SE Asia Cruise: Nha Trang Vietnam
We left Brunei and cruised across the South China Sea to the coastline of Vietnam. We enjoyed a relaxing day at sea after being on the go for the past 5 days.
Nha Trang is located on the South Central Coast of Vietnam, surrounded by mountains. The town is about 450km north of Saigon and 1200km south of Hanoi and features a 4 km long strip of beaches.
Considered Vietnam’s most famous seaside resort town, Nha Trang attracts foreign tourists for its stunningly pristine beaches and as a spot for scuba diving and snorkelling.
It includes the Vinpearl Land complex which is built on an island, off the coast of Nha Trang. It consists of the five-star international resort system Vinpearl Resort Nha Trang and Vinpearl Amusement Park. On arrival into Nha Trang you pass under the Vinpearl Cable Car which takes you from the mainland to the island.
On arrival at the Nha Trang port we grabbed a cab to take us into town. We walked around the beachfront and the beautifully manicured and landscaped parks that fringed the beach and the medium strips down the main road.
At the northern end of the beach we found the Cai River where we observed the many colourful fishing boats and local fishermen with their catches.
We found our way to the main markets in town, called Cho Dam Market. We wound our way through the warren of market stalls where there was absolutely everything for sale; from local fresh food to footwear and clothing.
Jumping aboard a tuk tuk we travelled across the bridge over the river to the majestic Ponagar Cham Towers which were built in 817 A.D. We walked around the temple complex admiring the intricate carvings and statues made of stone.
There are 4 towers in total with the largest, which is 23m high, containing a linga (symbol of Shiva) and a statue dedicated to Ponagar.
We were treated to a traditional dance show. We also took in the fantastic views of the Cai River and the village on the riverside.
Returning to our waiting Tuk Tuk we slowly progressed through the narrow streets of Nha Trang which were congested and full of motorbikes, local pedestrians, Tuk Tuks and taxis trying to negotiate their way around town. Similar to many other Asian cities and towns, traffic is chaotic wherever you go!
Eventually we reached the Long Son Pagoda and the huge white Buddha, 79 feet tall, that sits atop a hill with a bird’s eye view of Nha Trang. The climb to the Buddha involved many stairs but was very worthwhile.
Long Son Pagoda is Nha Trang’s oldest Buddhist pagoda, dating back to the 19th century. The entrance and roof are decorated with mosaic dragons and the inner sanctuary is adorned with murals and images of the Buddha.
Surrounded on all three sides by mountain ranges, Nha Trang also offers the picturesque vistas of primary forest, waterfalls and high mountain peaks floating in soft could, located 60km far from the city centre. Time did not permit a day trip to this area, but it would certainly be on my must see list for next time.
Nha Trang was everything I dreamed of plus more. Beautiful beaches, a pulsing urban vibe, ancient temples and pagodas, world class resorts, pretty river and mountain hinterland. What more could I ask for?
I haven’t been to Vietnam though friends have and fell in love with the history and the culture. Great read thanks Kathy x
I have loved Vietnam both times I have visited. There are some gorgeous beach resort areas and the countryside is beautiful. It is very cheap and the food delicious. :)
My boys went there last year and loved it. Because of you I can now see the sorts of places they visited. Naturally, I saw no photographic evidence from them!
Ha ha it’s funny that some people travel and never take one photo! A couple of my girlfriends that I travelled with never took one photo and I wonder how they are ever going to be able to remember the holiday in years to come. Nha Trang was certainly worthy of a few snapshots – it’s a gorgeous place! :)
We loved Nha Trang. We did the same things that you did. We had a few days there so we did a day snorkelling trip and went to My Son in the Countryside. We loved the food too. Actually the beach and rocky headlands reminded us of Townsville and Magnetic Island.
I would have loved to see the mountains and countryside. That is the downside of cruising. You don’t get to see everything there is to see during a day stop. Places like this are worthy of a couple days stay at least. Vietnamese food is delicious. :)