Suggestions for a month-long stay in central and southern Vietnam

I'd love to get some suggestions for central Vietnam in February for seniors. We'd like to stay in one place, near a beach, and visit the surrounding areas. Then after a month, we'd head to the south of the country.

Hi, Da Nang might work for you. In the north, there’s the former capital, Hue, and to the south, the old town of Hoi An—all by the sea. Da Nang’s beaches have an excellent reputation. A little inland, My Son is more than worth the detour.

Hi there! Hoi An, with its beaches and surrounding areas, is a great place to spend over a week, we’ve done it a dozen times in late February and early March over the past 20 years. Happy travels!

Hi there

Yes, Hoi An, the "lantern city" (see photos in the link below), has great beaches and, most importantly, it's a really beautiful small town where the center (old town) is off-limits to scooters, which means you can actually enjoy some peace and quiet for once. Around Hoi An, you can also go for bike rides on the river islands—it’s truly a stunning place.

The Hoi An section in my travel journal is here with photos and info.

My Son definitely isn’t worth the detour. There are barely 2 or 3 buildings left, and they’re really damaged. What the climate and neglect didn’t destroy, the bombings during the Vietnam War finished off. There are even big shell craters all over the site.

Hello,

Is swimming possible in February or March in this region? Thanks in advance.

hi there we swam without any issues in late February and March the only downside was that we didn’t always have full sun safe travels

Hi there, Still looking for a place to stay for a few days... in the South, not too far from HCV, where I can combine sightseeing and swimming. Do you think that’s possible? Thanks for your help!.

Hi, Vũng Tàu, not far from Saigon, by the sea. But it gets swamped by Saigonese folks on the weekend.

Hi there,

I’ve been reading some tips about Da Nang and Hoi An, which really are lovely spots. But watch out in February—weather-wise, it’s not ideal. It’s not always super sunny or warm, depending on the year. Last year, there was quite a bit of rain, and this year, it’s been rainy and not very warm. March is a bit better. The best time weather-wise is from April onward. Otherwise, it’s a really nice area!

Hello,

Da Nang and Hue, yes, but a full month is quite long. Hoi An, no—it’s become a tourist factory. We’re here right now, and I have to say I’m disappointed. It’s worth seeing for a day if you’ve never been, but when you see the crowds, you’ll understand. Hordes of buses arrive every day, dumping groups of mostly Vietnamese tourists. We couldn’t even take the famous bridge because of how packed it was. The cleanliness of the riverbanks is also questionable—trash everywhere, even in the water. And I won’t even get into the scams. These are the downsides of mass tourism. I’d recommend prioritizing more authentic and quieter villages instead.