Quy Nhon works as a winter base from December: the sea holds 24-26 °C and a one-bedroom flat rents for about $200-350 a month. November is the risky month, with about 400-430 mm of rain and the typhoon window. No international flight lands here, and a stay beyond 45 days needs an e‑visa.
When does the rain stop in Quy Nhon, and when should you arrive?
Rain fades through December: November brings about 400-430 mm and the typhoon window, December 140-240 mm, and from January the city is dry. I would book the arrival for the first days of December. On 6 November 2025 Typhoon Kalmaegi hit Quy Nhon directly, with winds of 75-102 km/h and gusts of force 12-15, and floods followed later that month.
| Month | Day high / night low, °C | Rain, mm | Sea, °C |
|---|---|---|---|
| November | 27-28 / 22-23 | 400-430 | 27 |
| December | 26-27 / 20-22 | 140-240 | 25-26 |
| January | 25-27 / 20-22 | 50-120 | 24-25 |
| February | 26-28 / 21-22 | 25-50 | 24-25 |
| March | 28-30 / 22-23 | 25-40 | 25-26 |
The figures are climate norms for 1991-2020 from weather2travel and climate-zone, cross-checked with Vietnamspot. Sources disagree on December and January rain, so the table gives ranges. February and March are the driest months, and March is also the hottest.
The city beach is public and free, and it comes without rented sunbeds. Nightlife is modest, and most places close by 22:00, so the winter here suits people who work in the morning and swim in the afternoon.
How much does rent cost in Quy Nhon for a winter?
A one-bedroom flat in the centre rents for about $200-350 a month, and one outside the centre for about $150-230. Listings add a two-bedroom flat 200 m from the beach at about $450 and a three-bedroom house at about $600. A studio by the sea is quoted at $270-305 (7-8 million dong).
These numbers come from Numbeo via nomad.watch, rental listings and expat cost sites, and none of them is a signed lease. The usual terms are a deposit of one month plus the first month in advance, with electricity billed separately. The beach streets An Duong Vuong and Xuan Dieu are the expensive ones, and they are also where trees came down in the November typhoon, so ask about roofs and windows at the viewing. My guide to renting long term in Vietnam covers the viewing and contract steps.
What does daily life in Quy Nhon cost?
Everyday costs are low: Numbeo lists lunch at an inexpensive café at about $2 and a dinner for two in a mid-range restaurant at about $19. Other lines from the same Numbeo page:
- Utilities for an 85 m² flat with air conditioning running: about $80 a month
- Unlimited home internet at 60 Mbps or more: $7-8 a month
- Petrol: about $0.93 a litre
Monthly scooter rentals across Vietnam run about $40-100, and one cost-of-living site quotes about $50 for Quy Nhon. Electricity is the line that surprises people, because air conditioning is the main reason the utility bill reaches $80.
How do you get to Quy Nhon without an international flight?
Phu Cat airport (UIH) lies 30-35 km from the centre, about 40 minutes by taxi or bus, and handles domestic flights only. Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet and Bamboo fly there daily from Hanoi in about 1 h 30 min and from Ho Chi Minh City in about 1 h 05 min. Travellers from abroad land in Hanoi, in Ho Chi Minh City or at Cam Ranh near Nha Trang, and continue from there.
By road, Nha Trang is 210-230 km away, 3.5-4.5 hours by bus, with tickets at roughly $10-15. The main railway station is Dieu Tri, over 10 km from the centre, and the train from Da Nang takes 6-7 hours from about $11. Maps and tickets may still say Binh Dinh: since 1 July 2025 the province is merged into Gia Lai, and Quy Nhon is its administrative centre.
Is 45 days visa-free enough for the winter, and where do you do a visa run?
No. Citizens of Russia and 11 other countries get 45 days visa-free until 14 March 2028, so a winter of three to five months needs the e‑visa for up to 90 days. Under Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC the fee is $25 for a single entry and $50 for multiple entries, and you apply on evisa.gov.vn. If you would rather not file it yourself, my 90-day e‑visa service costs $55 for a single entry with a one-week turnaround, $80 for multiple entries, and $100, $110 or $120 for 2-day, 1-day or 3-hour processing, on top of the government fee.
The visa-free entry cannot be extended inside the country, so plan to leave and re-enter after 90 days. The closest runs I organise leave from Da Nang through Lao Bao, 322 km away, or from Nha Trang, and both need a night in a hotel or an early bus.
The costly trap sits on the way back in. Vietnam does not issue visas on arrival at land crossings, so an e‑visa that is not approved before you cross leaves you on the Laotian or Cambodian side with no way forward. The form itself takes an evening on the official portal. The approval date is what needs watching, because agencies quote 3-5 working days and the portal says 3. At BestBus Vietnam I arrange the visa run from Nha Trang and Da Nang on a schedule, and from other cities, Quy Nhon included, on request. Send me the date your visa ends and I will work out when to leave and which route fits.
Step-by-step: how to plan a winter in Quy Nhon
A 90-day e‑visa, a December arrival and a fixed date for the first border trip are the three decisions that shape the winter.
- Pick the arrival date in the first days of December, after the heaviest November rain.
- Apply for the 90-day e‑visa on evisa.gov.vn two to three weeks before the flight, so a refusal can still be refiled.
- Book a flight through Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, or fly to Cam Ranh and take the bus.
- Stay in a hotel or a short rental for the first two weeks, and view flats in person on a dry day.
- Check the roof, the windows and the air conditioner at every viewing.
- Choose the date of the border trip before day 80 of the visa.
Quy Nhon or Nha Trang: which winter base fits you?
Quy Nhon fits anyone who wants a quieter city, lower rent and sea water above 24 °C from December, and who accepts modest nightlife and no international airport. Nha Trang fits people who want a bigger expat scene, with studios and one-bedrooms at $210-420 and an airport that takes international flights. My winter guides to Nha Trang and Da Nang lay out the other coast.
You can look for a flat after you land, but the visa has to be settled before the flight, because a refused application a week out leaves no time to refile. Message me your arrival month and I will tell you how to cover the visa for the whole winter.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see around Quy Nhon besides the beach?
Eo Gio, a rocky bay 20 km from the centre, costs about $1 to enter, and Ky Co beach, 25 km away, about $5 with the shuttle. Ghenh Rang sits inside the city and costs under $1. Boat trips to Ky Co are cancelled in storms in October and November.
Where do foreigners live in Quy Nhon?
Nomad.watch places the small foreign community in the fishing cove of Bai Xep, about 10 km south of the centre. The other choices are a flat in the centre or on the beach streets, where An Duong Vuong and Xuan Dieu have the sea view and the higher rents.
Do I need health insurance in Quy Nhon?
Yes. The main public hospital, Binh Dinh General Hospital at 106 Nguyen Hue, is crowded, and cost guides say expats prefer private clinics. Take a policy that covers transfer to Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City for serious cases, and confirm the hospital’s name after the 2025 merger.
Is the internet fast enough for remote work in Quy Nhon?
Ookla puts the average fixed-line speed in Vietnam at about 360 Mbps (August 2026). Fixed plans are cheap and unlimited, so ask the landlord which provider is installed and test the line during the viewing before you sign.
How does Tet 2027 affect a winter in Quy Nhon?
Tet falls on 6 February 2027, and shops, services and transport slow down for most of that week. Agree the rent for the holiday weeks in the lease, and book buses and flights for that period a month or two ahead.
