Nha Trang beach city is well known for its pristine beaches and excellent scuba diving and is fast becoming a popular destination for international tourists, attracting large numbers of backpackers as well as more affluent travelers on the Southeast Asia circuit. It is already very popular with Vietnamese tourists. Nha Trang Bay is widely considered as amongst the world's most beautiful bays. Tourists are welcome to participate in the Sea Festival, held biennially. Nha Trang was the site of the Miss Universe 2008 and it will also host Miss World 2010.
Nha Trang is one of the most important tourist hubs of Vietnam, thanks to its beautiful beaches with fine and clean sand and the clear ocean water with mild temperatures all year round.
According to historical records, Nha Trang was known as Kauthara under the Champa, as it is still home to the famous Po Nagar Tower built by the Champa. Until the French colonization, Nha Trang used to be no more than small fishing villages. The French recognized Nha Trang as a perfect place for bathing, so they invested in the transformation to turn Nha Trang into a resort town.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Nha Trang?
The best time to visit Nha Trang would be from February till April, when temperature is kept moderate at around 26-27 degree Celsius, and precipitation stay at the lowest level of the year. Spring months are also the best time to dive here. Some coral-rich dive sites that diving enthusiasts should not miss out on are Small Hill, South Reef, and Moray Beach After, all around Mun Island.
If your trip is firmly scheduled for July or August, remember to give Hòn Bà (30 km far from city center) the first position on your tourist attraction list. The mountain with cool climate all year round is absolutely a great place to hide from the summer heat.
In general, autumn travel in Nha Trang is not recommended. Though it is not cold, heavy rain, tropical storm and typhoon may annoy most of tourists. Travelers planning to visit the area from September till December should keep your eyes on the local weather forecast.
How To Get To Nha Trang?
By air
To Nha Trang, 4 daily flights from Ho Chi Minh City (1 hour) and 3 from Hanoi (1.5 hours) costs $40 and $75 respectively for economy class. Cam Ranh airport, which is about 30 km away from city center, used to be an old port for military goods during Vietnam War.
By bus
From Ho Chi Minh City, it is recommended that you purchase a ticket from Mai Linh or Phuong Trang. The bus is spacious and the service is of high standard. Ticket prices hover around $6 and the trip lasts 9 hours. Public buses depart from Eastern bus station but expect guests pick-up along the way.
From Da Nang, there are daily departures to Nha Trang with similar price and travel time as from Ho Chi Minh City.
From Da Lat, there are 4 buses that leave Nha Trang daily by Mai Linh company ($4 per ticket) besides local bus. The trip is 3-4 hours.
By train
One of the popular options to travel to Nha Trang is by train. From Ho Chi Minh City, there is currently only option of overnight train to Nha Trang, which often arrives very early in the morning. Trains departing from Hanoi are lengthy and make many stops along the way - each one way trip can take as long as 12-20 hours. Hotels and travel agencies often charge a small commission for any train ticket.
Tops Attractions & Things To Do In Nha Trang
1. Nha Trang Beach
Curving gently around the bay, Nha Trang’s main beach is a delight to visit. Although it certainly is not the most beautiful beach you will ever see, it really does have everything you could want close at hand. Besides its welcoming sands and inviting waters that make for some great sunbathing and swimming, there is a lovely boardwalk for you to stroll along, as well as lots of gardens, playgrounds, and sports facilities nearby.
On top of all of this, hotels, restaurants, cafes, and bars can be found lining its six kilometers of sand, while beach vendors also pass by from time to time selling fruit, drinks, and seafood.
Nha Trang can offer a great urban beach experience, just make sure you visit this place in the right season. The beach can be disappointing when the weather is grey and the waves choppy. During this time the beach turns into a strip of brown sand with a multitude of empty beach chairs and no one to be seen.
2. Vinpearl Amusement Park
Dubbed Vietnam’s Disneyland, the fun and festive Vinpearl Amusement Park makes for a great day out for all the family, as there is an endless array of entertaining and exhilarating things for you to see and do. Located on Hon Tre Island, the park boasts a plethora of rides and rollercoasters, as well as a huge water park and fish-filled aquarium.
