Best 10 Beaches in the World

For some beachgoers, calm atmospheres are the best choices. For others, white sand and blue waters define a beach's excellence. And for others still, access to entertainment and acitvities helps a shore stand out. Here, FaceJour suggests best 10 beaches in the world.

1. Lanikai Beach, Hawaii

Half a mile of sparkling sand, palm trees swaying over a white beach, lush tropical plants, and endless sunshine make Lanikai one of Hawaii’s most scenic beaches. The shore is protected by a nearby coral reef, which keeps the surf relatively calm. The water is always deep green and postcard-perfect.

2. The Hamptons, New York

One of the hip spots for the air-kissing, well-heeled set, the Hamptons boast some of the prettiest beaches on Long Island. The unspoiled shoreline begins around Southampton and runs east to the end of the island at Montauk. Windswept dunes and waving grasses border the Atlantic Ocean.

3. Bora Bora, Tahiti

This is one of the magical islands that make up French Polynesia in the South Pacific. Just 18 miles (29 kilometers) long, this lush little slip of land lies in a protected lagoon edged by white sandy shores, the best being at Matira Point. Bora Bora boasts the nickname the “Romantic Island,” a moniker easy to appreciate with its isolated beaches, intimate hotels, and quiet atmosphere.

4. Fraser Island, Australia

Perched on the sunny Queensland coast 161 miles (259 kilometers) northeast of Brisbane, Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island and home to a wonderful beach. This World Heritage Site is an ecologist’s dream, with 640 square miles (1,664 square kilometers) of unspoiled natural paradise. Rain forests with 1,000-year-old trees sprout from the sand. Lodgings here accommodate a wide range of tourists, from the backpacking ecology lover to pampered resort fans.

5. Seychelles

One of the most photographed beaches in the world, the pale pink sands of Anse Source d’Argent unfurls across the island of La Digue, one of the 115 components of this archipelago in the Indian Ocean. The sands sparkle against a backdrop of towering granite boulders, worn by time and weather. The turquoise water is relatively shallow and protected from the ocean’s waves by a reef.

6. Maldives

Whether your dream beach trip consists of spending a few pampered nights in a four-star resort or swimming among tropical fish some 80 feet (24 meters) underwater, the Maldives are the sort of islands where either—or both—can come true. Straddling the Equator southwest of Sri Lanka, the 1,102 islands that make up the Maldives form 26 atolls. The soft air enveloping the archipelago blends into a beautiful palm-fringed haze.

7. Langkawi, Malaysia

The name “Langkawi” translates into “the land of one’s wishes,” a welcoming concept that somewhat belies the island’s historic origins as a reputed refuge for pirates. Langkawi has since become a modern hideaway for the traveler seeking an escape. If your vacation wishes extend from uncrowded white sands and clear waters to lush green forests, you will find yourself content here. Datai Bay, located on Pulau Langkawi, is a heavenly retreat on the Andaman Sea.

8. Nantucket Island, Massachusetts

The most popular beaches on this island in the North Atlantic are Surfside and Children’s. The waters here are relatively calm, and there’s plenty of sand to use for sunbathing or castle-building. Madaket Beach is known for its rougher surf and not-to-be-missed sunsets. Quidnet Beach provides great views of Sankaty Head lighthouse.

9. St. Bart's

One of many islands in the Caribbean Sea, St. Bart’s stands out with its blend of French chic and island relaxation. With beautiful secluded beaches, fine French cuisine, and gracious hotels, this tropical playground is popular with the Jet Set. The 8-mile-long (13-kilometer-long) island is edged by 20 beaches and small coves for swimmers and sunbathers, with sparkling water and white sand.

10. Kauna'oa Bay, Hawaii

Located on the Kohala Coast of the Aloha State’s Big Island, Kauna’oa Bay is the quintessential Hawaiian spot. The 0.25-mile-long (0.4-kilometer-long), crescent-shaped beach has plenty of white sand, palm trees, and calm, clear, blue water. In addition to swimming and sunbathing, beachgoers here can snorkel or ride boogie boards. (Be careful swimming, however, because there are no lifeguards on this public beach.) At night, nestle into the sands and peer out into the water to see if you can catch a glimpse of manta rays swimming.

