Destination comparison

Grenada & the Grenadines vs Vietnam

Two distinct sailing grounds — here's how they compare on conditions, cost, season, and who they suit.

Quick Comparison

Dimension	Grenada & the Grenadines	Vietnam
Region	Caribbean	South East Asia
Peak season	Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr	Feb, Mar, Apr, May
Shoulder	Nov, May	Jan, Jun
Sailing difficulty	moderate	moderate
Recommended level	intermediate	intermediate
Avg wind (winter / summer)	20 / 15 kn	14 / 12 kn
Hurricane risk	Aug, Sep, Oct	Aug, Sep, Oct
Currency	XCD (pegged to USD)	VND (Vietnamese Dong)
Mid-tier price (7 days)	$10,500	$10,000
Luxury tier price	$40,000	$38,000
Detail page	View →	View →

At a Glance

Caribbean

Grenada & the Grenadines

Stronger trade winds than Northern Caribbean; typically 18-25kt in winter. Tobago Cays is the must-do sail. One-way Grenada to St Lucia possible.

• 3 base marinas
• 4 must-visit anchorages
• 31 boats in our fleet database for this region

South East Asia

Vietnam

Vietnam's cruising season runs February-May with light winds and dry weather. Monsoon (June-September) brings typhoons in the South China Sea — most operators suspend charters. Phu Quoc has year-round activity but conditions tighten July-November.

• 1 base marinas
• 3 must-visit anchorages
• 12 boats in our fleet database for this region

Sailing Conditions

Grenada & the Grenadines averages 20 knots in winter and 15 knots in summer. Hurricane risk runs Aug, Sep, Oct — outside these months the sailing is generally dependable.

Vietnam averages 14 knots in winter and 12 knots in summer. Hurricane risk: Aug, Sep, Oct.

In terms of sailing difficulty, Grenada & the Grenadines is generally rated moderate and Vietnam is moderate. They're at the same level — your decision will hinge on route and vibe, not on whether you can handle the conditions.

Cost Comparison

For a 7-day charter of a typical 45-ft catamaran (4 cabins, sleeps 8):

Grenada & the Grenadines

Low season: $4,000
Mid season: $10,500
High season: $20,000
Luxury / crewed peak: $40,000+

Vietnam

Low season: $4,200
Mid season: $10,000
High season: $20,000
Luxury / crewed peak: $38,000+

Bareboat base rates. Crewed typically adds ~$1,500/day (captain + hostess). Prices exclude fuel, provisioning, mooring fees, gratuity.

Anchorages & Must-Do

Grenada & the Grenadines

Tobago Cays — Five uninhabited islands; turtle snorkeling
Petit St Vincent — Quiet luxury island
Mayreau — Saltwhistle Bay
Bequia - Friendship Bay — Local charm

Vietnam

Phu Quoc archipelago — Cable car, beaches, diving; rising yacht hub
Ha Long Bay / Lan Ha Bay — Karst seascape — charter bases mostly crewed junk-style
Nha Trang & Cam Ranh — Resort anchorages, snorkelling, bays

Which Should You Choose?

If you've never chartered before

Both work for first-timers. The default choice for the industry is BVI; choose that unless you have specific reasons to prefer Grenada & the Grenadines or Vietnam.

If you want warmer / tropical water

Both sit in warm waters — temperature is broadly similar. The differentiator is which coast or chain: Grenada & the Grenadines vs Vietnam. Read the must-visit lists above.

If you want history / culture / food

Grenada & the Grenadines has 1 cultural anchorages vs Vietnam's 0. Pick by what kind of stop you want between swims.

Captain's Take

"Vietnam's charter sailing is Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay - limestone karsts that look like a Chinese painting and anchorages that feel prehistoric. It is mostly crewed or cabin charter because the bays are tight and the charts still have gaps. The magic window is October-April; summer is hot and typhoon season brushes the north coast. Combine with a Ha Long junk day - different pace, same water."

— Captain E. (2Hulls editorial charter captain), local captain · year_round note · verified 2026-09-09

Timing and Budget: Grenada & the Grenadines vs Vietnam

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Grenada & the Grenadines or Vietnam better for a first-time charter? ▾

Neither is a "first-charter" pick — both lean intermediate. Consider starting in BVI or Greece before tackling Grenada & the Grenadines/Vietnam.

Which is cheaper to charter — Grenada & the Grenadines or Vietnam? ▾

Vietnam is the cheaper of the two at the mid-tier: ~$10,000/week vs ~$10,500/week for Grenada & the Grenadines. Bareboat low-season starts around $4,200 in Vietnam vs $4,000 in Grenada & the Grenadines.

When is the best time to visit Grenada & the Grenadines vs Vietnam? ▾

Grenada & the Grenadines: peak Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr; shoulder Nov, May; off Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. Vietnam: peak Feb, Mar, Apr, May; shoulder Jan, Jun; off Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec. Both are Caribbean-style (peak = Dec–Apr).

How do sailing conditions compare — Grenada & the Grenadines vs Vietnam? ▾

Grenada & the Grenadines: typical winter winds 20 knots, summer 15 knots. Sailing difficulty: moderate. Hurricane risk: Aug, Sep, Oct. Vietnam: typical winter winds 14 knots, summer 12 knots. Sailing difficulty: moderate. Hurricane risk: Aug, Sep, Oct.

Which has better flight access — Grenada & the Grenadines or Vietnam? ▾

Grenada & the Grenadines: Maurice Bishop (GND, Grenada), also Canouan (CIW), Union Island (UNI). Vietnam: Phu Quoc (PQC) + Cam Ranh (CXR), also Ho Chi Minh SGN + 1h domestic, Hanoi HAN + 2h domestic.

Which is more beginner-friendly, Grenada & the Grenadines or Vietnam? ▾

Both are accessible to first-time charterers (intermediate and intermediate respectively). Many charterers combine both on one trip.

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→ Grenada & the Grenadines detail → Vietnam detail → All comparisons

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