Vietnam is an S-shaped country with a coastline of 3,260 kilometers in length. Tourists can travel across Vietnam with many forms of transportations such as airplane, bus, boat, or motorbike. Among these options, riding a motorbike through the whole country along the coastline is the most wonderful experience. Many young Vietnamese people and foreign tourists accomplish this adventurous journey.
In this article, I will show you the most beautiful coastal roads in Vietnam from Saigon to Hue. The total route is around 1,145 kilometers. You can ride many hours per day to accomplish your journey as fast as possible. However, it’s best to take your time on the road. You will go through many tourist attractions as well as hidden local spots along the way. I have compiled these places in the list below, you should definitely in these cities and feel the beauty of the landscape and local life in Vietnam in the most fulfilling way. Before digging into the details, read A Comprehensive Guide to Buying and Renting Motorbikes in Saigon to be best prepared for your tough journey.
Saigon – Vung Tau – Phan Thiet (255 kilometers)
Start your motorbike journey by riding to Cat Lai Ferry in District 2, Saigon, which borders Dong Nai province by Soai Rap river. Get on the ferry, watch the nice view of the river, and enjoy the experience as a local motorist. After reaching Dong Nai province, ride to Long Thanh district and Ba Ria town. In Long Khanh town, there are many rest stops along the road that sell the famous Lothamilk, dairy products, and other specialties in this area. Taking a break is worth your time.
Next, ride to Ho Tram via Loc An. You will see a roundabout with clear signs. Note that Loc An is the last place you will find gasoline. The next gas station is about 60 kilometers away.
Then, you will finally meet the coastal road and the next segment of your journey is absolutely breathtaking. The blue ocean and white beaches are within eyesight, the smell of the sea is around you, and the cool wind will flow through your hair.
On the way, you will pass Ho Tram, Binh Chau Hot Spring, and Binh Chau National Park. If you have time, visit these places and go camping overnight in Ho Tram. It will be an unforgettable experience for you.
Continue riding until you arrive at La Gi town, Binh Thuan province. La Gi was recently made famous among tourists a few years ago. Coco Beachcamp is a famous accommodation that attracts many young people because it has a camping site on the beach. Stay in the town for a day, eat as many kinds of seafood as you like, and feel the local life here. Then, continue your journey by riding along the coastal road to Mom Da Chim and Ke Ga. Ke Ga is the oldest lighthouse in Southeast Asia.
Then, go straight ahead to Phan Thiet city and make a turn toward Mui Ne. Mui Ne is one of the most famous coastal cities in Vietnam. Don’t miss your chance to explore this city. Read Mui Ne – Everything You Must Know About the Perfect Seaside Getaway to know more interesting information about Mui Ne.
Phan Thiet – Phan Rang – Nha Trang (225 kilometers)
After spending a few days in Mui Ne, you will gain more energy for your road trip. Take DT716 to witness the changing landscape: sand dunes! The sand changes color from yellow to red and from red to white. It is just like riding through a vast desert. After a long ride, you will meet Phan Ri Cua town and Ganh Son. Ganh Son is a red clay hill with a unique and spectacular shape. Stop at Ganh Son, walk along the red hill, and explore the fishing village here.
Then, ride to Co Thach, the rock field with seven colors. In March, this is the moss season and all the rocks are covered with moss. Many photographers take marvelous photos in this place. When you start your journey again, you will ride on QL1A for a while. Ca Na beach in Ninh Thuan province is your next destination, home to salt making. This is a traditional occupation of the local people in this area.
From Ca Na, make a turn onto the coastal road and continue riding on the beautiful and quiet road. Nam Cuong Sand Dune is on the way, which are enormous yellow sand dunes. Ride a little bit more and Phan Rang city appears. This is also a famous tourist attraction that you should explore. The excellent hilltop Cham tower complex is the highlight of Phan Rang. In Phan Rang, it is not difficult for you to meet the herds of sheep and goats, or the green vineyards on the road.
Then, the road DT702 from Phan Rang to Cam Ranh draws an arc embracing Nui Chua National Park, where both desert and forest meet each other. This is the most stunning and wildest road in the journey. On the way, you will meet Vinh Hy Bay, then Tam Binh islands including Binh Tien, Binh Hung, and Binh Ba island. These islands are still pristine, the water is dark blue and clean, and the lobster is the cheapest you will find in Vietnam (or ever). Get on the boat and stay on these islands for a few days. You won’t regret it. Read The Islands of Vietnam – Hidden Tropical Getaways to find more information about Binh Ba and Binh Hung island.
Ride on QL1A to Cam Ranh city in Khanh Hoa province, then make a turn onto DT6571 to head to Nha Trang city. Now, you will arrive at the most famous coastal city in Vietnam. Make your exciting trip in Nha Trang by reading Discovering Nha Trang the Local Way – A Two Day Itinerary.
Nha Trang – Tuy Hoa – Quy Nhon (215 kilometers)
From Nha Trang, ride on QL1A, passing many islands and bays on your way. Bien Doc Let is a famous beach with many kinds of water sports that you can try. Camping is another thrilling activity here. Van Phong Bay is your next stop. There are a bunch of islands and interesting places for you to see. In particular, Mui Doi, the easternmost point of Vietnam, is the highlight of Van Phong Bay.
Next, you will see Deo Ca Pass, one of the most spectacular passes in Vietnam. When you ride through Deo Ca Pass, the immense blue ocean, the yellow paddy fields, and the dense green forest appear before your eyes. What a picturesque view!
