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Doc Let Beach

Rating: 4.3

Fine white sand and a shallow shelf running far out — the family beach

North of the city35.8 km from the centre

Michelle · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Victor311 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Address
Ninh Hoa, Khanh Hoa — about 50 km north of Nha Trang
Opening hours
All day
Price range
Cheap (under 100k)
Best time to go
February to August. Start early — it's about an hour and a quarter each way
Open in Google Maps

On the map

Map © OpenStreetMap contributors · 12.5594, 109.2317

Overview

Doc Let is in Ninh Hoa, some 50 km north of Nha Trang. What sets it apart is the sand: white, fine, and shelving so gently that you can wade dozens of metres and still be waist-deep. That's why locals pick it when they're bringing small children.

The distance means committing a whole day and either renting a vehicle or joining a tour. In exchange the beach is far emptier than Tran Phu, and there's a coconut grove right behind the sand for shade — something Bai Dai lacks.

On the journey: about 50 km, roughly an hour and a quarter each way, so allow a full day and either hire a vehicle or take a tour. It is the same northern direction as Monkey Island and Ninh Hoa — home of the grilled pork rolls — so it can become a day spent north rather than a trip purely for a swim.

What sets Doc Let apart is the fine white sand shelving out a long way: you can wade tens of metres and still be waist-deep, which is why locals pick it when they bring small children. And there is a coconut grove immediately behind the sand for shade — which Bai Dai has none of, and which matters if you are there all day.

Don't miss

  • Fine white sand with a very gradual shelf
  • A coconut grove behind the sand for shade
  • Far quieter than the city beach
  • Well suited to families with young children

Practical tips

  • About 50 km out — it needs a full day and won't combine with anything else
  • Some stretches are run by resorts and charge entry; the public stretches are free
  • Seafood costs less here than in the city, but still settle the price first

Frequently asked

How long does Doc Let take?

It is about 50 km, roughly an hour and a quarter each way, so allow a full day. Go by hired vehicle or on a tour.

Is it good with young children?

Very. The sand shelves out a long way, so you can wade tens of metres and still be waist-deep, and there is a coconut grove behind the beach for shade.

How does it differ from Bai Dai?

Doc Let is further out — 50 km north against Bai Dai's 25 km south — but it has shade from the coconut grove and a gentler shallow. Bai Dai sits on the airport road, so it folds into a first or last day more easily.

Closest to here