Everything you should know before traveling to Nha Trang

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Nha Trang, a beach city on the South-Central Coast of Vietnam, is one of the most famous destinations for those who are seeking a place for a vacation holiday in Vietnam. Nha Trang has long crystal beaches and pristine islands and islets. It is also an ideal destination if you want to learn about culture and history. Let's see everything you may want to know before traveling to Nha Trang with Handspan Travel Indochina!

Nha Trang Beach

Nha Trang Beach

Referring to our Nha Trang travel guide, you can get to know these things below:

The best time to visit Nha Trang

Nha Trang shows the influence of a tropical climate, and the weather is mild all year round with little rain and warm sunshine. The average temperature is about 26 Celsius degree. The climate in Nha Trang is divided into two distinct seasons, the dry season and the rainy season. The rainy season is short, from September to December. Between October and November, Nha Trang shows the effect of heavy rain and storm.

The rest months of the year is the dry season. This time is the most suitable time to visit Nha Trang with a cold climate at the average temperature from 22 Celsius degree to 26 Celsius degree. In the dry season, there are more activities available such as swimming, diving under the sea, surfing, floating on the beach, etc. Visiting and transferring to different tourist attractions as well as islands are also more convenient.

Scuba diving in Nha Trang

Scuba diving in Nha Trang

How to get to Nha Trang

There are three main types of transport to travel to Nha Trang, which are by coach, by train, and by airplane. You can choose any way you want, depending on your travel time and financial ability.

Nha Trang is not too far away from Ho Chi Minh City; therefore, tourists often use the overnight coach to get to Nha Trang. Departing from the East Station in Ho Chi Minh City, you will reach Nha Trang after 8 to 10 hours of staying in the coach. Hoang Long, Phuong Trang, Phuong Nam, and Ha Linh are some bus companies taking you to Nha Trang.

Phuong Trang Bus

Phuong Trang Bus

It will take you much more time to travel from Hanoi by coach than traveling from Ho Chi Minh City. You will have to stay in the coach for nearly two days to get to Nha Trang. You can choose the Hoang Long bus company to use.

Traveling by train is also a way to reach Nha Trang. This is also an exciting experience during your trip to Nha Trang. There are many turns to Nha Trang with different prices for each type of seat.

From Hanoi, there are five train turns departing from Hanoi Railway Station. They are SE7 leaving at 6.00 a.m., SE5 leaving at 5.50 a.m., SE9 leaving at 2.25 p.m., SE3 leaving at 7.25 p.m., and SE1 leaving at 10.15 p.m. The railway road from Hanoi to Nha Trang is 1315 kilometers, taking more than one day to get to the destination.

If you travel from Ho Chi Minh City, you can take many railways turns to get to Nha Trang. SE8, SE6, SE22, SE4, etc., are some train numbers you can use. You can find more turns to Nha Trang from Ho Chi Minh City here. The train will stop at Bien Hoa and Thap Tram Railway station to pick up tourists. This 411-kilometer railway road takes you about 9 hours to reach Nha Trang.

Cam Ranh International Airport

Cam Ranh International Airport

Traveling by airplane is the shortest way to get to Nha Trang. From Ho Chi Minh City, it takes you 1 hour to get to Nha Trang, and from Hanoi, you will stay in the airplane for nearly 2 hours.

Cam Ranh International Airport is 35 kilometers from the center of Nha Trang. You can choose to use a taxi or the airport bus to reach the city center from the airport. The advantage of the airport bus is that it will run 30 minutes after the airline lands or is full of passengers.

Attractions to visit in Nha Trang

Nha Trang attracts tourists with a lot of beautiful beaches, islands, islets, and tourist sites. Let's explore some attractions you should not miss when you travel to Nha Trang.

There are a lot of islands and bays in Nha Trang. You can refer to some of the featured bays and islands below.

Tam Island

It is 7 kilometers from the city center of Nha Trang to the Southeast. From Tam Island, you can see a panoramic view of the city of Nha Trang in the North and Cam Ranh Bay in the South. Tam Island has a poetic beauty with rows of coconut trees stretching along the elegant beach. Coming to the island, you can immerse yourself in the fresh seawater, or lie on the sandy bank to enjoy the sound of the sea. Besides, you will have a chance to join exciting activities on the beach such as water motor, surfing, parachuting, etc.

