Watching the sunrise from My Khe Beach in Da Nang, I paddled out to chest-high waves with only three other surfers in sight, a scenario unthinkable at Bali’s overcrowded breaks charging five times the price. Vietnam isn’t the first place that comes to mind for Southeast Asian surf, but this 2,000 mile South China Sea coastline is quietly earning a reputation among surfers who want uncrowded waves, low prices and real culture. From November to March the northeast monsoon delivers consistent beach breaks along the central and southern coasts. You won’t find Indonesia’s perfect barrels, but you will find beginner friendly waves, board rentals from about 150,000 VND ($6) an hour, world class food, and a scene that still feels like a local secret.
Quick surf guide to Vietnam
- Best season: December to February (most consistent), November to March for the full window
- Best for beginners: Da Nang (My Khe), Nha Trang (Bai Dai), Vung Tau
- Best for advanced: Nam O Point, Cham Islands, Con Dao
- Main wave type: sandy beach breaks, a few points and island reefs
- Water temp: 24 to 29°C year-round, no wetsuit, boardshorts only
- Airports: Da Nang (central), Cam Ranh/Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City (south)
- Budget: $30 to $80 a day, one of the best value surf trips anywhere
Where to surf in Vietnam
Vietnam’s surf starts about midway down the country, where the coast bends to face the northeast monsoon, and runs south from there to the islands. Tap a marker to preview a spot, then click its name to jump straight to it below.
Central Vietnam (the prime surf zone)
The heart of Vietnamese surf: long, sandy beach breaks around Da Nang and Hoi An, plus the country’s best surf infrastructure.
Da Nang (My Khe / China Beach)
Da Nang is Vietnam’s surf capital and the single most consistent spot in the country. My Khe Beach runs more than 20 miles, offering multiple peaks that work on different sandbars and tides, and you’re never more than ten minutes from a surf shop. The southern end (and neighbouring Non Nuoc) is softer and ideal for first timers, while Nam O Point, 20 minutes north, throws up punchier sandbar waves for intermediates and up on bigger swells. Dawn sessions before the onshore wind are the move.
Board rentals (2026): softboards around $6 to 8/hour or $20 to 25/day; shortboards $8 to 10/hour; premium boards $17 to 20/hour. Reliable shops include Surf Shack Da Nang, LST Surf Shop and Coco Surf, most with English speaking staff, showers and lockers. Private 2 hour lessons run about $50.
Hoi An (An Bang)
Half an hour south of Da Nang, Hoi An is one of the most beautiful towns in the country: lantern-lit streets, riverside coffee roasteries and French colonial architecture. The surf off An Bang beach is mostly gentle windswell mush, best taken with a bigger board and low expectations, but it’s a lovely, low-pressure place to learn, and China Beach is a cheap taxi away when it’s firing. See my full guide to surfing in Hoi An and Da Nang. Offshore, the Cham Islands hide reef breaks that can turn on with typhoon swell, but they’re strictly an advanced, boat-access, bring-local-knowledge mission.
Central-south coast
Quieter bays with a bit more swell exposure, and the country’s friendliest learner beaches.
Quy Nhon
One of Vietnam’s genuine under-the-radar spots. Quy Nhon sits on a wide, curving bay with long empty beaches and a growing but tiny surf scene, so if you want to surf central Vietnam without sharing the line-up, this is it. Waves are typical Vietnamese beach breaks: fun and playful on a good NE push, soft the rest of the time. Come for the seafood, the empty sand and the peace.
Nha Trang (Bai Dai)
Nha Trang is a resort city, but the surf happens 30 minutes south at Bai Dai, a long white-sand beach with sandbars that serve up clean 2 to 3 ft peelers, perfect for learning. There’s a slightly better fetch on the South China Sea here than up north, so waves can be a touch punchier, and a handful of surf schools run lessons right through the monsoon season.
Southern Vietnam
Wind-swept resort coast within reach of Ho Chi Minh City, with the country’s best-known point breaks and easy weekend escapes.
Mui Ne
Vietnam’s wind sports capital, and arguably its second-best surf destination after Da Nang. Mui Ne faces southeast and picks up consistent windswell, so it’s often choppy once the wind fills in, which makes the glassy dawn patrol the session to chase. Beyond the main beach there are rare point setups: Hon Rom and the right-hander below Little Buddha, plus the very consistent, learner-friendly Malibu beach, and Suoi Nuoc, which can even fire in the July to October off-season. Long-running Muine Local Surf School has taught thousands here.
La Gi
A low-key fishing town between Mui Ne and Vung Tau that’s slowly appearing on surfers’ radars. La Gi has long, empty beaches that catch the same NE windswell as its bigger neighbours, without any of the crowds or the kitesurfing traffic of Mui Ne. Bring your own board and a sense of adventure.
