Quy Nhon - Charming Vietnam

Situated roughly halfway between Hoi An and NhaPopular with courting couples, Queen's Beach lies
Trang, the city of Quy Nhon is much more than aon a small promontory just to the south of Quy
convenient stop-over for those traveling betweenNhon. Noted as a popular holiday spot for fomer
these two popular tourist destinations. TheQueen Nham Phuong, in truth this is more a rocky
university two has a youthful vibrancy duringheadland than beach. The sweeing views across
term-time and the people are some of thethe bay towards the city make a great setting
friendliest in Vietnam. In many respects this is thefor a coffee in the "rocky bar" perched on the
Vietnam that travelers used to encounter beforecliff-edge.
the advent of mass tourism to the country.At the heart of the ancient Champa Kingdom., the
Recently the municipal beach has undergonearea around Quy Nhon has its fair share of Cham
something of a face-lift and clean-up campaign.remains. The monumental Thap Doi Cham 'twin
Gone has the American tank that wastowers" are conveniently located within the city.
half-submerged in the sand, instead a newHowever, around 20km north of the town
palm-tree lined promenade hugs the coastline,towards the airport, the Banh It Towers cut a
providing a very pleasant stroll around sunset. Itmuch more impressive figure and offer great
has something of the feel of a smaller Nha Trang.views of the countryside from their lofty perch
Those wishing to get away from it all should headQuy Nhon's main pagoda, Long Khanh, dates back
to ai Bau Beach some 19km to the south of Quyto 1715. The original pagoda, restored in 1957, lies
Nhon. The beautiful, sheltered white-sand beach isbehind an impressive 17metre high Budda statue.
generally deserted, ideal for you to discover yourThe site also contains a more modern pagodar,
own karma. Closer to town, Quy Hoa Beach isbut this lacks the charm of the original place of
another good option. The almost idyllic settingworship
belies the fact that this is a leper colony. Far fromAs befits most ports, Quy Nhon is noted for the
reeking of morbidity, the hospital grounds arequality of its seafood. Banh Xeo is a great local
extremely pleasant,w ith patients integrated intofavourite.
the community.