Nha Trang is Vietnam 's beach resort town. A major face-lift in 1995-96, and the opening of two upscale hotels later in 1996, vaulted Nha Trang onto the playing field with places like Phuket_ Thailand and Cancun_ Mexico . Today, it's a popular destination for both foreign and domestic tourists.
In addition to sun bathing, popular attractions include boat trips to the nearby islands and tours of Nha Trang's historic sites. If you like typical beach resort towns. Nha Trang is ideal for you.
Nha Trang is on the central coast, about 450 km north of Saigon and 1,200 km south of Hanoi . The main strip in Nha Trang is Tran Phu Street , which runs north-south along the sea for about 4 kilometers. It is a wide boulevard, bisected by a grassy median with street lamps. Numerous restaurants and bars line the beach side of Tran Phu, while hotels and more restaurants line the other. A walking path and wide swath of trees separate the beach from the road.
Not surprisingly, life in Nha Trang centers on the beach. In the early mornings and late afternoons, especially on weekends, you'll find the beach packed with locals. In addition to swimming, football (soccer) is a popular pastime, and you'll find numerous games in progress. During the heat of the day, the locals surrender the beach to mostly foreign sun-worshippers. In the evenings the beach is all but deserted.
When you're tire of the beach, visit the nearby islands. Day trips are offered by just about every hotel and cafe. A typical itinerary includes visiting 2 or 3 islands, snorkeling and lunch, all for about US$8 per person. For serious snorkelers and divers who want to spend more time in the water, two local dive operators offer day trips from January to October
Back on the mainland, there are a few worthwhile attractions in or near town. The towering white Buddha that can be seen from many parts of Nha Trang is part of the Long Son Pagoda and can be reached by climbing a steep (and long!) set of stairs. North of town, across the Nha Trang River , lies the Po Nagar Cham site. The ancient Cham towers sit high at the top of the hill, the views overlooking the river and town are breathtaking. A little beyond Po Nagar lies Hon Chong, a scenic beach that is reputed to have the best seafood in the area. South of town, check out Emperor Bao Dai's former holiday retreat, now a hotel
Every road leads to Nha Trang; well, actually there's only one road, National Highway 1, but you can also fly or take the train from just about anywhere in Vietnam .
Whale Island
Whale Island resort (L'ile de la Baleine) is 100 km far from north of Nha Trang in Van Phong Bay. For many years now its appeal has made this archipelago a coveted site by all travelers seeking tranquil srenity accompanied by breathtaking scenery. Its origins date back to the 19th century when a French marine officer wanted to make a marine harbor and gave his name to the archipelago on French maps.
The diving around Whale Island is the best palace in Vietnam!, not just for divers! If you wish to unwind, relax or just get away for well deserved break; Whale Island is the spot. Activities range from windsurfing, canoeing, sailing to simply relaxing on the pristine beach.
There are few things that you will not find on this paradise island resort: cars, motorbikes and bicycles! To travel to the island one must arrange transport either directly from Cam Ranh airport or from your hotel, a private air conditioned bus will pick you up and take you to the Whale Island landing at the entrance of Van Phong Bay. Then you will transfer via boat to the Island . All this takes roughly 2 hours when departing from Nha Trang.
