Ha My Beach and Rang Beach (Son Tra): Which One to Choose, How to Get There and When the Sea Looks Its Best

How Ha My and Rang Beach Differ

The two names often appear together in lists of quieter beaches, but the beaches are not next to each other. Ha My is a long sandy beach beside the coastal road between Da Nang and Hoi An, about 7 km from Hoi An Ancient Town and about 20 km from central Da Nang. Rang Beach lies on the eastern side of the Son Tra Peninsula along Hoang Sa Street, only about 5 to 7 km from central Da Nang. That means you can pick one beach for half a day, or string both together into a single day along the coast.

Ha My Beach: A Long Sandy Shore on the Da Nang to Hoi An Coast

Ha My is known mostly for how quiet it feels compared with An Bang. In 2017 the newspaper Tuoi Tre reported that Britain’s Telegraph had included Ha My among Asia’s attractive beaches. That was one newspaper’s pick at the time, not an official ranking that still stands. The usual description is a wide ribbon of sand, blue-green water, a few small seafood eateries right on the beach and some resorts and homestays set back behind it.

Travel sites describe the water as shallow and gentle when the sea is calm, which suits families with children and anyone who simply wants to lie back and stroll. Ha My is also an easy place for sunrise or sunset, since it is only about 15 to 20 minutes by car from Hoi An. If you want more services such as beach bars, sun loungers and water sports, An Bang Beach is livelier. Ha My is the better pick when you value open space over amenities.

Rang Beach on Son Tra: Rocks, Sand and Clear Water

Rang Beach is on Hoang Sa Street. From My Khe Beach you head toward the Son Tra Peninsula, pass Linh Ung Pagoda and carry on for about another 3 km. The beach is a mix of rock and sand with forest behind it, and on a calm day the water is clear enough to see the bottom. Big boulders break some of the swell, so the water close to shore is often calmer, but the rocks are also the main hazard because moss makes their surface very slippery.

According to travel sites, entry is free. Typical costs are about 10,000 VND ($0.4 USD) for motorbike parking and about 10,000 VND ($0.4 USD) per person for a fresh-water rinse, while huts and tents rented by the hour have their own prices that change with the season. You can eat seafood at the eateries near the beach or buy seafood to have cooked, but ask the price and the weight before you order. There is no petrol station on the road up to Son Tra, so if you ride a motorbike, fill the tank before you turn onto Hoang Sa Street.

It helps to keep Rang Beach separate from the spots where unofficial trekking in the Son Tra special-use forest is banned, such as Huc Lo, Mui Nghe and Bai Da Den. The three visitor routes announced by the peninsula management board do not mention Rang Beach either, so when you arrive, use only the regular access path from Hoang Sa Street.

Getting There from Da Nang and Hoi An

• Da Nang to Rang Beach: about 10 minutes from the centre. Follow Vo Nguyen Giap Street, then turn onto Hoang Sa Street toward Linh Ung Pagoda.
• Da Nang to Ha My: about 40 minutes along the coastal road, usually past the Ngu Hanh Son (Marble Mountains) area and onto Lac Long Quan Street.
• Hoi An to Ha My: about 7 km, 15 to 20 minutes by car. You can take a taxi, a ride-hailing car or rent a motorbike.
• Motorbike: handy for Ha My. For Rang Beach, check the latest notices about the Son Tra routes and the weather forecast before you ride.
• Private car with driver: a good fit for groups, small children or lots of beach gear, because the car waits while you swim and takes you on to the next stop without rebooking.

There is no official information about large car parking at Rang Beach. If you travel in a 16-seat van, tell the driver in advance so a suitable stopping point can be checked rather than guessed on the day.

Best Season and Beach Safety

According to Vietnam Airlines, the dry months of February to August are the most pleasant for Ha My, while September to January tends to bring rain, storms and big waves. For Rang Beach the same source suggests April to September. Through the day, early morning and late afternoon feel cooler, and the sea is often calmer than at midday.

Storm season can really change your plans. The Son Tra Peninsula management board suspended visits from 8 October 2026 because of very heavy rain and the risk of landslides and flash floods, then reopened the peninsula on 14 October 2026. That notice did not name Rang Beach, so do not assume anything about the beach itself. Check the forecast, look carefully at the sea when you arrive and be ready to postpone.

• Wear grippy sandals or water shoes on the rocks at Rang Beach, and do not wade out onto the rocks when the waves are strong.
• Do not trek on your own down to Huc Lo, Mui Nghe or Bai Da Den. The management board records that people have got lost, been injured or drowned there. For a guided walk, read our Son Tra forest trekking guide.
• Keep small children within arm’s reach, swim only where other people are swimming and never go far from shore alone.
• Bring drinking water, a towel, sunscreen and a bag for your rubbish. Do not leave litter, and do not feed the monkeys if you meet them on the Son Tra road.

A One-Day Plan That Links Both Beaches

If you are staying in Da Nang and want to finish the day in Hoi An, the sensible order is Rang Beach in the morning, Ha My in the afternoon, then the old town. The times below are only a guide, so adjust them to the weather and the energy of your group.

1. Step 1: 07:00 leave Da Nang. Head up Hoang Sa Street. You can stop at Linh Ung Pagoda first if you would like some sightseeing before the sea.
2. Step 2: 07:45 to 10:30 at Rang Beach. Swim and take photos while the sun is still mild, and avoid the harsh midday heat.
3. Step 3: 10:30 to 12:30 travel and lunch. Take the coastal road toward Ngu Hanh Son and have lunch near Ha My or along the way.
4. Step 4: 13:30 to 16:30 at Ha My. Rest in the shade of the coconut palms, swim gently if the sea is calm and wait for the light to soften.
5. Step 5: 17:00 head to Hoi An. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to reach the old town, in time for dinner and an evening stroll.

Private Car for the Two Beaches

For this plan the Da Nang to Hoi An route is the backbone, because Ha My sits beside the coastal stretch linking the two cities. You can look at the Da Nang to Hoi An private car and the Da Nang and Hoi An car price list for the listed fare of each vehicle type. A stop at Rang Beach and the waiting time for a swim fall outside the standard route, so the terms are given to you before you confirm the trip.