UK newspaper The Telegraph has just named An Thoi Islands in Vietnam the number one destination among 10 beaches in Southeast Asia that haven’t been ruined by tourism.

An Thoi Islands in Vietnam.

“The diamond-shaped island of Phu Quoc in the far south-western reaches of Vietnam flew under the tourist radar for years. Today much of its shimmering shores come with a construction site soundtrack and increasing beach traffic. But just off the south coast a slice of Eden remains,” The Telegraph wrote.

The Telegraph advises travelers to pack a picnic and hire a boat from Phu Quoc's port to the mesmerising An Thoi Islands, a speckling of 15 isles, secluded coves and colourful coral reefs almost completely devoid of humans.

In addition, Binh Lap in Vietnam has been ranked fifth among The Telegraph's list. Naval base turned island idyll, Cam Ranh Bay, on Vietnam's eastern flank, is pinch-me perfect – jungle-painted isles, screenwash-blue waters, snowy beaches, and barely another person in sight.    

The entire bay is speckled with sensational island beaches, such as Binh Tien, Binh Hung and Na Cu, but the most enchanting of them all is the secluded Binh Lap, a lick of sands dotted with large shiny boulders – more Seychelles than Southeast Asia.

On the list, An Thoi Islands is followed by Tai Long Wan in Hong Kong, Khlong Rahan in Thailand, Sok San in Cambodia, Binh Lap in Vietnam, Pink Beach (Great Santa Cruz Island, Philippines), etc.

Vietnam welcomed some 11.616 million foreign visitors in the first nine months of 2018, an 22.9% increase from the same period last year, according to the General Statistics Office.

Hanoitimes