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July 5, 2018
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Nha Trang Travel Guide

Nha Trang belongs to the province of Khanh Hoa, known as the most famous coastal city of Vietnam for tourists. Beaches are along the length of the city and on the islands in Nha Trang Bay such as Hon Tre, Hon Tam, Hon Mun, Hon Chong… which are great spots to attract domestic and foreign tourists. Nha Trang tourism also attracts tourists by famous Cham heritage: Ponagar Tower, and interesting places in the city such as Dam Market, Long Son Pagoda, Church of the Mountain and Cau Da Villa (Bao Dai Villa). Nha Trang also organizes many tourist events, notably Nha Trang Beach Festival with many amusement activities.

The best time to travel to Nha Trang

First of all, the prerequisite for a great self-guided trip to Nha Trang is: you have to choose the perfect time in Nha Trang. Nha Trang has a relatively mild climate with two seasons: rainy season and dry season. According to Nha Trang travel experience, you can visit here in any time of the year. However, the weather of Nha Trang is nice in the period from January to August. But Nha Trang is the most beautiful in July, August, and September of solar calendar; November and December of lunar calendar.

– October and November of solar calendar are the period when you should not go to Nha Trang, because your travel plans will be affected by the rain. August is the high season of Nha Trang tourism; so if you want a comfortable, cheap and peaceful trip, you should avoid this month. Of course this month is busy but it is also the best weather month here.

The ideal time to travel Nha Trang
The ideal time to travel Nha Trang

How to go to Nha Trang?

There are many means of transportation to Nha Trang such as coaches, airplanes, trains… You can freely choose one of them depending on your financial ability and time fund.

Coach from Hanoi, Saigon or Dalat

From Hanoi

You can take the bus to Nha Trang at My Dinh bus station and Luong Yen bus station…. Hoang Long sleeping bus (024 3928 2828 – 0258 3853 345) is safe and cheap. Ticket price is 710,000 VND / person / ticket.

From Saigon

You can catch a lot of buses from Saigon to Nha Trang. For example: Hoang Long bus, Phuong Trang bus (028 3830 9309), Minh Dung bus (028 3511 5234 – 028 3519 0519), Lien Hung bus (0913 478 982 – 0913 478 982); Phuong Nam bus (028 6654 0386 – 0258 6507 677), Tra Lan Vien bus (028 2200 1579 – 0933 727 474), Cuc Tung bus (0258 2471 999 – 028 3511 6863), Ha Linh bus (0258 3524 877 – 028 3507 5345).

From Da Lat

You can go with Phuong Trang (028 3830 9309) or Cuc Tung bus. Dalat – Nha Trang route pass through Bidoup – Nui Ba National Park with beautiful natural scenery.

In my experience, you should call to ask bus fare and book tickets in advance. Especially in the high season or holidays, ticket prices may increase slightly on these occasions.

Train

– From Hanoi: You can take trains: SE1, SE3, SE5, SE7, TN1. Trains come back to Hanoi from Nha Trang: SE2, SE4, SE6, SE8, TN2.

– From Saigon: You can take trains: SN4 and SNT2. Trains come back to Saigon from Nha Trang: SNT3.

Airplane

You should choose the flight to Cam Ranh airport, and then you can take a taxi or shuttle bus from the airport to Nha Trang city center. When buying flight tickets, you should get return tickets, in case of running out of air tickets for the way back. Especially, some airlines such as Jetstar or Vietjester often have promotions with low-cost flights, so let’s pay attention to hunt cheap tickets online to save your money.

Nha Trang Bay Cruise
Nha Trang Bay Cruise

Transportation inside Nha Trang

Taxi

This is the choice of most visitors in Nha Trang. If choosing a taxi as a means of transportation in Nha Trang, you should choose reputable taxi firms such as: Mai Linh, Vinasun, Nha Trang, Quoc Te, Tram Huong…

City bus

Travelling around Nha Trang by city bus is an experience that you should try. This way is cheap and easy. This is also the advice of Nha Trang travel experience for self-guided trip.

Motorbikes or bicycles for rent

You can rent them for the price of 50,000 VND – 100.000 VND / day / vehicle. Note:  In Nha Trang, the price of renting vehicle is not included gasoline; you have to fill your motorbike up yourself.

