Itinerary: 3 Days in Quy Nhon (-nomnom)

First and foremost, to address the nom-nom of Quy Nhon-nom:

Signature Quy Nhon Cuisine

+ Fresh seafood (copious fish, prawn, scallops, clams, lobster, etc.) + O hoa nhồi (Bitter melon stuffed with pork) + Cút ram (Grilled quail) + Trứng cút (Quail eggs) + Nem Quy Nhơn màu lá cẩm tạm gọi (fermented pork roll) + Bánh hồng (coconut rice cake dessert)

From Left to Right: Grilled prawn and squid [tôm nướng, mực nướng], Grilled sea bass [nướng chẽm], Quail and quail eggs [cút ram, trứng cút], Coconut rice cake [bánh hồng]

Quy Nhon is a perfect weekend getaway destination for Vietnamese locals and expats living in Vietnam. Or for those of you traveling from afar, I'd recommend Quy Nhon as a two- or three-day respite from your undoubtedly jam-packed Southeast Asia sightseeing schedule. Here is a suggestion for your 3 days in Quy Nhon:

DAY 1

+ Midday: The Beach

Assuming a mid-day arrival, first-things-first, the beach. Settle into your hotel [highly recommend AVANI Quy Nhon Resort & Spa], and relax on the beach or by the pool (with a cold coconut in hand, of course).

+ Afternoon: Quy Nhon City

In the late afternoon, ride a taxi or xe om into Quy Nhon City center. If you're hungry, grab a coffee and a bite to eat at Khanh My (cafe with Vietnamese fare) or Barbara's Kiwi Connection (Vietnamese and Western fare). After lunch, take a quick walk to the Long Khanh Pagoda (notable for its 17 meter-high Buddha). Meander your way back to the boardwalk, and enjoy a drink at Surf Bar, while you watch the sunset and the impromptu football games on the beach.

+ Dinner: Quy Nhon Seafood

You're in a town known for its delicious seafood and other central Vietnamese cuisine, so time to eat again! From Surf Bar, walk to dinner at Que Huong 2 for an authentic central Vietnamese food experience.

+ Evening: Quy Nhon City Nightlife

After dinner, share some drinks with the locals. Go to the corner of Ngô Mây and An Dương Vương streets for a variety of late-night beer garden and cafe options. Feeling more fancy? Go to the 8th floor of the Saigon Quy Nhon Hotel and have drinks at the rooftop bar, Seaview Cafe.

DAY 2

+ Morning: Rest & Relaxation

If you wake up early, treat yourself to a morning yoga or meditation or coffee on the beach. Have a light bite at/near your hotel for breakfast, and then take a taxi or a bike ride to Xuan Hai Fishing Village.

+ Midday: Xuan Hai Fishing Village

At one of the floating restaurants, spend some time looking at the day's catch, and then select your choices for lunch. Have a long leisurely lunch at the floating restaurant and end it with a nap in the hammocks.

+ Afternoon: Beach

Once you've digested and rested, head back to your hotel and spend some more quality time with the beach. If your hotel does not have direct beach access, take a quick taxi ride to Bai Xep Beach or Quy Hoa Beach. Go for a bike ride, take a walk or run along the shore, kayak around the mountains, or set up a game of volleyball or badminton on the beach. For the adventure-seeking tourist, set up a tour guide to take you on a kayaking/snorkeling adventure to Hon Kho Island. If you're ready for a change of scenery, visit the Queen Beach and Leper Hospital (these beach and gardens are part of a large coastal park), or if it's raining, check out the Binh Dinh Museum.

+ Dinner/Evening:

Looking for a more casual dinner? Check out the beachside bar at Life's A Beach hotel. Or for something a little bit more - head back into Quy Nhon City center, and enjoy some of the best seafood at C'ine, 2000 Seafood, or Dong. Tre Restaurant at AVANI Resort is another excellent choice for a fine-dining experience.

Dinner spread at Tre Restaurant at AVANI Resort

DAY 3

+ Morning: Cham Towers

Enjoy a beachside breakfast at your hotel, and then take a taxi to the Cham Tower (a.k.a Banh It Towers and Thap Doi Towers). Banh It Tower, photographed at right, Photo Credit: vietnamtourism.org.vn

+ Midday: Dap Da Village

Hop back into a taxi and go to Dap Da Village where you can shop for handicrafts, woodworks, and pottery, and enjoy some local food options from the vendors there.

+ Afternoon: Pack Up and Beach

Head back to your hotel and pack up. Enjoy one more beach-side drink or coffee before you depart for the airport.

More on Quy Nhon: See post: [Destination Review: The Quaint, Quiescent Quy Nhon] See post: [5 Vietnamese Health Lessons from Quy Nhon-nomnom] See post: [Review: AVANI Quy Nhon Resort & Spa]