The beach at Cua Dai is a thirty minute leisurely bike ride from the town of Hoi An. What makes this beach so special is its proximity to Hoi An itself, one of the only towns in all of Vietnam that survived the American War – as the Vietnamese call it.

Hoi An was a major trading port during the 16th and 17th centuries attracting Chinese, Japanese and Dutch traders. The foreign presence has left distinct cultural impressions upon the small town such as the Japanese Bridge (Chùa cầu). It is the only known covered bridge with a pagoda attached to its side. It is no wonder that the town was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Hoi An is famous amongst the Vietnamese for its seafood. What a better place to enjoy the country’s best seafood than at the beach. Seafood stalls add to the charisma of this warm sandy beach lined with beach chairs and umbrellas.

No, it is not exactly a deserted beach, in fact there are resorts and tourists. Despite this slight turn off, rest assured that I am refraining from using the word ‘Hordes.’ If it is any consolation, keep in mind that you will find an equal dose of locals and travelers alike.

You will find many beautiful and even deserted beaches along Vietnam’s coast, but you will be hard pressed to find one this close to a town that survived one of the most destructive times in the world’s history.