As you approach the island on the Vinpearl Cable Car, your excitement will only build as you see everything laid out before you, with lots of swimming pools, restaurants, and shops to be spotted around the tree-filled resort.
In addition to its many, many attractions, Vinpearl also has a gorgeous beach for you to recline on, with lots of fantastic watersports also on offer.
3. Ba Ho Waterfall
Located around an hour’s drive to the north of Nha Trang, Ba Ho Waterfall actually consists of three separate and equally scenic cascades that lie along a fast-flowing river surrounded by dense jungle. The rugged rocks that line the falls and jut out from the thick forest make for an incredible sight. Some brave visitors even dive off the first waterfall’s craggy clifftop into the pool below.
Meaning ‘waterfall with three basins’ in Vietnamese, Ba Ho’s outstanding beauty makes it a perfect place to visit for nature lovers. There is also a great hike you can do along the river and through the jungle to reach the other two falls.
4. Po Nagar Towers
Lying on the banks of the Cai River, the well-preserved remains of the Po Nagar Towers certainly make for an impressive sight, and it is not without reason that they are one of the most popular attractions in Nha Trang. With some of them dating all the way back to before 780 AD, the four remaining towers represent some of the finest examples of the incredible architecture that the once-mighty Cham Kingdom left behind.
In addition to the fabulous brickwork of the towers, there are some lovely stone statues and altars for you to check out, with lots of intricately carved inscriptions also on show. Dedicated to the goddess of the country – Yan Po Nagar – the site is still in use to this day. When you visit, you’ll find a mix of Buddhists, Cham, Chinese, and Vietnamese all worshipping amongst the magnificent old temples, columns, and meditation halls that dot the complex.
5. I-Resort
If you’re looking to kick back, relax, and unwind, the upmarket I-Resort is a great place to head to. It boasts a fantastic outdoor water park, hot mineral mudbaths, and a spa salon where you can book every type of massage imaginable. Set in a tranquil spot surrounded by lush forest, the I-Resort has a very harmonious feel to it, and the sparkling waterfalls that gently cascade into its many pools only add to the ambiance.
As a number of fun water slides meander their way around the site, which also sports a great restaurant, it is a very family-friendly place to visit; you can easily spend the day in the resort’s peaceful confines.
6. Vinpearl Cable Car
Linking Hon Tre Island to Nha Trang, the Vinpearl Cable Car takes you on a 3,320-meter-long ride across Nha Trang Bay until you reach the fun-filled Vinpearl Amusement Park. The journey takes around 15 minutes to complete, and the long cable that keeps you in the air is strung up between seven red and white towers that look like miniature versions of the Eiffel Tower.
As the cable cars run around 40 meters above the ground and sea, there are lots of fantastic views for you to drink in, and this unique approach to the amusement park only makes your arrival there even more special.
7. Long Son Pagoda
Speaking of temples, no visit to Nha Trang can ever be complete without stopping by the Long Son Pagoda – the most famous and impressive Buddhist temple in town. Built in 1886, the pagoda is very striking to gaze upon: majestic dragon mosaics cover the roof and entrance while its interior boasts an impressive ceremonial hall.
The main feature, however, is its glistening white Buddha statue that towers to a colossal 24 meters. As Long Son Pagoda is set upon a hilltop, many people come here to take in the fantastic views that it offers of the rest of Nha Trang while basking in the peaceful ambiance and taking in the astounding architecture all around them.
8. Hon Chong
Jutting out into the sea, Hon Chong promontory makes for a beautiful sight. The view before you is even better, with forest-coated mountains and islands lying far off in the distance across the glittering waters. Besides clambering over the rocks and taking photo after photo of the stunning scenery, visitors can also check out the nearby local beach, which is much quieter than the one in Nha Trang itself.
Here you’ll find a delightful Ruong house which exhibits some wonderful traditional architecture, as well as some small restaurants and cafes. Lying just offshore is the small island of Hon Do, which has a very pretty and laidback Buddhist temple for you to wander around.
