Originally Posted by gpia

English is not a problem in Sanya. As everywhere else in China, they will find someone who speaks English, even if it takes a few minutes. No worries on that part.

Have done a few beaches on the South/South East shores of Sanya in winter and summer, most recently Lingshui Bay. While the beaches and water are often meticulously clean, the Oceans are generally not swimming friendly. It's somewhat similar to North/Central Vietnam, like Danang, - the currents are often so strong that you can see them (if that makes sense). So you can plunge about, but you wouldn't be able to swim much. Lifeguards will prevent anyone from going too far out as well (in their opinion too far, anyway). If you want to *swim* in the ocean, there's far better places to do so. If you want a relaxing beachside vacation, then Sanya is a good choice with many awesome resorts at often very reasonable prices