My Khe Beach, Da Nang

My Khe Beach in Da Nang often appears on lists of the best beaches in the world, and there are good reasons for that. This very long white sand forms a border to a bay with a vivid blue ocean. My Khe Beach is also a rare example of a beach in the centre of a large city which is good for both sunbathing and swimming.

Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

• Opening Hours: Swimming is permitted
  • 04:30 to 19:00 (April to September)
  • 05:30 to 18:30 (October to March)
• Entrance Fee: Free

About My Khe Beach

My Khe Beach is roughly 30 km long, stretching southward from the Son Tra Peninsula in the north east of Da Nang nearly all the way to the mouth of the Thu Bon River where Hoi An is located. Visitors with the time and the energy could walk along the beach all the way from Da Nang City nearly the whole distance to Hoi An Old Town.

The name ‘My Khe Beach’ is used in a number of different ways. Sometimes the term is used, as in this article, to refer to the whole length of the coastline on the eastern side of Da Nang City which is a continuous stretch of sand. Other times the name is used to refer to only a smaller section of the coast to the north and immediately adjacent to a more built up part of the city.

My Khe Beach is also sometimes referred to a ‘China Beach’. This is the name that it was given by members of the American and Australian armed forces serving in Vietnam during the 1960s and early 1970s. The first contingent of US soldiers to join in with the conflict between North and South Vietnam arrived on My Khe Beach in March 1965, and for the duration of American involvement in that conflict My Khe Beach was used by it’s servicemen for swimming and surfing.

Facilities on My Khe Beach

My Khe Beach has lots of facilities for visitors. Travelling south from the Son Tra Peninsula there is a 12.5 km continuous line of buildings behind the beach, many of which are hotels, restaurants, shops and bars. In some parts of the beach the buildings are actually located on the edge of the sand. In other parts the buildings are on the other side of a road which runs parallel to the upper section of the beach.

The busiest part of My Khe Beach in Da Nang city centre is backed by a long pedestrianised walkway. Lots of food trucks are permanently parked on the walkway, most of which open late morning and carry on serving until fairly late at night during the tourist season. Many of the food trucks serve Western style cuisine such as pizza, hamburger, french fries and other types of sandwich.

My Khe Beach also has lots of seafood restaurants and restaurants serving Western style cuisine in permanent buildings right at the edge of the beach. The majority of the visitors to My Khe Beach are Vietnamese tourists, and the best value for money restaurants on the beach tend to be seafood restaurants catering primarily to those domestic tourists.

Some parts of My Khe Beach also have large beach front bars which stay open until late in the evening and play loud popular music. The majority of the customers using these bars are Vietnamese bars, although the prices of the drinks tend to be way above what you might normally expect to pay in Vietnam.

Different sections of My Khe Beach

The municipal authorities in Da Nang have chosen names for different sections of My Khe Beach, and these sections of the beach are signposted.

There are good reasons for splitting My Khe Beach into distinct parts. One reason is that some parts of the beach are safer to swim in than others. There are potentially dangerous riptides in some parts of the bay, and the signage indicates which areas the local authorities believe are and are not safe to swim in. Many of the safer areas have lifeguards in duty and lines floating in the water indicating which areas are safe and which are not. Vietnamese visitors intending to swim in the sea tend to congregate in these safe areas with lifeguards.

The busiest part of My Khe Beach is the part which has been named Bai Bien Beach. It’s located about 5 km walking distance to the south of the Son Tra Peninsula. Large numbers of people come to this beach, and the neighbouring Thong Bao Beach. to swim and sunbathe.

Bai Bien Beach also has several large beachfront bars and restaurants which are among the most expensive on My Khe Beach. These include Ocean Lounge, My Hahn Seafood, Esco Beach, 4U Seafood, Lounge Beach and East West Brewing Company.

Location of My Khe Beach

My Khe Beach is located 5.1 km by road from Da Nang Railway Station.