popular with locals than tourists.
The sandy beach is still beautiful and the clear water is calmer often due to the bay, plus the sunset and sunrise here are beautiful. There is almost a small grassy area leading up to the beach and there’s generally a lot more space which is great for families and large gatherings.
However when we visited there was a lot more trash on the beach than expected. While there is a higher level of trash in most places in Vietnam (this was something that took some getting used to), it definitely doesn’t make this beach the best experience.
Bai Tam Thanh Khe
Further along Da Nang Bay is Bai Tam Thanh Khe and Xuan Thieu beach, another local beach with amazing views and at certain times of year, you can also buy fish from the local fishermen in the early morning.
We found out about this after watching an Australian cooking show and a lot of restaurants and hotels will buy the best fish from the fishermen here before anyone else can get it!
Lang Co Beach
While technically still in the Da Nang area, this beach is at the foot of Hai Van Pass so it’s not in the city of Da Nang itself.
Hai Van Pass is a winding road up the mountain which you will take to reach Hue. Lang Co Bay and Lang Co Beach are both beautiful and famous for fresh seafood, while nearby Lap An Lagoon is famous for its oyster farms.
Lang Co beach itself is a huge sandy stretch of beach which is never that busy due to its location and need for transport to get there.
An Bang Beach
Technically An Bang Beach is in Hoi An so it’ll only mention it quickly. All the coastline here is connected and where Danang’s beaches on the east coast end, they merge into the beaches of Hoi An where you’ll find the most popular Hoi An beachfront resorts.
We stayed along this waterfront for a few days and the beach was beautiful but so silent, again because so many resorts are empty or unfinished, there was much less going on here and the Da Nang beaches were far more fun and lively.
While An Bang is the most popular beach in Hoi An, I will personally say that I much preferred the beaches in Da Nang!
When is the best time to visit Da Nang beaches?
While the smooth sand beaches are there all year round, the beach isn’t the most enjoyable place to be during the rainy season in Da Nang which is generally late September/early October until January.
February, March and April are a great time to visit for better weather but not yet too hot and humid, usually around 25-30 celcius. This is also the best time for surfing.
In the summer, which is the dry season, temperatures soar to 35 Celsius or more and it’s a lot more humid, the beaches are still great and the water is very calm with gentle waves (not a good surfing season!).
However the temperature means being in the city centre itself isn’t that enjoyable. July and August are the hottest months and high season, so I would avoid them if possible!
The peak season in Da Nang for international tourists is usually in the spring and summer, meaning the beaches are a lot more crowded. Having spent time in Da Nang in January, February, March, July, August, September and October, I can say that February and March were definitely my favourite time.
Other things to do in Da Nang:
Make the most of your time in Da Nang by checking out these Da Nang sights and outdoor activities:
Marble Mountains
Lady Buddha and Chua Linh Ung Pagoda on the Peninsula
My Son Sanctuary
Ba Na Hills
Hoi An Ancient Town
A day trip to Hue
Cam Thanh Coconut Village
Summary: the best beaches in Da Nang
You can’t go wrong with any of the Da Nang beaches along the city’s east coast, My An and My Khe are definitely my favourite beaches of Da Nang and I walk along the beach walk here most days - it’s without a doubt my favourite part of the city.
Da Nang is an ideal destination for an affordable beach holiday or for adding some R&R to your trip after visiting some of the most popular destinations in Vietnam
It blows my mind that such a beautiful city beach exists and Da Nang isn’t a more famous beach destination - definitely a bit of a hidden gem in Southeast Asia!
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