Vietnam - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 223

SOUTHEAST COAST
Vietnam has an incredibly curvaceous coastline and it's in the southeast region that it is at
its most alluring, with sweeping sands, towering cliffs and concealed bays. Many of the vo-
luptuous beaches along this stretch are yet to be developed. Not for long.
Nha Trang, Mui Ne and Con Dao are the key destinations, but the beach breaks come
thick and fast in this part of the country. If your idea of paradise is reclining in front of tur-
quoise waters and weighing up the merits of a massage or a mojito, then you have come to
the right place.
On hand to complement the sedentary delights are activities to set the pulse racing, in-
cluding scuba diving, snorkelling, surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. Action or inaction,
this region bubbles with opportunities.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Quy Nhon
056 / POP 292,000
This sprawling city is not a destination in itself, but it's still worth a stop. Close by are
some blissful beaches, the countryside is dotted with ancient Cham temples and you'll find
some excellent seafood.
Sights & Activities
The long sweep of Quy Nhon's beachfront extends from the port in the northeast to the hills
in the south: a beautiful stretch of sand. Queen's Beach is popular with locals and has great
views back over Quy Nhon. It's just over the hill to the south of town. Quy Hoa Beach is a
popular weekend hang-out for the city's small expat community.
The partially ruined Thap Doi Cham Towers (admission 10,000d; 8-11am & 1-6pm) sit in a
pretty little park. They're about 1.5km south of Quy Nhon, beyond Queen's Beach.