After conquering Deo Ca Pass, you will arrive at Tuy Hoa city, Phu Yen province. Keep riding on the coastal roads, many beautiful terrains are located along the way. Ganh Da Dia, Ganh Yen, Ganh Den, Ganh Ong, Bai Xep Beach, and O Loan Lagoon are outstanding places. In particular, Ganh Da Dia consists of numerous rocks of various shapes, such as circles, pentagons, polygons, and more. It looks like a honeycomb shape from afar.
Then, you will ride through many beautiful beaches and bays such Vung Lam Bay and Xuan Dai Bay. Cu Mong Pass is another pass that you will conquer before reaching Quy Nhon city in Binh Dinh province. This is a peaceful coastal city that you should spend some time in. Ky Co beach, Eo Gio, and Cu Lao Xanh island are the most stunning places in the city.
Quy Nhon – Quang Ngai – Da Nang (325 kilometers)
From Quy Nhon city, you will cross Thi Nai Bridge, the longest sea-crossing bridge, 7.5 kilometers in length. After riding on the coastal road for a while, you will see Trung Luong Sea and Ong Nui Pagoda. Trung Luong is a new camping site that has attracted many young people recently, and the largest sitting Buddha statue in Southeast Asia is situated in Ong Nui Pagoda.
Continue riding on the coastal roads, you will see many stunning beaches and lagoons along the way such as De Gi Beach, Sa Huynh Beach, An Khe Lagoon, and Lam Binh Lagoon. On the way, you will have to ride on QL1A for a little bit because there is no coastal road. Next, you will finally arrive at Quang Ngai, and Ly Son Island is not too far from you. Ly Son is a small tranquil island which is famous for its beautiful landscape, and cheap yet delicious seafood. The local people also grow the best onions in Vietnam on the island.
Keep riding until you see Tam Ky city in Quang Nam province. Bich Hoa Tam Thanh Village is a nice place near Tam Ky City that you should visit. The vivid paintings depicting the daily life of coastal people are painted on the walls of more than 100 houses in the village.
After a break in the village, start your journey again. Hoi An is your destination now. This is the most favorite city of foreign tourists in Vietnam with the ancient town, large vegetable village, nice white beach, and islands for diving. You should spend a few days in Hoi An before heading to Da Nang via the coastal roads. Then, the most developed city in central Vietnam and the most livable city in the whole country is here. Read When Is The Best Time To Visit Da Nang? Lists Of Things To Do Included! to make your time in Da Nang the most memorable.
Da Nang – Hai Van Pass – Hue (125 kilometers)
After exploring Da Nang, continue your journey to Hue by following the coastal roads along My Khe Beach. Next, you will have an amazing experience when riding through one of the most scenic hillside roads in Vietnam, Hai Van Pass. Conquer the zigzag roads and observe the stunning landscape that literally grows up before your eyes. The green forest covers the entire mountain and the vast blue ocean stretches below Hai Van Pass, revealing a few hidden beaches.
Make a turn onto Nguyen Van street to get to Lap An Lagoon in Lang Co town. This is one of my most favorite spots on the way to Hue. Relax after spending long hours on the motorbike, enjoy the peaceful moment on the side of Lap An Lagoon, observe the peaceful scene of rippling water and small sampans sailing around the lagoon, breathe the fresh air in the coastal town, and explore the daily activities in this fishing village. Then, stop at a small restaurant located around the lagoon, and eat delicious fresh seafood with the cheapest price.
After having a break in Lang Co town, get back on the road through Hai Van Pass. You will pass Bach Ma National Park on the way. Don’t miss the chance to explore the mountainous landscape in this national park. Vong Hai Dai Tower, Do Quyen Waterfall, Ngu Ho Lake, Cho Den Forest, and Truc Lam Pagoda are the most stunning sites in Bach Ma National Park. Read Get Off the Beaten Track in Hue, Vietnam to know more information about the national park.
When you finish exploring Bach Ma National Park, find your way back to QL1A for a short period of time and make a turn onto QL49B. QL49B is a stunning coastal road cutting through six lagoons in succession, including Cau Hai, Thuy Tu, Ha Trung, Sam, Thanh Lam, and Tam Giang Lagoon. One side of the road is the immense sea and another side is the large lagoons. The beautiful scenes of fisherman on their sampans collecting fish from the big fishing nets at sunset are easily found along this road.
QL49B also leads you to An Bang fishing village, also known as the “Ghost City”. The local people in this village compete with each other to build the magnificent and splendid graves for the dead in their family. With a short ride, you can see a lot of graves located along the road. You can continue riding on QL49B to explore more beautiful landscapes or make a left turn to go to Hue city.
Read Discovering Hue: Vietnam’s Imperial City and UNESCO World Heritage Site to make a plan for your time in Hue. If you don’t have enough energy to go through a long journey by yourself, Onetrip offers Hue Dropoff. Sit on the back of a motorbike with a local tour guide and explore the route from Da Nang to Hue in the most relaxed way.
Your adventurous journey ends now. You must be excited about these travels despite just having finished this article. What are you waiting for? Pack your bag and start this trip as soon as possible. Keep reading more articles about off-the-beaten-track places to fulfill your adventurous hobby.
The Best Off-The-Beaten-Track Beaches in Vietnam
Saigon’s Best Off-the-Beaten-Path Locations
Get Off the Beaten Track in Hue, Vietnam
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