Coast · sailing

Sailing in Vietnam: Hoi An, Nha Trang and Mui Ne

There is no established sailing circuit down Vietnam's coast, but three ports offer boat days: Nha Trang for yacht day-sails and charters, Hoi An for trips to the Cham Islands, and Mui Ne for wind sports. Plan around the monsoon, which makes the central coast rough from October to March.

Sailing the coast: what exists

This page covers three stops on Vietnam’s coast where you can get on a boat. Together they are not a ready-made route, but they give a sense of what is possible.

Hoi An

Boats leave Cua Dai pier for the Cham Islands, 15 km offshore, from March to September. They are mostly day-trip speedboats with snorkelling, not sailing yachts. The Hoi An guide has the town.

Nha Trang

Nha Trang is the main base for yacht day-sails, sunset cruises and charters around the islands in its bay. See the Nha Trang guide and the Nha Trang diving page for the sea itself.

Mui Ne

Mui Ne is known for steady wind rather than cruising: kitesurfing and windsurfing, mostly in the dry season. See Mui Ne and Phan Thiet.

What to plan around

The northeast monsoon makes the central coast rough from October to March, and operators cancel trips at short notice. Check the forecast the day before, and leave a day of slack either side of any flight.

FAQ

Questions travellers ask us

Can you sail along the Vietnamese coast?

Locally, yes, but it is mostly day trips from three bases rather than a through route. Nha Trang has yacht and catamaran day-sails and charters, Hoi An has boats to the Cham Islands and Mui Ne has windy conditions for kitesurfing. Long-distance cruising needs proper permits and local advice.

When is the best time for sailing in Vietnam?

Calm months on the central coast run from about March to September. From October to March the northeast monsoon brings rough seas, and boats can be cancelled. Mui Ne's wind is strongest in the dry season, roughly November to April.