Cua Dai Beach

AJ Oswald · CC BY-SA 2.0

Where the Thu Bon river reaches the sea — and where central Vietnam's coastal erosion is most plainly visible.

Cua Dai is where the Thu Bon river ends its journey. For years this was Hoi An's finest beach, until the sea began eating into the shore: stretches of sand vanished, coconut palms toppled into the water, and resorts had to build revetments and pump sand back. Walk the shore now and you still pass long runs of stone armouring and sandbags — a lesson about the central Vietnamese coast that no interpretation board explains half as clearly. The beach is still lovely where sand remains, and it is the best place to look out at Cham Island offshore, as well as the departure point for boats there.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Cua Dai Beach?

March to August

How long do you need at Cua Dai Beach?

2 hours

What are the opening hours of Cua Dai Beach?

All day

Did you know

Cua Dai is where the Thu Bon river meets the sea, about 5km from Hoi An old town.
The shoreline has suffered severe erosion for years, requiring revetments and sand replenishment.
Cham Island is visible offshore from the beach.
The boat pier for Cham Island is in the Cua Dai area.

Travel tips

If you are going to Cham Island this is the departure point; boats generally run in the morning.
Do not swim near the river mouth — currents where river meets sea are strong.

Source: https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/4171964292

Updated: 2026-08-16