Best of Nha Trang

Nha Trang is Vietnam’s most popular and famous  resort town.  It is said to have one of the top 30 most beautiful bays in the world.  It is a lovely coastal city surrounded by a beach, warm waters, islands on one side and mountains on the other.   It is located on the southern eastern coast of the country and is ideal for a beach holiday or for a diving adventure.  It has a very lively character with many places to eat, drink and got out, and numerous places to visit, with a bit more action then other favourite Vietnam’s beach destinations such as the town of Mui Ne or the island of Phu Quoc.

Nha Trang topics

1. Introduction to Nha Trang
2. About Nha Trang
3. Top places in Nha Trang
4. Conclusion
5. Photographs of Nha Trang

About Nha Trang

Nha Trang is a coastal city of about 300,000 inhabitants and expects to grow to more than half a million by 2020.  It is the capital of the Khanh Hoa province and is bounded by the South China Sea on the East.   It is 1,275 km from Hanoi, 442km from Ho Chi Minh City and lies on the on the trans-Vietnam north-south highway.

Historically, under the Champa influence the city was named Kauthara. The famous Po Nagar Tower built in that period still remains. What started as a small fishing town was transform to a  resort destination first by the French and later by Americans when it became a favourite spot for the  soldiers

The city is the location of to the Nha Trang Oceanography Institute and the home of the Hon Mun marine protected area, one out of only four in the world.

Top places in Nha Trang

The best places in Nha Trang include:

1. Nha Trang beach
2. Po Nagar Cham Towers
3. The Fishing village
4. The Long Son Pagoda
5. Yersin museum
6. National Oceanographic Museum
7. Bao Dai Villa
8. Nha Trang Cathedral

Nha Trang beach

The municipal beach is by far the main attraction of Nha Trang.  It spreads along the whole city for 7 kilometres , from North to South, with the Tran Phu Street at its side where  most of the best hotels  are located.   The beach offers amazing views of the bay and the surrounded islands.

Po Nagar Cham Towers

Po Nagar Cham Towers on the north side of town are religious monument built by the Cham civilization between the 7th and 12th century to honour Yang Ino Po Ngar the mother of the kingdom. Located on a hill, the towers offers breathtaking views of the city and the waters.

The Fishing village

The Fishing village also called the Cai River estuary is  located next to the Po Nagar Cham Towers, between the old and the new bridge.  It is filled with colourful boats with the city and sea in the background.

The Long Son Pagoda

The Long Son Pagoda on the east side of town is a Buddhist monastery famous for its 14 meters long lying Buddha and the very tall white Buddha which can be seen from numerous places in the city. The pagoda was established in 1963 to honour the monks and nuns who died demonstrating against the Diem government.

Yersin museum

In the heart of the city is located the Yersin museum, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexander Yersin who discovered the Yersinia pestis bacterium.  Soon after studying in Paris he moved to Nha Trang and established the Indochina Pasteur Institute which was devoted to research on the bubonic plague.

National Oceanographic Museum

The National Oceanographic Museum of Vietnam is located next to the commercial port entrance in Cau Da, a few kilometres  south of the city centre.  It displays different aquariums with many marine species including sharks, turtles, lionfish, sea horses, and many other colourful fishes.  The museum also displays a large number of marine specimens in glass bottles.

Bao Dai Villa

The Bao Dai Villa located on top of a hill south of the city and near the oceanographic institute offers amazing views of the Nha Trang bay.  The villa constitute a set of 5 houses, developed by Bao Dai, the last emperor of the Nuguyen dynasty in a Franco-Vietnamese style.  Today, it is a perfect place to relax and enjoy the cool sea breeze.

Nha Trang Cathedral

The Nha Trang Cathedral in the heart of the city is located on a hill and offers amazing views of the city and its surrounding mountains. It was built during the French ruling and remind us of the city strong Catholic population.

Conclusion

Known by some as the Vietnamese Mediterranean, Nha Trang must be on your top destinations when visiting Vietnam.  This city, with its moon shape crescent beach, surrounded with lush mountains is a perfect vacation spot and a very attractive tourist destination.  It is popular both with local and international tourists and many grandiose coastal hotels are still in the built process.

Photographs of NHA TRANG