Nha Trang
Nha
Trang (Nhatrang) is
Vietnam
's beach resort town. A major face-lift in 1995-96, and the opening
of two upscale hotels later in 1996, vaulted Nha Trang onto the
playing field with places like
Phuket
,
Thailand
, and
Cancun
,
Mexico
. Today, it's a popular destination for both foreign and domestic
tourists.
In
addition to sun bathing, popular attractions include boat trips to
the nearby islands and tours of Nha Trang's historic sites. If you
like typical beach resort towns, then Nha Trang is for you.
Nha
Trang is on the central coast, about 450 km north of Saigon and
1,200 km south of
Hanoi
. The main strip in Nha Trang is
Tran Phu Street
, which runs north-south along the sea for about 4 kilometers. It is
a wide boulevard, bisected by a grassy median with street lamps.
Numerous restaurants and bars line the beach side of Tran Phu, while
hotels and more restaurants line the other. A walking path and wide
swath of trees separate the beach from the road.
Not
surprisingly, life in Nha Trang centers on the beach. In the early
mornings and late afternoons, especially on weekends, you'll find
the beach packed with locals. In addition to swimming, football
(soccer) is a popular pastime, and you'll find numerous games in
progress. During the heat of the day, the locals surrender the beach
to mostly foreign sun-worshippers. In the evenings the beach is all
but deserted.
When
you tire of the beach, visit the nearby islands. Day trips are
offered by just about every hotel and cafe. A typical itinerary
includes visiting 2 or 3 islands, snorkeling and lunch, all for
about US$8 per person. For serious snorkelers and divers who want to
spend more time in the water, two local dive operators offer day
trips from January to October
Back
on the mainland, there are a few worthwhile attractions in or near
town. The towering white Buddha that can be seen from many parts of
Nha Trang is part of the Long Son Pagoda and can be reached by
climbing a steep (and long!) set of stairs. North of town, across
the 
Nha
Trang
River
, lies the Po Nagar Cham site. The ancient Cham towers sit high atop
a hill, the views overlooking the river and town are breathtaking. A
little beyond Po Nagar lies Hon Chong, a scenic beach that is
reputed to have the best seafood in the area. South of town, check
out Emperor Bao Dai's former holiday retreat, now a hotel
Every
road leads to Nha Trang; well, actually there's only one road,
National Highway 1, but you can also fly or take the train from just
about anywhere in
Vietnam
.
Whale Island
Whale Island resort (L'ile de la Baleine) is located 100 km north of
Nha Trang in Van Phong Bay. For many years now its appeal has made
this archipelago a coveted site by all travelers seeking tranquil
srenity accompanied by breathtaking scenery. Its origins date back
to the 19th century when a French marine officer wanted to make a
marine harbor and gave his name to the archipelago on French maps.
The diving around Whale Island is simply the best in Vietnam!, not
just for divers! If you wish to unwind, relax or just get away for
well deserved break; Whale Island is the spot. Activities range from
windsurfing, canoeing, sailing to simply relaxing on the pristine
beach.
There
are few things that you will not find on this paradise island
resort: cars, motorbikes and bicycles! To travel to the island one
must arrange transport either directly from Cam Ranh airport or from
your hotel, a private air conditioned bus will pick you up and drive
you to the
Whale
Island
landing at the entrance of Van Phong Bay. You will then transfer via
boat to the
Island
. All this takes roughly 2 hours when departing from Nha Trang.
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