Quy Nhon, a coastal city in Central Vietnam, is emerging as a top destination for sports tourism, thanks to its natural beauty and well-developed tourism infrastructure.
As the heart of Binh Dinh province, Quy Nhon is credited as one of the top destinations in the Central region with dozens of picturesque and curving coastlines, golden sandy beaches, rich culture, and tasty food. The Central province is building its brand as a “sports tourism paradise” to attract tourists through national and international sports events.
A corner of Nhon Hai fishing village
Diverse tourism experiences
Situated between sea and mountains, Quy Nhon boasts picturesque and curving coastlines, golden sandy beaches, and mesmerizing blue waters. Visitors can enjoy the breathtaking views of the deep blue sea and the refreshing sea breeze from various parts of the city.
Surrounding the city are dozens of beaches that attract millions of tourists each year. Nhon Hai - Hon Kho is a famous destination known for its pristine beauty and genuine and friendly local people. From the fishing village of Nhon Hai, visitors can take a canoe or ferry to Hon Kho Islet. The journey takes about 10 minutes and costs around VND 100,000 per person. Near the islet is Ky Co which is credited as the "Vietnamese Maldives." Visitors can go diving to admire coral reefs, rent beach huts for relaxation, experience water sports such as jet skiing and kite-boarding, go camping, or stay at hotels to relax. Adjacent to Ky Co is Eo Gio which is famous for scenic mountain-hugging walking path and stunning sea views.
Quy Nhon at dawn
Bai Xep is another destination that tourists should not miss when coming to Quy Nhon. This area has many natural rock formations rising from the water and smooth golden sandy beaches, which attract many young people there to take photos. Apart from swimming in the sea, tourists can explore the life of local fishermen and stay in affordable homestays. For those who want to experience both beach tourism and learn about local culture, Nhon Ly is a great choice. The peninsula commune still preserves many relics of the Champa culture and remains attractive to visitors with its vibrant murals.
Notably, the Central city offers many cultural and spiritual tourism options. In particular, visitors can explore the Cham towers and such temples as Long Phuoc (the cradle of traditional martial arts), and Nui Pagoda with its giant sitting Buddha statue and join tours to learn about the universe at the Science Discovery and Innovation Center.
Quy Nhon also lures visitors by its wide array of local specialties. Must-try dishes include banh hoi chao long (pork organ congee with rice vermicelli), banh xeo tom nhay (shrimp crispy pancakes), banh it la gai (sticky rice cake), cha ram (spring roll), nem nuong (grilled pork), and various seafood dishes. Prices in Quy Nhon are generally reasonable thanks to the strict management of local authorities.
Powerboat race on Thi Nai lagoon
Destination of big sports events
In addition to developing beach tourism, Binh Dinh province in general and Quy Nhon city in particular have paid attention to strengthening sports tourism. Over the past time, traditional martial arts, golf tourism, beach volleyball, and marathons have attracted both domestic and international tourists.
According to Vice Chairman of Binh Dinh provincial People’s Committee Lam Hai Giang, many countries worldwide have made the most of their beautiful beaches to host sports events to popularize the image of their countries and strengthen their tourism and services. The central province is also following this model to develop tourism and popularize its image.
Thousands of runners in a marathon on Thi Nai bridge
With its advantage of diverse coastal landscapes, Quy Nhon has successfully hosted international sailing races and stand-up paddle-boarding events. Most recently, the city has been the host of the Formula 1 powerboat race F1H2O Grand Prix and UIM-ABP Aquabike Grand Prix Binh Dinh 2024 (Binh Dinh Grand Prix 2024) on Thi Nai lagoon. Such water sports events have attracted athletes from dozens of countries and thousands of tourists to the coastal tourism hub in the Central region.
After a series of sports tourism events, Binh Dinh province plans to organize Binh Dinh Tourism Festival 2024 in June with a total of 22 cultural and sports events scheduled to be held.
The highlight among these events is the fifth VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon, which is slated for June 23. Held for the first time in 2019, the tournament has become an important and largest-scale event in Binh Dinh, attracting thousands of domestic and international runners each season.
The unique feature of VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon is the combination of running and tourism. By running along the most famous routes in Quy Nhon, athletes have the opportunity to explore such the beautiful scenes as Phuong Mai dunes and Thi Nai lagoon and observe locals’ daily activities.
Translated by Tran Hoai