Nha Trang

Nha Trang is a coastal city and the capital of Khanh Hoa Province. It's one of Vietnam's most important tourist centers, attracting numerous visitors with its beautiful sandy beaches, stunning coral reefs, and pleasant clear waters year-round (average temperature of 26°C). In addition to its beaches, Nha Trang is also a historical site with a rich cultural heritage related to the Cham culture.

Several well-known islands are located around the city, with the most notable ones being Hon Tre, Hon Yen, Hon Rua, and the Spratly Islands. Right across from Nha Trang, Hon Tre Island, connected to the city by a cable car, features a large Vinpearl hotel and an amusement park owned by the VIN Group.

Things to see and do

Relax on its superb beaches and participate in water sports such as surfing, kite-surfing, windsurfing, sea kayaking, and water skiing.
Take a boat trip for scuba diving with a tank or snorkeling to enjoy the beautiful underwater landscapes.
Visit the Po Nagar Towers - remnants of the Champa Kingdoms.
Take a mud bath.
Explore the magnificent Long Son Pagoda.
Visit the salt fields of Hon Khoi, offering stunning salt marsh landscapes, especially during the harvest season (January to June).
Have family fun at the Vinpearl amusement park in Nha Trang.

Relax on its superb beaches:

In addition to the 7-meter-long central beach, Nha Trang has several small white-sand beaches on different islands in Nha Trang Bay and long beaches in the vicinity, such as Bai Dai, Doc Let, and Van Phong Bay. Even though it's a highly touristy beach destination, Nha Trang still offers nature-oriented, crowd-free beaches. Various resorts with uncrowded beaches are available for guests, such as resorts in Cam Ranh, Van Phong Bay, Whale Island, and Nui Chua National Park.

Go for a boat trip to enjoy beautiful underwater landscapes:

In Nha Trang, you can go scuba diving with a tank or snorkeling to explore beautiful underwater landscapes. There are several different spots to do this: Whale Island, Van Phong Bay, around Hon Tre Island, and Hon Mun, to name a few. Among these destinations, Hon Mun Marine Park, a 45-minute motorboat ride from Nha Trang, is one of the best diving spots in Southeast Asia, with 350 species of coral and numerous fish species in clear waters year-round.

The Po Nagar Towers:

The Po Nagar Towers are examples of Cham architecture and art at its peak. These columns stand along the banks of the Cai River and were built between the 7th and 12th centuries, with the most beautiful ones dating from 813 to 817. Unfortunately, most of them were destroyed, and only a handful of these towers remain. Each tower is a temple dedicated to a different deity and is still used as a place of worship by Cham descendants and Vietnamese Buddhists.

The Oceanographic Museum:

This museum displays a wide collection of protected marine species, including sea turtles, reef fish, anemones, and other marine creatures.

Natural Mineral Mud Bath:

Known for its therapeutic and medicinal properties, mud bathing offers an excellent relaxation experience for couples or families. There are three tourist areas that offer this type of mud bath: Thap Ba hot spring, the 100-egg mud bath, and some resorts. You can combine a mud bath with a massage, sauna, or steam bath.

The Alexandre Yersin Museum:

Nha Trang is the city where the famous Dr. Alexandre Yersin lived and died. He founded a branch of the Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang in 1885, which still exists. The Alexandre Yersin Museum, located on the grounds of the Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang, tells the story of the scientist with an exhibition of his personal belongings, office, and laboratory equipment. Visitors can see the library, original letters, and photographs from his many exploration trips in Vietnam.

Vinpearl Amusement Park in Nha Trang:

An ideal family outing during your beach vacation in Nha Trang. This amusement park is located on Hon Tre Island. To reach it, you need to take the cable car over Nha Trang Bay.

This leisure complex offers various activities for both young and old. You can visit the aquarium, ride on amusement park attractions, enjoy the water park, or simply relax on a beautiful, long white sand beach.

Long Son Pagoda:

An ancient pagoda founded in the late 19th century. The entrance and roofs are decorated with dragons and mosaics made of glass and ceramics. Behind the pagoda, you'll find a 14-meter-tall white statue of a Buddha sitting on a lotus flower. This platform provides a viewpoint over Nha Trang and the surrounding countryside.

Good to Know

When to visit?

- March to October: The ideal time to visit, with warm temperatures and minimal rainfall.
- November to December: Risk of storms in the region.
- September to December: The rainy season.
- January to February: Often overcast and windy.
- Surfing season: December to March.
- Diving season: April to late July.

Access

- By Bus: Nha Trang is easily accessible via National Highway No. 1, with sleeper buses running from major cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Mui Ne, Dalat, and Hoi An.
- By Plane: Direct flights to Cam Ranh International Airport (Nha Trang) are available from Hanoi, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, operated by airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Jetstar Pacific.
- By Train: From Hanoi (1,315 km): SE1, SE3, SE5, SE7, TN1. From Ho Chi Minh City (411 km): SE2, SE4, SE6, SE8, TN2

Where to eat and taste

Nha Trang is renowned for its seafood, with fresh squid and shrimp being local favorites. Additionally, the region produces high-quality coffee and cashew nuts.

Continuing your journey

- Dalat – A charming mountain retreat known for its cool climate and flower gardens.
- Buon Ma Thuot – The coffee capital of Vietnam.
- Mui Ne – Famous for its sand dunes and windsurfing opportunities.
- Ho Chi Minh City – Vietnam’s bustling economic hub.

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