Hue’s Imperial Citadel

The Tay Son Rebellion in Vietnam brought Nguyen Phuc Anh to power in 1802. Declaring himself Emperor Gia Long, he began construction on a grand fortress-palace in Hue in 1804. Today the emperor’s construction is known in Hue merely as “the Citadel”, and its inner sanctum, once the home of the emperor and his family, is called “the Purple Forbidden City”. Although the Citadel and its Imperial City were badly damaged during the Vietnam War in 1968, they remain one of Vietnam’s top tourist destinations.

Early History of the Citadel

Like many of Asia’s leaders of the past, the emperor relied upon traditional methods of divination, called geomancy, to choose the location for the Citadel. With a wish to create a sort of mini-Forbidden City like the one in Beijing, tens of thousands of labourers were conscripted to construct his fortress and palace. They dug a ten kilometer moat, along with thick earthen walls, to create the Citadel’s perimeter. Copying the French military architect Vauban, these earthen walls were later replaced by two-meter-thick stone walls. Inside the outer perimeter, a smaller moat and smaller brick walls bounded the emperor’s Purple Forbidden City. The Purple Forbidden City, besides elaborate residences, also included a network of gates, courtyards, and administrative buildings. The emperor didn’t live to see the completion of his architectural masterpiece; dying in 1820, the Citadel was finally completed in 1832 by Gia Long’s son, the Emperor Minh Mang.

The Citadel and the Vietnam War

The Nguyen Dynasty ended in 1945, when Bao Dai abdicated the throne to the communist leader and founder of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh.

For centuries, Vietnam had been under the influence of the French, but the Japanese changed that in 1940 when they invaded French Indochina at the start of the Second World War. The Emperor Bao Dai was a pawn of these larger global forces, first acting under the direction of the French, and later coerced by the Japanese to declare Vietnam a member of Japan’s Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. The unpopularity of the Japanese made it fairly easy for Ho Chi Minh to convince Bao Dai to abdicate.

Over the next ten years, the emperor left the Purple Forbidden City, and Vietnam gradually descended into chaos, as French, communist, and imperial forces vied for power. During this time, the Citadel suffered from both typhoon and termite damage, and was generally neglected. In 1968, during the height of the Vietnam War, communist forces overtook Hue and occupied the Citadel. As part of the Tet Offensive, the Vietcong sneaked into the Citadel, killing the South Vietnamese guards, and opened the way for many Vietcong to enter. In an odd twist of fate, the centuries-old, imperial Citadel proved itself a worthy military fortress in the hands of the anti-imperialist communists. Americans had a difficult time dislodging the North Vietnamese from the Citadel, leading to one of the bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War, the Battle of Hue.

American bombing during the battle destroyed much of the Citadel, especially flattening the inner Imperial City, of which few of the original structures remain today.

The Citadel Today

The remaining buildings in the Citadel have been carefully restored, and in 1993 the Citadel and its Imperial City was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Much of the land that used to be the Purple Forbidden City, however, is today just rice fields.

What remains of Hue’s impressive Citadel is still a worthwhile attraction for visitors. Though it will never be able to reclaim its former glory under the Nguyen emperors, the Citadel nonetheless is a beautiful and fascinating historical site. For anyone visiting Hue, visiting the Citadel should be at the top of the to-do-list.

How to choose a Halong Bay cruise – the definitive guide

For many people the unique scenery of Halong Bay is one of the main inspirations for their trip to Vietnam, so choosing the right option for exploring these beautiful, island-strewn waters is key.

Here we provide a handy guide to Halong enabling you to make the right choice for you.
First, a bit of background:

Where is Halong Bay?
Located around 90 miles due east of Hanoi on the Gulf of Tonkin, Halong Bay is the beautiful area of karst limestone scenery that shelters in the shallow waters between Cat Ba Island to the south and the Vietnamese mainland. The adjacent Bai Tu Long Bay is less visited but boasts similar dramatic seascapes.