9. Nha Tho Nui Cathedral
Built between 1928 and 1933, Nha Tho Nui Cathedral is one of the most important and impressive buildings in Nha Trang and certainly warrants a visit. Perched atop a hill with the city all around it, the French Gothic style architecture looks absolutely incredible, with some beautiful stained glass windows found beneath its sturdy and distinctive square clock tower.
Due to its picturesque setting with the mountains rising dramatically in the distance behind it, the cathedral is a popular place to get married among locals, and it still holds a daily mass.
10. Doc Let Beach
One of the most beautiful beaches in the whole country, Doc Let certainly does paint a pretty picture; its dazzling white sands and gently swaying palm trees lie next to the inviting, crystal-clear waters of the bay. Boasting an 18-kilometer-long beach that stretches as far as the eye can see, there is more than enough sand to go around; as it lies about an hour’s drive from Nha Trang, it seldom gets very crowded.
While some small hotels and resorts can be found here and there, most of Doc Let Beach is wonderfully undeveloped; as such, it is a very peaceful and relaxing place to spend a few days, and the glorious sunsets really do look spectacular.
In addition to its idyllic look and feel, there is also some great seafood on offer, as well as lots of fun watersports for you to enjoy.
11. Monkey Island
Located a short and scenic ferry ride away from Nha Trang, Monkey Island is so named due to the thousand or so monkeys that inhabit it. Bred for export to the Soviet Union, the program was abandoned during the American War, and now the mischievous primates can be spotted almost everywhere you go.
Besides seeing what monkey business they get up to, visitors can lounge on the beach and take in the peaceful ambiance, or go swimming, kayaking, jet-skiing, or scuba diving in the surrounding waters. On top of all this, there are a couple of lovely shops and cafes for you to check out, as well as a fun go-kart track to race around.
12. National Oceanographic Museum
Opened all the way back in 1922, the National Oceanographic Museum is a great place to head to if you want to learn more about Vietnam’s abundant marine life. Located in a lovely old French colonial-era building, there are lots of interesting exhibitions for you to explore. Two of the most impressive items on display are the skeletons of a huge humpback whale and a much smaller dugong.
In addition to its various marine artifacts and preserved fish specimens, there is also a small aquarium for you to wander around. Swimming in the various tanks, you can see seals, reef sharks, marine turtles, and lionfish, with lots of colorful coral also on display. While staying in Nha Trang, the National Oceanographic Museum makes for a great day out for all the family.
¨Must to try¨ food
1. Hai San (Seafood)
Hai san is basically seafood in Vietnamese, and Nha Trang is chock full of seafood eateries that are set along sandy white beaches. Supplied by local fishing villages, you’ll find an assortment of giant prawns, squid, urchins, crabs, jellyfish, and shellfish of all shapes and sizes. Seafood is priced by weight, where you’ll pick your choice of live or frozen sea creatures. Once the price confirmed, you can have it steamed, barbecued, fried, or prepared in a hotpot. Highly recommended dishes include pan-fried squid with pork stuffing in tomato sauce, grilled red snapper, and shrimp in tamarind sauce.
2. Nem Nuong (Fermented Pork Roll)
Nem nuong is grilled fermented pork roll that’s usually served with sweet and spicy fish sauce, pickled green papaya, and raw herbs. Served in local restaurants in Nha Trang, patrons are often served with platters of fermented pork that’s grilled on a coal brazier, lettuce leaves, rice paper, fresh herbs, chillies, rice vermicelli and garlic. You can easily customise your nem nuong according to your own preference and we highly recommend forgoing cutlery and enjoy your wraps with fingers for a more authentic dining experience.
3. Bun Cha Sua
Given Nha Trang’s six-kilometre coastline, it’s no surprise that bun cha sua is one of its must-try delicacies. The dish comprises of rice vermicelli, jellyfish, and steamed sailfish fillet in a sweet and savoury fish broth, though some eateries add in crab, shrimp and pork to the ensemble. A popular breakfast amongst locals, you can find many vendors selling bun cha sua at Bach Dang Street and Nha Trang’s street markets. Another variation is banh canh cha ca, which comes with thick noodles and generous slices of fish cakes.
