I spent a few days in Quy Nhon and had a good experience about this beach city, so in this article, I will share with you about where to stay in Quy Nhon and the best areas for first-timers and all visitors.
Quy Nhon is a great place to visit in central Vietnam for beautiful beaches and cultural attractions. It is not as popular as Nha Trang but it is a good stop between Nha Trang and Da Nang/Hoi An.
When traveling from Nha Trang to Da Nang, I decided to stay a couple of nights in Quy Nhon to see what the city looked like. Most people take the train ride from Nha Trang to Quy Nhon, stay there for few nights, then take train from Quy Nhon to Da Nang.
It’s around 4-5 hours train/ bus ride between Nha Trang and Quy Nhon. Dieu Tri train station in Quy Nhon is quite far from the city center, a 30 minutes ride away. You can catch a local taxi outside of the train station. There was no Grab taxi at the time I arrived, but if you’re lucky, you can get one.
The best way to explore the city is probably by renting a scooter, but taking a guided tour is a popular option if you don’t drive. Grab is only available in the city center. You might be able to book Grab from the city center to further attractions, but might not be able to get Grab to get it back in remote areas.
Where to stay in Quy Nhon?
Quy Nhon city center is the best area to stay in Quy Nhon. This area is close to Quy Nhon Beach, which is a great place for swimming. The city center has lots of tourist facilities such as hotels, restaurants, bars, and cafes. Its central location makes it a great base to explore the city.
In addition to the city center, other good locations in Quy Nhon include Bai Xep area and Nhon Ly. Bai Xep is a popular base for backpackers, located 15 km away south of Quy Nhon city center. It is home to a nice fishing village, beautiful beaches, and you can take a boat to Nhang island from here.
Nhon Ly is located 20 km away from Quy Nhon city center where you can find the quaint fishing village, and Ky Co- Eo Gio Beach. This area has only a few accommodation options, including small guest houses, homestays, and hostels.
I personally prefer staying in the city center as it offers easy access to multiple attractions, beaches, and activities. The city center also has the widest choice of accommodations, so you’ll have many choices to choose from. It is also a convenient location if you arrive/leave the city by train.
I had a good experience staying at the L’amor Boutique Hotel. It is located within walking distance from the main beach and there are plenty of restaurants and cafes nearby.
My room was located on a high floor and had stunning views of the city, the mountain, and the sea. It was clean with a comfortable beach and nice facilities. I loved the couch near the window, it was very comfortable to sit and relax.
The buffet breakfast was good with lots of dishes, fruits, and drinks. I highly recommend this place for families, couples, and even solo travelers. (I stayed there as a solo traveler and felt safe).
The best areas to stay in Quy Nhon for tourists
1. Quy Nhon city center, best area for first-time visitors
Quy Nhon City Center is one of the best areas to stay in Quy Nhon for tourists, especially for first-timers. This area is the heart of the city and is home to many tourist facilities such as restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops.
The City Center also has a convenient location to easily access the train station and major attractions like Ky Co, Eo Gio, Nguyen Tat Thanh Square, Thap Doi Cham Towers, and Linh Phong – Ong Nui Temple.
I will divide Quy Nhon City Center into two main areas, which include the Quy Nhon Beachfront and the Inner City area. Quy Nhon Beach is a 4km long beach with a different atmosphere between the northern and southern part of the beach, so I’ll divide it into North Quy Nhon Beach, and South Quy Nhon Beach.
So, generally speaking there are three main best areas to stay in Quy Nhon City Center, which include: South Quy Nhon Beach, North Quy Nhon Beach, and the Inner City area.
Quy Nhon Beachfront has a good choice of luxury and mid-range resorts with direct access to the beach, while the inner city has good options for more budget-friendly hotels and within a short walking distance to the beach.
1.1. South Quy Nhon Beach
South Quy Nhon Beach is the southern half of the 4 km-long Quy Nhon Beach, stretching from Quy Nhon Main Square to the rocky beach area at Ghenh Rang – Tien Sa mountain.
The beach has fine golden sand, calm water, which is ideal for swimming, sunbathing, and taking a stroll along the beach. The beach is popular with local Vietnamese, so it’s often packed with people during early morning at Sunrise and late afternoon at sunset.