How do I get there?
Halong Bay is usually reached by vehicle from Hanoi, a journey of between 3 and 4 hours depending on road and traffic conditions. For those with deeper pockets a new seaplane service has recently launched, offering short hop flights from Hanoi across to Halong, which can be extended to include a short flight over the bay itself.
Also accessible from Halong is the scenic region of Ninh Binh (3 hours’ drive). Known locally as ‘Dry Halong’ this attractive area south of Hanoi is home to towering limestone mountains interspersed with rice paddies and cut through by meandering rivers.

What’s the best way to explore the bay?
Although the scenery of the bay is visible from the shore of Halong City, the best way to fully appreciate its splendour is from out on the water. A cruise is the classic choice and a range of options is available to suit all tastes.

The day cruise
If the idea of staying onboard a cruise overnight doesn’t appeal, worry not! Both half and full day cruises are available that give you a great taste of the delights of the bay. A day trip from Hanoi is possible, including a half-day cruise through the bay, though with a long drive in either direction this isn’t our favourite choice. A more relaxing option is to stay overnight at a hotel in Halong City, then rise early to enjoy a delightful full day cruise.

The overnight cruise
The most popular way to explore the bay is to take an overnight cruise, with the one-night option the classic choice. In recent years a number of companies have introduced longer two- and even three-night itineraries, which provide access to more remote corners of the bay. See the following section for more details.

What is the best length of cruise?
A range of cruise lengths are now on offer. Here we discuss the practicalities and merits of each.

Day cruise
Many of the large tour groups tackle Halong Bay as a long day trip from Hanoi, setting out early for the long drive to the bay and joining a half day cruise, before returning to the city in the evening. For those very short on time this is an option, but not one we would usually recommend. We suggest staying overnight in Halong City and taking it a more leisurely pace.

For most visitors a one-night cruise is an excellent choice – allowing you to get out into the bay to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere onboard, but not eating too much into your time for exploring the rest of Vietnam. The majority of overnight cruises commence at midday, allowing you sufficient time to travel from Hanoi in the morning, arriving in time to get settled and set sail as lunch is being served. You sail throughout the afternoon, stopping in at one or two of the popular caves, beaches or floating villages out in the bay. Dinner is served after you have moored for the night. The following morning a further stop is made, before you return to port and disembark at around 11 am.

Two-night cruise
If time allows, the two-night cruise is the perfect way to leave the crowds behind and head deeper into the bay. When the one-night boats return to port the bay is beautifully quiet, leaving you free to explore the quiet coves, kayaking and swimming, without disturbance. In many cases you will transfer from the main ship to a smaller day boat for the second day’s activities, rejoining the main ship in the evening. A small number of boats operate true two-day itineraries, where you remain with the ship throughout and head into the less-visited corners of the bay.

Three-night cruise
For the cruising connoisseur the Indochina Junk cruise company have introduced a three-night cruise which explores the more distant corners of both Halong and Bai Tu Long Bay.

What time of year is best?

Cruises continue to sail serenely through the delightful waters of Halong Bay for twelve months of the year, and picking a definitive ‘best’ time is a tough ask. Here is a little summary of the different seasons, with a few pros and cons of each that we hope will help you to reach your own conclusions.
Winter – December and January
You’re unlikely to get much rain at this time of year, but it is likely to be cool – temperatures of 15 to 20 c are common meaning jackets are the order of the day, and it’s not the time of year to anticipate much swimming.

Pros: A very low chance of disruption or cancellation; largely dry conditions and fewer visitors
Cons: Cooler temperatures and often misty days

Spring – February to April
Still dry but warming up nicely – arguably the best time of year to be on the water.

