Xuan Thieu

Xuan Thieu, the Red Beach, is the quiet alternative to the busy city strip. It lies northwest of the centre along the bay, a wide sweep of soft white sand backed by sea pine, and it carries far fewer people than My Khe even at the height of summer. The name comes from the colour the water takes at the turn of the day, a soft red wash at sunrise and sunset that makes it a favourite for a calm evening by the sea. For a family that wants space and quiet over buzz, it is an easy beach to like.

The water suits a gentle day. Tucked along the bay, the sea here is typically calm on a settled dry season afternoon, so children can paddle near the shore while you keep watch from the sand. The pine forest behind the beach gives a little shade, which is welcome on the open coast, and the lack of crowds means you can spread out without anyone on top of you. None of that is a guarantee, and there is no lifeguard, so you read the sea yourself and keep little ones within reach.

Now the honest part. Xuan Thieu is calm partly because it is undeveloped, and that cuts both ways. There are no shops on the sand, no lounger hire row and no snack bar, so everything you want for the day you carry in, from water and food to sun cover and a beach umbrella. If you arrive expecting to buy lunch or rent a chair, you will be disappointed. Treat it as a bring everything beach and it is a peaceful pleasure, but it is not the place for a family that wants comforts laid on.

Who should come here: families after a quiet, spacious and calm beach, anyone who values a sunset over a scene, and travellers happy to pack a cool bag and a parasol. Who should look elsewhere: families who need facilities, food and a lifeguard on hand. If that is you, make My Khe or My Da your base for the easy logistics and come to Xuan Thieu for a calm late afternoon and the red glow on the water when the day cools.

Xuan Thieu lies in Lien Chieu around thirteen kilometres northwest of the city centre, roughly twenty to twenty five minutes by taxi or ride app along the coast road. Most visitors take a metered taxi or a Grab car, and a scooter is a popular option if you are confident, with simple parking near the access points. The coast road, Nguyen Tat Thanh, runs the length of the bay and brings you straight to the sand.

Bring everything you need, because there is no shop on the beach and supplies are not sold on the sand. Pack water, food, sun cover and a beach umbrella, plan a calm swim for the morning or a sunset visit for the colour, and keep children close as the beach is unguarded. The pine forest behind the sand is the best place to find a patch of shade for the middle of the day.