The beach is quiet during the daytime because Vietnamese people tend to avoid the sun and the heat. Quy Nhon is not yet a popular destination for foreign visitors, so you won’t see many foreigners here.
The beachfront is lined with palm trees, creating natural shades. There is a nice beach promenade and plenty of parks along the shore, where you can take a leisure stroll, rest, and enjoy the views of the sea. Along the way, you’ll spot some beautiful sculptures such as the Statue of Musician Trinh Cong Son.
As the city beach, Quy Nhon Beach has stunning views of the high rise in the city center and surrounding mountains. The beach is wide open, and easily accessible from the main road. There are some nice cafes and restaurants along the beachfront.
At the central area of Quy Nhon Beach lies the Nguyen Tat Thanh Square. This is the city’s main square, and is a popular hangout place for locals and visitors.
The spacious square is divided in two halves, located on both sides of An Duong Vuong street. One side of the square is home to the 15.5 m in height bronze statue of Ho Chi Minh and his father. The statue Nguyen Sinh Sac and Nguyen Tat Thanh overlooking the beautiful Quy Nhon Beach
Behind the monument is a large blue stone showing the life of Vietnam in the early 20th century under the French colonial period, and the journey of Ho Chi Minh from his birthplace to his stops on the way to the South before finding a way to save the country.
The Uncle’s Ho Statue is the symbol of Quy Nhon and is a great spot for taking photos. At night, you can see street food stalls, cultural events, people playing rollerblades and electric cars on the square.
There is a public toilet on the main square, and a couple of beachfront restaurants and bars. The Bốn Mùa – Four Seasons restaurant & cafe is a popular spot in Quy Nhon Beach for a good meal and drink such as salt coffee with sea view.
Behind the beachfront, you can find many local restaurants and cafes. You can check out The Quy Nhon Food Street, which has a good range of street food stalls on the 150m long Ngo Van So street.
The Quy Nhon Night Market, located a couple of blocks away from the beachfront, is also worth visiting to buy souvenirs, people watching, or try some local food.
South Quy Nhon Beach is home to some of the city’s popular hotels such as Anya Premier and FLC City Hotel. This Southern part of the beach is more lively than the northern beach section. It’s closer to some popular attractions in the south of the city such as Bai Xep Beach.
Best hotels in South Quy Nhon Beach:
Anya Premier Hotel (luxury)
This is a nice 5-star hotel located in the heart of Quy Nhon city center, within easy distance to the beach. The hotel has a beautiful rooftop area with an outdoor swimming pool overlooking the stunning sea.
You can pay a little bit more to stay in a room with an ocean view for the best experience. I think Anya is a good deal for families and couples.
FLC City Hotel Beach Quy Nhon (luxury)
This high-end hotel is good 5-star hotel in Quy Nhon City center, located near Quy Nhon Beach. The hotel has a spacious room with a good range of dishes for breakfast. It has a nice pool with views of the sea. The place is a great place to relax and unwind.
Seagull Hotel (mid-range)
This 4-star hotel is located right on Quy Nhon beach, offering rooms with sea views. You can choose the higher floors for the views. The hotel has a nice pool next to the beach with sun loungers both around the pool and on the beach.
1.2. North Quy Nhon Beach
North Quy Nhon Beach is the northern half of the 4 km-long Quy Nhon Beach, stretching from Quy Nhon Main Square to the rocky military area at Mui Tan and Thi Nai Port.
North Quy Nhon Beach has a quieter atmosphere than the southern section, and it’s closer to some popular points of interest such as Quy Nhon Train Station, Nhon Hoi Sea Bridge, Phuong Mai sand dunes, Ky Co and Eo Gio Beach.
Quy Nhon Train Station is a small train station on Le Hong Phong Street, in the city center of Quy Nhon, offering limited trains on the Quy Nhon – Ho Chi Minh City route only.
If you want more train options to different cities at different times, you can take the taxi to Dieu Tri Train station, 10km north west of the Quy Nhon train station.
