Ha My Beach — sometimes written Bai Bien Ha My — is a long, wide stretch of sand that runs along the coast between Da Nang and Hoi An. If you've spent any time on My Khe or An Bang and found yourself wishing for fewer beach chairs and fewer people trying to sell you a coconut, this is the answer.
What it is and a bit of background
Ha My Beach sits roughly 25 km south of central Da Nang (다낭 / 岘港 / ダナン), in the coastal strip that historically belonged to Quang Nam province and now falls within expanded Da Nang's administrative reach. For years it was largely ignored by tourists because it didn't have the infrastructure of its neighbors to the north and south. That's changed slowly — a handful of resorts have moved in — but the beach itself remains long enough and undeveloped enough that you can walk for 20 minutes without passing another person.
The sand here is pale, almost white in the dry months, and the shoreline is broad at low tide. A line of casuarina trees backs the beach in several sections, which gives it a different look from the open hotel-fronted strips elsewhere along this coast.
People end up at Ha My for a few reasons. Some are staying at one of the boutique resorts nearby and barely leave. Others are based in Hoi An (호이안 / 会安 / ホイアン) — about 8 km south — and come up for the day because it's quieter than An Bang or Cua Dai. A few are in Da Nang and want a beach that doesn't feel like an extension of the hotel lobby.
The draw is simple: space. Central Vietnam's popular beaches get packed from October through March with domestic tourists and from December through April with international visitors. Ha My absorbs almost none of that traffic. You get a long, clean beach with calm water most of the year and very little commercial activity on the sand itself.
Best time to visit
The sweet spot is March through August. Skies are clear, the sea is calm enough for swimming, and temperatures sit between 27°C and 34°C. May and June are ideal — warm but not yet at peak summer heat, and the beach is empty on weekdays.
Avoid October through early December if you can. This is typhoon season for the central coast, and Ha My gets the same heavy rains and rough surf as everywhere else between Da Nang and Hoi An. The beach can lose significant sand during big storms, though it rebuilds by spring. January and February are cooler (22-25°C) and occasionally drizzly, but still fine for walking — just not great swimming weather.
It's about 25 km and takes 35-45 minutes depending on traffic. A Grab car runs 180,000-250,000 VND one way. If you're coming from the airport, add another 15 minutes.
From Hoi An: This is the easier trip. Head north on the coastal road — it's only 8 km, about 15 minutes by motorbike or 80,000-120,000 VND by Grab. Some hotels in Hoi An will lend you a bicycle, and the ride takes about 30-40 minutes on flat roads through rice fields and small villages. This is the better route scenically.
There's no direct public bus that drops you at the beach, so private transport is the way.
Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels
Swim and walk the shoreline
The obvious one, but worth saying: the beach runs for several kilometers and the water is gentle from March through August. No jet skis, no banana boats. Just ocean. Walk north toward Dien Ban and you'll pass sections where fishing boats are pulled up on the sand — the old village economy is still visible here.
Watch the fishing boats at dawn
Local fishermen launch their round basket boats ("thung chai") early in the morning, usually between 5:00 and 6:30 AM. If you're up for it, walk to the northern end of the beach where the boats cluster. Some mornings you can buy fish directly — expect to pay 50,000-80,000 VND for a bag of fresh shrimp or a couple of mackerel. Not a performance for tourists; this is how people here make a living.
Cycle through Dien Duong village
The area behind the beach is a mix of newer construction and older village lanes. Rent a bicycle from your hotel or from a shop in Hoi An and ride the back roads through Dien Duong. You'll pass vegetable gardens, small temples, and houses with courtyards where people dry rice and fish. It's flat, easy riding.
Day trip to Hoi An's old town
Hoi An is right there. If you're based at Ha My, the ancient town is a short ride south. Go in the late afternoon when the heat drops and the lanterns come on. Plenty of people use Ha My as a quieter base for visiting Hoi An without staying in the tourist center.
Snorkel at Cu Lao Cham
From the Cua Dai jetty — about 10 km south — you can catch a speedboat to Cu Lao Cham island (300,000-400,000 VND round trip, 20 minutes each way). The coral isn't pristine, but visibility is good from June through August and the island is worth a half day.
Where to eat nearby
Ha My itself has limited dining — a few seafood shacks near the beach and whatever the resorts offer. The real food is in Hoi An.
Order "mi quang" — the turmeric-tinted noodle dish that's the signature of Quang Nam. It's drier than a soup, loaded with shrimp, pork, herbs, and topped with rice crackers. Mi Quang Ong Hai on Ly Thai To street in Hoi An does a good version for 35,000 VND. "Cao lau" is the other local noodle dish — thicker, chewier, with pork and greens in a small amount of dark broth. You'll find it at most places in the old town.
If you're staying beachside and don't want to ride into town, ask your hotel to grill whatever the fishermen brought in that morning. Most places will do this for 150,000-300,000 VND depending on the catch.
Budget (under 600,000 VND/night): A few homestays and guesthouses sit along the road behind the beach. Basic but clean, usually with air conditioning and breakfast. Don't expect beachfront at this price.
Mid-range (600,000-2,500,000 VND/night): Several boutique hotels and small resorts have opened in recent years, some with pools and direct beach access. This is the sweet spot for most travelers — you get a quiet property without paying five-star rates.
High-end (above 2,500,000 VND/night): A couple of international-brand resorts sit along this stretch of coast. If that's your style, you'll get a private beach section, spa, and all the rest. Book direct for better rates.
Photo by Kirandeep Singh Walia on Pexels
Practical tips locals would tell you
- Bring cash. There are no ATMs on the beach and card acceptance is unreliable outside the resorts. Grab a few hundred thousand VND before you head out. - Sunscreen and shade. There's limited natural shade outside the casuarina groves. Bring your own umbrella or rent a beach chair from one of the shacks (30,000-50,000 VND). - Rip currents exist. The beach looks gentle, but after storms or during transitional months (September, October), currents pick up. Swim near other people and watch for red flags. - Mosquitoes at dusk. The tree line and nearby ponds mean mosquitoes show up around 5 PM. Repellent is essential if you're sitting outside for dinner.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Coming during typhoon season and expecting beach weather. Check forecasts in October and November. Storms can shut the coast down for days. - Skipping Hoi An because you want "just beach." It's 15 minutes away. Go at least once for the food. - Renting a motorbike without experience. The coastal road between Da Nang and Hoi An has fast-moving truck traffic in sections. If you're not confident on two wheels, take a Grab. - Assuming it's the same vibe as My Khe. Ha My is quiet by design. There's no nightlife, no beach bars pumping music. If that's what you want, stay closer to Da Nang center.
Ha My works best as a slow day or a base for exploring the Da Nang–Hoi An corridor without the crowds. Pair it with a morning in Hoi An, an afternoon in the water, and a plate of "mi quang (미꽝 / 广南面 / ミークアン)" — that's a full day by any measure. No agenda required.
Last updated · May 21, 2026 · independently researched, never sponsored.
