Quy Nhon, a port city in Gia Lai Province (formerly Binh Dinh Province) in central Vietnam, has made Lonely Planet's "Best in Travel 2026" list of 25 destinations worldwide, announced in October 2025. Only a handful of Asian cities made the cut, and Quy Nhon is the sole Vietnamese entry. Lonely Planet praised it as "ideal for coastal adventure and seafood," highlighting beaches like Ky Co and Bai Xep, Champa-era ruins, and an uncrowded fishing-village culture. While Da Nang and Hoi An get gridlocked during holidays, the idea that Quy Nhon is a place where "you can find a beach all to yourself" has caught the attention of Japanese travelers.
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
Quy Nhon is the administrative center of the new Gia Lai Province (formerly Binh Dinh Province), formed by a July 2025 provincial merger. It sits about 650km north of Ho Chi Minh City and 300km south of Da Nang. Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, and Bamboo Airways all operate multiple daily flights to Phu Cat Airport, about 1.5 hours from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Because the Champa capital of Vijaya once stood in what is now Binh Dinh Province, the area is positioned as a hub of Cham culture alongside the My Son ruins near Hoi An. The central government merged Binh Dinh and Gia Lai provinces effective July 1, 2025, and broader tourism promotion is now underway for the new Gia Lai Province, with Quy Nhon City as its administrative center.
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.
