ベトナム中部ザーライ省（旧ビンディン省）の港湾都市クイニョン（Quy Nhon）が、米Lonely Planetが2025年10月に発表した「Best in Travel 2026」の世界25選にランクインした。アジアからは数都市のみ、ベトナムからは唯一の選出となる。Lonely Planetは「沿岸アドベンチャーとシーフードを楽しむのに最適」と評価し、Ky Co・Bai Xep などのビーチ、Cham朝の遺跡、混雑しない漁村文化を推している。ダナン・ホイアンが連休に大渋滞する一方で、クイニョンは「自分だけのビーチが見つかる」と紹介された点が、日本人旅行者の関心を集めている。
The 3 reasons Lonely Planet recommended it
Lonely Planet described it in its writeup as "a coastal city where natural beauty and culture blend seamlessly." Specifically named were the crescent-shaped Ky Co Beach, the Bai Xep cove that transforms into a stall-lined street at night, and the Nhon Hai fishing village where reefs and coral remain, three places in all. Furthermore, the Cham-era (a dynasty that ruled central Vietnam from the 2nd to 15th centuries) brick tower groups called the "Twin Towers" and "Banh It Towers," and the giant seated Buddha statue beyond the 600 steps of Ong Nui Temple, are also recommended. In short, the point that sea, ruins, and fishing-village culture are densely packed within walking + motorbike range captured independent travelers' hearts.
The background of Binh Dinh Province
クイニョンは2025年7月の省統合で誕生した新ザーライ省の行政中心地（旧ビンディン省）で、ホーチミン市から約650km北、ダナンからは約300km南に位置する。ベトナム航空・ベトジェット・バンブー航空がフーカット空港（Phu Cat Airport）に1日複数便を運航しており、ハノイ・ホーチミンから約1時間半。Cham朝の都ヴィジャヤ（Vijaya）が現在のビンディン省にあったことから、ミーソン遺跡（ホイアン近郊）と並ぶCham文化の中心地として位置づけられている。中央政府は2025年7月1日付でビンディン省とザーライ省を統合しており、クイニョン市を行政中心地とする新ザーライ省として広域観光プロモーションが進んでいる。
Comparison table of Quy Nhon's main spots
| Spot | Type | Time required | Distance from the city | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ky Co Beach | Crescent beach | Half a day | About 25 km | A highly transparent bay surrounded by cliffs, the departure point for boat tours |
| Bai Xep | Fishing village + beach | Half a day to 1 night | About 13 km | At night it transforms into a stall-lined street, backpacker lodgings available |
| Nhon Hai fishing village | A coral-reef fishing village | Half a day | About 20 km | Snorkeling and homestays possible |
| Twins Towers | Cham-era brick towers | 1–2 hours | City center | Built 11th-13th century, admission about 20,000 VND (about 120 yen) |
| Banh It Towers | Cham-era tower group | 2 hours | About 20 km | 4 towers stand on high ground, the sunset view is stunning |
| Ong Nui Temple | Mountain temple | Half a day | About 30 km | 600 stone steps, one of Southeast Asia's largest seated Buddhas |
Reactions from locals and industry insiders
An official of the Binh Dinh Province tourism bureau commented to a Vietnamese domestic paper, "This is the result of advancing homestay development in the four fishing villages of Nhon Ly, Nhon Hai, Bai Xep, and Hai Minh, with community tourism as the axis." From the local hotel industry come voices like, "In 2026 awareness as a domestic beach resort will rise all at once. We expect room occupancy at 1.3 to 1.5 times year on year." On the other hand, from Japanese travel-industry insiders comes a cautious view too: "Because it requires a connection via Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, it seems likely to first appeal to the intermediate-to-advanced individual-arrangement segment. The framework for group tours is 2027 and beyond." Major media like VnExpress emphasized the picture whereby, as Nha Trang and Hoi An lose points for crowding, Quy Nhon has risen as a "beach town that retains a local feel."
What it means for Japanese travelers
For those feeling "I've been to Da Nang 3 times already" or "Hoi An's Old Quarter is too crowded to move through," Quy Nhon becomes a new option. There are no direct flights, so the options are to fly to Phu Cat Airport via Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, or take a train about 7 hours from Da Nang. The seafood culture is overwhelmingly rich, with local dishes different from Da Nang lined up, like banh xeo muc (squid savory crepe), bun cha ca (fish-paste noodles), and banh hoi long heo (ultra-fine rice noodles and pork platter). Prices are 70-80% of Da Nang's, with a 3-star hotel around 4,000 yen a night and a seafood dinner around 1,500 yen per person as a guide.
For trends in domestic travel within Vietnam, Da Nang's summer travel trend covers it in detail, and Quy Nhon's positioning is easy to understand as "the next-generation beach town" after that.
Ripple effects on the industry and related trends
Quy Nhon's selection won't end as a standalone piece of tourism news. First, with this city, which was the last gap in the Vietnamese government's "central tourism belt" concept (Hue-Da Nang-Hoi An-Quy Nhon-Nha Trang), gaining an international seal of approval, the material for investment decisions on National Highway 1 and the north-south high-speed rail plan increases. Second, in tandem with the flow of the Michelin Guide Vietnam edition holding its awards ceremony in Hanoi in June 2026, a picture is forming in which regional cities' food cultures are all thrown into the spotlight at once. Third, near Quy Nhon, entries by upscale resort brands like Anantara, FLC, and TUI BLUE are advancing, and the Best in Travel listing could trigger a bringing-forward of development plans.
The path by which Vietnam has established its position as a tourism powerhouse is also touched on in Vietnam's tourism competition closing in on Thailand. Quy Nhon's selection can be called a symbolic move in this flow.
3- to 4-day model plan (practical information)
| Itinerary | Morning | Afternoon | Night | Budget guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Depart Hanoi / Ho Chi Minh City -> arrive Phu Cat Airport | Downtown stroll, Cham museum | A local eatery for bun cha ca | 5,000 yen |
| Day 2 | Ky Co day-trip boat tour | Snorkeling at the beach | Bai Xep stall night market | 6,000 yen |
| Day 3 | Banh It Towers + Twins Towers | Ong Nui Temple, seated Buddha statue | Seafood restaurant in the city | 4,000 yen |
| Day 4 | Nhon Hai fishing village half-day tour | Buy souvenirs in the city | Depart Phu Cat Airport | 3,500 yen |
The total budget is about 18,000 to 25,000 yen per person, excluding airfare. Since there are fewer tourists than Da Nang, direct negotiation with hotels and using motorbike taxis (Xe om, Xanh SM bike) go smoothly. Getting to the Cham tower group can be done with the ride-hailing app Xanh SM's EV cars for about 20,000 to 80,000 VND (120 to 480 yen).
Summary
With its "Best in Travel 2026" listing, Quy Nhon becomes the most talked-about regional city for Vietnam travel in 2026. For those who want to avoid the crowds of Da Nang and Hoi An, history lovers who want to dig deep into Cham culture, and people who want to eat their way through local food at a fishing-village night market, now is the timing to visit while it's at its most "not-yet-too-polished" state. As next actions, I'd recommend three things: (1) check ticket prices to Phu Cat Airport half a year in advance, (2) book early, choosing between the Bai Xep backpacker lodgings and the Anantara resort, and (3) consider a round-trip route combined with Da Nang or Hoi An.
As a related article, for those who want to dig deeper into Vietnam's cafe culture and food experiences, a tour of heritage cafes is also recommended.
