Avani Travel Diary – Quy Nhon, Vietnam

Being a coastal town, life in Quy Nhon revolves around the ocean. Tiny fishing boats bobbing along the coastal horizon, an unspoilt sandy beach with a lush green mountainous backdrop and dozens of unassuming local eateries and bars dotting the promenade.

Make Avani Quy Nhon Resort your base if you want to combine beachfront relaxation and a bit of sightseeing. With nearby picturesque islands and a thriving fishing village, there are plenty of offsite activities to keep you busy between yoga and tai chi classes on the resort’s veranda. In addition, you can rent a kayak and go exploring or try a cooking class, a martial arts workshop or a tension-relieving massage at a hilltop spa with stunning views and salty breezes.

For a taste of local culture, start your day with a cup of extra-strong Vietnamese drip coffee served over ice and sweetened with condensed milk, then stop for a filling breakfast of Banh Xeo, a type of Vietnamese pancake wrapped in rice paper and filled with prawns and fresh vegetables. This being the seafood capital of Vietnam, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to the affordable bounty of the sea. Be sure to try Banh Canh Cha Ca, a rice noodle soup filled with fishcakes, vegetables, and beansprouts — another breakfast favourite.

Before it gets too hot, join the fishermen and head out in a fishing boat to explore the surrounding islands. After lunch in Quy Nhon, visit the history museum and the twin Cham Towers downtown for the most unusual photo backdrop. After dark, hop on a motorbike with a local guide who will take you to the night market, local eateries, a karaoke parlour, and some relaxed waterfront spot for an ice-cold beer or two.

Time permitting, ask the resort to book you on a half-day countryside tour for a chance to dine in a local home among rice paddies and sample homemade rice wine.

Pre-Travel Guide for Quy Nhon, Vietnam

Currency

• Vietnamese Dong

Best Time to Visit Quy Nhon

• Quy Nhon and the entire coastal stretch from Hue down to Nha Trang is best visited from January through to July, when the area sees little rainfall and the dry and sunny season offers ideal conditions for snorkelling, diving, sunbathing, and sightseeing.

How to Get to Quy Nhon

• Flight: Phu Cat Airport (IATA: UIH, ICAO: VVPC) (Vietnamese: Sân bay Phù Cát) is the airport serving Quy Nhon. Domestic flights to Quy Nhon from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are operated daily by Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, and Jetstar.
• Train: Quy Nhon is served by Dieu Tri train station on the Reunification Express line with routes northbound to Hanoi, and southbound to Saigon. Visit the Vietnam railway website for an up-to-date schedule: https://dsvn.vn
  • There are four Reunification Express trains including the SE2, SE4, SE6, and SE8 on this route. They depart every day and take about 12 hours (from Saigon to Dieu Tri or return).
  • The distance to/from the Hanoi station is about 1096 kilometres. There are four Reunification Express trains including the SE2, SE4, SE6, and SE8 on this route. They depart every day and take about 22 hours (from Dieu Tri to Hanoi or return).

How to Get Around Quy Nhon

• Taxis are widely available (and affordable) and are by far the easiest way to get around Quy Nhon.

Helpful Local Words

• Xin chao - Hello
• Ban khoe khong – How are you?
• Cam on – Thank you
• Xin loi – Sorry
• Tam biet – Goodbye