Quảng Ngãi

Quảng Ngãi is a revitalized city in Vietnam's Central Coast that most travelers bypass for Da Nang or Nha Trang, but this oversight misses a solemn piece of history at the My Lai Massacre Memorial and increasingly attractive beaches like My Khe and Sa Huynh. With oil money funding new cafes, resorts, and upscale restaurants, the city offers a mix of historical significance and emerging leisure appeal without the crowds of major tourist destinations. The surrounding region includes mountains, plains, coastal areas, and offshore islands, making it diverse for a short stay.

Quảng Ngãi lies halfway between Hanoi (883 km north) and Ho Chi Minh City (838 km south), making it a natural stopover. The city is 130 km (~3 hours) from Da Nang and 116 km (~2.5 hours) from Hoi An. Chu Lai Airport is 40 km north of the city near Tam Kỳ city in the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone. Quảng Ngãi railway station is located at 1 Nguyễn Chánh, providing train connections along the north-south route.

Quảng Ngãi is a small city but many attractions lie in the outskirts, with My Khe Beach 15 km away, so a motor vehicle is essential for getting around. Motorbike rentals are available at hotels like Ngoc Anh Hotel. Local buses (line: SAKI) run from downtown to My Lai Memorial, taking 15-20 minutes and costing 10,000 dong each way.

The rain season lasts from September to December, which travelers may want to avoid. It is hot between April and August, while the weather is cold from January to March. Annual average temperature is 26°C. The best time to visit is likely during the cooler dry months from January to March or just before the rainy season.

Most hotels are concentrated on the two main streets: Quang Trung St and Hung Vuong St. Many options are available around the bus station on Le Thanh Ton. Best choices are riverside hotels on either side of the Tra Khuc bridge, which often cater to oil industry business travelers with high-end amenities. Budget options like Dong Hung Hotel (from 200,000 dong/US$10) offer basic amenities including WiFi, A/C, hot shower, and TV.

For banh mi, head to street Phan Chu Trinh near number 8, in front of Hoa viên Trung tâm (Hùng Vương square). In the morning, excellent pho soup is available near Hotel Khách Sạn Hùng Vương, in front of Taxi Quảng Ngãi. All day, good coffee and banh mi can be found around the roundabout near the train station at Trần Quốc Toản, Trần Phú. Quảng Ngãi Market at the intersection of Nguyen Nghiem and Nguyen Ba Loan also has eating stalls.

The My Lai Massacre Memorial Museum, 13 km NE of Quảng Ngãi, commemorates 504 victims killed in 1969 by US forces and is the main reason foreign visitors stop by. Take local bus line SAKI from Hotel Khách Sạn Hùng Vương (45 Hùng Vương) for a 15-20 minute trip costing 10,000 dong each way. My Khe Beach, 15 km NE of the city, offers 8 km of fine white sand with a green poplar forest backdrop. Thien An Mountain, 3 km NE, features a three-century-old pagoda and the tomb of anti-colonial hero Huynh Thuc Khang.

Quảng Ngãi is a stopover destination for those heading north to Hoi An (116 km), Da Nang (130 km), and Hue, or south to Qui Nhon and Nha Trang. Ly Son Island, 26 km from Sa Ky Port, is known as the Garlic Capital of Central Vietnam with traces of Sa Huynh and Champa cultures, beautiful spots including Cave Pagoda and Hoang Sa Museum. For the central highlands, Kontum is the next destination. Direct flights are available back to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Budget travelers can find accommodation from 200,000 dong (US$10) at hotels like Dong Hung Hotel or Ninh Tho Hotel. Local bus to My Lai Memorial costs 10,000 dong each way. Street food including banh mi and pho are available throughout the day at various locations around the city center and near the train station.

Most upscale venues including resorts, hotels, and coffee shops offer internet connections. Even mid-range hotels provide Wi-Fi. There are also internet shops for locals and travelers needing connectivity.