Cua Dai Beach in Hoi An ancient town in the central province of Quang Nam, City Beach in Nha Trang in south-central Khanh Hoa province, and Long Beach on Phu Quoc Island have been named on a list of the world’s most affordable beaches from TravelBird, a Netherlands-based travel company.
The list was based on TravelBird’s Beach Price Index for the most popular beaches in more than 90 countries, which compares the price of six common expenses on the beach at each destination. Based on figures from local tourism agencies and data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the six items include the cost of sunscreen, a bottle of water, a beer, an ice cream, and lunch, and costs such as entrance fees to the beach and sun lounger, beach chair, and umbrella rentals.
Vietnam topped the list for cheapest beach holiday. Cua Dai Beach costs some $16 for each holidaymaker, including about $2.4 for 200ml of SPF 30 sunscreen, $0.43 for a 500ml bottle of water, $1.87 for a bottle of beer, and $1 for an ice cream on the beach. Lunch, including a drink and dessert for one person from a beach bar or the closet establishments to the beach typically cost an average of $8.7, while fees for facilities were $1.3 on average. The beach was also named the world’s cheapest by TravelBird in 2016 and 2017.
The average cost at City Beach in Nha Trang $17 and $19 on Long Beach.
The most expensive beach, meanwhile, is Anse Vata Beach in New Caledonia in the southwest Pacific, where each holidaymaker must pay a total of $92 for the above items. Following was Finale Ligure in Italy, at $90, and Yonaha Maehama Beach in Japan, at $82.3.
Cua Dai Beach offers a peaceful seaside escape from the ancient streets of Hoi An, which about 5 km away. Its fine white powdery sands and clean water it one of the most popular beach destinations in the country. There are huts along the beach along with a few bungalows here and there and plenty of seafood restaurants.
Located in the center of Nha Trang, City Beach is just a short walk to almost everywhere. It runs along the 12-km seaside promenade of Tran Phu Street, with clear and calm waters, beautiful white sand, coconut trees, high-rise hotels, and plenty of dining and nightlife options nearby. There’s also a wide array of activities such as surfing, snorkeling, bicycle tours, spa treatments, meditation and yoga, and night clubs available on or near the beach.
Long Beach on Phu Quoc Island is also admired for its strikingly soft white sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and stunning scenery, according to the site. The stretch of sand is also home to numerous resorts, most of which feature huge pools and rooms geared towards families. As its name suggests, Long Beach stretches for around 20 km. Though it is the most popular beach on the island, it remains quiet and not bursting with tourists, like other gorgeous Southeast Asian island destinations. There are a number of beach bars nearby that serve nice cocktails and boast great views of spectacular sunsets. The island’s seafood is also famous for its diversity and taste.
City Beach and Long Beach were also recently listed among the world Top 50 most beautiful white sand beaches in the world by US News & World Report.