TRAVEL EXPERIENCES IN NHA TRANG BEACH CITY, VIETNAM
20-03-2019Nha Trang lies in a beautiful bay on the south central coast of Vietnam and has rapidly developed into a bustling destination for sun and fun. With white sandy beaches as well as nearby islands with clear turquoise waters, Nha Trang is also known as one of the best places in Vietnam for excellent fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving. Boat trips are also a real highlight of Nha Trang.
The coastal city of Nha Trang in central Vietnam features seven kilometres of white sandy beach, sometimes referred to as the "Vietnamese Riviera," which has often been listed among the most beautiful beaches in the world. The city is protected from storms by the Truong Son Mountains and the sunny climate and average temperature of 23oC mean the clear blue water is quiet and warm all year round.
In addition to its stunning beaches, the islands, mountains and delicious local seafood make Nha Trang one of the most popular resort areas in Vietnam for locals and visitors alike.
Far offshore is lush, green Yen island where swift's nests have been harvested for many years to make traditional bird's nest soup. To the north of Nha Trang is Chong Mountain and to the west lie mountain ranges that are home to a wide variety of indigenous flora and fauna.
The famous Po Nagar and Po Klong Garai towers from the ancient kingdom of Champa and Long Son pagoda are attractions close to the city for visitors with an interest in culture and history. Boat trips to some of the nearby islands are also very popular.
Tourists staying in Nha Trang can enjoy all types of water sports, including snorkelling, scuba diving and kayaking, or just relax on the stunning beach enjoying the sun and dining on scrumptious local seafood.
What to do?
Nha Trang possess miles and miles of empty beaches, deserted bays, numerous islands and coral reefs, providing opportunity to swim, snorkel and scuba dive. In addition, tourists may come to Nha Trang just for their days relaxing on the beach, getting around on walking or cycling and experiencing the local restaurants, bars and nightlife.
However, there are many attractions away from the beach including Thap Ba Hot Spring Center, the Po Nagar Cham Tower and the Oceanographic Institute, among others.
When to go?
Nha Trang is warm all year round with an average temperature of 23 Degree Celcious. Generally, the best time to visit Nha Trang is from late January to late October. The wettest months are November and December, but rain usually falls only at night or in the morning.
Travel Tips:
On the beach, vendors sell about everything you might need such as seafood, fruit, drinks, books. If you find it an inconvenient hassle, don't support them. Also, please take care when choosing a scuba diving operator or boat operator as some of the companies use outdated equipment, which is not environmentally friendly to the marine ecosystem.
Ponagar Cham Tower:
Historically, Cham is an ancient civilization that was really influential in Southeast Asia, especially in Vietnam and Cambodia. The Cham ruled Vietnam for 10 centuries, their unmistakable architecture and art style had spread widely across places in the country. They are said to have their root in the India’s Buddhism. Thus, there are a great deal of similarity between Angkor Wat and the Po Nagar Towers found in Nha Trang.
As one is about to land at Nha Trang airport, he/she will be totally awed by the blue water of Nha Trang's beach. The Bay is among the world's top 10 and there are many affordable resorts and hotels ideal for long stay around the Bay. Nha Trang makes an excellent choice for both families and couples and promise a trip to remember.
Located at the foot of the outcrop where Bao Dai Village is constructed, the Oceanographic Museum of Vietnam is an interesting aquarium in which you can gain the exact image of Nha Trang marine environment
Located at Ben Cho, Van Thanh, Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province, Dam Market is the largest market and trading symbol of Nha Trang coastal city. The market has existed for a long time and gone through many phases of the history's changes. It did not officially open until 1980 when the market was renovated and inaugurated. Looking from above, tourists will see the image of the market as a blossoming lotus flower, which retains a unique architecture creating an unforgettable highlight for the hospitable Nha Trang coastal city. Thanks to unique architecture features and long-lasting historical significance, Dam Market becomes one of the must-see tourist attractions in Nha Trang.
