Snorkeling in Vietnam

Best time by region

Each cell counts the places in this list marked as worth visiting in that month (the best months on each location page). Darker means more of the region's places agree.

Snorkeling by region21 places

North Vietnam (2)

Destination guides Cat Ba · North Vietnam guide →

Island

Cô Tô Island

Quang Ninh

Cô Tô Island in Quảng Ninh province is one of northern Vietnam's most pristine island destinations - an archipelago of nearly 50 islands in the Gulf of Tonkin with white sand beaches, clear turquoise water, coral snorkeling, and an unhurried fishing village atmosphere far removed from the crowds of Hạ Long Bay. Accessible by fast catamaran ferry from Ao Tiên port in around 60-90 minutes.

Apr - Oct→

Bay

Lan Hạ Bay

Hải Phòng

Lan Hạ Bay is the southern section of the Ha Long karst system - 400 limestone islands, hidden beaches, floating fishing villages, and some of the clearest water in the Gulf of Tonkin, with a fraction of Ha Long's boat traffic and far better kayaking conditions. The bioluminescence night kayaking tour is an experience Ha Long Bay doesn't offer.

Apr - Jun, Sep - Nov→

Central Vietnam (11)

Destination guides Ly Son, Nha Trang · Central Vietnam guide →

Island

Đảo Bé (An Bình Island)

Quảng Ngãi

Đảo Bé - also known as An Bình Island or Cù Lao Bờ Bãi - is a small outer island 3 nautical miles northwest of Lý Sơn's main island, reachable by a 10-15 minute boat ride. With clearer water, more intact coral reefs, and a fraction of the crowds of the main island, it's the best snorkeling location in the Lý Sơn archipelago and a quieter alternative for a half-day by the sea.

Apr - Aug→

Island

Điệp Sơn Island

Khánh Hòa

Điệp Sơn is a remote island cluster in Vân Phong Bay, northern Khánh Hòa, where a narrow tidal sandbar - close to a kilometre long - connects three islands at low tide, one of Vietnam's most photogenic natural phenomena, reached by a short boat ride from Vạn Giã fishing port.

Dec - Sep→

Beach

Hang Câu

Quảng Ngãi

Hang Câu is Lý Sơn's most dramatic coastal spot - a beach at the base of Núi Thới Lới, on the island's northeastern shore, where vertical basalt cliffs meet turquoise water and coral reefs. The combination of volcanic cliff faces, clear water, and accessible snorkeling makes it one of the island's top swimming and photography destinations.

Apr - Aug→

Rock Formation

Hang Rai

Ninh Thuận

Hang Rai is a wild stretch of Ninh Thuận coastline inside Núi Chúa National Park - ancient coral rock formations shaped by centuries of waves, best at sunrise or late afternoon when the light turns the jagged stone red and gold. Part of the Vĩnh Hy - Hang Rai - Vườn Nho coastal route.

Jan - Aug→

Island

Hon Kho Island

Bình Định

Hòn Khô is a small uninhabited rocky island northeast of Quy Nhơn, known for clear turquoise water, coral reefs, dramatic boulder coastline, and a seasonal golden seaweed (rong mơ) spectacle from May to July when the sea floor turns gold.

Feb - Sep→

Photo coming soon

Island

Hòn Mun Island

Khánh Hòa

Hòn Mun Island is the core zone of Nha Trang Bay Marine Protected Area, historically the best diving and snorkeling site in the bay - though its coral reefs have suffered serious, well-documented decline since 2020, and current conditions are a genuine mixed bag rather than the pristine reef of older travel guides.

Feb - Sep→

Island

Hòn Tằm Island

Khánh Hòa

Hòn Tằm is Nha Trang Bay's most developed private island - a resort island a short speedboat ride offshore with white sand beaches, water sports, and Vietnam's largest island-based hot mineral mud bath complex, though at a real cost in crowding, gated resort access, and inflated food prices.

Feb - Sep→

Island

Hon Yen Island

Phú Yên

Hòn Yến is a small coral island 15km north of Tuy Hòa in Phú Yên - two islands (Hòn Yến and Hòn Sụn) connected by a rock path at low tide, with exposed coral reefs, lobster farming, and floating seafood restaurants. Named for the swifts that once nested here.

