We propose a dark-field digital holographic microscopy (DHM) by using vortex beam illumination. In this paper, the annular illumination of vortex beam and the dark-field DHM imaging system are theoretically analyzed, and the quasi-nondiffracting property of the vortex beam is discussed. A corresponding DHM imaging system is established. The polystyrene spheres each with a size of 690 nm are utilized as objects in the experiment. By comparing the results of reconstructed images under bright-field illumination with those under dark-field illumination DHM, it is proved that the resolution of dark-field DHM under speckle-field illumination is improved and the contrast of its reconstructed image is enhanced accordingly.