Pros: Warm, dry, lots of sun, good temperatures for a spot of swimming and sundeck relaxation
Cons: It’s a busy time of year and some of the popular spots are likely to have large numbers of boats and visitors

Summer – May to August
Temperatures during the summer months can be pretty stifling in Hanoi, but with a gentle sea breeze where could be better than being on the water. This is the rainiest time of year up north so you’re likely to encounter a hefter shower or two, but not usually enough to spoil your enjoyment.

Pros: A welcome respite from the heat of the city, great for swimming, kayaking and relaxing
Cons: The summer is a busy time, popular with holidaying Vietnamese; you’ll get rained on a some stage, and toward the end of the summer there is the risk of a storm or typhoon which can cause a closure of the bay to shipping.

Autumn – September to November
Lovely temperatures for sailing and a less rain overall can be expected, though there is a continued storm risk, particularly in September and October meaning disruption and even cancellation is a possibility.

Pros: Ideal temperatures; relatively uncrowded (it’s never completely quiet at Halong)
Cons: Some typhoon risk early in the season

What ship should I choose?
Since 2012 all ships on Halong Bay have been painted white, by government order, so at first glance there may appear little difference between the various craft bobbing in the water. Look more closely, however, and you’ll notice a range of style, sizes and standards to choose from, each catering to a different set of tastes and budgets. The majority of boats include all meals as part of the package, though the drink situation varies by boat – some including complimentary soft and alcoholic drinks with meals, others not. In all cases imported wines and beers will tend to be relatively expensive.

Classic wooden Chinese-style junk boat
The majority of the boats on Halong Bay are modelled on the traditional Chinese-style junk boat, complete with ornamental sails for the final decorative flourish. There are numerous companies operating, and these junk boats range in size from romantic private one-cabin vessels to larger boats with 20 or more cabins. The standard also ranges from the comfortable mid-range up to the luxurious and exclusive. In general the more expensive vessels will have larger cabins often with private balconies, and ensuite bathrooms will be larger, more private and better equipped.

Modern luxury vessel
The new Au Co ship is one of the few in Halong that doesn’t mimic the traditional junk boat style, though internally the elegant wooden finish, complete with Oriental touches, ensures you know you’re in Vietnam.

Traditional paddle steamer
Tourism on Halong Bay commenced during the French colonial era, and a descendant of one of the earliest cruise owners has reconstructed one of the original European-style paddle steamers that sailed the bay from 1906. The elegant Emeraude is steel-hulled and has a unique European colonial atmosphere.

Whichever time of year you decide to visit, this UNESCO World Heritage site is beautiful and this little guide to Halong should allow you to make the most of it.

For more help with your Vietnam trip, take a look at our latest travel tool.

Halong Bay

Perhaps one of the most iconic features of Vietnam, Ha Long Bay is a breathtaking location like no other. With as many a 2,000 limestone islands and rocks, covered with wildlife and filled with caves and grottoes, its UNESCO world heritage status is well deserved.

A place that must be seen to be seen to be believed, Halong Bay has risen to become one of Vietnam’s most popular tourist destinations, and is likely to be voted #1 in the New 7 Wonders Of the World.

Most visitors get a bus to Halong from Hanoi, before embarking on a boat trip of 2-3 days, where they can sleep on a junk boat, swim in the waters and go kayaking or canoeing. The quality of tour does vary (you do get what you pay for!) but even the bargain trips aren’t bad, as you can quite happily spend your day looking at the beautiful scenery and ignoring the less beautiful boat you’re sat on.

Don’t be put off when you first arrive in Halong by the sheer number of tourists – most of the tours set off at the same time and it will appear very crowded, but soon after leaving the docks the boats split up and head off in different directions – it may not seem it at first but it soon becomes a very peaceful journey as its not hard for the boats to hide behind one of the thousands of islands.

One interesting feature of Halong bay is the floating villages you will see nestling in the sheltered bays between the stones. These ingenious construction allow landless people to farm fish – each house will be built on planks bordering nets where they raise fish, crabs and shrimp in the sea water below.

