Nha Trang is located on the south central Vietnam coast and is one of the country's largest and best known beach resorts-for foreign and domestic tourists alike. However, whilst the beaches are still beautiful strips of white sand unfortunately the town has given into large scale development and can feel like any other international beach resort with high rises running along the coastal front.
Reaching Nha Trang is simple with a domestic airport serving locations across Vietnam. Taxis are around 250,000 dong into the town centre and a bus also runs. The city is also a main stop on Vietnam's railway line running from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh. Buses connect the town to just about anywhere in the country and the bus station is a 15 minute walk from the centre at 58, 23 Thang 10. Many tourist buses drop and pickup from the town centre and/or hotels.
Due to the high concentration of tourists, Nha Trang has become quite dangerous. Theft and pickpocketing are very common so always be careful of your belongings particularly on the beaches. There are also numerous scams (a common one being pretty girls enticing men into bars where they are robbed or forced to pay ridiculous prices for a beer) and moto drivers taking tourists home after a night out have been known to drive into a set up where the tourist is robbed. Violent crime seems relatively rare but it is better to be in a group particularly at night.
As with most of Vietnam the quality of the cuisine is high. There is everything from street snacks to international restaurants and, of course, an abundance of fresh, excellent seafood. Meals are normally around US$5. The centre of the town has many tourist-orientated bars and the town has a good party atmosphere especially aimed at the backpacking crowd. Beer, wine, spirits and cocktails are available.
As far as sights and activities go, most people spend most of their time chilling out on the crystal clean beaches that run the length of the coast. Bars and restuarants offer shaded recliners for a small charge or on condition of ordering something. There is little shade otherwise on the beach. The sea is clean and inviting but be aware there is a fair current.
There are also numerous islands (some of which can be visited by boat tour) with the most famous as Bamboo or Hon Tre Island. It is a casualty of super-over-development and it's biggest claim to fame as having the world's longest chair lift does not justify a trip to overcrowded hell. One to avoid unless you are a tackiness lover.
Scuba is popular here although not as much so as in Thailand. Dives are around US$40-50 and PADI courses are offered. Rainbow is usually highly recommended but ask around on the ground as things can change fast. Remember cheap can mean cutting corners.
Ultimately I feel that there are equally good beaches elsewhere that offer diving, boat tours and everything else that is available in Nha Trang but in far more picturesque surroundings and without the excess of tourists.
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Advantages: Easy to get to from Saigon, plenty to do, cheap scuba diving, cheaper than HCMC Disadvantages: Long bus ride from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City
talia790 28.06.2009 ·
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Review of Nha Trang (Vietnam)
Advantages: Easy to get to from Saigon, plenty to do, cheap scuba diving, cheaper than HCMC Disadvantages: Long bus ride from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City
talia790 28.06.2009 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Nha Trang (Vietnam)
Jun 28th, 2009
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