Cua Dai Beach
Hoi An, Vietnam
Hoi An's main beach — turquoise water, white sand, and Cham Islands silhouettes on the horizon, steps from the ancient town.
Hoi An, Vietnam
Hoi An's main beach — turquoise water, white sand, and Cham Islands silhouettes on the horizon, steps from the ancient town.
Location
Hoi An, Vietnam
Best For
Families, Snorkeling
Water Temp
24–29°C peak season
Crowds
Moderate in peak season
Parking
Free public car park
Facilities
Hotels, Restaurants, Boat Trips
Cua Dai Beach is the original beach destination for Hoi An visitors, lying 5 km east of the UNESCO-listed ancient town and easily reached by bicycle through fragrant rice paddies and village lanes. The wide sandy beach runs for several kilometres along the South China Sea and frames a postcard-perfect panorama of the Cham Islands — seven small wooded islands visible on the horizon and home to some of central Vietnam's best snorkelling.
The beach saw significant erosion in the early 2010s but coastal protection work has helped stabilise the shoreline. Cua Dai remains one of central Vietnam's most popular beach destinations, fronted by a string of beach hotels, local seafood restaurants, and tour operating booths offering day trips to the Cham Islands. Being Hoi An's established beach strip, it has a more resort-hotel character than the more independent An Bang Beach to the north.
The snorkelling around the Cham Islands — reached by a 20-minute boat ride from Cua Dai pier — is the highlight of the area. The island group forms part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the reefs host diverse tropical fish and coral. Glass-bottom boat tours and scuba dives are also available for those wanting to explore the underwater world without getting wet.
5 km from Hoi An's ancient town by bicycle (free rental from many hotels) or by Grab taxi. There is also a local bus service. The cycling route through the countryside is exceptional.
March to August for calm, swimmable seas. The Cham Islands snorkelling boats operate March–October only. Avoid October–December when typhoon season can make the beach rough and boat trips are cancelled.
Book Cham Islands snorkelling in advance during July–August peak season. Wear water shoes for the boat ladder. Cua Dai pier is separate from the main beach — look for tour boats departing from the river mouth 500 m south.