The little-known Vietnamese paradise with spectacular beaches and £5 seafood feasts - that you should visit before the crowds arrive

Many well-known popular holiday spots made Lonely Planet's 25 Best Destinations to Visit list this year. But have you ever heard of Quy Nhon?

Probably not. Yet, this little-known industrial city (population 500,000) on the central south coast of Vietnam, snuck onto the prestigious annual list. It also happens to be home to some beautiful beaches and exquisite temples.

I went to check it out – you can either catch a flight (it's an hour from Ho Chi Minh City) or take the Reunification Express, Vietnam's north-south railway – and was certainly not disappointed.

First the temples. We start with Banh It hilltop towers, built by the Cham people in the 11th century. 

The cluster of redbrick buildings, on the edge of town, are meant to map out a miniature model of the universe. I am blown away by their great condition after being forgotten for centuries.

From where they stand, you can enjoy sweeping views of the coast and Quy Nhon below. The entry price? A mere 55p. What a great way to get orientated with this unexpected Lonely Planet pick.

Quy Nhon is a little-known industrial city located on the central south coast of Vietnam and home to the historic Long Khanh Pagoda (pictured) 

Our writer checked into Anantara Quy Nhon Villas, an exquisite resort about ten miles south of Quy Nhon

Another spiritual site that comes highly recommended is Long Khanh Pagoda, in the heart of the city – where we begin to head. As we ride a golf buggy down the hillside, I ask my guide Thich why so few Western tourists visit, having not seen any.

He just shrugs and says it is a mystery to him. Overseas tourists flock to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, plus the beaches at Hoi An and Da Nang, but few make it here.

'We've got beautiful beaches, green hillsides, so much history and great food,' beams Thich. 'I love showing visitors my hometown.'

Hiring Thich, who more than lives up to his motto 'Make it Memorable', proves the key to unlocking many of Quy Nhon's secrets.

He takes me to a swathe of lovely Champa Kingdom temples dotted about the little-visited city... and then we move on to the beaches. 

The mass tourism of Vietnam's major seaside destinations Nha Trang and Phu Quoc has not yet reached these pristine shores. The main beach, simply known as Quy Nhon beach, enjoys surprisingly clear water for such a metropolitan setting. 

Clean sands back on to a handful of relaxed bars such as Z Beach, where a sun lounger costs £2 for the day.

Meanwhile, the downtown area inland is quaint and dotted with cheap restaurants. You can easily grab a freshly caught seafood lunch or dinner for £5.

A short drive north or south of the city centre, however, will bring you to the really knock-out shores and coves.

The undisputed star of the show is Ky Co Beach, where turquoise and blue seawater glistens in the sunlight. The horseshoe bay is loved by locals, who snorkel around its unspoiled reefs. You pay a £3 fee to enter the beach but good grief it's worth it.

Tour guide Thich, pictured, proved to be the key to unlocking many of Quy Nhon's secrets

Then there is the unassuming fishing village of Nhon Hai. Here, you will find seafood restaurants, bars and boats waiting to ferry you to Hon Kho, a beautiful islet.

Surrounded by aquamarine water, a white sandy beach and easy-to-reach reefs, Hon Kho is great for snorkelling or paddle-boarding. My guide Thich runs day tours to the island for £15.

After a morning swimming, we head up to the nearby village of Eo Gio, a couple of narrow streets with whitewashed buildings, blue-painted doors and window frames. Plenty of Santorini vibes.

On my final day, we visit the seaside village of Bai Xep. Here, the sands are deserted with a few blue coracle boats and a charming guesthouse named Haven overlooking the beach (rooms from £14).

There are also some little seafood spots with catches of the day, including tubs of live lobsters, on display.

I am staying at Anantara Quy Nhon Villas, an exquisite resort about ten miles south of Quy Nhon, where we dine for our final night on lobsters at the hotel's restaurant, Sea Fire Salt.

It's an elevated experience with which to end my trip. Here, I meet general manager Michael Wirz, who has lived in Vietnam for 13 years. He tells me: 'It's so authentic here, the local hospitality is truly from the heart. They just want to get to know you, they're curious why you're here. It's a uniquely untouched part of the country.'

I totally agree. Lonely Planet most certainly chose wisely.

TRAVEL FACTS

• Heathrow to Quy Nhon flights via Ho Chi Minh City from £940 return. 
• Doubles at Anantara Quy Nhon Villas from £389 B&B. 
• Day-long tours for two people from £55.