Mar - Sep→

Lighthouse

Kê Gà Lighthouse

Bình Thuận

Kê Gà Lighthouse near Mũi Né is a historic French-built lighthouse dating to 1897-1899. Take a short boat ride to the rocky islet for panoramic views of Bình Thuận's coast - climbing the 183 spiral steps to the top has traditionally been allowed, though access can now depend on border guard or station permission.

Sep - Jul→

Beach

Kỳ Co Beach

Bình Định

Kỳ Co Beach is a secluded 1km² cove near Quy Nhơn with turquoise water, golden sand, and dramatic cliff scenery - 25km from Quy Nhơn city, accessible by speedboat from Nhơn Lý fishing village or by road year-round.

Apr - Sep→

Island

Phú Quý Island

Bình Thuận

Phú Quý Island (also known as Cù Lao Thu) is a remote coral island 120km off the Bình Thuận coast with some of the clearest water and best diving in southern Vietnam - a 2.5 to 3.5 hour ferry from Phan Thiết that delivers a genuine fishing island experience with minimal resort infrastructure.

Mar - Aug→

South Vietnam (8)

Destination guides Con Dao · South Vietnam guide →

Island

Ba Hòn Đầm Islands

Kien Giang

Ba Hòn Đầm is a cluster of three small islands in the Bà Lụa Archipelago, Kiên Lương - known as the 'mini Ha Long of the South', 20km offshore with calm shallow water between the islands, colourful pebble beaches, and bioluminescence at night from November to April.

Nov - Apr→

Beach

Bãi Nhát

Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Bãi Nhát is one of Côn Đảo's most dramatic beaches - a tide-dependent stretch of white sand and multicoloured rock formations on the road between Con Son town and Bến Đầm port. Once ranked among Asia's top wild beaches by news.com.au, it is best known for its sunset views across to Đỉnh Tình Yêu (Love Peak), its boulder-strewn shoreline that vanishes completely at high tide, and the memorial to 198 prisoners who attempted a failed escape from the island in 1952.

Mar - Oct→

Photo coming soon

National Park

Con Dao National Park

Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Con Dao National Park - Vietnam's premier wildlife and marine conservation area. 19,883 hectares, Ramsar Wetland since 2013. Vietnam's most important sea turtle site: 400+ turtles nest annually. Three endemic species found nowhere else on earth. Rainforest trekking, coral reefs, dugong, and sea turtles in one protected area.

May - Sep→

Beach

Đầm Trầu beach

Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Bãi Đầm Trầu is one of the most striking beaches on Côn Đảo - a crescent of fine white sand backed by primary rainforest, ranked in Travel + Leisure's Top 25 Beaches in the World in 2021. Its most unusual feature: it sits directly below the flight path of Cỏ Ống Airport, where planes pass just overhead on approach - one of the only places in Vietnam where you can swim while watching aircraft land.

Year-round→

Island

Hòn Sơn Island

Kien Giang

Hòn Sơn is a large mountainous island in the Gulf of Thailand, Kiên Giang - calmer seas and a shorter crossing than Phú Quý, with clear water, Ma Thiên Lãnh peak, fishing villages, and almost no resort development. Minimum 2 nights to do it properly.

Nov - May→

Island

Nam Du Islands

Kien Giang

Nam Du is Vietnam's southernmost island archipelago - 21 islands in the Gulf of Thailand, closer and cheaper than Phú Quốc, with clearer water, outer islands for snorkeling, and a genuine fishing community character. 2 hours from Rạch Giá by high-speed ferry.

Nov - May→

Island

Pirate Islands

Kien Giang

The Hai Tac Islands (Quần đảo Hải Tặc) are a 16-island archipelago in the Gulf of Thailand about 28km from Hà Tiên, historically known as the Pirate Islands. Reachable by a regular, roughly 30-minute speedboat service, they remain one of the least-developed island groups in Vietnam, with coral reefs, quiet beaches, and a small fishing community.

Nov - Apr→

Photo coming soon

Beach

Six Senses Beach

Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Six Senses Beach is the most beautiful stretch of coastline on Côn Đảo - a crescent of white sand and clear turquoise water at Đất Dốc, fronting the Six Senses resort, with patches of coral reported offshore and the forested national park hills rising directly behind the beach.

Mar - Sep→

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