Quảng Ngãi

Region · 🇻🇳 Vietnam

Quảng Ngãi is a coastal province in central Vietnam, between Da Nang and Quy Nhơn. It is best known for the Sơn Mỹ memorial, the site of the 1968 My Lai massacre, and for Lý Sơn, an island off the coast. The province is quiet and little visited, with long beaches, fishing ports and rice fields.

Most visitors stop for a half day at Sơn Mỹ on the road between Hội An and Quy Nhơn.

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When to visit

February to August is the best time, with dry, warm weather and calm seas. September to December is wet and typhoon season, with heavy rain and floods. Boats to Lý Sơn do not run in rough weather, mostly from October to January.

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Good

26° (feels like 28°) · extremes 18°–30°
20° at night
13 rainy days
4 sunny days
3 hours of sunshine per day
Muggy, humid air
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in February

Good

28° (feels like 30°) · extremes 18°–32°
21° at night
6 rainy days
9 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Muggy, humid air
Calm winds
UV index 8 · very high

Typical weather in March

Good

30° (feels like 34°) · extremes 19°–35°
22° at night
6 rainy days
9 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Calm winds
UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in April

Poor

33° (feels like 37°) · extremes 22°–37°
24° at night
7 rainy days
10 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Calm winds
UV index 10 · very high

Up to 5 days above 35°

Typical weather in May

Poor

34° (feels like 39°) · extremes 24°–37°
26° at night
16 rainy days
12 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Calm winds
UV index 10 · very high

Up to 9 days above 35°

Typical weather in June

Poor

34° (feels like 39°) · extremes 25°–37°
26° at night
14 rainy days
11 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Calm winds
UV index 10 · very high

Up to 8 days above 35°

Typical weather in July

Poor

34° (feels like 39°) · extremes 25°–37°
26° at night
17 rainy days
10 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Calm winds
UV index 10 · very high

Up to 7 days above 35°

Typical weather in August

Poor

34° (feels like 39°) · extremes 25°–37°
26° at night
20 rainy days
9 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Calm winds
UV index 10 · very high

Up to 7 days above 35°

Typical weather in September

Poor

32° (feels like 37°) · extremes 25°–35°
26° at night
24 rainy days
7 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Calm winds
UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in October

Poor

30° (feels like 34°) · extremes 23°–33°
25° at night
26 rainy days
2 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Calm winds
UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in November

Poor

28° (feels like 32°) · extremes 21°–31°
24° at night
22 rainy days
3 sunny days
3 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in December

Fair

26° (feels like 28°) · extremes 19°–30°
22° at night
20 rainy days
2 sunny days
2 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Light breeze
UV index 5 · moderate

Climate data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Top sights

Son My is the memorial and museum at the site of the massacre of villagers in March 1968. It has a museum, the remains of houses and a quiet garden.
Sơn Mỹ Memorial is the statue and memorial in the grounds.
An Hai Beach is a quiet beach on the coast, north of the city.

Lý Sơn Island, reached by boat or fast ferry from the coast, has volcanic cliffs, garlic fields and beaches. Sa Huỳnh is a salt-making village known for its archaeology.

What to experience

Visit the Sơn Mỹ memorial: Allow 1 to 2 hours. Dress respectfully.
Take the ferry to Lý Sơn: Cliffs, beaches and garlic fields.
Eat local seafood: Fresh fish, squid and snails near the coast.
Walk on the beach: Quiet sand with few visitors.
Try the local sweets: Quảng Ngãi is known for sugar and ginger sweets.

Tours & Activities

Quảng Ngãi — Map

Day trips

Da Nang: Da Nang is about 2 hours north.
Hoi An: Hội An is about 2 to 3 hours by road.
Binh Dinh: Quy Nhơn is about 3 hours south.
Kon Tum: Kon Tum lies across the mountains to the west.

Where to explore

North: Da Nang and Hoi An are the main tourist centres.
South: Binh Dinh has Quy Nhơn.
West: Kon Tum is in the Central Highlands.

Getting there

By train: Quảng Ngãi station is on the north–south line. Vietnam Railways
By bus: Buses run along Highway 1 from Da Nang, Hội An and Quy Nhơn.
By air: The nearest airports are Chu Lai (Tam Kỳ), Da Nang and Quy Nhơn.
To Lý Sơn: Fast boats leave from Sa Kỳ port, about 1 hour.

Getting around

Taxi: Available in Quảng Ngãi city.
Motorbike hire: Good for the coast and Sơn Mỹ.
Car with driver: Easiest for the memorial and the beaches in one day.

Driving

Is a car worth it? For Sơn Mỹ and the coast, a car or motorbike is the easiest.
Roads: Highway 1 is busy. Coastal roads are quieter.
Floods: In autumn, check road conditions.

Food & drink

Quảng Ngãi cooking is simple and strong. Try don, small clams served with rice paper, mì Quảng, turmeric noodles, and bánh xèo with fresh herbs. Local sugar and ginger sweets are sold as gifts. Lý Sơn is known for garlic and seaweed.

Breakfast

Pho PhởBeef or chicken noodle soup with a fragrant broth, fresh herbs, and rice noodles; commonly eaten for breakfast.

Lunch

Bun Cha Bún chảGrilled pork patties and slices served with rice vermicelli, herbs, and a sweet-sour dipping sauce; a Hanoi specialty.

Bun Bo Hue Bún bò HuếA spicy, lemongrass-scented beef noodle soup from the city of Hue.

Cao Lau Cao lầuA noodle dish unique to Hoi An, with thick chewy noodles, pork, and greens, traditionally made with local well water.

Snacks & street food

Banh Mi Bánh mìA French-influenced baguette sandwich filled with pork, pate, pickled vegetables, and herbs.

Banh Xeo Bánh xèoA crispy turmeric rice-flour crepe filled with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts, wrapped in lettuce and herbs.

Goi Cuon Gỏi cuốnFresh (uncooked) spring rolls filled with shrimp, pork, herbs, and vermicelli, wrapped in rice paper.

Sweets & desserts

Che ChèA category of sweet dessert soups or puddings made with beans, fruit, jelly, and coconut milk, served hot or over ice.

Drinks

Ca Phe Sua Da Cà phê sữa đáStrong drip coffee served over ice with sweetened condensed milk; Vietnam's signature drink.

Bia Hoi Bia hơiCheap, light draft beer brewed fresh daily and sold at street-side stalls, especially in Hanoi.

Safety & health

Quảng Ngãi is safe for visitors.

The memorial is a sensitive site. Dress modestly and be quiet.
Typhoon and flood season runs from September to December.
Sea currents can be strong. Swim in calm areas.
Check ferry schedules for Lý Sơn, as weather can cancel trips.
Use sun protection from April to August.

History

Quảng Ngãi has a long history as part of the Champa kingdom, and the Sa Huỳnh culture left pottery and burial jars. In the 20th century the province was a base of the independence movement.

On 16 March 1968, US troops killed several hundred unarmed villagers at Sơn Mỹ. The massacre became known worldwide after 1969. The site is now a memorial and museum.