Why go
Nha Trang is not only a popular stop for tourists trekking through Vietnam, but also the go-to destination for Vietnamese who want to a beach vacation combined with lively nightlife. The endless beaches lining Nha Trang are complemented by the lush green mountains that surround the city. This natural beauty has helped Nha Trang become a top destination wedding spot and you’ll always see people dancing and hear music blaring at festive wedding receptions during a stroll through the city.
Nha Trang’s nearby underwater world is just as spectacular—it’s one of the most popular diving and snorkeling spots in Southeast Asia and a great place to explore the majestic waters of the South China Sea. With so many foreign tourists visiting this ocean city each day, Nha Trang is home to many wonderful restaurants, an active nightlife and some of the best bars and clubs in the entire country. Thus, whether you are looking for some tranquil days on the beach or a wild-and-crazy night out, Nha Trang certainly has something for everyone.
Inside Tips
- Since it is always warm in Nha Trang, there are really only two seasons in this coastal city: wet and dry. The dry season usually lasts from April until June, and is the best time to visit, even though there remains a chance of a typhoon. Daily highs are in the high 80s and lows are 70-75.
- Although the waves are usually not big enough for surfing, be warned that the surf can be quite rough in Nha Trang and there are no lifeguards on the public beaches. Some of the central beaches unfortunately also suffer from a litter problem, so if you’re not staying at a resort with a private beach, which is cleaned daily, you may want to head out of town a bit to a cleaner and more secluded beach.
- A visit to Nha Trang is incomplete without a trip to the beach and so be sure to bring your swimsuit and diving or snorkeling gear, as well as sunblock and light, breathable clothes given the heat and humidity. Additionally, a light raincoat is absolutely imperative if you are visiting Nha Trang during the rainy season, but you can easily find a cheap umbrella anywhere in the city. With a number of fun bars and clubs in the city, Nha Trang is also a fun place to dress to impress and so plan accordingly.
- Nha Trang is served by Cam Ranh Airport, which is located about forty minutes outside of the city. The lengthy ride from the airport to the heart of Nha Trang will cost about $10 USD, but some hotels and resorts in the city include free shuttle service with the cost of the room. A flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang will cost about $60 and takes a little less than an hour. If you are short on time or not worried about extra expenses, this is definitely the best way to get to this beautiful beach city.
- Another popular way to get to Nha Trang is by bus. Open-tour bus trips are very popular in Vietnam because they allow travelers to buy a single ticket to get across the country, but you can get on and off as you please. One of these tickets costs about $20, but an individual ticket form a “nearby” city, such as Hoi An (ten hours away) or Ho Chi Minh City (eight hours away), will only set you back about $8 USD. The city’s bus station is a little far away from most of the hotels, but a taxi ride from this area will only cost about $2 USD.
- Nha Trang’s streets are full of taxis and the sidewalks are littered with guys offering motorbike rides. Although Nha Trang is pretty spread out, almost all of the touristy sites, including hotels, restaurants, tour offices, and dive shops are located within a few blocks of each other. Thus, to get around this busy area, which surrounds Biet Thu Street, the best bet is to just walk. However, if you need to get around town in a taxi or on a motorbike, expect to pay 40,000 and 20,000 Dong, respectively.
- As with most places in Vietnam, be sure to bring plenty of cash or a debit card as most hotels and restaurants in the city do not accept credit cards.
- Vietnam is a very safe country to visit and crime is incredibly rare in Nha Trang, even pick-pocketing and other types of petty theft. However, just as with visiting any other big city, you should try to travel in groups and stick to well-lit areas at night. This is especially important around Nha Trang’s hottest nightspot, the Sailing Club. The constant flow of tourists and alcohol until the early hours of the morning attracts some of the seedier parts of Nha Trang to this area at night. However, this area is still as safe as a typical western city, but any crime that does occur in Nha Trang likely happens here.
- The neighborhood around Biet Thu Street, which is full of hotels, great restaurants, and dive shops, is always busy and a safe place to walk around, even at night. However, males should be aware that they will likely encounter motorbike drivers offering drugs and prostitutes. These guys are especially active along Tran Phu Street. However, they will leave you alone after a firm “no” and a wave of the hand.
- The most dangerous part about a trip to Nha Trang is crossing the city’s busy streets. The main drag in Nha Trang is Tran Phu Street, which runs along the beach, and it is always full of speeding cars and motorbikes. Use caution when crossing any street and you’ll probably be safest if you just follow the lead of the locals.
