Let me be honest up front: central Vietnam is not a surf powerhouse. But if you are already drawn to Hoi An’s lantern-lit old town and Da Nang’s long beaches, there is a genuine, mellow, uncrowded little surf scene here that comes alive for a few months a year. Driven by the northeast monsoon, the sandy beach breaks along My Khe, An Bang and their neighbors deliver soft, forgiving waves that are perfect for learning or cruising on a longboard, in warm water and with barely anyone out. Treat it as a fun add-on to a culture trip rather than a swell mission, and it delivers. This is a low-key stop on our guide to surfing in Vietnam. Here’s every break, when to go, and how to set up.
Quick surf guide to Hoi An and Da Nang
- Best season: the northeast monsoon, roughly September to March, best November to February; flat in summer
- Best for beginners: My Khe (China Beach), An Bang
- Best for advanced: Non Nuoc on the bigger days (this is a mellow zone overall)
- Wave type: soft, sand-bottom beach breaks
- Water temp: 23 to 30°C, boardshorts, at most a thin top on a cold winter dawn
- Crowds: very low, one of the quietest surf zones in Asia
- Getting there: Da Nang airport (DAD), 10 to 15 min to the beaches, 30 to 45 min to Hoi An
- Budget: $25 to $60 a day
Where to surf in Hoi An and Da Nang
The waves string along the coast between Da Nang’s long city beaches and Hoi An’s An Bang, about 30 minutes apart. Tap a marker to preview a break, then click its name to jump to my full rundown below.
The Da Nang beaches
Da Nang’s long city beaches hold the most consistent and most accessible waves, with the surf schools clustered here.
My Khe (China Beach)
My Khe, the beach American soldiers knew as China Beach, is the main event and the friendliest wave in the region: mellow, forgiving peaks over soft sand that break slowly, giving you plenty of time to pop up. It is most consistent when a northeast swell meets a light offshore, and the best waves come at dawn before the wind swings onshore around mid-morning. This is where nearly all the surf schools operate, and where most people take their first Vietnamese waves.
Bac My An (An Thuong)
Just south of My Khe, the stretch fronting the An Thuong tourist quarter, sometimes called Bac My An, offers similar mellow sandbar peaks with the convenience of surf shops, rentals, cafes and lessons right behind the sand. It is an easy, low-pressure place to surf and to sort out a board, with the same soft beach-break character as its bigger-name neighbor. A handy base if you want everything within walking distance.
Non Nuoc
Further south, below the Marble Mountains, Non Nuoc has a rockier setup, stronger currents and a bit more punch than the beaches to the north, stepping up toward advanced on the bigger days. With minimal facilities, it is better for confident surfers bringing their own gear than for learners. The upside is space: it is usually the quietest of the Da Nang options.
The Hoi An beaches
A short ride from the old town, Hoi An’s beaches are gentler still, and closer to the lanterns and the food.
An Bang
Hoi An’s main beach, a 15 to 20 minute cycle from the old town, is fronted by hotels, cafes and beach bars right on the sand. The waves are genuinely mushy and small, which makes An Bang fine for total beginners and for longboard cruising but rarely much more. Come for the easy learning, the sunset drinks and the proximity to Hoi An’s food and lanterns rather than for performance surf.
Cua Dai
Once a working beach break, Cua Dai has been largely neutralized by the anti-erosion breakwaters and embankments built to protect the badly eroded shoreline, which now absorb most of the swell, so it is often essentially flat. I include it for completeness, but do not plan a session around it: if there is surf in the area, you will find it at My Khe or An Bang long before here.
When to surf in Hoi An and Da Nang
Shoulder
Off-season (flat, glassy)
Central Vietnam’s surf is driven entirely by the northeast winter monsoon, so the season runs roughly September or October to March or April, and is most consistent from November to February, with December and January the peak. Expect waist- to head-high beach-break waves, occasionally bigger, breaking best at dawn before the wind turns onshore around mid-morning. It is never a big or powerful swell, but it is fun, warm and gloriously uncrowded.
