Quy Nhon Beach

In many cities the sea lies far off, and a visitor has to travel a good while before seeing it. Quy Nhơn is not like that. Here the beach and the city are one place, with the waves and the streets so close that a guest can walk out of a hotel door, go a few hundred meters, and stand on sand.

The beach is a strip of golden sand about 5 kilometers long. It runs southeast from the Mũi Tấn area, toward Ghềnh Ráng. Hoàng Hậu Beach lies out that way too. A Voice of Vietnam radio report describes the curve of the shore as an arc, and from a distance the shape is striking. It is a descriptive phrase, not a geological term, but standing here makes it easy to see why people use it.

Swimming is only one of the ways people use this beach. Along Xuân Diệu and An Dương Vương streets runs a seaside road for walking or cycling. In the early morning, residents come out to stretch, jog, and do gentle breathing exercises right at the water's edge. Toward evening, the same stretch of shore changes its look. The streetlights come on, the eateries open, and hundreds of people stroll along the water as dusk comes down over the sea.

It is the life of a true seaside city.

One point of administration can cause confusion. Quy Nhơn used to be a city in Bình Định Province. In 2025, under a new administrative arrangement, Bình Định and Gia Lai were merged into one new province. It is called Gia Lai, and its political center is the city of Quy Nhơn. Older maps and documents give the address as Quy Nhơn, Bình Định. Newer ones give it as Quy Nhơn, Gia Lai. The name of the city has not changed, only the name of the province.

Many visitors remark that the city beach feels tidy and free of pushy sellers, and there is a reason for it. In 2024, Quy Nhơn was named an ASEAN Clean Tourist City. It met seven standards, covering 28 groups of criteria on the environment, hygiene, green space, safety, facilities for visitors, and community awareness. The title did not come by chance. It comes from the efforts of the residents and the local authorities to look after their city.

From the central beach, a walker can continue toward Ghềnh Ráng. This scenic area lies about 3 kilometers to the southeast. It holds the grave of the poet Hàn Mặc Tử, Bãi Trứng with its smooth round pebbles, and a mountain road that runs close to the sea. It is a different kind of walk altogether.

For now there is only the salt air and an easy stroll, and the sea of Quy Nhơn left to tell its own story.