Nha Trang, Vietnam

Po Nagar Towers

The most important remains of the Cham civilization on the resort of Nha Trang include the Po Nagar temple and towers, built between the 7th and 12th centuries. Over time, part of the towers was destroyed, and some were looted by marauders, but the main structure-the tallest tower built in honor of the Mother Queen-has remained intact. Inside the 23-meter building, there is a statue of the Goddess (the very same Queen) sitting in a lotus position. It’s interesting that the statue has ten arms, each holding an object symbolizing the Goddess’s wisdom and power. The temple interiors have been preserved, and inside, in the dark, everything looks quite mysterious: incense smoke, the chanting of worshippers, flowers, and candles. Before entering the temple, you need to remove your shoes and headwear.

Long Son Pagoda

It’s easy to find this pagoda: the main landmark is the enormous white Buddha, sitting cross-legged in a lotus position on a hill behind the temple. From the viewing platform by the 14-meter statue, you get a very nice view of the sea, and a long staircase of 150 steps leads right to the pagoda. The temple is built in a traditional Eastern style and is decorated with mosaic dragons and ceramic tiles. Monks still live here to this day.

Cathedral (Catholic)

The largest church in Nha Trang is located at the top of a small hill. The cathedral was built in a pseudo-Gothic style. Its area is 760 square meters, and it can accommodate 600 people. Originally, the Mass was read in Latin, French, and English; today, it is only in Vietnamese. Along the stone steps leading from the foot of the hill up to the temple are statues of saints. The cathedral is adorned with a four-sided clock tower 38 meters high. Three large bells cast by the famous company Bourdon Carillons are mounted on it. The bells ring every hour. The church’s interior décor was created in the style of European Gothic cathedrals. As is customary, the windows are decorated with stained-glass windows. The cathedral is still in use.

Bao Dai Villas

This is both a museum and a monument to French colonial architecture, and a luxurious hotel where you can stay for a couple of nights. The Bao Dai Villas (named after the last, 13th emperor of Vietnam) were built in 1923 on three hills right in the heart of Nha Trang. First, they served as a summer residence for His Imperial Highness, and later they were turned into a boarding house for senior officials of the South Vietnamese government. Inside the complex, the interior from the 1920s has been fully preserved. The museum houses personal belongings of the imperial family, and a large photo archive has been recreated. The hills themselves make a great viewpoint-one of them offers impressive views of Nha Trang Bay. The villas are surrounded by a dense tropical park.

Monkey Island

A small island a couple of kilometers off the coast of Nha Trang could be a great place to shoot a remake of the film “Planet of the Apes.” There are so many monkeys here that each tourist could be issued their own. Monkey Island is a park island with avenues, statues, and dense jungles. The main thing to do here is to stroll around and watch the monkeys, who, to the delight of the audience, take millions of poses. There is a circus on the island, where shows are regularly held featuring dogs, macaques, elephants, and bears. There’s also a small amusement park and a charming beach, so you should pack a swimsuit or swim trunks for the trip to the island. Getting to the island is easy by boat from one of the many piers in Nha Trang.

City beach

Nha Trang’s city beach is seven kilometers of sand made from the tiniest fragments of multicolored shells. It’s true that it’s still far from Thailand’s snow-white beaches, but on clear, sunny days it’s perfectly comfortable for sunbathing and swimming. Along the shore there’s a promenade lined with many cafés, bars, and clubs, but to grab a bite, you don’t necessarily have to leave your sunbed. Dozens of vendors wander along the beach, offering fruit, dried sea treats, pastries with banana filling, and other snacks. You can rent a board for windsurfing, water skis, and a jet ski here. And if you don’t feel like any sports at all, you can go for treatments with local massage therapists, who can be found on the beach every 50 meters.

Bai Dai Beach

Bai Dai Beach is a wide, deserted beach stretching 15 kilometers south of Nha Trang. This secluded, peaceful shore attracts tourists with its finely ground white sand, turquoise waters, and a relaxed atmosphere away from the city hustle. The gentle entry into the sea and the lack of waves make Bai Dai an ideal place for a family getaway with children. Visitors can rent sun loungers and umbrellas at reasonable prices. Small cafés offer delicious Vietnamese seafood dishes, refreshing drinks, cocktails, and fragrant exotic fruits. From the shore, you can enjoy picturesque views of the South China Sea.

Vinpearl Entertainment Park

Vinpearl is a whole complex of hotels, restaurants, and spa centers located on Bamboo Island (in Vietnamese - Hon Che). All this beauty is complemented by quite a large amusement park. Slot machines, a golf course, roller coasters, musical fountains, and a 4D cinema are by no means a complete list of the attractions available in the park. That’s why before taking a stroll it’s definitely worth stocking up on a map (you can buy one on every corner) so you don’t miss anything interesting-for example, an oceanarium with sharks, turtles, and stingrays that managed to fit on the island. You can get to Hon Che by cable car (the longest in the world among those that run over water) or by boat.

Hon Tam Island

Hon Tam Island is a heavenly corner not far from the popular tourist coast of Nha Trang. Another name for the island is the “Silk Island”. Here you’ll find extraordinary snow-white beaches and always gentle, gradual steps into the water. There is a ferry from the mainland to the island; the journey takes a total of about 15-20 minutes and costs next to nothing. The entire island is designed to provide sea, sport-and-water, and beach holidays for all visitors. The beaches are equipped with all the necessary amenities. Several restaurants serve tourists with any cuisine, ranging from traditional Vietnamese to European and all kinds of exotic options. Here you can go tandem skydiving and paragliding, explore the mountains, try windsurfing, ride jet skis or a motorcycle, go fishing, or take part in underwater reef exploration.

Thermal Springs of Tkhapba

In a picturesque area on the banks of the Cai River, 4 km from the city, just beyond the Po Nagar towers, lies Nha Trang’s first thermal center, where mud is widely used to treat various ailments - the tourist health resort “Hot Mineral Spring Thapba”. Among the center’s treatments are hot mud baths in wooden tubs, mud wraps, thermal baths, massages, and more. The center also has a sanatorium for elderly people, a separate pool with thermal water for adults, and a separate one for children.

Young Bay Eco Park

Yang Bay Ecological Park is located 45 kilometers from the city of Nha Trang, at an altitude of 550 meters above sea level. On the way to the park, you can enjoy picturesque scenery-exotic vegetation gives way to endless rice fields. The tour program includes a visit to the village of the Raglai tribe, of which there are currently fewer than two thousand people. They are very different from their Vietnamese neighbors in European facial features, and they also have their own language and specific magical beliefs. In Yang Bay Park, there is a large crocodile farm, a stable with well-bred horses, as well as a lake where you can enjoy fishing. Tourists will also have the opportunity to swim in the crystal-clear water of the Yang Bay waterfall and watch pig races. After an exhausting excursion, you can relax in one of the cozy cafés, whose menus offer various exotic dishes. This place is ideal for a family vacation-both children and adults will be satisfied.

City tour

During the excursion you will visit the Buddhist Long Sơn Pagoda, the Institute of Oceanography, the villa of the last Emperor of Vietnam, Bao Dai, the Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady, and a market of tropical fruits. During the walk, you will learn many interesting things and be able to take plenty of excellent photos.

For a more detailed list of excursions and their prices, you can view it after booking the cruise in your “Client Personal Account”.