Nha Trang (Vietnam) > Reviews > A couple of days in Nha Trang

Author's product rating:   

Value for Money
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
Family Friendly

Advantages:	Beatiful coastline and great beaches
Disadvantages:	Some petty thieving on beaches

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

It was about two years ago now when I went to Vietnam with a friend as part of my year out. We spent three weeks there traveling from Ho Chi Minh up the coast to Hanoi. We spent two nights in Nha Trang on the way up.

After an 8 hour bus ride from Ho Chi Minh City we arrived in Nha Trang and found a hotel that cost ony $5 a night between us, so it was the cheapest hotel we found all trip.

At first we were quite wary of people because we had read that Nha Trang was quite a dodgy place for street crime, but we had no problems at all.

To get around in Nha Trang you have two choices, the back of a motorbike, or on a cyclo. Cyclos are cheaper but motobikes get you around quicker, and can go further afield. The prices you could expect to pay when I was there was about 10000 dong which was about 50p for a short trip. You could probably do it for less but you have to remember that 50p is nothing to us, but a lot to the vietnamese, so don't barter too much. The cyclo drivers are really friendly, and one guy even let us pay him the next day, when we had no change for him.

The highlight of my stay in Nha Trang was a boat trip we took. It took us out to the surrounding islands. We swum in the sea which was really warm, and we had a seafood buffet for lunch which was really great. I think for the whole day, it cost about $10US, which is great value, and there are several companies which offer these trips.

Other sites include a huge statue of Buddha which overlooks the town. There are a lot of stairs to climb to the top though! There is also quite a lively nightlife in Nha Trang. Along the beach there are a few bars where all the backpackers seem to congregate.

One problem to mention is that if you go to the beach, you have to be really careful with your valuables, because there are a few thieves about. Also the street hawkers on the beach can be quite persistant, so you have to be firm with them.

All in all though, we had a great time, and I would say Nha Trang is worth a visit. The Lonely Planet guide book for Vietnam is a very good source of information if you want to find out more.