Tam Island

Tam Island

Tam Island

Tam Island

Water motor in the Tam Island

Water motor in the Tam Island

Mun Island

Mun Island is one of the most beautiful islands in Nha Trang. The island attracts tourists not only by its natural sceneries but also by its diverse ecosystem as well. The white smooth sand stretching, the blue sea, and the wild bird's nest on the cliff have made a deep impression on any tourist coming to the island. Visiting the island, you can experience the floating bar on the beach, snorkel and watching coral reefs, or exploring the island by glass-bottom ships. The coral reefs in Mun Island are diverse in shape and color. Diving into the sea and watching different types of coral reefs is an experience you should not miss on Mun Island.

Mun Island in Nha Trang

Mun Island in Nha Trang

Snorkeling in the Mun Island

Snorkeling in the Mun Island

Tre Island

Tre Island is the largest island in Nha Trang. It is a crowded island with many residents living and working. The island has many small pristine beaches and diverse ecosystems. To get here, you can use the canoe or the cable car. The cable car to Tre Island is the largest cable car over the sea with nine pillars on the sea and land with the shape like Eiffel Tower. Traveling by cable car, you will have a chance to admire the panoramic view of Nha Trang from above.

Cable car to Vinpearl Land

Cable car to Vinpearl Land

Visiting Tre Island, you can drop in and discover these attractions.

  • Vinpearl Land

Vinpearl Land is a famous entertainment park in Nha Trang. You can spend the whole day joining various adventurous games, immersing yourself in the water park with exciting activities, watching water music, and discovering different types of marine creatures in the aquarium.

Vinpearl Land Nha Trang

Vinpearl Land Nha Trang

Roller coaster in Vinpearl Land Nha Trang

Roller coaster in Vinpearl Land Nha Trang

  • Tru Beach

Tru Beach is located in the North of Tre Island, leaning on the hills stretching. This is a safe beach with a peaceful waves and clear water. Coming to the beach, besides swimming, you will have a chance to visit the fishing village at the foot of the mountain.

Mieu Island

Mieu Island is near the shore. It is the island with the highest population density in Nha Trang. Mieu Island is also known as Tri Nguyen Island. On the island, there are two famous attractions, which are San Beach and Tri Nguyen Aquarium. San Beach is quite beautiful with crystal and clear seawater. Tri Nguyen Aquarium is built in 1971, with the shape of a fossil ship. The scale of the aquarium is vast, both inside and outside areas. In the aquarium, you can see 100 species of marine creatures.

Tri Nguyen Aquarium

Tri Nguyen Aquarium

San Beach at Mieu Island

San Beach at Mieu Island

Mot Island

Mot Island is the smallest island in Nha Trang Bay, 9 kilometers from the shore. This island is the resident living of about 200 households. The main jobs of people here are offshore fishing and building floating houses for aqua culturing. Besides, local people take advantage of the land for agriculture. Setting foot on, you will be immersed in the magnificent and tranquil sceneries of the island. Visiting the island, you will have the chance to join diving and watching coral reefs, and many exciting activities on the beach.

Mot Island in Nha Trang

Mot Island in Nha Trang

Ninh Van Bay

Ninh Van Bay is 60 kilometers from the city center of Nha Trang. It is one of the most beautiful destinations for a holiday vacation in Vietnam. Spending 20 minutes in the high-speed boat, you will get to the bay. Reaching the bay, you will be amazed by the peaceful and beautiful sceneries in this attraction. The blue color of the sea, the white color of the sand, and the green color of the forest have created charming images of Ninh Van Bay.

Ninh Van Bay Nha Trang

Ninh Van Bay Nha Trang

Coming to the bay, you can experience many exciting activities on the beach. Snorkeling and watching coral reefs and marine creatures is an enjoyable experience under the sea. Besides swimming and lying on the beach, you should join surfing, sea air balloon, fishing on the boat, etc.

