Beaches in Quy Nhon
- Bãi Xép beach and village. With its empty beaches, close-by islands, and wooden fishing boats bobbing in the ocean, the little town of Bai Xép, located 10 kilometers (6 miles) south of the city center, has become a favorite destination for foreign travelers seeking beachside tranquility. It is a part of the city, but the hamlet feels more like an isolated island than a suburb, despite its proximity to Quy Nhn. The village’s approach route is a narrow lane leading downhill from Highway 1D. At the bottom, the lane divides into two one-metre-wide tunnels between the cottages of the villagers: the left passage goes to the fishermen’s cove, while the right passage leads to a private beach and two guesthouses for foreigners. The sole luxury hotel in the region, the Avani Beach Resort, is located at the south end of the Bi Xép cove, behind a fence; it has the same placid seas and postcard view of the adjacent islands, but its end of the beach is private and off-limits to non-guests.
The route between Quy Nhn and Bi Xép offers awe-inspiring vistas, as it passes through mountains and high above the ocean, and there are several locations along the highway where you may stop to capture panoramic photographs of the city and the coast. Below the roadway are many bays north and south of Bi Xép. The most popular are the bucolic hamlets of Bi Bàng and Bi Bu, located 5 kilometers (3 miles) south of Bi Xép, but there are dozens of little bays along the entire coastline that may be explored between the jagged rocks. - Beach promenade and city beach.Along the southeast coast of the city of Quy Nhon, the well-kept beach promenade spans for around 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) The natural beauty of the city’s coastline, which is flanked on all sides by mountains receding into the distance, has inspired writers for generations. In sharp contrast to more developed coastal resorts like Nha Trang. Even during the height of the tourist season, a significant portion of the Quy Nhon beach remains unoccupied and underutilized. No commercial watersports, boat trips, surfing, or excursions are available. In the core regions 1 kilometer on each side of Nguyễn Tất Thành Boulevard, people play football (soccer) and volleyball on the beach, Vietnamese visitors (sometimes fully dressed) run into the sea, and families enjoy picnics. The few vendors offering food and beverages to local tourists along the promenade are low-key and do not aggressively promote their goods. During the summer months, a few hotels and private persons offer lounge chairs in the central beach area. A small, semipermanent amusement park in a grassy area adjacent to the beach offers carousel rides for children exclusively.
Quy Nhon is not a typical beach paradise due to its dark yellow sand, slightly muddy water, lack of foreign cuisine options, lack of nightlife, lethargic mood, and general lack of tourist infrastructure. Those seeking to escape the mass tourist of large resorts are specifically attracted to this picturesque area. - Phương Mai peninsula. The Phương Mai peninsula is the simplest and most likely only location in Vietnam to enjoy miles of beach in complete isolation. The beach on the northeastern edge of the peninsula is nearly deserted for approximately 10 kilometers. Simply park your motorcycle on the side of the road and traverse the 300-meter-wide sand dunes to reach the coastline. In the dry season, the pale-yellow to crystal-white sand squeaks delightfully underfoot. Small sand dunes cover the shore, and those who manage to summit their treacherous heights are rewarded with views of the mountains to the north and the endless coast to the south. There are no stores or shade, so bring plenty of drink and sunscreen.
In contrast to the undulating sand dunes of the northern portion of the peninsula, the coastline at Bãi Kỳ Co in the south-central region is framed by jagged stones and breathtaking cliffs. Jump from the 10-metre (30-foot) cliffs into the clear blue ocean, play in pools of fresh water trapped among the inland boulders, swim in salt water lakes connected by underwater passages to the ocean, hop on a wooden boat for a one-hour jaunt with fishermen to explore the islands just off the coast, or scramble up the jagged cliffs closest to the shore for perfect photo ops of the ocean and coast. If you’re feeling very daring, climb into the mountain forests: the three-hour journey from the summit to the shore passes via breathtaking rock passes and mountain rivers. And no matter where you stand, you cannot miss the tallest Buddha statue in Vietnam, the 30-meter (100-foot) golden statue of Avalokitevara, the embodiment of all Buddhas’ limitless compassion, erected in 2014 and facing the lake.
But Bãi Kỳ Co is swiftly transforming: after years of postponed and scrapped plans, luxury construction began at the end of 2015. A Jack Nicklaus-designed 18-hole golf course with a partial opening in February 2016 is the centerpiece of Hanoi-based FLC Group’s plan to construct Vietnam’s first seven-star luxury resort near Eo Gió beach. Therefore, appreciate the place while it is still in its natural condition and accessible to the public.
The mountains on the mainland close to the north of the peninsula are famous with local Bình Định visitors for their many attractions. The Buddhist Temple Chùa Ông Núi is located one kilometer north of the intersection of Highway 19 and Highway 640. The 1702-established temple is located on a mountain west of the roadway and overlooks the shore and the ocean. A huge stone and metal sculpture near the temple and closer to the coast commemorates the March 1975 conquest of Bình Định by People’s Army soldiers. Behind the cafe on the road opposite the sculpture, a steep boulder walkway transports an odd mix of villagers and fishermen to a lovely cove filled with round wooden trawlers wedged between the ocean and the cliffs.
From Quy Nhon, the quickest method to explore the peninsula is to rent a motorcycle and cross the Th Ni bridge. From the city centre, take Nguyễn Tất Thành to Trần Hưng Đạo. At the major crossroads, take Võ Nguyên Giáp north. As you drive past industrial parks and agricultural landscapes on both sides, you will cross four little bridges. After 3 kilometers, the road swings east and you’ll reach the lonesome, 2.5-kilometer-long Thi Nai bridge over the sea. At least, perhaps you’ll be able to see it: the crossing is infamous for being blanketed in fog and high winds even when the city is sunny, so be careful not to get driven off the bridge by the air, water, and sand gusts. After reaching the peninsula and passing a gas station on the right, you will encounter a succession of confusing roundabouts; most go to industries and undeveloped regions, so be cautious to follow the signage for Highway 19B. Once on Highway 19B, the summit of the peninsula is 20 kilometers (12 miles) to the north in a straight line.
