Top 10 Marinas in Vietnam
Vietnam's 3,260-kilometre coastline runs from the Gulf of Tonkin in the north to the Gulf of Thailand in the south, passing some of the most visually dramatic seascape on the planet. Ha Long Bay's 1,969 limestone islands and islets have been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994, and the scenery of the nearby Lan Ha Bay rivals anything in Southeast Asia. Danang, the country's third-largest city, now anchors a nascent marina cluster that is drawing the first generation of international bluewater boats. Visiting Vietnam by yacht requires advance paperwork: a cruising permit (tam trú) must be arranged through an agent before arrival, and the customs and immigration process at the first port of entry is thorough but manageable. The weather window for southbound passages runs from November to April, when the northeast monsoon funnels a reliable breeze down the coast.
Da Nang Marina
Da Nang Marina, which opened in phased stages from 2018 onwards near the Han River mouth, is Vietnam's most capable yachting facility. It offers around 80 berths for vessels up to 60 metres, a 60-tonne travel-lift, a chandlery, and fuel dock. Shore power and WiFi are reliable. The marina is central to Da Nang city, within walking distance of Dragon Bridge and the famous Ba Na Hills cable car. Its position midway along the Vietnamese coast makes it an ideal waypoint on a northbound or southbound passage. The marina's boatyard team can handle fibreglass and steel repairs.
Dong Hoi Harbor, Quang Binh
Dong Hoi is the gateway to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and the Hang Son Doong cave system — the world's largest cave by volume. The harbour entrance is guarded by a shallow bar (minimum depth approximately 3.5 metres at low water) and the channel is buoyed but narrow. A small commercial wharf accepts visiting leisure yachts; the Quang Binh Maritime Authority issues cruising approvals here. The anchorage inside the harbour provides good shelter from the north and northeast. This is among the less-visited stops on the Vietnamese coast, which is precisely its appeal.
Chan May Port
Chan May, between Da Nang and Hue, is a cruise ship port that accepts visiting private yachts by prior arrangement with the port authority. The infrastructure is built for large vessels, which means excellent fuel availability and easy port agent access. Hue Imperial City and Thien Mu Pagoda are accessible by road (45 minutes), and the Hai Van Pass between Hue and Da Nang — immortalised by the Top Gear special — is visible from the anchorage on a clear day.
Nha Trang Anchorage
Nha Trang's central bay, sheltered by a string of offshore islands including Hon Tre and Hon Mieu, provides a natural anchorage in 5 to 15 metres with generally good holding. There is no purpose-built yacht marina as of 2026, but the Municipal Pier (Cầu Tàu Thành Phố) accepts small yacht tenders, and a local agent can arrange fuel delivery by jerrycan and basic provisions. Nha Trang is one of the most popular beach cities in Vietnam and offers excellent fresh seafood, a PADI dive centre with instruction in English, and convenient air connections for crew changes.
Vung Tau Anchorage and Pier
Vung Tau, at the mouth of the Saigon River about 125 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City, is the traditional entry point for yachts making for southern Vietnam. The wide bay is sheltered by the Cap Saint-Jacques headland, and depths of 8 to 15 metres with a muddy bottom provide good anchorage. The Vung Tau Boat Club accepts visiting yachts informally; fuel, water, and basic provisions are available from the commercial wharves. The Saigon River passage upriver to Ho Chi Minh City — a 60-kilometre channel through mangrove swamps and container terminals — is one of the most dramatic inland waterway approaches in Asia.
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) River Moorings
Ho Chi Minh City does not yet have a western-standard marina, but the Saigon River moorings near District 1, adjacent to Bến Tàu Bạch Đằng (the Bạch Đằng Wharf), can accommodate small to medium-sized yachts. The wharf has been a significant riverside landmark since French colonial times. Visiting yachts moor alongside local ferries and water taxis; the Customs House is within walking distance. The city's provisioning is exceptional — fresh markets, international supermarkets, and marine chandlery suppliers exist within the urban core.
Ha Long Bay Moorings
Ha Long Bay is a World Heritage Site with tightly controlled anchoring regulations. Visiting yachts must operate through an approved tour operator or agent and anchor in designated zones; independent anchoring is not permitted. The panoramic scenery — 1,969 islets rising from the Gulf of Tonkin — is impossible to overstate. Boats typically enter through the port of Cai Lan or Cai Rong. The cruise season is October to April; summer fog and periodic typhoon risk from June to September require careful planning.
Cai Rong Marina, Van Don
Cai Rong on Van Don island, about 60 kilometres east of Ha Long City, is the administrative centre for cruising permits in the northern Gulf of Tonkin. A small marina here provides pontoon berths for yachts, and the local authority processes cruising permits for the Ha Long Bay area. The surrounding Bai Tu Long Bay — immediately adjacent to Ha Long but outside the most tourist-dense zone — offers equally spectacular karst scenery with fewer tourist junks.
Phan Thiet Anchorage
Phan Thiet, on the south-central coast about 200 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City, is known for its wind conditions (it holds a land speed record for kitesurfing) and its anchorage in Phan Thiet Bay. Depths of 4 to 7 metres and a sheltered aspect make it a good overnight stop. The Mui Ne fishing village to the east is famed for its seafood, and the red sand dunes inland are a striking stopover attraction.
Phu Quoc Anchorage
Phu Quoc island, 45 kilometres off the Cambodian coast in the Gulf of Thailand, is Vietnam's largest island and a rapidly developing tourist destination. An international airport opened in 2012, and a deep-water port is operational. Long Beach on the west coast provides a useful anchorage in 4 to 8 metres; the holding is sandy. Phu Quoc's position makes it a natural final port before exiting Vietnam southward into Thailand or Malaysia.
Explore on the map
The interactive map lets you trace the full Vietnamese coastline from Ha Long Bay to Phu Quoc in a single view. Mark your waypoints, check anchorage depths, and discover what awaits at each stop — explore Vietnam on the map and start planning one of Asia's most visually unforgettable coastal passages.