The beach in Nha Trang is a long stretch of white sand alongside an inviting blue sea. Try to get up with the locals to experience a sunrise swim or head down again before sunset to cool off with the workers. The hours in between are definitely tourists only as the Vietnamese shelter from the midday sun whilst the westerners top up their tan. You won’t go hungry as local ladies, with every bit of skin covered, walk the beach selling drinks and snacks. You will also find yourself inundated with flyers from surrounding restaurants and bars, but don’t be put off you can often get some good deals with a flyer. Just watch out for your belongings, particularly early morning and in the evening. Oh and don’t forget….’wear sunscreen!’
Some people like to dodge Nha Trang completely, but you can choose where you drink and eat so the “night life” culture only affects you if you want it to. There are several nice areas to visit whilst there.
Accommodation
If you arrive by bus you will meet quite a few touts telling you about "their hotel". In truth, if you know where you want to stay and are prepared to take the 5minutes walk around the area to check out the rooms, then you will get a better rate. The touts work on a commission basis so although they can be useful in nipping you there on their bikes, it will cost a few more dollars.
Nice Hotel
Address: 6D Quan Tran (Off of Hung Vuong)
Prices from: Single $, Double/Twin $10, Family $18
Includes: En-suite, fan, TV, fridge, lift
Tel: Email: info@nicehotelnhatrang.vn Web: www.nicehotelnhatrang.vn
Really nice clean rooms and a friendly service. Check out their website for images, but the view of the hotel building is a little edited... you'll find buildings on either side! You can make reservations on-line on their website but the prices "may" be more.
Hotel An Hoa
Address: 64b/6 D Tran Phu
Prices from: Single $9, Double/Twin $10, Family $12
Includes: En-suite, fan, TV, hotwater
Tel: 058 352 4029 Email: anhoahotel@yahoo.com Web: www.anhoahotel.com.vn
Upgrade +$2 for AC option. Quick to reply to emails and helpful.
Sao Mai Hotel
Address: 99 D Nguyen Thien Thuat
Prices from: Dorm $5, Double/Twin $12, Family
Includes: En-suite, fan
Tel: 058 352 6412 Email: saomai2hotel@yahoo.com Web:
With a helpful front desk and a roof-terrace, a good place for the budget traveller.
Eating and Drinking
Establishment
Address:
Prices from: Starters/ Sides , Mains , Water , Bottled Beer
Information.
Sites
National Oceanographic Museum
Address: 1 Cau Da
Admission: Child/ Adult 7,000/ 15,000d
Part museum part aquarium the Oceanographic museum is housed in an old colonial building close to the Vin Pearl cable car and the harbor. Inside are stuffed bird and sea mammals along with around 60 000 pickled sea life specimens. There are displays of local boats and fishing artifacts. By far the best part is in the outside the building where there are huge tanks and pools with all sorts of live sea life including turtles, sharks, eels, anemones and corals. All of the sea life on display is found in the surrounding sea so it is a great prelude to a snorkeling or diving trip for a glimpse of what you could see.
Long Son Pagoda and White Buddha
Address: D Thai Nguyen
Admission: free
The Long Son Pagoda is an active Buddhist temple with bright ceramic dragons adorning the roof and doors. The main entrance hall is usually full of meditating monks and is sometimes closed off during specific prayer times. There are a number of quiet, well maintained gardens in the grounds. On top of a hill behind the Pagoda is a massive 9 metre high white Buddha on a lotus throne. The octagonal base is a shrine to the Buddhist monks and nuns who died protesting during the Vietnam war. On the walk up the 152 stone steps you will also pass a large reclining Buddha and from the top you get great views of the surrounding area. The white Buddha can be seen from all over Nha Trang. Entrance is free although you may be asked for a donation to the monks.
