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Recently, the prestigious travel website Lonely Planet announced its list of the 25 most attractive destinations in the world for 2026. Among them, Quy Nhon, now part of Gia Lai province, is the only representative from Vietnam to be named, and also the only beach destination from Southeast Asia on this list.
Nitya Chambers, Editor-in-Chief and Vice President of Content at Lonely Planet, said that this year's list celebrates places that both possess strong local identity and demonstrate the resilience of tourism in the current period. With that criterion in mind, Quy Nhon was not chosen by chance.
According to Lonely Planet, Quy Nhon's appeal lies not in its grandeur or modern tourist infrastructure, but in its unspoiled natural beauty – something increasingly rare in heavily commercialized coastal destinations like Da Nang or Nha Trang. It is renowned for its gently curving beaches, crystal-clear waters, and pristine rocky landscapes such as Eo Gió, Kỳ Co, and Hòn Khô.
Furthermore, Quy Nhon preserves the cultural imprint of the Cham Pa civilization through relics such as the Banh It Tower and the Twin Towers, along with a distinctive culinary scene featuring fish cake noodle soup, shrimp pancakes, and fresh seafood. This is precisely what Lonely Planet emphasizes: the harmonious blend of sea, mountains, and local culture – creating a unique identity that no other destination can replicate.
Quy Nhon (Gia Lai province) is the only representative from Vietnam to be honored as an ideal destination for exploring coastal tourism.
The appearance of Quy Nhon on the Lonely Planet list has a tangible and measurable impact. Similar lists in previous years have demonstrated a clear ripple effect on search volume and bookings at the featured destination. Quy Nhon is at a turning point: visitor numbers are increasing, but infrastructure and services are still in the development phase, creating a "golden" period for visitors to experience the destination before it becomes completely overcrowded.
However, this also brings risks: peak season room rates may rise faster than expected, and popular destinations like Ky Co or Eo Gió will face greater pressure from tourists in the summer of 2026.
The 2026 National Tourism Year will be held in Gia Lai, and the second runway at Phu Cat Airport is expected to be completed in June, expanding its capacity to handle international flights. This signals that infrastructure is being deliberately invested in to welcome a new wave of tourists. However, the actual service capacity at island and coastal tourist destinations remains limited, especially in the context of the surge in demand after being recognized by Lonely Planet.
Visitors can fully appreciate the pristine beauty of the sea through intimate and authentic experiences.
For travelers planning a trip, there are a few practical points to keep in mind. Firstly, April and May are the ideal months – sunny weather, calm seas, less crowded, and reasonable room rates before the peak summer season. The rainy season from October to February often brings heavy rain and rough seas, causing cancellations of island tours, but in return, room rates are lower and there are fewer people.
Secondly, regarding the tour itinerary: Ky Co, located in Nhon Ly commune, 25 km from the town center, is often combined with Eo Gió in a single day trip, and visitors can take a speedboat from Eo Gió to travel between the two points. As for Hon Kho, a day tour costs from 220,000 VND per person, departing from Bai Xep fishing village with a speedboat journey of only about 10 minutes.
Thirdly, regarding food and shopping: tré (a type of fermented pork sausage), bánh ít lá gai (a type of sticky rice cake wrapped in thorny leaves), bánh hồng Tam Quan (a type of pink cake from Tam Quan), sun-dried squid, and dried seafood are the most popular and easily transportable specialties to buy as souvenirs. Fourthly, Quy Nhon is known for being a friendly destination with less price gouging compared to many other coastal cities - taxis are metered, but at seafood markets and crowded areas, it's still advisable to ask for the price before buying.
The allure comes not only from the beautiful beaches with their clear blue waters and long stretches of white sand, but also from the slow-paced, peaceful lifestyle.
The biggest advantage of Quy Nhon in the eyes of experienced travelers is something that many larger coastal destinations have lost: a slow pace of life, friendly locals, and an environment that hasn't been overly commercialized.
Quy Nhon is nestled between the sea and mountains, boasting long, curving coastlines, fine golden sand, and crystal-clear waters. This kind of experience is increasingly hard to find amidst the mass tourism that is sweeping across Vietnam's coastal region. The Lonely Planet designation doesn't create that value; it merely names what already exists. But it also brings with it the pressure to preserve: whether Quy Nhon can maintain the identity that led to its selection, after becoming more famous, is a question that not only the local tourism industry but also visitors need to be aware of when they set foot here.
