My Khe Beach
White sand, blue water, and Da Nang's liveliest after-dark strip
About
Bãi biển Mỹ Khê (đoạn An Thượng) is a lively stretch of white sand along Da Nang's South Central Coast, where the blue South China Sea meets a beach that genuinely changes personality as the sun drops. By day, swimmers and sunbathers claim the shore; by evening, the An Thượng bar street hums just steps from the waterline, and open-air seafood grills fire up on the dunes. Backpacker guesthouses sit within easy walking distance, making this one of Da Nang's most accessible and sociable beach sections. The roughly 800-metre strip is easy to reach and consistently busy — expect company at almost any hour.
How to get there
From Da Nang city centre, the beach is about a 15-minute drive — straightforward on any given day. Da Nang International Airport (DAD) is only 5.4 km away, so you can be on the sand within minutes of landing. Parking is available in a mix of roadside spots and informal paid parking in the alleys behind the An Thượng strip; no app-based or ticketed system is documented, so carry small cash for attendants. There is no entry fee.
Who it's for
For couples
The day-to-night shift is the real draw for couples — a lazy afternoon on white sand followed by a seafood dinner on the dunes and a walk along the lit-up bar strip makes for a complete evening without needing a taxi.
For families
Families with older children can enjoy the beach comfortably during dry-season mornings when the blue water is calmer, but note that swimming is only rated moderate and lifeguards are off duty after 6:30 PM — plan your beach time accordingly and keep young ones well clear of the water after dark.
Our take
Feet in the sand, eyes on the screen
Be clear-eyed about what An Thượng beach is: it's not a quiet escape, and it's not trying to be. The white sand and blue water are genuinely attractive, but the real draw is the seamless transition from beach to bar street to seafood grill — all within a few hundred metres. Safety comes first, though: rip currents during typhoon season are serious, night swimming is dangerous without lifeguards, and the red flag means stay out, full stop. Avoid October and November entirely. Come between November and April for dry skies, and arrive in the morning if you want the sand to yourself before the day visitors pile in. For backpackers and social travellers who want a beach that keeps going after sunset, this section of Mỹ Khê delivers.
What to do
Two kilometres away, the Tran Thi Ly Bridge and the Cau Nguyen Van Troi Bridge make for a rewarding evening walk or short ride. The Dragon's Head Fire Show, also around 2 km out, is worth timing your evening around. Further afield, the Marble Mountains (Ngũ Hành Sơn) at 5 km offer five limestone karst hills riddled with Buddhist caves, pagodas, and sweeping coastal views — a strong half-day excursion. Da Nang's iconic Dragon Bridge (Cầu Rồng), 6 km away, breathes actual fire on weekend evenings.
The open-air seafood grills on the dunes at golden hour deliver smoke, flame, and white sand in a single frame.
The An Thượng bar street frontage, shot from the beach looking inland at night, captures the neon-on-sand contrast that defines this stretch.
Where to eat
The An Thượng strip delivers serious eating within 100 metres of the sand: Lang Ca and Cua Do both serve fresh seafood, while 43 Town covers sushi, pizza, steak, and pasta if you want a break from Vietnamese food. Luc Thien Mon and Nha Hang Nam Hien round out the immediate options, so you're never more than a short walk from a proper meal.
Where to stay
Several small hotels sit within 200–300 metres of the waterfront. My Khe 2, Sen Boutique, and Trang Ngan are all within 200 metres, with Ronal at the same distance and Bac Nam just 300 metres back — close enough to hear the bar street, so light sleepers should ask for a room facing away from An Thượng.
Photography
Shoot the dune-side seafood grills at dusk when the charcoal smoke catches the last light and the blue water still glows behind the flames. The An Thượng bar street neon reflecting on the wet sand after a light rain makes for a strong night frame — arrive just after 8 PM before the scene gets too chaotic.
Good to know
Never swim when the red flag is flying — this is a legal rule, not a suggestion. Typhoon season from late August through November brings dangerous surf and strong rip currents that regularly lead to swimming prohibitions; October and November are the worst months, with heavy rainfall and reduced outdoor dining too. Night swimming is genuinely risky: lifeguards leave at 6:30 PM and lighting on the beach is limited after dark, so stay out of the water once the sun goes down. Noise ordinances apply after midnight in parts of the An Thượng zone, so keep that in mind if you're staying close to the strip.
Map
Nearby places
Luc Thien Mon
Lang Ca
43 Town
Cua Do
Nha hang nam hien
Tran Thi Ly Bridge
Cau Nguyen Van Troi Bridge
Dragon's Head (Fire Show)
Marble Mountains (Ngũ Hành Sơn)
Dragon Bridge (Cầu Rồng)
Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture
Things to see around My An
Marble Mountains (Ngũ Hành Sơn)
Five limestone karst hills with Buddhist caves, pagodas, and panoramic coastal views
Dragon Bridge (Cầu Rồng)
Iconic dragon-shaped bridge over the Han River that breathes fire on weekend evenings
Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture
World's largest collection of Cham artefacts from the ancient Champa kingdom
Frequently asked
The information on this page is provided for guidance only and may evolve. Access conditions, safety and infrastructure can change without notice. Always check official sources before traveling.
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Photo credits
Sources and licenses for the photos shown above.
- Photo 1 — Silveringking · source · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo 2 — wolfgang.weigelt · source · CC BY 2.0
- Photo 3 — wolfgang.weigelt · source · CC BY 2.0
- Photo 4 — s3v3n.l0v3_8x · source · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Photo 5 — Raita Futo · source · CC BY 2.0