Cruises and Tours of Halong Bay

For most people, taking an organised cruise from Hanoi to Halong Bay is a better option than staying in Halong City, where entertainment is sparse.

Hanoi’s Old Quarter

Alternatively called Hanoi’s Old Quarter, Ancient Quarter, or just simply 36 Streets, the Old Quarter of Hanoi is a must-see for anyone visiting Vietnam. Located at the northern end of Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter is the home of most the economical hotels, tourist shops, and cafes in Hanoi.

The Old Quarter is truly old: people have called Hanoi home continuously for more than 2,000 years, and the Old Quarter is the first area settled by humans. Most of Vietnamese history and culture has unfurled from the location of the Old Quarter. Unlike other cities with “old towns”, which by-and-large have become nothing more than souvenir shops and cheap tourist attractions, Hanoi’s Old Quarter is still the vibrant centre of life in Hanoi. With people on the street by 5:30 a.m., and restaurants opening by 6:00 a.m., the hustle-and-bustle of the Old Quarter doesn’t really start to slow down until 9:30 at night.

The 36 streets that make up the Old Quarter are all named for the type of good or serve they used to sell there. There are streets named for bamboo, silk, silver, medicine, shoes, fans, chickens, and even coffins. This method of naming the street after goods or services goes back to the days when craftsmen would work together in guilds to produce and sell their wares. Even today, walking through the Old Quarter, you might come across an entire block of nothing but paper makers, tinsmiths, or tailors.

A Day in the Life of Hanoi’s Old Quarter

The long homes lining the streets of Old Hanoi are called “tunnel homes”, because they are not very wide but extend far behind the street front. The section of the home facing the street is generally where the merchants produce and sell their goods; behind the public section is a garden courtyard, and behind that is the residence where the family lives.

Everywhere in Old Hanoi, life spills out from these tunnel houses onto the streets. On the streets, you’ll find average Vietnamese people going about their day, tourists looking for some interesting shopping, and street vendors selling their wares. You’ll have to walk around stools set onto the sidewalks, where cafe customers are eating their rice or drinking tea, and you’ll need to watch out for the motorbikes racing by in the streets.

Things to See in the Old Quarter

Amongst other sites of interest, the Old Quarter is home to Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the most frequently visited historical site in Hanoi. Drab and imposing from the outside, the rough, grey granite slabs hide polished stones of red, black, and grey on the inside. Designed to look like Moscow’s Lenin’s Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum rests in the centre of Ba Dinh Square, where President Ho read the Declaration of Independence in 1945, after the Japanese had been defeated. Be careful when you visit the mausoleum; the guards strictly enforce rules regarding dress (no shorts or miniskirts), talking (don’t do it), walking (visitors must walk in two lines), and there is no smoking, photography, or video taping allowed anywhere inside the mausoleum.

Right next to the mausoleum is the Ho Chi Minh Museum, a living scrapbook of Vietnam’s struggle to boot out foreign powers.

Nearby you’ll find two contrasting buildings also related to Vietnam’s twentieth century history: the Governor’s Palace and the House on Stilts. The Governor’s Palace is an ornate, yellow, colonial style building that was built in 1906 to house French government officials ruling over Vietnam. Large and imposing, the Governor’s Palace isn’t open to the public, but you can walk around the grounds and snap a few photos.

The House on Stilts, on the other hand, was Ho Chi Minh’s home on and off from 1958 through 1969. Built of teak in the traditional Vietnamese village-style, the House on Stilts was a simple home that represented Ho’s communist ideals.

Visit While You Have a Chance

If you want to see Hanoi’s Old Quarter the way it’s been for hundreds of years, you should visit soon. A government proposal suggests razing many of the tunnel houses and replacing them with fancy new condominiums and commercial buildings. If the construction is approved, as much as a third of the tunnel houses will disappear – along with the families that have called the long, narrow houses home for generations. In a process of gentrification all too familiar in the west, the face of the Old Quarter may be very different in just a few years. In other words, go see Hanoi’s Old Quarter now, while it’s still old.