Where to stay
Most of the hotels in Nha Trang are located in two different areas: the nice resorts stretch along Tran Phu Street, which runs parallel to the beach, and the cheaper options are located in the busy area surrounding Biet Thu Street. Staying in a hotel in either of these areas will give you easy and quick access to the beach, as well as the many restaurants and tourists offices in Nha Trang. A stay in a double room at one of the many fancy resorts in Nha Trang will cost about $175 USD a night; an excellent option is the 4-star Sunrise Beach. Further out of town and more secluded is the 5-star Six Senses Ninh Van Bay–definitely not a budget option, but if you can afford it, nice for a splurge.
Moderately priced hotels in Nha Trang will cost about $60 USD per night. There are a handful of budget options in town and these will all cost about $25 USD a night. The best of this bunch is the Dong Phuong Hotel (103 Nguyen Thien Thuat St.). If you are looking for even cheaper options, there are a handful of hostels in Nha Trang where a private room will cost $10-15 USD a night. However, these are often located 10-15 minutes away from the beach.
What to eat
Although the food in Nha Trang isn’t as renowned as that found in Hoi An or Ho Chi Minh City, there are still many wonderful dining options in this coastal town. With so many tourists flocking to Nha Trang each day, there are endless Vietnamese and international restaurants in the city.
The best expensive restaurant in Nha Trang proper is undoubtedly Ana Pavilion. Located at the Evason Ana Mandara Resort on Tran Phu Street, the food at this Asian restaurant is amazing, but the scenery is what makes it a priceless dining experience. You will have a number of wonderful tables to choose from, but sitting on the jetty immediately next to the crashing waves of the sea is undoubtedly the best choice. Despite this grandeur of Ana Pavilion, most of the main courses only cost about $15 USD.
Two excellent cheaper options include the Sailing Club and Ngoc Suong. Ngoc Suong has the best seafood in town and you can eat a feast of fresh fish for only $10 USD.
The Sailing Club is the perfect place to kick back for a few hours, take in a few drinks, enjoy the views, and eat some great Vietnamese or western dishes. A main course at this popular spot will only cost about $5 USD. If you are looking for something cheaper, you will find limitless options around Biet Thu Street. You can expect to pay about $2-3 USD at some of the smaller restaurants in this area. However, be warned: with everything from Greek, to Vietnamese, and even Mexican food available in this neighborhood, the choices can be a bit overwhelming.
What to do
The main attraction in Nha Trang are the city’s beautiful beaches. Most of the fancy hotels and resorts have their own private beaches, but if you are not staying at one of these places, you can still find plenty of public beach space in the middle of town.
If you are interest in diving or snorkeling trips, you can find endless tourist and dive shops around Biet Thu Street. Many of these companies also offer one-day boat trips around the South China Sea, some of which focus on the natural beauty of the area and others are more about the “booze.” These cruises are a popular attraction in Nha Trang, but be sure to find out exactly kind of cruise you are signing up for before setting off for the day.
Although most people go to Nha Trang for the sand and waves, there are still a few interesting sites around the town. The Po Ngar Cham Towers are a “must-see” site and the Nha Trang Cathedral and Long Son Pagoda also warrant a visit. The Alexandre Yersin Museum and the National Oceanographic Museum are also popular stops in Nha Trang.
If you love hot springs, mud baths and/or massages, definitely check out Thap Ba Hot Springs (15 Ngoc Son Ngoc Hiep, Nha Trang). It’s out of town and can be tough to find, so you’re best off hiring a taxi and having it wait there for you. While they’ll try to sell you a package, if you only want a couple things, such as mud bath and massage, insist on what you want. It can also be a bit confusing navigating the various areas, as signage is poor and the staff doesn’t speak much English, but the thermal springs, waterfall, and particularly the massages are well worth it. There’s also a quite good on-site restaurant if you want to make a day of it.
If you’re on a family trip, a visit to Vinpearl Park on Hon Tre island will be a fun adventure for them, and there is nothing else quite like it in Vietnam. You take a cable car there, from the Vinpearl Cable Car Station, and once there your kids will find a huge water park (the best part), a superb white sand beach, Underwater World aquarium with loads of beautiful fishes, and also some amusement park rides (although this part is quite small). There are also the fast food outlets and a couple of seafood restaurants on the shore.
Nha Trang has an active nightlife and there are a handful of really popular tourist hotspots in the city. As mentioned above, the top choice for years has been the Sailing Club. Located on the beach-side of Tran Phu Street, this restaurant turns into a happening bar in the evenings and it is the only place in Nha Trang that stays open until the early hours of the morning. If you are looking for cheap drinks, good music, and want to support a worthy cause, then a visit to Crazy Kim’s is a must. This bar is conveniently located at 93 Biet Thu Street and the owner, a Vietnamese-Canadian woman Kim Le, donates a significant part of the profits to help fight the child sex slave trade.
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Photos: Bruno, Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, Dong Phuong Hotel, Andrew McCormick, Birger Hoppe, danielguip