5 Things to Do in Nha Trang

Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND)

Language: Vietnamese

Level of English spoken: 3/5

Main mean of transport on site: taxi, walk

During our stay in Vietnam we spent 10 days in a seaside town, popular among Vietnamese people and that we heard about: Nha Trang (more details in our article What is a boot camp? ).

Here, we will advise on 5 cool things to do if you happen to stop in that city. All attractions are within or nearby the city.

1. Vinpearl, the theme park island

Vinpearl is an amusement park on its own island! There are only two ways to get there: by boat or the fun way we chose, the cable car.

What you will find in Vinpearl

You have a regular amusement park, a water park with animal shows too (when we went there, there were dolphins and sea lions). We visited an aquarium, did some jet ski and there was also a whole arcade game area! So it is a fun activity of all types and for all ages.

We didn't spend much time on the regular land park. We really wanted to have fun in the water. For a hot day, it was the best refreshing way! There were many slides to enjoy by yourself or as a group. The jet ski activity was on its own beach, so yeah: there was even a beach if you wanted to spend some time there too!

As it was cooling down, with the sunset and night coming, it was nice to enjoy other activities like the aquarium.

The arcade was our less expected activity in the park. When we bumped into it, we pretty much spent hours having fun as a group or on individual games.

We had fun overall and spent our whole day on the island!

We would just put a note on the special ride that allows to go down the mountain. We did it at night and there were no real protections. You're in a cart on rail and you are controlling the descent of the ride. You have to break on your own. There are several turns with signs of course, but it can be scary when you are used to more specific safeties at amusement parks.

Otherwise, everything was safe and real fun!

2. Cruise: enjoy the sea life and stunning views

In Nha Trang, many cruise boats at different prices and including various services can be found: one can spend an afternoon or a day at sea just like that! We chose to do a fun one named Funky Monkey Boat Trip that had a nice schedule including stops at 2 islands, lunch on fishing boats and snorkeling.

Everything felt safe: there were life vests for everyone. The public was of all ages and there were even infants. After boarding and introducing itself, the crew played live music along the way. For those who wanted, dancing was even possible! After stopping at the first island to take some pictures, we were back on board to enjoy the view at sea.

We then stopped on fishing boats for lunch. You could even choose your own fish out of fish tanks in the sea if you wanted to! There were several types of fish and crustaceans from eels to crabs and lobsters.

For snorkeling, masks were provided. Before starting this activity, we were first allowed to jump and enjoy the clear and beautiful water. A crew member even started to create a little bar out in the sea for those who wanted to enjoy some shots for free. He surrounded himself with locked buoys and everybody of age was free to join!

Masks were then provided for those who wanted to do some snorkeling. Corals and fishes were amazing!

The stop was longer on the second island. There was a nice beach to rest on. Water activities were available too like parasailing and a banana boat. A great way to end the day!

The beach is not too big but our group managed to be able to get seats on deckchairs. You may want to be patient if you want to rest a bit but it is possible. The water was nice too if you have some energy left to go for a swim.

3. Po Nagar Cham

Visiting temples while in Asia is a must do!

Po Nagar is an ancient Cham temple complex built between the 7th and 12th centuries. The Cham people once ruled the central plain of Vietnam. It was renowned for its skills in sculpture and architecture and left behind a legacy of artifacts and temple settlements not only in Vietnam, but also in Cambodia.

Nha Trang Cham temple can be recognized from afar by its distinct red bricks. We first noticed it from the bridge not far from our hotel when we arrived.

9a. Temple visit activities Credit Kiet.jpg

As soon as we saw it, we knew we had to go to check it out at some point! The temple is located on Cù Lao Mountain near Nha Trang river and consists of three levels. The main tower is about 25m high.

The temple is dedicated to the legendary founder of the Champa realm, Yan Po Nagar - literally translated as 'The mother of the Country’. She is said to have taught agricultural and weaving skills to the Cham people. Later, historians have come to identify Po Nagar with the Hindu goddesses Bhagavati, the wife of Shiva, and Durga, the buffalo-demon slayer. In Vietnamese she is called Thiên Y Thánh Mẫu.

The entrance fee was cheap and inside, one can enjoy peace and quiet. There is a beautiful garden and the view from the top onto the river and to the city is stunning!

There is a beautiful garden and the view from the top onto the river to the city is stunning!

4. Long Son Pagoda

Long Son Pagoda is a Buddhist temple located on Trai Thuy hill in Nha Trang.

It is famous for its large white Buddha statue sitting on the top of the mountain that can be seen from all over town!

BuiIt toward the end of the 19th century of Taoist architecture, the large temple ground, surrounded by gardens has an impressive roofed entrance decorated with mosaic dragons in the front.

Behind the temple, on your way to the top, there is a large reclining Buddha statue made of marble.

While still going up, a bell tower can be found on the way. The bell is up to 5.5m high.

All leads to Long Son Pagoda’s main attraction: the 24-metre tall white Buddha image seated on a lotus throne.

The statue was added to the Pagoda in the 1960's. Great addition as it makes it among the largest Buddha statue in all Vietnam and can be seen from all over the city! From the ground up, the statue is 24m high and from the base of the statue, it is 21m. Buddha's face is 14m and the lotus blossom is 7m.

This temple is a must-see if you go to Nha Trang. It is another great activity for all ages that we also enjoyed and highly recommend . Needless to say that the great view from the top is completely worth the climb!

5. Nha Trang Night Market

With its beautiful lights, one can only notice this night market from afar. It is not that big so don't expect to have to walk for too long but it is enjoyable and will definitely make your evening out.

Located near an area mainly for tourists, you will be right in between local and tourist life. The beach is close and there are plenty of bars and restaurants around as well. Why not take a stroll after diner for instance? That's what we did!

You can enjoy some street food as well and find some last minute souvenirs. We found there some nice handmade paintings and ornaments that are still decorating our living room today.

If you have adapted you can always try to haggle and practice your bargain skills ;) Being with someone that speaks the local language can be useful, but if you have to bargain without, here's a little trick: use a calculator.

In Nha Trang, not many people were speaking English outside of shops but it is always possible to make yourself understood. Don't be in a hurry, be patient and appreciate the moment.

So these were our choices of the 5 things to do in Nha Trang. Contact us if you would like us to show you around during a bootcamp :)