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Nha Trang is a beautiful and quite busy city along the south coast of Vietnam. There is lots going on in this city and you can tell by the masses of motorbikes and tons of streets lined with restaurants and bars. I will be honest and say that this was my least favorite city in Vietnam and maybe all of Southeast Asia. I was expecting a small, quaint beach town but it actually was pretty crowded and felt more like a city. It probably didn’t help that there were TONS of Russian tourists there so you don’t quite get the true culture of Vietnam.

The best way to get here is via bus where it drops you off in the middle of the city so you can either walk to your accommodation or take a quick cab.We stayed for a total of 4 nights, which I will admit is more than I advise. Regardless we definitely made the most of our time and there’s plenty to do like spending time at the beach, visiting temples, eating out, and visiting the gorgeous outskirts of the city.

Location: Nha Trang Beach

If you prefer to be in more of a touristy part of town, then Nha Trang Beach is definitely the spot for you. There are tons of restaurants in the area, with cuisine of all types and a great place for people watching. This area is buzzing pretty much all day and all night long, and with only a few blocks from the beach you can’t really complain. The only downfall to this area is, as mentioned before, all of the Russian tourists. They basically take over.

Accommodation: Mozjo Inn

This place was definitely one of the top hostels we stayed at. It honestly didn’t even feel like a hostel, minus the free beer on the rooftop every night! It was extremely clean and the rooms were really spacious. We “splurged” and got a private room with a private bath and it had plenty of room. The A/C and TV were a huge plus as well.

We had free breakfast every morning, that was actually quite good. You had a couple of options to choose from and made fresh every day. They also had free beer from 5pm-6pm every night on the rooftop which had a gorgeous view overlooking the mountains. The staff were also very friendly and talkative, remembering your name as you walked in and wanting to know all the details about your day. It’s also very centrally located so easy to get around to shops and restaurants nearby. HIGHLY recommended.

• Cost: $10/night

Activities

Rent a Motorbike

I’ll have to say that you should be experienced and feel pretty comfortable operating a motorbike because getting through the city is a bit chaotic. There are a lot of narrow streets and one way roads. There were definitely a few close calls in this city so DO be careful. Once outside of the city, however, the roads are very clear and you are able to see some more of the rural areas of Nha Trang.

Temple Phuong Son

This temple was pretty small, right in the heart of the city and really easy to get to via motorbike. Compared to the other temples it was pretty average and quick to see so don’t plan to spend a lot of time here.

Temple Thap Baponagar

This temple was a lot different to some of the other temples you see in Vietnam but was definitely a nice spot to check out. It also has a great view of Nha Trang so I recommend grabbing some bahn mi sandwiches and taking in the view! Do note though that it is recommended you cover up while walking around inside so no revealing clothing.

• Cost for entry: 40,000 VND

The Beaches

Because the city is along the coastline, of course there are plenty of beaches you can go to and are probably some of the best throughout Vietnam. There were two main beaches we went to, Nha Trang and Bai Doung.

Nha Trang is the main beach along the city coastline, it’s easy to get to so it’s a bit more crowded but pretty nice and clean. Bai Doung is about 10-15 north of Nha Trang that sits along a bay. There are much less people here and is a easy getaway from the main city. Here there are still plenty of restaurants and sites to see just across from the beach but a lot less touristy.

Xa Ninh Inch Waterfall

About an hour from the city via motorbike is a beautiful waterfall in the midst of the hills. It’s a beautiful ride along the coastline passing beaches, fishing villages, and rice farms. There is a small entry fee upon arrival and plenty of space to park. There are 3 tiers of waterfalls and it’s a bit of a challenge to climb to some of the falls but its pretty fun and a nice view at the top. The water levels were pretty low when we went and the falls weren’t very big but it was still fun to go for a hike and climb massive rocks! You can easily spend a couple of hours here and go for a swim or have a picnic.

Mud baths

Because we had so much time here we ended up spending a day to relax and chill out. Mud baths seem to be a very popular thing to do in Nha Trang so we figured why not check it out. We did Galina Mud Baths, which picked us up from our hostel and was very convenient. It wasn’t your typical touristy option but it worked out to have a couple more perks compared to some of the others that were recommended to us. It included a mud bath, sauna, and hot tub for a couple of hours. I’d say it wasn’t quite worth it but I had never done it before so something to check off the list!

Food & Dining

Galingal

We ate here a few times actually. It’s a pretty touristy spot located right near the beach but has some really great Vietnamese street food in more of a restaurant vibe. Some really yummy authentic dishes if you are willing to try something new!

LIVINcollective

We actually didn’t eat here but I wanted to mention this spot because it has a great story. While in Nha Trang I got a message from an old friend from college who I hadn’t seen in years. He asked if I was in Nha Trang since he saw a girl walking the streets last night who looked just like me. Turns out he’s been living in Nha Trang a few months at a time helping out his family on the farm, such a small world! We ended up getting together at this spot and it’s owned by a Californian couple who turned the space into a creative space for designers but also acts as a retail store and awesome BBQ spot for your favorite American cuisine and craft brews. The overall vibe is awesome in there and is a great change of pace if you are missing the western culture.

 

Nightlife

Skylight

I met up with my friend again for this shnazzy bar overlooking the city. It’s a newly remodeled restaurant and bar, again owned by Americans, that has a very modern and classy vibe with a spectacular view of the coastline and city. The drinks are pretty pricey for Vietnamese standards but you pay for the view.

• Cost: 100,000 VND