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Nha Trang best things to do & travel guide
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Nha Trang is the most popular beach destination in Vietnam. The city has a coastline of six kilometers where you can enjoy a day of island hopping, diving, swimming or just relax and enjoy the beautiful view of the sunset. The vast countryside is great for exploring by bike or motorbike.
5 reasons to visit Nha Trang
- Relax on the beach
- Go diving
- Take a boat tour around the islands of Nha Trang
- Explore Nha Trang and the countryside by bike
- Work on your beauty in a mud bath
What is in this Nha Trang travel guide
Practical information
Recommended days to stay
Nha Trang is a popular beach destination for Russians and Chinese. The beaches here and in the area are some of the best in Vietnam, but it lacks atmosphere and Vietnamese culture. If you just want to relax on the beach, this city is fine for a day or two.
ATM's & money exchange
Local events and holidays
- Nha Trang Sea Festival: Takes place every two years for a week around June. Contains many activities such as various sports competitions, markets and workshops.
Best time to visit
- Best travel time: Between February and May
- April to August: Best time for diving, with the best visibility.
- Rainy season: September to December
10 best things to do in Nha Trang
Nha Trang is also called the “beach capital” of Vietnam. The city is booming, packed with restaurants, bars and hotels and hostels. Granted; you’ve got to love it. But even if you don’t like it; Nha Trang is in an impressive setting. Surrounded by green mountains, a breathable beach, clear blue water and tropical islands off the coast.
1. Diving and snorkeling
Nha Trang is the most popular place for diving in Vietnam, although not necessarily the best. There are about 25 dive sites in the area, most of which are around the different islands. In the city you will find enough diving schools that can take you with their boat to these dive sites. It does not matter if you have never dived or are already experienced.
One of the best places to dive is Whale Island. Jacques Cousteau is said to have discovered his love of diving here. There is a small resort with a dive center located on the island.
2. Relax on the beaches
The main reason to go to this city and therefore the best thing to do in Nha Trang is to enjoy the beautiful beaches. The town has a beautiful coastline with a wide variety of food and accommodation along the white sandy beaches. The most famous beaches are Jungle Beach, Doc Let Beach, Nhu Tien Beach and Bai Dai Beach.
3. Island hopping
With a total of 19 islands, island hopping is one of the best things to do in Nha Trang. The most famous islands are Mieu Island, Mun Island, Tam Island, Tre Island, Monkey Island and Yen Island.
There are several boat tours to these islands, so check the quality and type of tour. Some tours are mainly aimed at backpackers with a lot of drink, others for people who want to fish and others for swimming and snorkeling. On some islands there are also alternative activities such as helmet diving, jet skiing and the banana boat.
4. Van Phong Bay
While not as famous as the Nha Trang Bay in the area, Van Phong Bay is one of the most beautiful bays in central Vietnam. It has an 18-kilometer long white beach with dunes. The place is also known for Whale Island and Diep Son Island which are located off the coast here.
Because of the secluded location and length you will always find a piece of beach for yourself here. Besides enjoying the beach or snorkeling, there is not much to do.
5. Ba Ho waterfall
Ba Ho’s three waterfalls are a beautiful sight. Here you can swim in the cool river water and enjoy nature during a walk. The many rocks around the falls and deep natural pools have also made this area popular for those who enjoy cliff jumping.
The Ban Ho waterfalls are about 20 kilometers from the city. Make sure you have good shoes for walking on the rocks and some extra clothes if you want to go swimming there.
6. Long Son Pagoda and the white Buddha
Long Sơn Pagoda is a Buddhist temple that is considered one of the main attractions of Nha Trang, along with the White Buddha. The entrance and roofs of this pagoda are decorated with glass mosaic dragons and ceramic tiles. Behind the pagoda is a huge white Buddha from which you have a beautiful view of the surroundings.
7. Cho Dam market
Dam Market (Cho Dam) is the largest market in Nha Trang and worth a visit. In the covered market they sell electronic devices, gold jewelry and clothing. Stalls selling vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, live chickens, ducks and piglets are located around the market. It is a market that is mainly aimed at the local residents of the city, making a visit an authentic local experience.
8. Po Nagar
Po Nagar are four Cham towers built between the 7th and 12th centuries. They are similar to the temples you can find in My Son, near Hoi An. Like many other Cam towers in Vietnam, they are located on a hill. They are located on the river not far from the center and are still actively used by Cham, Chinese and Vietnamese Buddhists.