Van Phong Bay

Van Phong Bay is 40 kilometers to the North of Nha Trang Center. The bay makes a deep impression on tourists through its natural wild beauties of different small and large islets. Doc Let and Diep Son Island are two attractions you should visit in the bay.

Doc Let Beach

Doc Let Beach

The beach in Doc Let is beautiful with crystal clear water to the bottom and an elegant sandy bank. Coming to Doc Let, you should not miss playing volleyball, football, badminton, parachuting, or water motor on the beach. You can also take photos of the sunrise on the beach.

Water motor in the Doc Let Beach

Water motor in the Doc Let Beach

Diep Son island is famous for two roads crossing the sea. One path is about 700 meters long, connecting Bip and Giua islets. Another way stretches between Giua and Duoc islet, with a length of 200 meters. Bip, Giua, and Duoc are three islets creating Diep Son Island.

Diep Son Island

Diep Son Island

For more detailed information, please refer to our post: The top 08 beautiful islands in Nha Trang

 Besides the islands, you can spend your time visiting Nha Trang Aquarium Institute, Po Nagar Tower, and Nha Trang Stone Church.

 Nha Trang Aquarium Institute

Nha Trang Aquarium Institute is 6 kilometers to the Southeast of the city center of Nha Trang. The institute is the place to research marine life in Nha Trang. The institute collects, stores, and grows more than 20,000 samples of 4000 marine creatures. Visiting the institute, you will have a chance to admire the giant whalebone at 26 meters long, and 3 meters high. Besides, you can see the sharks, turtles, eel, lobsters, seals, etc. rearing in glass tanks.

Nha Trang Aquarium Institute

Nha Trang Aquarium Institute

Po Nagar Tower

Po Nagar Tower is an ancient architectural work of the Cham people, 2 kilometers from the center of Nha Trang city to the North. The relic complex consists of four towers and two temples, located on a hill 50 meters above sea level. After visiting Po Nagar Tower, you can combine mud bathing at Thap Ba hot spring resort nearby.

Po Nagar Tower

Po Nagar Tower 

Nha Trang Stone Cathedral

Nha Trang Cathedral is a famous attraction in Nha Trang. Visiting the church, you will have many photos captured. The ceiling of the church is curved and simply decorated. The arrangement and installation of multi-colored glasses with different images in the west and east will amaze you.

Long Son Pagoda

Located on Trai Thuy Hill, Long Son Pagoda is also known as White Buddha Pagoda, one of Nha Trang's must-see attractions. Built in the mid-19th century, Long Son Pagoda features architectural and sculptural art imbued with modernity. Over hundreds of years of history, Long Son Pagoda has become the largest of the remaining temples in Khanh Hoa province to date, creating a famous beauty spot in the beautiful city of Nha Trang.

Twice a month, on the first day or the full moon day, many locals come to Long Son pagoda to worship, as a tradition of Vietnamese seeking peace and tranquility in their souls.

The pagoda's highlight is Trai Thuy hill, located at the back of the pagoda with the giant Reclining Buddha statue made of marble on the background of an elaborately carved relief of a scene of 49 disciples of Buddha gathered on the day of Buddha's death. On the hilltop sits the majestic white Buddha, the symbol of Nha Trang. You will enjoy the panoramic view of Nha Trang City and its beautiful bay.

In addition to the giant white Buddha image, Long Son Pagoda features unique architecture with intricate and delicate carvings on the roof of the temple. The harmony between the unique architecture and the surrounding natural landscape of lush green gardens and high mountains in the distance has made visitors feel incredibly fresh and cool.

Local food you must try in Nha Trang

Coming to Nha Trang, not only can you admire the beautiful sceneries, but you can also enjoy delicious specialties here. Ninh Hoa Grilled Fermented Pork Roll, Jellyfish Vermicelli, mango rice paper cake, Can Cake, and bird's nest are some food you should not miss in Nha Trang.

Ninh Hoa Grilled Fermented Pork Roll

Ninh Hoa Grilled Fermented Pork Roll

Ninh Hoa Grilled Fermented Pork Roll

There are two types of grilled fermented pork rolls. They are fermented pork, "nem chua" in Vietnamese, and grilled pork, "nem nướng" in Vietnamese. Each type has its taste. You can try the grilled fermented pork in the two restaurants below.

