Introduction
For most travellers Quy Nhon is a rushed transit stop along Highway 1 between the more popular towns of Nha Trang and Hoi An. As those places get busier and more developed, the charms of Quy Nhon and its surrounds become more attractive. We reckon it's worth a stop.
For those with a historical bent, this is where the Cham capital Vijaya was based and numerous ruins of the Cham civilisation are located around the city. The modest looking Binh Dinh museum has a surprising trove of Cham artefacts too.
A visit to Queen Beach and Leper Hospital at Quy Hoa may sound ghoulish - but don't worry, it's not. They are part of a large coastal park at the southern end of Quy Nhon harbour - some of which is dedicated to the famous Vietnamese love poet Han Mac Tu - himself at leper. The village around the hospital is set on the water and dates back to the 1920s. It's one of the most charming little villages in Vietnam.
Those with extra time may be interested in exploring Cham towers that lie further afield outside Quy Nhon. The underwhelming Quang Trung Museum is for diehard historians only.
Being in a Vietnamese coastal town that hasn't yet been overwhelmed by tourists, high-rise and concrete is also a plus. Though there are big plans to turn Quy Nhon into a major resort destination. Let's hope they do something with a little less concrete than Nha Trang and Phu Quoc.
