🏖️ Nha Trang: guide to the beach capital of Vietnam
A snow-white sandy beach more than seven kilometers long. Picturesque hills against the backdrop of azure water. Exotic nature and unusual food. SPA treatments, diving, windsurfing and parasailing. Architectural monuments and the bustling life of a big city. All this awaits you in Nha Trang.
When is the best time to go to Nha Trang?
Peak tourist activity occurs in July and August. But at this time it is very hot here and the air humidity is high – there will be no time for excursions. I would recommend coming to Nha Trang from the end of February to May. During this period it is around +30°C and moderately humid. May and June, in principle, are also not bad, but it will already be around +35°C and the humidity will increase.
B. Tram Huong Tower (Tháp Trầm Hương)
On the embankment you will see an unusual structure in the shape of a lotus. This tower was built in the early 2000s and became a symbol of Nha Trang, but for some reason I didn’t take a photo of it. The architecture of Trum Hong is also worth appreciating inside the building. The pink flower serves as an exhibition centerpiece.
C. Cho Dam Night Market
Across the road from Lotus is the European Quarter with a huge number of restaurants, bars, discos and shops. The “Night Market” just opens the entrance to the tourist center. True, it only starts working in the evening. Here you can plunge into the Vietnamese flavor, buy souvenirs, and try local fast food.
D. Cathedral (Nhà thờ Núi)
The Church of St. Mary is located on a hill, so it can be seen from almost anywhere in the surrounding area. And although most of Vietnam is influenced by Confucianism, Hinduism and Buddhism, there are many Catholics living here. The main Catholic diocese with the residence of the bishop in Nha Trang was built in the 30s of the 20th century. The cathedral is built in the Gothic style. Huge stained glass windows, a vaulted nave, statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary in the courtyard – the cathedral church and its square are worth your attention.
E. Long Son Pagoda (Chùa Long Sơn)
This is the main and most beautiful Buddhist temple in the province. The pagoda was built at the end of the 19th century. It is decorated with a mosaic in the form of dragons – Long Sean, by the way, translates as “flying dragon”. A staircase of 144 steps leads to the pagoda. They say that if you climb it on foot, you can be cleansed of your sins. From the top of the hill, huge statues of sitting and sleeping Buddha look out over the city; at their foot there is a nice garden.
F. Cham Towers of Ponagar (Tháp Bà Po Nagar)
Beyond the Kai River there is a unique complex built in ancient times. Towers in honor of Hindu deities began to be erected here during the reign of the Champa principalities, which is why this word is mentioned in the name. Locals consider this place magical. Buddhist ceremonies and rituals are still held here.
There are four towers preserved on the territory, each of which is more than a thousand years old. The main and tallest building (28 meters) is dedicated to Ponagar, the goddess who created the earth and taught people agriculture. The sanctuary is located on Mount Cu Lao. From the top level of the temple complex there is a beautiful view of the city, river and sea.
G. Thap Ba Mud Bath (Tắm Bùn Tháp Bà)
Seven kilometers from the center of Nha Trang, not far from the Cham Towers, there are hot springs that have a mud bath. This is a whole SPA complex with mineral, thermal, mud baths and swimming pools. The wellness center is surrounded by dense tropical thickets and a eucalyptus grove, so the air here is also healing. Antibacterial mud relieves joint pain and helps with thyroid problems, as well as relaxes nerves, heals skin and nourishes hair. To feel the visible effect, you should look here five to seven times.
What can you see on the islands off Nha Trang?
In the bay of the South China Sea, very close to the city of Nha Trang, there are several amazing islands. I will tell you about the three most striking of them.
Vinpearl Land Amusement Park (Vinpearl Land Nha Trang)
From the outskirts of Nha Trang, a cable car more than three kilometers long leads to the island, which is called the Vietnamese Disneyland. Its supports are shaped like the Eiffel Tower, and in the evenings they are beautifully illuminated. The cabins hover at an altitude of up to 70 meters above the sea – a ride in them is already an impressive adventure.
On the island of Hon Tre, where you can be taken, by the way, by water, there is the best amusement park in Vietnam. In addition to a variety of carousels, you will find luxurious beaches, an aquarium, a circus, a water park, and one of the largest wave pools in Asia. In the evenings, the island hosts light and sound fountain shows. There are plenty of cafes, shops, and hotels, because a day may not be enough to try out all the entertainment in Vinpearl.
Tri Nguyen Aquarium
From the same pier that leads to Vinpearl, you can get to Hon Mieu Island. There is a structure here that looks like an ancient ship that has been lying on the ocean floor for years. In the holds and on the decks of this giant ship there are aquariums with rare marine life and a museum with the remains of prehistoric fish.
The area around the aquarium will also not leave you indifferent – there you will find statues of sea inhabitants, animals and mushrooms. Take a walk deep into the island to the ponds where you can feed fish and huge turtles. On the opposite side of Hon Mieu there is a beach with sun loungers and umbrellas. The bottom is covered with stones, but the water is very clean. You can easily find where to eat on the island – you can safely plan a trip for the whole day.
Hon Lao Monkey Island (Hòn Lao, Đảo Khỉ)
Another amazing place is located about twenty kilometers from Nha Trang. About one and a half thousand monkeys are the main inhabitants of Hon Lao. The local monkeys are accustomed to tourists – communication with them can be combined with walks through the coconut forest and swimming in the sea. The island has a circus, ostrich racing, water activities, and a seafood market.
If you want to see the beauties that are hidden in the mountains of Vietnam, I highly recommend going to Dalat. I talked about this beautiful town in the zone of eternal spring in a separate publication.
Where to live in Nha Trang?
I lived in a four-star hotel about three hundred meters from the beach, within walking distance to the center, with an excellent buffet and a rooftop pool. But I won’t recommend the hotel, even though it was nice inside and out. This is because construction is constantly going on in Nha Trang and you need to ask if your hotel will have it. I checked, but still got a room with a view of bare concrete slabs and construction workers running across them! You can choose a tour in advance. Many travel agencies offer ready-made tours to Vietnam.
Threes in design and level of service are not bad. They say that even twos here are like threes in Thailand – I haven’t checked, if you know, write. There are cool fives near the boulevard, which is near the beach line, but there is such a noisy street there that I would think ten times whether it is worth stopping on it. Cars are constantly honking, buses are running, scooters are flying – it can even be scary to cross. I plucked up courage, stretched my hand up and went ahead, because drivers don’t really pay attention to traffic lights.
There is no housing located directly on the seashore in the center of Nha Trang. It will be several kilometers away, on the outskirts of the city, where it is quieter and more secluded. If you want a more relaxing holiday, I recommend considering the former fishing village of Mui Ne, which I talked about in this article. I didn’t want to leave it at all!