Sandy beaches that stretch for miles, cool waterfalls, untouched mountain ranges, a unique culture… Nha Trang is fast becoming a top destination in Vietnam for all these reasons and more. Here are the attractions you can’t miss as you explore this east-coast idyll.
The main beach of Nha Trang is a 6km (4mi) crescent of crumbly white sand, backed by a long boulevard of high-end resorts. It’s the best base if you’re the type who wants beach, restaurants and nightlife just a stroll from your bedroom. (If you’re after undeveloped natural surroundings, head south). Watersports – from surfing to snorkelling to jet skiing – are easy to organise through hotels. If it’s pampering you’re after, there are scores of day spas along the length of the beach.
This dawn-to-dusk market is a hubbub of food stalls, street action, rushing vendors and bustling little shops. Surprises are plentiful; mangosteens, star apples, beach wraps, leather belts, dried squid and even pickled snakes can all be found. If you’re after souvenirs, the best spot is the mezzanine in the centre. For post-shop eating, the food court serves good-value seafood, noodle soups and baguettes.
Po Nagar was built between the 7th and 12th centuries by the Cham people, who governed Nha Trang – as well as much of central and southern Vietnam – and made the region an integral part of the Asian spice trade. Today, these ruins are one of the few remainders of their legacy: four towering, red-brick temples along with a statue of goddess Yan Po Nagar. In the tranquil heat of the day, the peace you will find here is extraordinary.
This 19th-century Catholic cathedral is a bit architecturally confused. It’s got an Italianate clock tower, neo-gothic faux flying buttresses and castellated walls. However, it’s a potent reminder of the French presence in Vietnam from 1887 to 1954. Come on a Sunday morning for a window onto contemporary Vietnamese life, as the bells, which were cast in France in the 1700s, ring across the surrounding gardens and hundreds of smartly dressed locals gather to chat over snacks after Mass.
The National Oceanographic Museum is part natural history museum – with a large collection of preserved specimens, including a huge whale skeleton – and part aquarium. It’s housed in imposing French-era buildings and set over a small beach just a few hundred metres north of the city port. The collection looks a little dusty today, but it delivers an interesting glimpse of the marine life often still thriving in Vietnamese waters, from reef sharks to puffer fish.
More a series of rapids than a single cascade, Ba Ho, in the forested hills behind Nha Trang, drops over boulders into clear pools big enough for a swim. The water is powerful at the end of the rainy season, but recedes to a trickle in the summer. To avoid the crowds, avoid signing up for a booked tour; instead arrive alone, by bike or cab. It’s only a 45-minute drive from central Nha Trang. To reach the best pools, you’ll need to scramble up the river some way, but it’s worth the effort.
It’s a long and winding two-hour drive on switchback bends to the top of Hon Ban Mountain, but the view makes it worthwhile. If you can, go at dawn, when the morning cloud rises off Nha Trang and you can see for miles and miles in the clear air. The best views are from the little wooden cottage on the summit, built in 1915 by French doctor Alexandre Yersin. Walking trails from the peak lead into the forest, a deep-green and profoundly atmospheric experience.
Powdery white sand, transparent waters, resorts, seafood shacks and palm-fronds swishing in the gentle breeze… welcome to Bai Dai, around 25km (16mi) south of Nha Trang city, near the airport. This beach is the antithesis of busy Tran Phu; the sea is gentle enough for paddling in the shallows, and there’s a break suitable for beginner surfers. You can rent boards locally.
A 60km (37mi) drive from Nha Trang city, this backpacker-friendly beach resort is a popular place to unwind, thanks to the palm-thatched cabins, white sand and aquamarine ocean. Other than shrimp farms and a tiny village, there’s little to detract from the natural beauty, and little to do other than surf, snorkel and eat masses of seafood. There are only two small resorts, Jungle Beach and Wild Beach, a few hundred metres further south. This is rest and relaxation with a capital R&R.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips,Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