Cable car

Compared to above means of transportation, the cable car is more expensive, but faster because it is a cable car crossing Nha Trang Bay. Moreover, when you buy a cable car ticket, you have covered all the amusement parks in Vinpearl Land.

Boats

This is the mean for you to visit a lot of islands in Nha Trang Bay. When buying ticket, you remember to buy a return ticket; otherwise you will have to stay on the island. You can contact to Mrs. Thanh Phuong (0914 204 244) for advice and best price.

Accommodation in Nha Trang

Based on our travel experience in Nha Trang 2018, you should choose hotels or guesthouses on Nguyen Thien Thuat Street, Tran Phu Street, Binh Tan Bridge, Pham Van Dong Street, Nha Trang University…. Most of the hotels in these areas are priced from 150,000 VND -170,000 VND / day / room. If you stay longer, you can bargain for cheaper price. And please contact them in advance to book rooms. In best way, you should book online with Agoda; it is very specific and detailed on room rates, quality, photos as well as services.

Hotels in Nha Trang
Hotels in Nha Trang

Let’s check out good hotels in Nha Trang which were synthesized from feedback of visitors about the price, quality of services and facilities… recommended below:

Hoang Hai Hotel is located at 27A Hung Vuong Street, near Tran Phu Street, Nha Trang city.

Phu Quy 2 Hotel (3 star) is located on Tue Tinh Street, Nha Trang city.

The Summer Nha Trang Hotel (3 star) is at 34C-D Nguyen Thien Thuat Street, Nha Trang city.

Apus Hotel: 95/9 Hung Vuong Street, Nha Trang city.

Best Western Premier Havana Nha Trang Hotel is at 38 Tran Phu Street, Nha Trang city.

Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa is at 26-28 Tran Phu Street, Nha Trang city.

Novotel Nha Trang is located at 50 Tran Phu Street, Nha Trang city.

Vinpearl Resort Nha Trang is located on Hon Tre Island.

Nha Trang Beach
Nha Trang Beach

Famous tourist spots of Nha Trang

Binh Ba Island

Binh Ba is a small island with an area of ​​over 3 km², located in Cam Binh Commune, Cam Ranh City, Khanh Hoa Province. It is 60 km from Ho Chi Minh City and 390 km from Nha Trang City. To get to Binh Ba, you have to go to Ba Ngoi port. Ba Ngoi port is 15 km from Cam Ranh airport and Binh Ba Island is 15 km from Ba Ngoi port. Binh Ba attracts visitors thanks to the unspoiled beach, clear blue water, friendly people, affordable prices and famous lobster specialties.

Binh Ba island
Binh Ba island

Binh Hung Island

Binh Hung Island is located in Cam Binh Commune, Cam Ranh City, beside the foot of the pass of the route: Binh Tien beach – Vinh Hy. It is famous for its white sandy beaches and clear water. The island has not been exploited so much for tourism so it still retain many wild features that extremely charming.

Binh Lap beach

Binh Lap is located in the deep water of Cam Ranh harbor, Khanh Hoa province in the South Central Vietnam, so the weather in Binh Lap is quite mild. You can go to Binh Lap at any time of the year. However, if during the rainy season from September to December, you should check the weather forcast a few days in advance to choose the appropriate date. For the spring and summer, Binh Lap sea is blue, you can see the the bottom of the ocean, so it is the best time to explore Binh Lap.

Binh Tien beach

Binh Tien is located 30 km north of Phan Rang – Thap Cham city and 70 km south of Nha Trang city. Starting from Phan Rang city on the National Way 1A to km number 1.525, visitors will see a small asphalt road running about 10 km, Binh Tien beach will be in front of visitors with wild, peaceful and quiet beauty.

Diep Son

Diep Son is a series of 3 small islands lying in the waters of Van Phong Bay, Khanh Hoa Province. The journey of exploring the island starts from Van Gia town, after about an hour sailing on the sea, the beautiful archipelago gradually appeared, showing up clearly on the horizon..