  • Nem nuong Vu Thanh An - 15 Le Loi Street
  • Nem Dang Van Quyen – 16A Lan Ong street

Nha Trang's Jellyfish Vermicelli

You can try this food in two of the restaurants below.

  • Nam Beo restaurant in B2 building, Phan Boi Chau apartment
  • Nguyen Loan restaurant at 123 Ngo Gia Tu Street

Mango rice paper cake

Mango rice paper cake is a typical snack in Nha Trang, made from mango and sugar. You can find mango rice paper cake in the Dam market. Dam market is a crowded market in the center of Nha Trang, where you can find various types of goods sold.

Banh Can

Can cake is made from rice flour, onion, egg, shrimp, and squid. It is more delicious when you use it with fish sauce and fresh vegetables. Most of the restaurant opens in the afternoon and serves food until midnight. You can find the restaurant at 151 Hoang Van Thu Street, 48 Hoang Hoa Tham Street, and 2/4 Street.

Can cake

Can cake

Besides, there are many other specialties in Nha Trang, you can read here for more information. 

Accommodations in Nha Trang

There are a lot of choices for accommodation in Nha Trang. You can find many hotels and resorts in the city center, right to the beaches, or around the islands. Let's refer to the list of accommodations below for a great holiday vacation in Nha Trang.

Starlet Hotel

Starlet Hotel is located on Tue Tinh Street, right in the center of Nha Trang. From the hotel, walking for some minutes, you can reach Nha Trang beach. You can also quickly get to the night market, restaurants, bars, and many famous attractions in Nha Trang mentioning above.

Liberty Central Hotel

Liberty Central Nha Trang is located at 09 Biet Thu, in the city center of Nha Trang. Staying in the hotel, you will find it convenient to transfer to tourist sites. You will have a chance to immerse yourself in the private beach area, exercise in the fitness center, do a spa or relax in the executive lounge.

Ibis Styles Hotel

Ibis Styles Nha Trang is located on Hung Vuong Street, Nha Trang Center, a 2-minute walk from Nha Trang night market, and Nha Trang Beach. The hotel is suitable for a holiday trip to Nha Trang. You can take time for your children in the children's playground or in the hotel's swimming pool.

The Anam Resort

The Anam Resort is located on Dai Beach, the North of Cam Ranh Bay. This beautiful oasis attracts tourists with the perfect combination of the feudal and modern times of the 21st Century. The resort possesses a private beach; therefore, you do not have to be worried about the crowds.

Evason Ana Mandara Resort Nha Trang

Nha Trang's Evason Ana Mandara resort displays an ancient Vietnamese village, with its heated hospitality, vibrant culture, and unique tastes. The privileged location of Evason Ana Mandara provides city-center access to this only beachfront resort in Nha Trang. It is surrounded by lush tropical gardens, offering simplicity, tranquility, and elegance. Bali's style influences the resort with all rooms set in spacious and sumptuous villas, all including an al-fresco bathtub and private balcony. There are two swimming pools, an award-winning Six Senses Spa, and plenty of activities, including scuba diving.

Six Senses Ninh Van Bay

Six Senses Ninh Van Bay

Six Senses Ninh Van Bay

Six Senses sits on a private island on Ninh Van Bay, with villas constructed on impressive rock formations. The resort offers a white sand beach with towering mountains, all adding to the sense of being luxuriously at one with pure nature. All the villas present the reality of the destination, with an architectural style reflecting the traditions of Vietnam.

Expect a stay unlike any other. The villas are designer rustic, with their own private plunge pool, a private wine cellar, and a pillow menu. The bathrooms are impeccable, including a wooden tub and an alfresco rain shower. For honeymooners, there are several unique dining options, including beachside barbecues and Dining on the Rocks. Simply wonderful. It will be tough to say goodbye.

In conclusion, Nha Trang is undoubtedly an ideal destination to enjoy the beach's atmosphere, seafood and learn about the marine ecosystem. Let's prepare your luggage and travel to Nha Trang. For any other assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our Handspan team.

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