Similar to South Quy Nhon Beach, North Quy Nhon Beach is lined with parks, greenery, palm trees, and a nice promenade along the beach shore. There are some nice beachfront cafes and bars along the beach such as the Surf bar 1, Surf bar 2, and East West Brewing.
You can find a good range of local restaurants on the beach road, Xuan Dieu street, at the northern end of Quy Nhon beach.
The northern end of Quy Nhon Beach is home to several piers, where you can see locals go fishing or book boat trips to nearby islands such as Cu Lao Xanh island.
Best hotels in North Quy Nhon Beach:
Grand Hyams Hotel (luxury)
This 5-star hotel is located just a block away from Quy Nhon Beach. It has spacious rooms, an indoor pool, and a lovely restaurant with a city view. The hotel also has a nice fitness center and spa.
Fleur de Lys Hotel Quy Nhon (mid-range)
This 4-star mid-range hotel offers rooms with balconies and ocean views. The hotel has all facilities for a comfortable stay such as a pool, onsite restaurant, gym, and spa center.
Chill House (budget)
TThis small guest house has a good location in the city center area close to the beach. It has basic amenities for budget travelers. It’s close to several local restaurants and cafes including the popular Adiuvat Coffee Roasters Quinhon.
1.3. Quy Nhon Inner City
The beachfront usually has more expensive hotels compared to the inner city, so if you want cheaper accommodations, you can choose to stay a bit further away from the beach area. The inner city has a wide range of good quality budget and mid-range hotels, while still within walking distance to the beach.
The inner city is home to many local markets, shopping centers, universities, and local temples. The major cultural attraction in Quy Nhon City Center is the Tháp Đôi Quy Nhơn, also known as Cham Twin Tower.
Tháp Đôi Quy Nhơn is an ancient ruins of the ancient Champa Kingdom in central Vietnam. The towers were built between the 11th-13th centuries. The site served as a Hindu religious temple, where Cham people worshipped their deities.
The area consists of two brick towers, 18 m and 20 m high, that stand side by side. The towers are built from baked bricks fitted tightly together without visible mortar, a unique Cham construction technique. The tower has intricate carvings. It’s a good spot for taking photos and learning the city’s history.
From about the 2nd century to the 15th century, the region around Quy Nhon belonged to Champa Kingdom, an ancient maritime civilization that controlled much of central and southern Vietnam for over a thousand years.
Quy Nhon has strategic locations for the Cham people, which include a good natural harbor for maritime trade, and close to sea routes connecting India, China, and Southeast Asia.
The Cham were famous seafaring traders, so coastal cities like Quy Nhơn became important economic hubs. This region was called Vijaya, and served as the capital of Champa for several centuries (11th-15th centuries).
Because Vijaya was a political and cultural center, the Cham people built many temples and towers there, including the Tháp Đôi Quy Nhơn, Bánh Ít Towers, and Dương Long Towers. The latter two are located a bit outside the city center, so you will need a taxi to get there.
Best places in Quy Nhon City center:
L’amor Boutique Hotel (mid-range)
I had a good experience staying at this hotel and highly recommend it. It’s located in the town center, an easy distance from restaurants, cafes, and beaches.
You can walk to Nguyen Tat Thanh Square which is a more central area of Quy Nhon. You can try the grill and hotpot buffet restaurant that is opposite the hotel. Some local beer bars are near the hotel.
Bel-Air Hotel (budget)
It is a good 3-star accommodation in a central location, close to tourist amenities and the beach. It also has an outdoor swimming pool and an onsite restaurant.
2. Bai Xep/ Ghenh Rang, good beach for relax & unwind
Many foreign visitors chose to stay in Bai Xep Beach, which is a small fishing village located in the Ghenh Rang ward, around 13 km south of Quy Nhon city center. Bai Xep is one of the top tourist attractions in Quy Nhon, along with Eo Gio, Ky Co, and Kho island.
This area is home to a secluded beach, the authentic fishing village, as well as several seafood restaurants and beachfront food stalls.
The downside is that it is a bit further from the city center and is a better base if you plan to rent a bike or take a guided tour to explore the city. As it’s a remote area, Grab Taxi and Bike might not be available in this area.
