Nha Trang is well known for being one of the most beautiful seaside resorts in Vietnam. This high-rise and high-energy beach resort is home to remnants of the Champa Kingdom, Buddhist temples, and gothic-style Catholic churches, along with a selection of stunning beaches and off-shore islands.
With so much to explore, here are the 25 top things to do in Nha Trang, Vietnam…
MUST-DO
Chill Out On Nha Trang’s Beautiful Beaches
With plenty of time on the agenda for some R’n’R in Nha Trang, why not spend it chilling on the white sands that define the shoreline? The main beach, Tran Phu, is easy to walk to from almost anywhere in Nha Trang and has a lively seaside promenade with restaurants, bars, and activities. Or, just a short journey away, is Nhu Tien Beach; a luxury, quiet, and privately-owned beach for the ultimate chill day!
Included on Day 4 of the South Vietnam Tour
Visit Vinpearl Land
Image credit: DreamArchitect / Shutterstock.com
Enjoy a full day of adventure at a world-class recreational paradise located on one of the most beautiful gulfs in the world, Vinpearl Land. This extraordinary amusement park and beachside water park combined offers adrenaline-boosting rides, exotic animals and sea creatures, and stunning greenery and botanicals all in one stunning place.
Be sure to bring your swimming gear for the Water Park Beach where a total-wipeout-style inflatable obstacle course awaits!
Included on Day 5 of the South Vietnam Tour
Walk to Long Son Pagoda
Image credit: Sing Studio / Shutterstock.com
Whilst in Nha Trang, be sure to climb to the Long Son Pagoda. This 19th-century temple boasts beautiful glittering mosaic dragons that adorn the roof and entrance. The hike may be a little challenging, but it is more than worth it to take in the views. Be sure to also check out the 24 metres tall White Buddha whilst you’re there for amazing views of the city.
NATURE
Explore Ba Ho Waterfall
Nha Trang is known for its stunning waterfalls and Ban Ho is one of our favourites to visit. It features 3 tiers with swimming pools at the bottom of each. It can be quite a challenge to walk to each tier of waterfalls, but it’s definitely worth the effort. One of the pools even has a 37-foot jump, perfect for cooling off in the Vietnamese heat.
Chill Out In Thac Yang Bay
Around an hour’s drive from Nha Trang is a smaller and slightly less-visit waterfall, Thac Yang Bay. This one can be quite expensive to reach unless you’ve got a motorbike, but it’s worth venturing out for a relaxing day swim in clean & clear water. There are even hot spring water pools to chill in.
Check Out The National Oceanographic Museum
Image credit: Bumble Dee / Shutterstock.com
There aren’t many museums in Nha Trang, but we definitely recommend checking out The National Oceanographic Museum. You’ll see over 20,000 live and preserved marine specimens, including colourful fish, sea horses, sharks, and turtles. Learn about local fishing life and spot the rare indigenous underwater creatures that are worth the visit alone. It’s a great choice if you are travelling with younger visitors!
HISTORICAL
Explore Po Nagar Cham Towers
Po Nagar Cham Towers were built from the 7th to the 12th centuries by the Cham people who once ruled this area. Cham people still worship their Gods here during the annual religious festival of Thap Ba between April and May. They were built in honour of the Goddess Po Nagar, also known as ‘The Mother of the country’. It’s 5km from the city.
There are four separate buildings that are used as a place of worship by Cham, Chinese, Vietnam and Buddhist worshippers. Located on the banks of the scenic Cai River, this is not one to miss whilst in Nha Trang.
Tour the Alexandre Yersin Museum
Image credit: Vitaly Raduntsev / Shutterstock.com
Visit the museum dedicated to Alexandre Yersin, a popular French-Swiss bacteriologist and scientist who lived from 1863 to 1943. He introduced rubber and quinine-producing trees to Vietnam as well as discovered the microbe that causes bubonic plague. The museum contains a large collection of his research equipment, letters, and a short film about his life.
Tour Thanh Citadel
Thanh Citadel was built in the 17th century by the Trinh dynasty. It was then rebuilt again by Prince Nguyen Anh in 1793 as part of a battle with the Tay Son Rebels. Although only a few sections of the original walls and gates remain, it’s a good spot if you want to see the more traditional side of Nha Trang. It’s a 25-minute drive from Nha Trang city.
CULTURAL
Visit A Fishing Village
Image credit: Ovchinnikova Irina / Shutterstock.com
Around 10 kilometres to the south of Nha Trang, you will find a number of traditional fishing villages. We recommend joining a small boat tour which will take you straight from Nha Trang, making a stop at one of the villages. You’ll learn more about their lives and how they form the backbone of the fishing community in Vietnam.