Nha Trang Cathedral
Address: Corner of D Nguyen Trai and D Thai Nguyen
Admission: free
This French style gothic cathedral was built between 1928 and 1933 and stands on a small hill overlooking the train station. Despite being constructed from cement blocks it is a surprisingly elegant building with stain glass windows and some particularly colourful Vietnamese touches including a neon halo over the Virgin Mary as well as catholic statues that would look more at home in a Buddhist temple. It is a popular place for Vietnamese couples to have their wedding photos taken and a great spot for people watching.
Po Nagar Cham Towers
Address: Thap Ba
Admission: 16,000d
The Cham towers are situated north of the main beach area in Nha Trang over the Xom Bong Bridge. Among the 8 towers built between 7th and 12th centuries 4 remain places of worship so you are asked to dress accordingly, no shorts or bare shoulders in the temples and no cleavage when you buy your ticket! There is a small but interesting museum that explains the history and the importance of the towers, including their phallic architecture and the Lingas that they house (a representation of the Hindu God Shive). Many people come here to pray for fertility. The towers stand on top of a hill overlooking Nha Trang and the Hong Chong Headland, you can also make out the white Buddha from the top.
Hong Chong Headland and Fishing Village
As you walk over the Xom Bong bridge to the north of Nha Trang, you will notice the brightly coloured boats of the fishing village. There is a lively fish market here early each morning and it is a great place to stop to see Vietnamese working life on your way to the tours.
Long Thanh Gallery
Address: 126 D Hoang Van Thu
Admission: Free
Web: www.longthanart.com
This small gallery showcases the photographs of Long Thanh who took his first photo in 1964 and continues to develop his black and white photos here in his hometown, specializing in shots of everyday Vietnamese life. He has some truly stunning photos which are also for sale and even if you’re not in the market for spending, you’ll get some great inspiration for your own photographs along the way.
Thap Ba Hot Springs
Address: 25 Ngoc Son (2.5km north of Cham Towers)
Admission: 100,000d per person for shared bath (apx. 5 people).
If you need to escape the beach, but have had enough temples for one day then head out to the hot springs mud bath. The basic package gives you a full mud bath plus use of the spring water swimming pools, of which there are 3 plus waterfall showers and plenty of sun loungers. You really could spend the whole day here. The basic package consists of a mud bath, followed by a hot spring shower, then a eucalyptus shower and finally a very hot plunge pool and a cool spring shower. There are other treatments available for additional costs. A taxi from Nha Trang Beach costs around 90,000d one way and takes about 15 minutes. Many taxi drivers will wait for you. There is a shuttle bus as well for 30,000d per person. Prices increase for private baths but if there is a group of you just pay for a communal bath and all get in together.
Vin Pearl, Hon Tre Island
Admission: child adult 350,000d/ 450,000d.
Nha Trang’s answer to Disney Land is situated on its own island off the coast of Nha Trang, accessed by the world longest cable car that takes you across the ocean to the amusement park. Once on the island you will find a water park with water games, slides and freshwater pools. There are also indoor amusement fairground rides and an underwater world. There is also a ‘Hoi An’ inspired shopping street, we’ll let you decide how close it gets to the real thing! If you have kids or want to be a kid for the day than Vin Pearl is not a bad entrance. There are a number of dining options on the island but expect theme park prices. There is also a 5 star resort and golf course on the island. Admission includes return cable car or ferry and access to waterpark, all water games and Underwater World.
Boat Trips
If the mainland has got too much for you then you can easily organise a day on a boat from Nha Trang. Trips vary from island hopping to snorkeling and diving and finish up with full on party boats. Shop around as prices do very between operators and will depend on what you want to do. A day island hopping will generally include an hours snorkeling and stop at two other islands, lunch (with a bit of singing!!) and a floating bar – or a guy in a rubber ring serving Da Lat wine in the sea. This trip costs around $5 although some places do charge a lot more. Dedicated snorkeling trips can be as much as $15 so be sure to clarify exactly what you get for your money. Also, be warned, the snorkeling equipment we were presented with on the island hopping tour wasn’t up to scratched. In fact it was so scratched that it was useless, if you have your own take it with you.
