Nha Trang travel guide – The best things to do in Nha Trang Vietnam 2022

THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN NHA TRANG VIETNAM

Around three kilometers from the mainland, Hon Tre Island, the largest in Nha Trang Bay, is poised to become a major tourism center, resort and entertainment complex in the coming years.

The island, home to 1,500 inhabitants who mainly live on fishing and tourism, hogged the limelight in 2015 after the Vinpearl Resort opened.

Vinpearl Land Nha Trang, a complex including an amusement park, a water park, and a shopping center, is the most popular tourist attraction on the island. Visitors can have a fun day by paying VND880,000 ($37.55) per person, including two-way transport by cable car and other sightseeing services.

From Nha Trang, the island can be accessed in about 15 minutes with speedboats that depart from Cau Da Wharf.

On Hon Tre Island, Bai Tru and Bai Ch

are the most popular beaches that people flock to, to swim, surf and go kayaking.

Many resorts and tour companies also organize scuba diving excursions for memorable underwater exploration.

Long Son Pagoda or White Buddhist Pagoda as locals call it was built in the 19th century, making it the oldest such monument in the beach town.

Combining traditional Vietnamese architecture and symbols of Taoist belief with sculptures of mythical animals such as dragon and lion, the pagoda was destroyed during the Vietnam War and has undergone several repairs since.

After climbing 193 steps to the top of Trai Thuy Hill, one can take in the large white concrete statue of Gautama Buddha, recognized as Vietnam’s largest outdoor Buddhist statue by Vietnam Records.

Atop the mountain, the marble statue of Reclining Buddha rests against a background of finely carved relief that describes the scene of 49 disciples converging the day the Buddha passed away.

Thap Ba is a small street in downtown Nha Trang that is dubbed a “food paradise.” It is lined with restaurants selling fresh seafood including lobster and crab, as well as cheap and delicious familiar Vietnamese dishes like the crispy Vietnamese pancake banh xeo and steamed rice rolls banh cuon.

If snails are your thing, the Xuan and Oc Huong 85KB restaurants are good options. At the Gio Bien Restaurant, seafood is “caught” and cooked after an order is placed.

Some of Nha Trang’s signature dishes like tapioca rice noodles and banh can (mini grilled pancakes) are worth tyring.

The Christ the King Cathedral in Nha Trang, also known as the Stone Church, was built in French Gothic style by Priest Louis Vallet in the early 19th century, and remains one of the town’s most important architectural vestiges.

It holds Mass every day between 5 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and visitors need to register one day or at least an hour before the church opens at 8 a.m.

The Ponagar Tower built by the Cham people during the 8th-13th centuries is one of the largest Cham cultural heritage sites in the country.

The complex is of significant spiritual value and importance for the Cham people who organize special ceremonies including festivals.

Many tourists choose to visit the Cham Towers during the third lunar month when the largest Cham festival of the Central Highlands and south-central regions is held at the complex.

This festival worships Thien Y Ana or Holy Mother with unique rituals.

The Cham tower complex is located on the Cu Lao Marble Hill, around two kilometers north of downtown Nha Trang.

Diep Son Island in Van Phong Bay, about an hour by boat from the mainland, is famous for its pristine beauty and the sandbar connecting the islands.

From Nha Trang, ask for the way to Van Gia Village in Van Ninh District, more than an hour to the north. From Van Gia, take Tran Hung Dao Street to the wharf. Boats operate during the day, with the last trip at 3 p.m.

A private boat for about seven to eight people costs VND500,000 ($21.50). Since Van Phong Bay has strong waves and the island is quite far from the mainland, boats usually leave for the island in the morning so that they can return by noon or a bit later.

Some 80 families live on the island and make their living by fishing. Residents of the island only get to use electricity for three hours a day. Diep Son Island remains pristine with no hotels or motels, so it is advisable to take enough food and water on the trip.

Co Tien (Fairy Mountain) near the Bai Duong Beach hosts one of the most popular hiking trails in Nha Trang. It is ideal for camping and the road leading to the mountain peak can be covered in 30-45 minutes.

There are no tours to Co Tien Mountain yet, so the best way is to rent a motorbike from downtown hotels for VND50,000 – 120,000 a day.

This mountain is just 400m above sea level so people in good health can conquer it easily.

Nightlife

One of the country’s busiest tourism hotspots particularly favored by Chinese and Russian tourists, Nha Trang boasts nightlife that matches that of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Two of the most notable mentions are the Nha Trang Sailing Club and Skylight Rooftop Bar, conveniently situated close to each other on Tran Phu Street.

The Sailing Club offers a combination of open bar and mouth-watering cuisine right on the beach, Skylight takes the party to the sky with a 360-degree view of Nha Trang.