10 best things to do in Nha Trang

Nha Trang is also called the “beach capital” of Vietnam. The city is booming, packed with restaurants, bars and hotels and hostels. Granted; you’ve got to love it. But even if you don’t like it; Nha Trang is in an impressive setting. Surrounded by green mountains, a breathable beach, clear blue water and tropical islands off the coast.

1. Diving and snorkeling

Nha Trang is the most popular place for diving in Vietnam, although not necessarily the best. There are about 25 dive sites in the area, most of which are around the different islands. In the city you will find enough diving schools that can take you with their boat to these dive sites. It does not matter if you have never dived or are already experienced.

One of the best places to dive is Whale Island. There is a small resort with a dive center located on the island.

2. Relax on the beaches

The main reason to go to this city and therefore the best thing to do in Nha Trang is to enjoy the beautiful beaches. The town has a beautiful coastline with a wide variety of food and accommodation along the white sandy beaches. The most famous beaches are Jungle Beach, Doc Let Beach, Nhu Tien Beach and Bai Dai Beach.

3. Island hopping

With a total of 19 islands, island hopping is one of the best things to do in Nha Trang. The most famous islands are Mieu Island, Mun Island, Tam Island, Tre Island, Monkey Island and Yen Island.

There are several boat tours to these islands, so check the quality and type of tour. Some tours are mainly aimed at backpackers with a lot of drink, others for people who want to fish and others for swimming and snorkeling. On some islands there are also alternative activities such as helmet diving, jet skiing and the banana boat.

4. Van Phong Bay

While not as famous as the Nha Trang Bay in the area, Van Phong Bay is one of the most beautiful bays in central Vietnam. It has an 18-kilometer long white beach with dunes. The place is also known for Whale Island and Diep Son Island which are located off the coast here.

Because of the secluded location and length you will always find a piece of beach for yourself here. Besides enjoying the beach or snorkeling, there is not much to do.

5. Ba Ho waterfall

Ba Ho’s three waterfalls are a beautiful sight. Here you can swim in the cool river water and enjoy nature during a walk. The many rocks around the falls and deep natural pools have also made this area popular for those who enjoy cliff jumping.

The Ban Ho waterfalls are about 20 kilometers from the city. Make sure you have good shoes for walking on the rocks and some extra clothes if you want to go swimming there.

6. Long Son Pagoda and the white Buddha

Long Sơn Pagoda is a Buddhist temple that is considered one of the main attractions of Nha Trang, along with the White Buddha. The entrance and roofs of this pagoda are decorated with glass mosaic dragons and ceramic tiles. Behind the pagoda is a huge white Buddha from which you have a beautiful view of the surroundings.

7. Cho Dam market

Dam Market (Cho Dam) is the largest market in Nha Trang and worth a visit. In the covered market they sell electronic devices, gold jewelry and clothing. Stalls selling vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, live chickens, ducks and piglets are located around the market. It is a market that is mainly aimed at the local residents of the city, making a visit an authentic local experience.

8. Po Nagar

Po Nagar are four Cham towers built between the 7th and 12th centuries. They are similar to the temples you can find in My Son, near Hoi An. Like many other Cam towers in Vietnam, they are located on a hill. They are located on the river not far from the center and are still actively used by Cham, Chinese and Vietnamese Buddhists.

9. Salt fields

The salt fields Nha Trang is a place where natural salt is manually extracted from shallow fields. It may not sound that spectacular, but it is an impressive sight to behold. For that reason, it is especially popular for photography, where you have a fantastic view of the salt mountains and workers, mainly women, who carry heavy baskets across the fields.

10. Nha Trang Cathedral

The largest church in the city stands on a small hill overlooking the train station. It is an elegant building because it is built with simple cement blocks.