Climb steep steps for this striking pagoda, founded in the late 19th century. The entrance and roofs are decorated with mosaic dragons constructed of glass and ceramic tile while the main sanctuary is a hall adorned with modern interpretations of traditional motifs.
Behind the pagoda is a huge white Buddha seated on a lotus blossom. Around the statue’s base are fire-ringed relief busts of Thich Quang Duc and six other Buddhist monks who died in self-immolations in 1963.
Hon Mieu Aquarium
This is billed as an outdoor aquarium but it's actually more of a fish-breeding farm, where over 40 species of fish, crustacean and other marine creatures are raised. Surrounding the tanks are an incredibly kitsch concrete collection of giant shrimps, fang-bearing sharks and so on.
Vinpearl Nha Trang amusement park
Vinpearl Amusement Park, situated on an island across the bay from Nha Trang Beach, is a large-scale theme park featuring water slides and games, a large aquarium, a wave pool, and a variety of rides. The Park is reached by cable car that connects Nha Trang City to this island resort. The 3,320-metre long ride offers dazzling views of the bay, a promise of the fun-filled day that is to follow.
Nha Trang Bay boasts 12,000 hectares of reef-filled waters known as Hon Mun Marine Protected Area. The majority of diving and snorkelling in Nha Trang is done here, and its shallow waters are one of the best places for beginners to learn how to dive in Vietnam. During the best diving months of April to October – especially during the optimal months of July to August – you can expect fair visibility and a wide variety of small colourful tropical fish (butterfly, box, moray eels, pufferfish) as well as beautiful coral. Advanced divers may be disappointed as there are no coveted creatures and features like reef sharks, turtles or wrecks but for certified divers, there is a cave and swim-through tunnels at Octopus Rock off Hon Rom.
Highly popular in Vietnam, Dr Alexandre Yersin (1863–1943) founded Nha Trang’s Pasteur Institute in 1895. Swiss-born Yersin learned to speak Vietnamese fluently, introduced rubber and quinine-producing trees to Vietnam, and discovered (in Hong Kong) the rat-borne microbe that causes bubonic plague.
See Yersin’s library and office at this small, interesting museum; displays include laboratory equipment (such as astronomical instruments) and a fascinating 3D photo viewer.
Tours are conducted in French, English and Vietnamese, with a short film on Yersin’s life.
Dam Market
Highly popular in Vietnam, Dr Alexandre Yersin (1863–1943) founded Nha Trang’s Pasteur Institute in 1895. Swiss-born Yersin learned to speak Vietnamese fluently, introduced rubber and quinine-producing trees to Vietnam, and discovered (in Hong Kong) the rat-borne microbe that causes bubonic plague.
See Yersin’s library and office at this small, interesting museum; displays include laboratory equipment (such as astronomical instruments) and a fascinating 3D photo viewer.
Tours are conducted in French, English and Vietnamese, with a short film on Yersin’s life.
To go from these cliffs through the cliffs on the island of Yen, visitors will be passing through bridges made of bamboo, wood zigzag around the cliff. These bridges are designed to be sure, to provide safety for visitors, as well as for those who are passionate about photography.
Nha Trang boat trips
Several companies in Nha Trang offer day-trips to a selection of islands, including a stop for snorkelling and a seafood lunch on board – all for around $6–8 per person. However, to fully enjoy the day, you’ll need to fork out for several extras if you don’t want to sit on the boat and wait till everyone comes back. Some boat rides, particularly those booked through backpacker guesthouses, can be quite wild and alcohol-fuelled, while other operators run gentler tours.
On a typical island day tour, you’ll be picked up from your hotel, taken to Cau Da Wharf, 6km south of the town centre, and shuffled on to one of many boats jostling in the harbour.
If lying on the beach gets too boring, an intense hike to Ba Ho Waterfalls is a pleasant diversion. To get there, it’s a scenic 27-kilometre drive north along the coast, then a sweaty, challenging 25-minute hike up to the first of three falls that you can swim in (“ba ho” means “three pools”). Unlike Yang Bay Waterfall — actually a tacky tourist park — Ba Ho is refreshingly natural, quiet and a great way to get some exercise.