4. Pho Noodle Soup
Besides seafood, you can also find the classic pho noodle soup in Nha Trang. Pho is actually rice noodle in Vietnamese, and is served in a flavourful soup with beef or chicken meat, bean sprouts, lime wedges, and greens such as basil, mint, cilantro, and onions. A side of chilli sauce or fish sauce is also provided if you’re looking to spice up your pho. You can enjoy this popular breakfast staple between VND 20,000 and VND 30,000 at any local restaurant in Nha Trang. Another variation of the classic pho is bun bo hue (beef rice vermicelli) which has a much bolder broth with lots of lemongrass and pork.
5. Bo Ne (Nha Trang Beef Steak)
Another local favourite for breakfast is bo ne, which is the Vietnamese interpretation of steak and eggs. Served in a hotplate, sizzling cuts such as skirt steak are marinated in various spices and comes with a dollop of pate, eggs, and chili sauce. It is often accompanied with condiments, toasted baguette and a small serving of fresh greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and vinegar. Enjoy it the local way by dipping the beef in a mix of lime, salt, and pepper sauce and using the baguette to polish off the remaining egg yolk and pate from the hotplate.
6 Banh Cuon (Rolled Cake)
Banh cuon is a Vietnamese spring roll that contains ground pork, minced wood ear mushroom, and onions, and eaten with Vietnamese ham (cha lua), steamed beansprouts, and cucumbers. The ingredients are loosely wrapped in a steamed rice flour crepe. Found in many street markets, this traditional Vietnamese dish is sometimes topped with shrimp floss, coriander, and herbs, with a sweet-sour dipping sauce made with fish extract, lime, and chilli. Banh cuon is sold at Nha Trang’s street markets and local restaurants, and you’ll get several pieces in a dish – perfect for a light breakfast.
7 Nem Nurong (Pork Skewers)
Nem nurong or Vietnamese grilled pork sausage can be enjoyed in many ways, whether as a snack, appetiser, or accompanied with rice or noodles. Prior to grilling, the pork meat is heavily marinated in a paste made with garlic, sugar, and black pepper for several hours. It is then pounded into a paste, wrapped around bamboo and grilled until well cooked. Savoury with a hint of sweetness in taste, nem nurong is also served with a platter of fresh herbs, pickled vegetables, and rice paper to wrap all the ingredients together.
8 Banh Can (Rice Cake with Quail Eggs)
Banh can comprises crispy rice cake topped with your choice of quail egg, fresh or dried meat and seafood. Found all over Nha Trang, these rice cakes are freshly prepared in circular pans over a coal brazier, and are sold in pairs due to their rather small size. The best way to enjoy banh can is by dipping it with sauce that’s made with fish sauce, lime, chili, and garlic. Some vendors offer banh can with raw vegetables, pork meatballs, and shredded green mango.
9 Ca Ri Ga (Vietnamese Curry)
Ca ri ga is a type of Vietnamese curry that’s served with rice, noodles, or warmed baguette. While India, Cambodia, and Thailand play an important role in the creation of Vietnamese curries, the flavours of Vietnamese is considerably milder and lighter – great for lunch or a light dinner in Nha Trang. Ca ri ga is made with a combination of chicken, carrots, sweet potatoes, ginger, and peas cooked in a rich coconut curry sauce.
10 Banh Xeo (Crispy Pancake)
Ban xeo is a savoury crepe-like pancake that’s made of rice flour, coconut milk, and turmeric. Pan-fried together with a variety of ingredients such as pork slices, shrimps, sliced onions, bean sprouts, and button mushrooms, this Nha Trang delicacy is best eaten with lettuce, herbs and sweet fermented peanut butter sauce. Great as a snack or appetiser, rice papers are sometimes used by local restaurants to wrap banh xeo with the accompanying condiments.