Saigon is not a beach city. The nearest coastline is about an hour and a half away — and there are three main options. They’re very different. This is the guide I wish I’d had when I first moved here and kept picking the wrong one.
At a Glance
| Ho Tram | Vung Tau | Mui Ne / Phan Thiet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | 120km | 100km | 200km |
| Drive time | 2-2.5 hrs | 1.5-2 hrs | 3-4 hrs |
| Beach | Clean, calm, wide | OK, can be murky | Good, sand dunes backdrop |
| Resort level | Luxury (5-star) | Mid-range (3-4 star) | Mixed (budget to luxury) |
| Best for | Resort stays, families, golf | Quick getaway, food, local vibe | Kitesurfing, sand dunes, longer stays |
| Crowds | Quiet (resort guests only) | Busy weekends | Depends on season |
| Food scene | Resort restaurants | Excellent local seafood | Good, mix of local + tourist |
| Unique feature | Casino + world-class golf | Jesus Statue, seafood street | Red/white sand dunes, fairy stream |
Ho Tram — The Quality Pick
Best beach of the three. Cleanest water. Proper luxury resorts. Melia, Angsana, The Grand — all five-star, all with their own stretch of sand. About 2 hours from the airport, and getting faster once the new highway is done.
This is where you go when you want a resort experience — pool, beach, cocktail, repeat. Great for families. Enough to do if you get restless. But you come here for the resort, not the town.
Vung Tau — The Quick Getaway
Closest to Saigon. Cheapest. Most local. The beach isn’t great by international standards — the water can be murky, and weekends are crowded. But the seafood is excellent, the Jesus Statue is worth the climb, and it’s the easiest option if you just want to see the ocean for a day.
We compared Ho Tram vs Vung Tau in detail — the short version is Vung Tau is for the experience (food, local culture), Ho Tram is for the beach and resort.
Mui Ne / Phan Thiet — The Adventure Pick
The furthest option — 3 to 4 hours by car, so not a day trip. But Mui Ne has something neither Ho Tram nor Vung Tau has: landscape. The red and white sand dunes look like a desert next to the ocean. There’s a fairy stream you can wade through. And it’s one of the best kitesurfing spots in Southeast Asia.
The beach itself is long and sandy, but the water can be wavy — not ideal for small kids. Resort quality varies wildly from cheap guesthouses to luxury properties. It’s a more international backpacker/expat scene than the other two.
The Short Version
- Best beach + resort: Ho Tram.
- Best for a quick cheap trip: Vung Tau.
- Best for adventure and kitesurfing: Mui Ne.
All three need a private car — we handle airport transfers to Ho Tram and can arrange drivers to Vung Tau and Mui Ne. Contact us or WhatsApp +84 70 6666 520.