Diep Son Islands
Diep Son Islands

Diep Son welcomes you with the green of the trees, the crimson colors of the roof tiles and the blue beaches in jade color. The scene is peaceful and pristine. What better than standing here for the cool breeze touch to your face, waves slightly lick your feet and in front of your eyes is the vast blue sea. All the fatigue and the worries of life seem to disappear.

Vinpearl Land

Situated on Hon Tre Island with blue beaches all year round, Vinpearl Land is known as the “paradise of the tropics”. In addition to its luxurious hotels, gorgeous gardens, and an ideal freshwater pool, it also attracts tourists by a thrilling game area and spectacular 4D cinemas.

Transportation: By cable car or canoe from Nha Trang city center.

The time to visit, swim and rest: Minimum 1 day.

Having fun at Vinpearl Land
Having fun at Vinpearl Land

Hon Mun Island

Hon Mun has clear waters and beautiful coral reef ecosystem, which has been assessed by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as the first marine biodiversity area in Vietnam. To Hon Mun, visitors should not ignore the activities such as floating bar, scuba diving, glass bottom boat…

Hon Tam Island

The island has an area of ​​110 ha, 7 km south-east of Nha Trang city. From Hon Tam, you can see all Nha Trang City in the north and Cam Ranh peninsula in the south. In addition to the beautiful beach, this place is also famous for sea exploration by glass bottom boat as well as snorkeling service to see coral reef.

Ninh Van Bay

It is about 60 km from Nha Trang beach, located on Hon Meo peninsula; Ninh Van Bay is famous for wild and pure beauty. This place is especially suitable for those who want to find relaxation in calm sea space. Alternatively, you can also admire coral reefs, scuba diving, surfing, windsurfing or kayaking.

Transportation: From Nha Trang, you can take the express boat in 20 minutes to set foot to this beautiful bay.

Visiting time: Minimum 12 hours

Ninh Van Bay is pristine and romantic
Ninh Van Bay is pristine and romantic

Nha Trang Oceanography Institute

The Institute of Oceanography was established in 1923, located at No. 1, Cau Da which is about 6 km south of Nha Trang city center. There are over 20,000 specimens of 4,000 kinds of marine and freshwater creatures collected and preserved for many years. Especially, you will come to the Institute of Oceanography to see a giant whale skeleton nearly 26 m long, 3 m high with 48 vertebrae that are fully restored.

Transportation: motorbike or taxi

Visiting time: 2 – 4 hours

Ponagar tower

Ponagar Tower is the perfect ancient architecture of Cham people; it is about 2 km from the center of Nha Trang to the north. The temple includes four stupas and two shrines, the largest tower worship the goddess Ponagar.

After visiting the Ponagar Tower, you can take a mud bath at the nearby Thap Ba hot spring center.

Visiting time: minimum 5 hours

The relic of Ponagar Tower
The relic of Ponagar Tower

Chong (husband) Rock (Hon Chong – Hon Vo)

This attraction is about 3 km northeast of the city center. Chong Rock is a large block of rock with a variety of shapes, stacked and stretches from the high shore to the sea. Another smaller block of rock is located at the foot of the eastern hill called Hon Vo (wife rock). Hon Chong’s space is almost separated from the bustle of the town. This is also one of the most beautiful view spot of Nha Trang city.

Transportation: Motorbike, bus or taxi

Visiting time: 3 – 8 hours

Hon Chong Promontory
Hon Chong Promontory

Van Phong Bay

Van Phong is located in Van Ninh district (Khanh Hoa province), about 40 km north of Nha Trang city center. It attracts visitors with the pristine beauty of the archipelago and the blue of other smaller bays.

Transportation: There are two ways to the bay: taking the boat from Nha Phu Bay and going by car or motorbike from Nha Trang city.

Visiting time: Minimum 12 hours

Beautiful sea view in Van Phong bay
Beautiful sea view in Van Phong bay

Dai Lanh beach

Dai Lanh beach is located in Van Ninh district, Khanh Hoa province, on Highway 1A, about 80 km north of Nha Trang city. After swimming in the water, visitors can rent motorboats to Khai Luong fishing village, Dam Mon, Vung Ro port, or Dai Lanh fishing village to explore the life of fishing men.

