Central Coast (Vietnam)

The Central Coast is a region of Vietnam.

Cities

Chu Lai — has a large airport that serves Quảng Ngãi and Tam Kỳ
Da Nang - Vietnam's fifth largest city, where the beaches are the main attraction
Dong Ha
Dong Hoi - industrial seaside city convenient for accessing Phong Nha Ke Bang national park
Hoi An - trading port with a UNESCO World Heritage listed old city and pedestrian-friendly shops and cafes
Hue - the former imperial capital and a popular tourist attraction
Khe Sanh
Lý Sơn
Nha Trang - popular beach town
Lang Co - fishing village that includes mountains, a river, a lagoon, an island and a 32-km beach
Quẚng Ngãi - a sleepy town and off the beaten tracks, known for the My Lai incident during the Vietnam War, with lots of cultural and historical sights
Qui Nhon- Lively town, relatively tourist-free, makes for a good break between Nha Trang and Hoi An
Tam Ky
Thanh Hoa
Tuy Hòa
Vinh

Other destinations

Cham Islands - or in Vietnamese Cu Lao Cham are 7 islands that are 17 km (9 nautical miles) offshore to the East of Hoi An river-ocean inlet
DMZ
My Son - UNESCO World Heritage listed ruins of temples built by the ancient Champa civilisation, located close to Hoi An
Na Meo - border crossing town
Van Phong Bay - Includes a 25-km long peninsula called Hon Gom and the islands Hon Lon (Big Island) and Hon Ong (Whale Island), one of the few places on the Vietnamese coast that remains semi-natural, after the decision to abort a container port project.

Understand

This region is likened by the Vietnamese to the bamboo pole connecting the baskets of north and south. The Truong Son Mountains, stretching all the way to the coast between Hue and Da Nang, have traditionally divided the country in two in terms of weather and dialect, although the actual demarcation line during the Vietnam War was slightly higher up at the 17th parallel to the north of Hue.

Climate

Jul-Nov is the typhoon season, so it's wise to check the forecast a few days before your planned visit. Typhoons form in the Pacific, east of the Philippines. In some years, they curve north toward Taiwan and Japan and leave Vietnam in peace. In other years, they cross the Philippines and run straight into central Vietnam, causing flooding and wind damage. The threat of typhoons is one factor that has limited economic development in the central region relative to the north and south.

Get in

By plane

Da Nang's airport (IATA: DAD) has good domestic connections and a limited selection of direct regional flights. It is one of three airports in Vietnam where visa-on-arrivals are granted.
Hue's airport (IATA: HUI) has flights to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
Tuy Hoa (IATA: TBB) and Quy Nhon (IATA: UIH) airports have a flight connection from and to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City nearly every day.
Cam Ranh International Airport (IATA: CXR)
Chu Lai International Airport (IATA: VCL)
Dong Hoi Airport (IATA: VDH)

By rail

There are train stations at Nha Trang, Tuy Hoa, Quy Nhon, Danang (convenient for Hoi An), and Hué.

By road

The Hai Van Tunnel between Danang and Hue cuts 20 km and a good hour off travel time between the two cities, and bypasses the dangerous and scenic Hai Van Pass. The toll for the tunnel for an ordinary car is 25,000 dong, a price well worth paying, especially if you're prone to carsickness.

Get around

See

The Citadel of the Hồ Dynasty, a UNESCO World Heritage located some 40 km north of Thanh Hoa