Nha Trang might just be one of the best places in Vietnam
Cameron Mackenzie is a New Zealander who has lived in Japan and Korea for a number of years but now finds himself ensconced in Vietnam. He is currently working as a Sales Supervisor for CBRE and residing in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
There is little wonder why local and foreign tourists flock to Nha Trang as this is a laid back ocean-lovers salubrious paradise! It has a short rainy season (September to about mid-December) however, it hardly rains all day... mostly afternoon showers.
From November to the end of January I would advise heading to Muine, Vung Tau or Phu Quoc Island if you are after nice sunshine and no rain. Nha Trang is best from February through to October where an early morning dip in the ocean is a delight when the water is somewhere between 26 – 28°C! There is certainly no need to hesitantly inch your way in.
What to do
Nha Trang has a plethora of options when it comes to fun and entertainment. There are islands and diving sites to explore or aquariums, temples and a water park to visit. You may wish to venture to the local hot springs and soak or maybe just cover yourself in mud and then revel in your new 'skin'. You can find any number of spots with fantastic views to just grab a coffee, beer or cocktail and just rip into those good books you brought with you. Take the photo above as an example of where you could park yourself on the beach front but out of the sun and with table service to boot! All you ladies will absolutely love the nail/ hair salons they have, where everything from 'French Tips' to hair straightening will cost a fraction of what you would pay back home. Get your dental work done here. Why pay $600 or more for a crown (titanium inner) when you can pay just $150! Prescription glasses will also at a huge discount.
When in town, I love to take the ferry to Hong Tam Island for a half day. I take a book, my swimmers and enjoy the half of the island that is not off limits to those not staying here (about US$350 per night... ouch!). They have a fantastic large pool, restaurant, lovely beach and I just nab myself a nice hammock between two coconut palms giving me ample shade and marvel at the view and somehow attempt to finish my book between swims and eating. Tickets are available from the Hon Tam office at Nha Trang port. The cost is 370.000 dong per person (this may have changed) which includes the fast speed boat to the island, buffet lunch, use of the pools, snorkel equipment, kayaks showers, etc. Ice tea was free with lunch or Heineken cans were 35.000 dong each (US$1.50c).
Motor bike parking is free at the port or you can catch the bus to VinPearl Resort and get off at the port, the second to last stop. The bus is 3000 dong (US$0.20c) from the city centre. Alternatively, for less than US$10 you could get to the port by taxi.
Wanting to fill one day with as many activities as you can? Consider heading to Vinpearland. You can either go by slow ferry (about 20 mins) or take the cable car (about 10 minutes from memory). The ticket includes the cable car and all activities for the day (about USD$25) and the views over the beach, city and bay are fabulous! This is the world’s longest over-water cable car. Once there, well, it's really a child's fantasy land! Ok, we are all really just big kids and I had a great day here enjoying what this wonderland had to offer: Restaurants, Carnival rides, games room, a really impressive aquarium and then to top it all off a huge water park with a wave pool and slides galore! We finished off our day sipping a nice cool beer whilst enjoying sunset on the beach looking back across the water at Nha Trang. Oh, don't miss the light and music fountains which is a spectacular display of colour, light, motion, music and water acrobatics. The park is open from 9am to 10pm... just check prior to booking
After an activity-filled day... enjoy a few made for total R&R. Visit one of my favourite spots (Louisianne) which is actually a fabulous beach bar/restaurant with pool and their very own (to die for) Pilsner and range of dark beers! These hand crafted beers (500cc) served to you on your poolside lounger are around US$2! Seafood fried rice is a bargain for about US$4. If I have had enough sun prior to lunch, I would often shoot across the road (about a three minute walk) to my one of my favourite restaurants (Veranda) and select from their range of three course meals for no more than US$6-$7. All this in a slightly refined dining ambience with air con, free wifi and a view of the beach. The service however, can vary from enthusiastic to fairly ordinary but I always thought the food was great value for money!
One of the best things about Nha Trang is the range of restaurants and bars all in close proximity. No problem if you want your croissant and espresso each morning as there are numerous places to satisfy this craving. Live football and rugby on the big screen? Not to fear, two streets back from the beach and there you can find a hub of sports bars catering to your every need. Anyone for a US$1.80 Heineken? Dinner time arrives before you know it and I found a great little seafood buffet restaurant where I can hoe into their wide range of freshly caught local produce for hours and pay no more than about US$12. As always, I literally waddle out of here as I quite possibly consume 4kg of seafood. Thank the lord the elevator is always in good working order at our apartment, I could never manage the stairs after a feed like that!
After an action-packed day of reading whilst tasting their entire range of ice cold ($2) boutique beer, why not go see a flick? After a leisurely stroll in the evening along the beach promenade with numerous other couples and families, head to the theatre at Nha Trang Centre. Tickets are less than $5 and yes, the Hollywood movies are in English.
I haven't mentioned the bike/motorbike rides or the half/full day snorkelling/diving trips that one could do. There are cultural activities you could go see like the water puppet show, visit Long Son Pagoda and the Cathedral (French Gothic style). There is The National Oceanographic Museum of Vietnam with a real 18 metre-long whale skeleton. If you feel a little tired, how about Thap Ba Hot Springs Centre which is a great place to relax and rejuvenate after a day of exploring Nha Trang. The Alexandre Yersin Museum commemorates the late French bacteriologist if you need to escape the heat and the brain is thirsting for some info! Another option could be The Hon Khoi Salt Fields which are one of the most unique tourist destinations in Nha Trang. Here female workers harvest mounds of natural salt from shallow fields between the months of January and June.
Basically, there is more than enough to do or as little as possible! If it’s a fun, interesting, beautiful and warm destination that anyone, any age could enjoy for two nights or two months then Nha Trang is the spot for you!
Have you ever been to Vietnam? If so, how did you find it? Let us know in the comments section below, we would love to hear from you.
Find more information on Vietnam at the Vietnam Travel Apartments website.
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