9. Salt fields
The salt fields of Nha Trang is a place where natural salt is manually extracted from shallow fields. It may not sound that spectacular, but it is an impressive sight to behold. For that reason, it is especially popular for photography, where you have a fantastic view of the salt mountains and workers, mainly women, who carry heavy baskets across the fields.
10. Nha Trang Cathedral
The largest church in the city stands on a small hill overlooking the train station. It is an elegant building because it is built with simple cement blocks.
Best hotels & hostels in Nha Trang
Where to stay
On the beach – The beach has a beautiful promenade along the sea where many resorts, budget hotels, museums, eateries and bars are located. You can also enjoy a wide range of activities such as surfing, snorkelling, bike rides, spa treatments, meditation and yoga.
The city center – Offers very affordable accommodation options within walking distance of sights such as the Po Ngar Cham towers, the Cho Dam market and the Long Son pagoda. You can rent a bike or motorbike to ride through the city, but traveling on foot is also great here.
Resorts on islands near Nha Trang – Nha Trang is surrounded by the Ninh Van bay. Whale Island, Hon Tre Island and Hon Tam Island, are all a short ferry ride away. Great for wealthy travelers, because these islands are dotted with luxury resorts.
Best hotels & hostels in Nha Trang
Budget hotels & hostels
- Mojzo Dorm
- Backpack Abode Hostel
- Vitamin Sea Hostel – Nha Trang
- Binh An Hotel Nha Trang
Mid range hotel
- Aaron Hotel
- Regalia Nha Trang Hotel
- Gosia Hotel
- Liberty Central Nha Trang Hotel
High end hotel & resort
- Vinpearl Resort Nha Trang
- Amiana Resort and Villas Nha Trang
- Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa
Food & drinking
Restaurants
As expected from a large resort, Nha Trang has no shortage of food options for all budgets, from casual Vietnamese-style terraces on plastic chairs to high-end restaurants. Nha Trang is famous in Vietnam for its fish, but also offers a wide range of Western dishes.
- Lanterns Vietnamese Restaurant
- Yen’s Restaurant
- Lac Canh Restaurant
- Rainforest
- Sailing Club Nha Trang
- Altitude
- Alpaca Homestyle Cafe
- LIVIN Collective
- MIX restaurant
- Bogosov Burgers & Steaks
Nightlife
With its lively beach town vibes, the nightlife of Nha Trang almost surpasses Ho Chi Minh City. Here are some of the best nightlife options in Nha Trang.
- Louisiane Brewhouse & Restaurant
- QUI – Cuisine Mixology
- Why Not Bar
- Sailing Club
- Skylight Skydeck & Rooftop Beach Club
How to get there
Flights to Nha Trang
Nha Trang Airport is called Cam Ranh Airport and it is approximately 30 km from the city center. From there you can take a 45-minute taxi ride that costs around $ 15 or you can take a shuttle bus for around $ 3.
The Nha Trang airport has good connections with other destinations in Vietnam, such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.
Buses to Nha Trang
The main bus station is Phia Nam Nha Trang. There are daily buses north to Da Nang (12 hours) and Hoi An (13 hours) and to the south Mui Ne (6 hours), Dalat (5 hours) and Ho Chi Minh City (13 hours). Nha Trang is an important stopping point for all open tour buses.
Trains to Nha Trang
Nha Trang train station is located in the city center. It has good connections with Danang and Ho Chi Minh City, among others, both of which last approximately 8 hours.
How to get around
Cycling: The majority of Nha Trang is fairly flat, so it’s easy to see all the sights by bike. Many hotels have bicycles for rent from 30,000 a day.
Taxi: It is safer to take a meter taxi from a well-known company such as Mai Linh.
Motorbike: Renting a motorbike is the best option if you want to explore the Nha Trang countryside at your own pace. The costs are between VND 60,000 and VND 100,000 per day.
Itinerary 2 days in Nha Trang
Day 1
- Start the day with the sunrise on the beach.
- Visit the Dam market and the Nha Trang church.
- In the afternoon you visit Po Nagar Cham Towers and the rest of the afternoon
- you relax on the beach.
- In the evening you enjoy a drink on the beach.
Day 2
- Take an island hopping tour. Visit different islands, enjoy the bbq on the boat and explore the underwater world with snorkeling.
- An alternative is a diving excursion if you like diving.
More tips for traveling in Nha Trang
Where to go next?
Nha Trang with kids
Nha Trang is a good place to bring children. Besides the beaches, the city has plenty of attraction parks and water parks to visit.
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