The coastal city of Nha Trang is the proud capital of the Khanh Hoa Province of Vietnam. Ideally situated on the country’s south central coast, and surrounded by beautiful mountains, Nha Trang has risen to become one of the most well-known seaside resorts in all of Vietnam.
The core of a visit to Nha Trang is its beaches but the mother of all water attractions is the Nha Trang Bay. The bay, which faces the city, is ranked to be one of the most beautiful in the world. The main strip of beaches stretches 4 kilometers along the coastline. Aside from the Nha Trang beach, other nice beaches worth visiting are the Bai Duong beach, Doc Let beach and Bai Dai beach. If you want to stay close to the shimmering sea, there are several resorts to choose from. One of the fast emerging premier resorts in town is the Vinpearl Resort.
To reach the resort, you have to take a cable car from the harbor. The resort features restaurants, an aquarium called Underwater World, an amusement park and a water park complete with exhilarating water slides and wave pools. If you want get away from it all, check out Bai Dai Villa. This resort complex sits on top of a hill and provides gorgeous panoramic views of the bay and landscape.
There are various activities available for you to do while in Nha Trang. The city is surrounded with mountainous scenic country perfect for hiking and biking. You can also join excursions visiting hot water springs, mud baths and waterfalls like Yang Bay Waterfalls and Ba Ho waterfalls. Nha Trang is one of the country’s diving hubs. Its waters boast a wide range of colorful marine life and coral formations.
If you are not ready yet to go underwater, there is still plenty to see when you snorkel. Aside from the natural attractions, you will enjoy Nha Trang better by trying out their best culinary dishes. Some of the famous ones include barbecued pork, swallow’s nest soup and fresh seafood.
An exploration of Nha Trang is not just all about nature. You will also have the chance to learn more about the city’s history and culture through some of its notable landmarks. If you head out to the Po Naga Towers or Thap Ba, you will discover the historic Champa Kingdom, which once dominated the central and southern regions of Vietnam. The tower area is also near some places of worship, built from the 7th up to the 12th century.
For a taste of everyday Vietnamese culture in Nha Trang, drop by the central market, which starts selling various goods and items in the early morning hours. While in the area, take stroll down the street of Phan Boi Chau, where you can admire the attractive colonial buildings, while savoring your Vietnamese-style breakfast.
Other places of interest, which you can include in your city tour itinerary, are the Alexandre Yersin Museum, the National Oceanographic Museum of Vietnam, and the Long Son Pagoda. The peak season for traveling in Nha Trang is summer, which is from the months of June to August. If you plan to travel at this time, be sure to arrange your accommodation in advance.
