Situated halfway between Nha Trang and Hoi An, Quy Nhon is a beautiful coastal city that remains one of Vietnam’s best kept secrets. With a 42 kilometer coastline of beautiful beaches, surrounded by mountains, rice fields and well-preserved towers from the Champa Kingdom, this relatively untouched region is well worth discovering. Serviced by a couple of domestic airlines and daily trains and buses, there are a number of ways to get to Quy Nhon. Here are some tips we’ve put together to help you plan your trip.
By Air
Flying into Quy Nhon is a great way to get a bird’s eye view of the spectacular landscape. If you’re intending to fly in, international visitors will need to come via Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. Currently, there are roughly 10 direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City everyday and 3-4 direct flights from Hanoi. Airlines which service this route include VietJet Air, Jetstar and Vietnam Airlines.
Built on an old American air base from 1966, Phu Cat Airport is located about 30 kilometers northwest of Quy Nhon city. The current airport was only completed in May 2018 and is ready to service international flights – so watch this space.
There are a range of taxi companies you can find on arrival, or if you’re a little more organised, you can book pickup in advance with DichungTaxi. Costs start from 200,000 vnd ($8.50 USD) for a small car to 380,000 vnd ($16.50 USD) for a 7-seater.
There is also a shuttle bus for 50,000 vnd ($2 USD) per person which will drop passengers off at 1 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, Quy Nhon.
By Train
Quy Nhon Railway Station sits on a branch 15 kilometers off the Reunification Express line and only receives one train a day from Ho Chi Minh City (13-hour overnight train). Instead, your best bet is to take the train to Dieu Tri Railway Station which is about 25 minutes drive from Quy Nhon town center. There are taxis and buses you can take from the station.
There are a number of trains running south from Hanoi and north from Ho Chi Minh City to Dieu Tri Railway Station everyday. This is the ideal way to travel if you’ve got time on your hands. The view out the window is breathtaking and train travel in Vietnam is an experience in itself.
The train from Ho Chi Minh City to Dieu Tri takes roughly 10 to 12 hours and costs about 800,000 vnd ($34.50 USD) for a berth in a 4-sleeper cabin. From Hanoi, it takes about 20 hours and costs roughly 1,000,000 vnd ($43 USD) for a berth in a 4-sleeper cabin.
The easiest way to check train times and book your tickets (without a Vietnamese credit card) is to use travel search engine Baolau. We recommend booking your tickets at least a day in advance. Once your reservation is confirmed, you will receive an e-ticket with a booking number which you can use to print your physical ticket at the train station.
By Bus
Quy Nhon Bus Station can be found on the southern end of Quy Nhon by Big C Supermarket. There are a number of bus companies which operate between Quy Nhon and surrounding cities. It’s definitely the most affordable option for those on a budget, however, rides are often slightly longer than expected.
There are several sleeper buses which depart from Mien Dong Bus Station in Ho Chi Minh City everyday. It’s roughly a 12-14 hour ride and most leave in the evenings so you can sleep through the night. The main bus operators servicing this route are Phuc Thuan Thao and Futa Bus. Tickets cost around 260,000 ($11 USD) and the easiest way to book your tickets is again through Baolau.
There are also many buses which depart from Da Nang, Nha Trang, Da Lat and Pleiku. These can be easily arranged through your hotel in these respective cities.
Private Car
If you’re travelling from a nearby city and like the comfort and freedom of your own car, you can hire a private car or minivan for your trip. These can be arranged through hotels from Hoi An and Nha Trang.
Getting Around
The most popular and convenient way to get around to all the beaches and sites in Quy Nhon is by motorbike. Despite the vast distances between some of the locations, you’ll quickly find that having your own transportation will save you a lot of waiting around, particularly if your grasp of the Vietnamese language isn’t up to scratch.
You can easily arrange a motorbike hire through your hotel or ask them to direct you to the nearest rental shop. Expect to pay around 200,000 to 300,000 vnd ($8.50 – $13 USD) a day. Here a couple of places we recommend:
Cho thue xe may Quy Nhon
Địa chỉ: 06 Nguyen Nhạc, Quy Nhon Province
Liên hệ: 098 427 63 02
Life’s a Beach Backpackers
Địa chỉ: Village 2, Xuan Hai, Song Cau, Phu Yen Province
Liên hệ: backpackers@lifesabeachvietnam.com
Quy Nhon has plenty of motorbike taxis (xe om) and as of more recently, ride-hailing service Grab (bikes only for now) has become available in the region. A short trip from one point of the city to another will cost you around 13,000 vnd ($0.55 USD).
There are also plenty of taxis about, particularly around the bus station. The two main operators here are Sun Taxi (the white taxis) and Mai Linh Group (the green taxis). The fare will vary depending on the size of the car, but if your driver is using the meter you can be sure you are paying the correct price. Hailing an empty taxi on the streets can be difficult and it’s best to ask your hotel to arrange one for you. You may also like to ask your taxi driver for their business card or phone number after they drop you off if you need to be picked up later.
If you’re staying quite central, consider hiring a bicycle to get around. Quy Nhon is a great city for cycling, particularly with the stunning five kilometer promenade along the beach. Most hotels will have bicycles available for guests to use. Alternatively, bikes can be hired from 123 Chương Dương.
Quy Nhon is a beautiful cultural and seaside escape that won’t stay secret for much longer. It’s easily accessible by air or land for those living or travelling around Vietnam, and while few places speak English, getting around is easy with a bit of research beforehand.
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