Vung Tau (Back Beach)
The go-to weekend surf escape for anyone based in Saigon. Vung Tau sits on an exposed peninsula, and Back Beach (Bai Sau) picks up more swell than the sheltered Front Beach. Wave quality is inconsistent and it can get busy at weekends with HCMC surfers, but it’s convenient and cheap, with board rentals right on the sand (around $6 to 10/hour).
Off the mainland: Con Dao
Vietnam’s surf frontier: a remote archipelago for adventurous, self-sufficient surfers.
Con Dao Islands
Remote, pristine and logistically demanding, this 16-island archipelago is where Vietnamese surf turns into genuine exploration. There’s real potential for uncrowded reef and beach breaks, but there are virtually no surf shops, so you must bring your own equipment and be self-sufficient. For adventure seekers only, and all the better for it.
When to surf in Vietnam
Shoulder (Oct, Mar)
Off-season (Apr to Sep)
The northeast monsoon (November to March) is the whole game. It sends low-pressure systems across the South China Sea that generate the windswells lighting up the central and southern coasts, with December, January and February the most reliable, drier and best-organised. November and December bring the heaviest rain to central Vietnam, so many surfers aim for the January to March end of the window for more sunshine.
Outside that, the southwest monsoon (roughly May to September) flattens most of the coast or leaves it wind-blown and messy. The only real off-season swell comes from distant typhoons near Taiwan or the Philippines sending groundswell into the South China Sea. Water stays a bath-like 24 to 29°C all year, so it’s boardshorts whatever the month.
How to get to Vietnam
The most useful airport for surfers is Da Nang International, right by the best waves. Cam Ranh serves Nha Trang and the central-south, and Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City covers Mui Ne, La Gi and Vung Tau in the south. The scenic Reunification Express train links Da Nang and Nha Trang if you’d rather travel slow. Most nationalities need an e-visa (apply at evisa.gov.vn, about $25, valid up to 90 days). Renting a motorbike ($5 to 8/day) gives you the freedom to chase conditions between breaks.
Surf schools, lessons and camps
Vietnam’s surf scene is young, so it’s built around surf schools and shops rather than big resort-style camps. Da Nang has the most options (Surf Shack, LST, Coco Surf), Mui Ne has the long-running Muine Local Surf School, and Nha Trang runs beginner lessons at Bai Dai. Expect around $32 to 40 for a group lesson and $48 to 60 for a private 2 hour session, with English speaking instructors at the established spots.
Compare surf camps and lessons in Vietnam on BookSurfCamps
What to pack for Vietnam
The big win here: no wetsuit needed. Water sits at 24 to 29°C year-round, so it’s boardshorts and a rash guard. Keep the rest simple:
- 2 to 3 pairs of boardshorts plus a UV rash guard (the tropical sun is fierce)
- Reef-safe SPF 50+, and reef booties only if you’re heading to the Cham Islands or Con Dao
- A surf watch to track tides and sessions
- Learning here? The right board matters most, so see our best beginner surfboards. Renting locally is usually smarter than flying with a board ($50 to 150 each way)
Frequently asked questions
Is there surfing in Vietnam?
Yes. Vietnam has a real, if young, surf scene along its central and southern coasts, centred on Da Nang. The waves are mostly sandy beach breaks driven by the northeast monsoon from November to March. They won’t rival Indonesia, but they’re fun, warm and refreshingly uncrowded.
Where is the best surfing in Vietnam?
Da Nang is the surf capital and the most consistent spot in the country, with 20+ miles of beach break at My Khe and the best infrastructure. Mui Ne in the south and Nha Trang are the next best bets, and Quy Nhon and Con Dao reward those willing to go off the beaten path.
When is the surf season in Vietnam?
November to March, during the northeast monsoon. December, January and February are the most consistent, with January to March offering the driest, sunniest conditions. Outside that window the coast is mostly flat unless a distant typhoon sends swell through.
Is Vietnam good for beginner surfers?
Very. Warm water, sandy bottoms and gentle, forgiving beach breaks at My Khe, Bai Dai and Vung Tau make it an easy place to learn, and lessons are cheap. Most first timers are up and riding by the end of a two hour session.
Do you need a wetsuit to surf in Vietnam?
No. Water temperatures run 24 to 29°C all year, so boardshorts or a swimsuit are all you need. A thin 1 to 2mm top can be a nice comfort for dawn sessions in central Vietnam in December and January, but it’s optional.
Vietnam won’t hand you Indonesian barrels or Hawaiian power. What it gives you is rarer these days: uncrowded waves, real culture, honest prices and the feeling of surfing somewhere still being discovered. Time your trip for the November to March window, base yourself in Da Nang or Mui Ne, rent a motorbike, and come with realistic expectations. See you in the line-up.