Transportation: Taxi or motorbike

Visiting time: Minimum 12 hours

Dam Market in Nha Trang

This is a beautiful architecture, located in the center of Nha Trang city. Dam Market sells many souvenirs and local produce. The seafood here is also very rich, especially dried seafood.

Transportation: Walking, motorbike or taxi

Shopping time: 2 – 3 hours

Nha Trang Bay with many species of coral
Nha Trang Bay with many species of coral

Food and Specialties in Nha Trang

Nha Trang coastal city not only has many tourist attractions and beautiful tourist islands but also has many delicious dishes.

Kebab rice noodles

This is the famous dish of the coastal city of Nha Trang, simple dishes with clear broth, fish balls and tiny rice noodles. Fried chopped fish is delicious and famous because they are made of fresh fish, ensuring toughness. The ingredients are mackerel, anchovies, sailfish… are usually processed into two types: steamed chopped fish and fried chopped fish.

Besides, the soup always has sweet taste due to being cooked from fresh fish bone, usually mackerel, sailfish or other famous small fish in the central waters such as: selaroides leptolepis or leiognathidae…. Kebab rice noodles must be eaten with chili sauce. Sweet and spicy chili sauce will make flavor of fish better, so that the appetite is almost fully expressed.

Jellyfish rice noodle

Jellyfish must be selected small type in the size of a thumb, opaque white color, thick, and look like water coconut fruit. Jellyfish rice noodle is attractive in its broth which is cooked by leiognathidae that is only about 30 cm big, with the tail tucked around like a bow tie, no small bones and sweet. It is delicious and not bored. Broth ingredients also have the sweet taste of fried chopped fish. When enjoying, diners will feel full of fresh broth, crispy and cool jellyfish, and spicy taste in chili to create delicious flavor.

Dam fish rice noodles

The main ingredient of the dish is dam fish, this is the famous specialty of Khanh Hoa and very popular. In addition, the dish also has fried chopped fish and broth. It not cooked from pig bone as other types of rice noodles; this rice noodle is cooked from the bones of special fish Dam fish so it should have a sweet taste very natural. It comes with a fresh sliced ​​vegetable plate – a typical thing of Nha Trang people.

Ninh Hoa fermented pork roll

Main ingredient of the fermented pork roll is fresh pork, from the newly killed pig, wash in water, dry with a clean cloth and cut into thin slices. Then people marinate the pork with spices such as: salt, pepper, sugar. Put marinated pork into the grinder and grind, more fine more delicious. In the processing of fermented pork roll, people do not forget to add thin pig skin. Ninh Hoa fermented pork roll is wrapped with leaves of colostrums or leaves of star fruit tree… Select the young leaves to create fragrance. After the package is finished, put fermented pork roll in the cool place and they can be eat in the next day.

Vietnamese steamed rice rolls

The most famous and popular Vietnamese steamed rice rolls is Dien Khanh one, a district bordering Nha Trang city. Khanh Hoa people often eat Vietnamese steamed rice roll with sweet and sour fish sauce; however, you can enjoy this dish with grilled pork, roasted pork, shrimp, fermented pork roll…

Waterfern cakes

Just like Steamed Rice Rolls, waterfern cakes are made of rice flour. Eating waterfern cakes cannot lack fried shrimp. The yellow color of shrimp increases the beauty and deliciousness for the dish. The waterfern cakes is attractive with the white color of the rice flour, the yellow color of the fried shrimp, a bowl of sweet and sour fish sauce that is the catalyst to make this rustic dish is delicious.

Dap cakes

This dish are a combination of steamed rice rolls, girdle cake, served with grilled pork, you can eat with boiled meat or viscera of pig… Eating Dap cakes can be lack a bowl of sauce with spicy taste – characteristics of coastal people. Add a slice of girdle cake and steamed rice rolls, put on the surface a little grease, shrimp, the last is grilled pork or boiled meat, dip in the sauce and enjoy.

5/5 - (4 votes)
About the author

Hi, I'm Ho Lam! That's me, the boy who wants more experience each day. I'm slowly but surely working my way, travelling and sharing is my taste. The articles of this blog are not only from me, but also from my friends and the travellers mailed to me.

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