Snorkeling in Vietnam

Đảo Bé - An Bình Island - is a small outer island 3 nautical miles west of Lý Sơn's main island, reachable by a 15-minute boat ride. With clearer water, more intact coral reefs, and a fraction of the crowds of the main island, it is the best snorkeling location in the Lý Sơn archipelago and a quieter alternative for a half-day by the sea.

Ba Hòn Đầm is a cluster of three small islands in the Bà Lụa Archipelago, Kiên Lương - undeveloped, rarely visited by foreigners, and reached by a 30-minute boat from Kiên Lương pier, with clear water, rocky coves, and basic overnight options on the island.

Con Dao National Park protects 80% of the Con Dao archipelago - 14 islands of pristine coral reefs, sea turtle nesting beaches, hawksbill habitat, and jungle trails through one of Vietnam's least disturbed coastal ecosystems.

Bãi Đầm Trầu is one of the most striking beaches on Côn Đảo - a 1km crescent of fine white sand backed by primary rainforest, ranked in Travel + Leisure's Top 25 Beaches in the World in 2021. Its most unusual feature: it sits directly below the flight path of Cỏ Ống Airport, where planes pass just overhead on approach - one of the only places in Vietnam where you can swim while watching aircraft land.

Điệp Sơn is a remote island cluster in northern Khánh Hòa where a narrow tidal sandbar connects three islands at low tide - one of Vietnam's most photogenic natural phenomena, reached by boat from Vạn Giã fishing port.

The Hai Tac Islands are a remote archipelago of 16 islands in the Gulf of Thailand off the Kien Giang coast, historically known as the Pirate Islands. One of the least visited island groups in Vietnam, with coral reefs, white sand beaches, and almost no tourist infrastructure.

Hang Câu is Lý Sơn's most dramatic coastal spot - a beach at the base of Núi Thới Lới where vertical basalt cliffs meet turquoise water and coral reefs. The combination of volcanic cliff faces, clear water, and accessible snorkeling makes it the island's top swimming and photography destination.

Hon Kho Island is a small uninhabited rocky island off the coast of Quy Nhơn in Bình Định province, known for its clear turquoise waters, coral reefs, and dramatic boulder-strewn coastline accessible by short boat trip from Nhơn Hải fishing village.

Hòn Mun Island is the centrepiece of Nha Trang Marine Protected Area - the best diving and snorkeling site in Nha Trang Bay, with the highest coral coverage and fish diversity of any island in the bay, 10km offshore from Nha Trang city.

Hòn Sơn is a mountainous island in the Gulf of Thailand, Kiên Giang province - larger and more scenic than most of the province's outer islands, with clear water, hill trails, fishing communities, and almost no resort development.

Hòn Tằm is Nha Trang Bay's most developed private island - a resort island 5km offshore with white sand beaches, clear water, water sports, and coral snorkeling, reached by speedboat in 15 minutes from Cầu Đá pier.

Hon Yen Island is a small coral island off the coast of Phú Yên province accessible by boat or on foot at low tide, known for its clear shallow reefs, lobster farming, and the unhurried atmosphere of one of central Vietnam's least-visited island day trips.

Kỳ Co Beach is a secluded cove near Quy Nhơn with turquoise water, white sand, and dramatic cliff scenery - accessible only by boat or a mountain trail, making it one of central Vietnam's most visually striking beaches.

Lan Hà Bay is the southern section of the Ha Long Bay karst system - 400 limestone islands, hidden beaches, floating fishing villages, and some of the clearest water in the Gulf of Tonkin, with a fraction of Ha Long's boat traffic and far better kayaking conditions.

Nam Du is Vietnam's southernmost island archipelago - a group of 21 islands in the Gulf of Thailand, Kiên Giang, with some of the clearest water in southern Vietnam, untouched outer islands, and a fishing community that has operated without resort infrastructure.

Bãi Nhát is one of Côn Đảo's most dramatic beaches - a tide-dependent stretch of white sand and multicoloured rock formations on the road between Con Son town and Bến Đầm port. Ranked among the top 6 wild beaches in Asia, it is best known for its sunset views across to Đỉnh Tình Yêu (Love Peak), its boulder-strewn shoreline that vanishes completely at high tide, and the memorial to 198 prisoners who attempted a failed escape from the island in 1952.

Phú Quý Island is a remote coral island 120km off the Bình Thuận coast with some of the clearest water and best diving in southern Vietnam - a 3-hour ferry from Phan Thiết that delivers an island experience with fishing community character and minimal resort infrastructure.

Six Senses Beach is the most beautiful stretch of coastline on Côn Đảo - a crescent of white sand and clear turquoise water fronting the Six Senses resort, with coral just offshore and the forested national park hills rising directly behind the beach.