My Khe Beach, a picturesque and popular tourist destination in Quang Ngai City in the namesake province, located in central Vietnam, is now grappling with severe coastal erosion that threatens its existence.

On Wednesday morning, despite being at the lowest tide of the day, strong waves continued to lash against the shoreline, washing away significant chunks of sand and soil, and causing irreparable damage to the beach.

The erosion is extending over a stretch of more than one kilometer, particularly in areas where high tide has swept away substantial portions of land. 

Several poplar and coconut trees along the beach have been hit by coastal erosion.

Some residents said that in the past, the southern part of My Khe Beach was seriously eroded.

However, after the 2025 Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, the rising tides have intensified, wreaking havoc on the entire length of the beach. 

A forest of poplar trees, which was once over 100 meters wide, now faces a dramatic reduction in size. The erosion has reduced the width of tree forests in some sites to only 10 meters.

Local residents have voiced concerns that if the current situation continues, the beach could soon be lost. 

“If there are no effective measures to combat the erosion, the beach will disappear, and even the tourism path that runs along it could be wiped out,” said Trang, a local seafood restaurant owner.

Since the end of the Tet break early this month, the sea has encroached dozens of meters inland. 

The central part of My Khe Beach, once relatively protected from erosion, is now facing the most severe damage. 

The once-thriving tourist area is presently eerily quiet, with many eateries struggling as visitors stay away because of the rough conditions.

Linh, a resident who lives near the beach, said that owing to strong waves, no one would come to the beach for relaxation, dining, or even swimming. 

What was once a charming destination now becomes a victim of coastal erosion, he added.

To mitigate the damage, some owners of eateries along the beach have spent money on stone barriers to slow the erosion. 

However, the measure is proving ineffective against the increasingly powerful waves. 

The highest tide usually occurs between 5:00 pm and 10:00 pm each day, when the waves are particularly forceful, causing further damage to the dunes.

Tra Thanh Danh, chairman of the People’s Committee of Quang Ngai City, said that the erosion at My Khe Beach has been a concern for the past five years. 

Each year, the situation worsens, and this year it has reached an alarming level, he stressed.

To address the issue in the short term, the city will focus on reinforcing the beach with sand bags to protect against the waves.

Meanwhile, long-term solutions will require discussions with relevant agencies to develop sustainable plans for coastal protection.

My Khe Beach, which stretches around seven kilometers and is located about 10 kilometers from the heart of Quang Ngai City, has long been a popular tourist spot.

In recent years, the area has seen growing interest from investors looking to develop tourism projects.

However, the ongoing erosion has raised serious concerns among potential investors.

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