The flip side is that the summer, roughly April or May to August, is essentially flat: calm, glassy and swell-free, good only for splashing about in the whitewater or for stand-up paddling. If you are coming specifically to surf, aim for the winter window and manage your expectations, and if you are here in summer for the culture, treat any small wave as a bonus rather than the plan.
Surf schools and where to stay in Hoi An and Da Nang
This is a small, informal surf scene rather than a packaged surf-camp destination: a handful of surf schools and board rentals cluster around My Khe and the An Thuong quarter in Da Nang, running lessons and hiring out foamies and longboards through the season. Base yourself in Da Nang, right by the beaches and the most consistent waves, or in Hoi An if the old town and An Bang are more your speed, with the two about 30 to 45 minutes apart. Learn on My Khe or An Bang, get around by cheap motorbike or Grab, and lean on the local schools for the tides and the forecast. For the wider picture, see our guide to surfing in Vietnam.
Compare surf camps in Vietnam on BookSurfCamps
What to pack for Hoi An and Da Nang
Warm water, soft waves and a mellow, seasonal scene are what to plan for. My central Vietnam checklist:
- Boardshorts and a rashguard, no wetsuit needed in 23 to 30 degree water, with a thin neoprene top only for a cool, windy winter dawn
- The right board: a longboard or foamie suits these soft beach breaks best; see our best beginner surfboards and check your board volume, or just rent locally
- Reef-safe SPF and a surf hat for the tropical sun
- A spare leash and set of fins, since dedicated surf shops are few and stock is limited
Getting to Hoi An and Da Nang
Fly into Da Nang International (DAD), one of the best-connected airports in Asia, with flights from across the region. The My Khe and An Thuong beaches are just 10 to 15 minutes from the airport by taxi or Grab, while Hoi An and An Bang are a 30 to 45 minute transfer south (around $15 to $20 by car). Once you are settled, the easiest way to get around and to chase the dawn glass-off is a cheap rented motorbike, most of which will take a board rack, or short Grab rides. If you’re planning a wider trip, see our guide to surfing in Vietnam.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hoi An good for beginner surfers?
Yes, for gentle learning. The beach breaks at My Khe in Da Nang and An Bang near Hoi An are soft, sandy and forgiving, with surf schools and rentals on hand, which makes them a nice place to take your first waves in warm water. Just come in the winter season, as summer is flat.
When is the best time to surf in Hoi An and Da Nang?
The northeast monsoon season, roughly September or October to March, is when there is surf, most consistent from November to February. Waves are waist- to head-high and best at dawn before the onshore wind. Summer, from around April or May to August, is essentially flat.
Is Vietnam a good surf destination?
Honestly, it is a small, seasonal and mellow one, not a powerhouse. Central Vietnam offers fun, soft, uncrowded beach breaks in the winter monsoon window and is flat much of the year, so it is best enjoyed as a relaxed add-on to a culture trip around Hoi An and Da Nang rather than a dedicated swell mission.
Do I need a wetsuit to surf in Vietnam?
No. The water sits around 23 to 30 degrees Celsius, so boardshorts and a rashguard are plenty. The only extra worth having is a thin neoprene top or shorty to take the chill off a cold, windy December or January dawn session.
What is the best surf beach near Hoi An?
My Khe (China Beach) in Da Nang is the most consistent and the friendliest wave, and the hub for surf schools. An Bang is Hoi An’s own beach, gentler and mushier, ideal for total beginners and close to the old town. Non Nuoc is the punchier, quieter option for confident surfers.
Can you surf in Hoi An year-round?
No. Surf here is strictly seasonal, tied to the northeast monsoon from roughly September to March. Outside that window, especially in the summer months, the coast is usually flat and glassy, so a year-round surf trip is not realistic. Plan around the winter season.
Hoi An and Da Nang will never be a surf trip in the classic sense, but that is part of the charm: warm, soft, empty beach breaks in a corner of Asia better known for lanterns, food and history. Come in the winter monsoon window, learn on My Khe or An Bang, keep your expectations mellow, and enjoy a rare surf-and-culture combination with hardly a soul in the water. See you in the lineup.