ART
Browse in Long Thanh Gallery
Art and photography lovers will fall in love with Long Thanh Gallery. Here, you will find mostly black and white prints by one of the most prominent photographers in Vietnam, Long Thanh. Most of his work is focused on local communities and simple portraits of everyday life in Vietnam over the past 50 years. If you want to get an alternative look at the local culture in Nha Trang then this is not to be missed.
Learn at XQ Historical Village
Image credit: photowind / Shutterstock.com
Founded in 1999 by artists to showcase needlework & paintings to tourists, the XQ Historical Village showcases the age-old needlework traditions to tell tales of Vietnam through brightly coloured handmade items. Watch craftswomen working in pairs to create these before your eyes. A typical landscape they create takes around 2-3 months & portrait picture takes 5+ months. Plus, the village employs more than 3,500 people from across the country.
RELIGIOUS
See Nha Trang Cathedral
Image credit: Quang nguyen vinh / Shutterstock.com
Visit the largest church in the city, Nha Trang Cathedral, with mass ceremonies taking place every day. Built-in 1928, this Gothic-style cathedral is made entirely from stone and features beautiful stained glass windows. Its three bells were cast in France in 1789 and still ring perfectly to this today.
SHOPPING
Shop at Dam Market
Image credit: PHU LE TY / Shutterstock.com
Nha Trang is well-known among tourists and locals as some of the best shopping spots. If you want to shop like a local though, ditch the high-end shops and head for Dam Market. This is the largest market in Nha Trang and features 3 stories of stalls selling everything from Vietnamese clothing and street food to local specialities and produce. For the most authentic experience, set that alarm and head to the market from 4 am to experience the market bustling in its truest form.
ACTIVITIES
Chill Out at Thap Ba Hot Springs and Mud Baths
Image credit: Windofchange64 / Shutterstock.com
If your craving a little bit of relaxation during your travels, then head north of Nha Trang to Thap Ba Hot Springs and Mud Baths. This ultimate chill spot has both private and shared mud baths, herbal baths, jacuzzis, waterfalls, hot and cold swimming pools, and a steamy sauna.
The mud baths are known to have healing properties thanks to their high mineral content. Relax in the mud bath, slathering your skin with the mud and let it work its magic.
Learn to Surf at Ana Marina Flow House
If you fancy taking up a new skill in Nha Trang, then spend the afternoon at Ana Marina Flow House where you can enjoy many boardsport activities (without the need for actual waves). Learn how to surf, wakeboard, skimboard and more with a trained instructor and safety gear. Perfect for beginners or pros who want to show off! You can book 30 or 60-minute sessions.
Included in Additional Day 3 of the South Vietnam Tour
Go Scuba Diving or Snorkeling
Lovers of adventure and nature will not regret a day spent snorkelling and soaking up the exotic beauty of the colourful coral reefs of Nha Trang.
Most of the snorkelling tours go to Hon Mun Island, a marine protected area and the first marine conservation project in Vietnam. Or if you want to get PADI certified, then there are around 10 dive shops in Nha Trang where you can take classes. The best time to snorkel is between April and October.
Included in Additional Day 4 of the South Vietnam Tour
Enjoy a Blind massage
Why not enjoy a massage whilst giving back to the community? Around Nha Trang, several spots offer massages from blind masseurs who are trained in the art of Vietnamese massage. A massage typically costs the same price as a coffee and the money helps the employment of local blind people.
You can opt for a variety of different kinds of massage and most treatments last for around an hour.
FOOD & DRINK
BBQ at Lac Canh
Enjoy dinner at a barbecue joint filled with smoke and laughter (and meats that you can grill over charcoal at your table) at Lac Canh. You’ll enjoy a memorable dining experience in a popular spot where locals gather to feast on meat. Richly marinated beef with spices is the speciality, but there are chicken cuts and seafood too which you grill over charcoal at your table. Note: it closes quite early.
Go Vegan at Yên Vegetarian
If meat isn’t really your thing, then Yên Vegetarian is a great spot for cheap-but-cheerful veggie and vegan options.
This intimate place is perfect for budget veggie food that will be sure to impress meat-eaters too. Expect amazing seaweed fried rice, bitter melon salad and green mango salads. The bamboo seating and pot plants add to their romantic charm. Located down a little alley off Ð Le Thanh Ton, there’s even a yoga school here.
Drink with a View at Skylight Bar
Image credit: Diego Fiore / Shutterstock.com
End the night enjoying a killer cocktail menu on the seafront in the Skylight Bar, with amazing views overlooking the South China Sea. There’s even a sky bar lounge on the 43rd floor if you fancy a late one!
