South East Asian Trips

In total, Vietnam has 3260 km (2021 miles) of coastline. The most popular beaches are Vung Tau, just north of the Mekong Delta; and Nha Trang, near Da Lat, where the clear, turquoise waters offer good snorkelling and scuba diving. Snorkelling and diving equipment can be hired at most beach resorts. Other good beaches can be found at Phan Thiet (south-central coast); Mui Ne (noted for its large sand dunes); and the magnificent Ha Long Bay, where some 3000 islands, covered in lush vegetation and dotted with beaches and grottos, rise out of the Gulf of Tonkin.

With its 3000 Km coastline, Vietnam should be a paradise for water sports, but the options remain fairly limited at present, for a variety of reasons. One is simply a matter of access: the infrastructure is not yet in place. More crucial is the presence of potentially dangerous undercurrents along much of the coast, accompanied by strong winds at certain times of year. Many of the big beach resorts have guards or put out flags in season indicating where it's safe to swim. Elsewhere, check carefully before taking the plunge.

Whilst many of the beaches along the central and south-central coast are great for swimming, the best are those around Mui Ne, with Nha Trang, Hoi An and Da Nang close behind. Mui Ne is also the country's top venue for windsurfing and kitesurfing, both of which are currently hugely popular. Phu Quoc Island, off Vietnam's southern coast, is rapidly becoming known not only for its excellent beaches but also as the country's top spot for snorkelling and scuba-diving. The Con Dao Islands and Nha Trang are other popular places to don a snorkel or wet suit, but wherever you dive, it's worth noting that standards of maintenance aren't always great, so check equipment carefully and only go out with a properly qualified and registered operator that you trust.

Heading inland, the rivers and waterfalls around Da Lat provide good possibilities for canyoning and rock-climbing.

Both Mui Ne and Non Nuoc beach near Da Nang have a good reputation for windsurfing. Mui Ne even hosts an international kitesurfing competition each spring (usually February).

In north Vietnam Ha Long Bay is the centre of water-borne activity. Most boat tours of the bay allow time for swimming - weather permitting - while there are decent beaches on Cat Ba and better still on remote Quan Lan Island. For those in search of more strenuous exercise, a number of tour agents offer sea-kayaking trips on the bay - not recommended in the heat of summer.