The Southern Central Coast Overview

The Southern Central Coast is where foreigners and nationals alike come to play. Gorgeous, secluded beaches begin around Qu=ng Ngãi, but many tourists head farther south for the well-groomed sands and natural wonders of M´i Né, and very few of them choose to skip the bustling beach and party scene of Nha Trang. People have been enjoying the coastal sun for centuries: the Chàm were the first to flourish there, as evidenced by their many imposing towers. The northern towns of à N{ng and Hi An boast scenic environs and countless historical sites. Sadly, this region did not escape the ravages of war—Qu=ng Ngãi province saw intense fighting during the American War, including the infamous MÅ Lai Massacre.

Today, though, it seems that the tempestuous past has been forgotten, at least in part. Fishing communities have become resort towns, and battlefields have been reclaimed by rice paddies. Tourists flood the coast, gorging themselves on spectacular seafood, clean azure waters, and fine white sand. After the sun goes down, the party starts up—Nha Trang boasts some of the best nightlife in Vietnam. Most foreigners travel around on cheap and convenient open-tour buses, which herd crowds from HCMC to M´i Né and Nha Trang and then head farther north. For the more adventurous traveler, local minibuses give a less-touristy glimpse into the region, and allow for spontaneous stops at Chàm relics, fish sauce refineries, and secluded seaside coves. The region is also home to spectacular natural wonders, including Vietnam’s only desert. At every stop, affordable hotels and restaurants awaits. The Southern Central Coast is, in short, a tropical paradise made easy.

Suit Yourself in charming Hÿi An , where hundreds of tailoring shops line the streets; this is the place to get high-quality custom-made clothing for pocket change. The food there is also famous throughout Vietnam.
Do Nothing For Extended Periods Of Time on the beaches of Nha Trang and M´i Né , the country’s touristy tropical beach towns. M´i Né has the more picturesque beach and surrounding areas, but Nha Trang’s nightlife scene might just be unparalleled in Vietnam.
Feel Vaguely Threatened by the region’s many Chàm towers—massive, ornately carved, crumbling structures left by the ancient Chàm empire. Aspiring archaeologists can take daytrips from Phan Rang and Qui Nh£n , but MÅ S£n , near Hÿi An, is the center of the Chàm craze.

À N{Ng

For years both the primary French port in central Vietnam and a nerve center of the American war machine, à N{ng today has shifted into a low-key role. Between Hu\ to the northwest and Hÿi An to the ...more

Hi An

Although it traces its trading roots to the Chàm era, Hÿi An (known to Europeans as “Faifo”) gained its reputation as a central port frequented by Chinese, Japanese, and European merchants in the ...more

Qu=ng Ngãi

Straddling National Highway 1, this unremarkable provincial capital has little to boast except for its long tradition of nationalistic resistance. The area first saw an uprising against French and Japanese ...more

Ba T£

Ba T£ is the name of a small town in southern Qu=ng Ngãi Province, as well as of the mountainous district that surrounds it. While this area is quite beautiful, the town itself is unremarkable. The ...more

Sa Huçnh

Sa HuÇnh is a small seaside town sandwiched between the beach and Hwy. 1. The beach, dotted with groves of palm trees, is clean and easily accessible to passersby. Most people stop and eat at the seafood ...more

Qui Nh£n

This low-key seaport town is the capital of Bình ¢nh Province and the less-touristed alternative to the beach parties of Nha Trang. In the 18th century, the Tñy S£n brothers led a great rebellion ...more

Nha Trang

Nha Trang is beach party central—its sparkling turquoise water is the stuff of dreams. Once Vietnam’s peaceful emerald oasis, the city has recently exploded into a full-fledged resort spot, feeding ...more

Phan Rang

Phan Rang, the capital of Ninh Thuñn province, is slowly growing into a respectable metropolis, leaving its immediate neighbor, Tháp Chàm, behind. Though they’re set in the sandy and arid southern ...more

Cà Ná

Cà Ná is fish sauce country. More than a dozen refineries of the traditional Vietnamese condiment n™øc m m line the 1km stretch of Hwy. 1 that cuts through the town. Otherwise, the small ...more

Phan Thi€t

This provincial capital, one of H· Chí Minh’s childhood homes, has grown from a fishing port to a small but bustling city and a major production center for n™øc m m, Vietnam’s staple fish ...more

M´i Né

M´i Né offers a glimpse into Vietnam’s most surprising terrain—its desert. The canyons of red clay and the dunes of orange and white sand that are so insanely, hilariously unique in this country ...more