There are numerous rocky beaches and local cultural attractions between Quy Nhon City Center and Bai Xep Beach. Queen’s Beach is a nice spot to take photos with beautiful natural egg-shaped stones on the shore.
The beach is the favorite beach of Queen Nam Phuong, the wife of King Bao Dai, the last emperor of Vietnam. It also has good views of Quy Nhon City and Quy Nhon Beach. South of Queen’s Beach is a couple of quieter beaches such as Quy Hoa Beach and Han Mac Tu Beach.
The Ghenh Rang area is home to the burial site of the famous Vietnamese poet Hàn Mặc Tử, located on a hillside overlooking the sea. He is known for poetry that is romantic, mystical, and deeply emotional. In his final years, he suffered from leprosy and passed away in Quy Nhơn at the age of 28.
The tomb has tranquil and scenic setting, offering views of Quy Nhon Bay, Ghềnh Ráng rocky shore, and the cityscape. It’s a popular cultural and literary attraction in Quy Nhon for Vietnamese.
Bai Xep has numerous beachfront resorts and villas, as well as backpacker hostels. If you want to relax and unwind in a peaceful beach area with a local fishing village, and don’t mind a bit of traveling to a remote area, Bai Xep is a good choice.
Here are my recommendation for places to stay in Bai Xep:
Anantara Quy Nhon Villas (luxury)
Anantara is a high-end resort in Ghenh Rang, only 10 mins walk from Bai Xep Beach. It is an excellent base in Quy Nhon if you have a good budget because it is expensive. You will experience the 5-star services here with delightful breakfasts, private pools, and quiet beaches.
Haven Vietnam (mid-range)
Haven is a great base in Bai Xep for budget travelers, located just a few minutes walk from the Beach. According to many guests, it is a good value for money hotel, featuring a lovely restaurant and many nice shaded areas as well as clean and comfortable rooms.
Mira Bãi Xếp (mid-range)
Mira is also a good choice for those looking for mid-range accommodation in Bai Xep. They have very nice rooms with a unique view of the beach. You can enjoy breakfast on the rooftop with a stunning ocean view.
Life’s A Beach (budget)
is a popular place to stay near Bai Xep for tourists. You can choose to stay in dorm rooms or private rooms. All have spectacular ocean views. This is a beautiful place to stay in Quy Nhon for solo travelers, backpackers, couples, and families, located next to one of the best beaches in Vietnam.
3. Nhon Ly, nice fishing village near Eo Gio and Ky co
Nhon Ly is an area located 30 km north of Quy Nhon city center. Here you can find a quaint fishing village, and some of the top attractions in Quy Nhon such as Ky Co and Eo Gio.
You can take a stroll around the fishing village, pose for photos at many murals, try local dishes, or have a drink at a quaint cafe. You can spot numerous buddha statues in the villages.
From Nhon Ly fishing village, you can walk to Eo Gio (Windy strait). The ticket is around 30,000 VND. It is a beautiful rocky beach area where you can take a stroll along the ocean road and take some good photos. Here you can spot some goats, the fishing village, Ngoc Hoa Monastic, and Phuoc Sa Pagoda.
Ky Co is located a short drive from Eo Gio. It is known as the Maldive of Vietnam. It is located in the tourist complex, so you need to buy a ticket to access this area.
Most guided tours include the entry ticket. It is reachable by speedboat or by land. The beach has a nice setting for taking photos, it has lots of sunbeds and umbrellas for use.
Nhon Ly’s location is also close to Nhon Hai fishing village, Hon Kho island, Phuong Mai sand dunes, Trung Luong Beach, and Ong Nui – Linh Phong temple.
Nhon Ly doesn’t have big chain hotels, only small guest houses and homestays. If you want to stay in Nhon Ly, I recommend looking at Happiness Hotel or Việt Homestay.
See more:
You can watch my youtube video about my recommended areas in Quy Nhon here:
These are my recommendations of the best places to stay in Quy Nhon for visitors. Quy Nhon city center is overall the best location for first-timers. It provides a central base to explore the city’s cultural attractions and beaches. Bai Xep and Nhon Ly are also good parts of Quy Nhon to book your hotels. They are a bit far from the city center but also have all basic facilities for a comfortable stay.