Can anyone tell me does Vietnam have the equivalent to pattaya

Vung Tau just east of Ho Chi Minh City is probably the closest but HCMC has it's naughty nightlife scene (if that's what you're after).

So. Vietnam

Vungtau has a good mix of night life and beach, although the beach is not that great, but a little better on the back beach. Probably the closest you will find to Pattaya, and 1:20min by boat from HCMC.

Better beaches are Phan Tiet/Mui Ne & Nha Trang, but not a great night life.

Mid. Vietnam

Understand there are some good ones outside Danang, but never really explored them.

No. Vietnam

Ha Long Bay is great, also a world heritage sight.

Doson beach just outside of Haiphong is very cheap, particularly if you are looking for company.

Islands

Phu Quoc & Con Dao. Phu Quoc is the more developed of the two, but both are very nice.

Do Son in the North.

How does the beach in Vung Tau compare with Pattaya's beaches same/worse. What are the watersports like/cost?

I'm interested because next time I'm in Thailand, I'm contemplating a short (DIY) tour to Hue,HCMC, and a beach resort in no particular order. Vung Tao or one of the resorts closer to Hue, depending on my chosen departure/exit point would be the likely beach sector.

Vung Tau, of course, made famous (or should that be infamous) by one Gary Glitter

heard he's due for release in Aug 2008

shouldn't think he'll be returning...

Mid. Vietnam

Understand there are some good ones outside Danang, but never really explored them.

Just south of Da Nang is the old Chinese trading town of Hoi An. Cua Dai beach is about 4 km from the town centre but there is very little apart from the beach. There are a couple of resorts and bars/reastaurants but not much else, almost totally unspoilt.

Bugger, tried to add a pic but it won't upload. Look in the images of S.E. Asia thread.

So. Vietnam

Vungtau has a good mix of night life and beach, although the beach is not that great, but a little better on the back beach. Probably the closest you will find to Pattaya, and 1:20min by boat from HCMC.

Better beaches are Phan Tiet/Mui Ne & Nha Trang, but not a great night life.

Mid. Vietnam

Understand there are some good ones outside Danang, but never really explored them.

No. Vietnam

Ha Long Bay is great, also a world heritage sight.

Doson beach just outside of Haiphong is very cheap, particularly if you are looking for company.

Islands

Phu Quoc & Con Dao. Phu Quoc is the more developed of the two, but both are very nice.

Please could you provide some more details about DoSon beach including accomadation recommendation.

I am planning a trip to Hanoi in January. I have a copy of loney planet's Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos and DoSon is not even mentioned

Do Son Beach is about 120km from Hanoi, and about 20km from Haiphong.

Actually have never been there during the day time.

Usually I leave Hanoi in the morning. Go visit my office in Haiphong, then at night go for dinner and a little play at Do Son, and return to Hanoi late night.

I googled Do Son, and all kinds of information came up. Maybe you can try this. I know there are several resorts, casinos, etc, but not too much more.

I think going to Do Son for the beach is a little akin to going to Pattaya for the beach. Let's just say I would never take my wife there. That isn't to say you couldn't, but afraid it would be my last trip.

Do Son is not so in your face as Pattaya is so it's a place where I have been with my wife and her family for a weekend on the beach. It's not a very good beach though so no point going there just for that.

Maybe not for you.