The most detailed guide to self-guided travel in Nha Trang

Nha Trang is a famous tourist destination in Central Vietnam. Nha Trang attracts millions of visitors from both domestic and international locations every year for sightseeing and relaxation. When talking about tourism in Vietnam without mentioning Nha Trang, it would be incomplete. Let’s see what makes Nha Trang attractive to tourists.

1. Where is Nha Trang located?

   Many people think Nha Trang is a province in Vietnam, but in reality, Nha Trang is a city under Khanh Hoa province. Some may wonder “Which region of Vietnam does Nha Trang belong to?“. To answer this question, pay attention to the location of Khanh Hoa province. Khanh Hoa is a coastal province in the South Central Coast of Vietnam. In simpler terms, it belongs to the Central region of Vietnam. Therefore, ” Nha Trang is in Central Vietnam,” my friends.

2. What is the weather like in Nha Trang?

 As mentioned earlier, Nha Trang is located in Central Vietnam, so it has a mild tropical climate. The average annual temperature in Nha Trang is around 26-27 degrees Celsius. The daily temperature in Nha Trang fluctuates moderately. During the day, it’s around 30 degrees Celsius and drops to 25 degrees Celsius at night.

The climate in Nha Trang is similar to the Southern provinces and Saigon. Nha Trang has two distinct seasons: the dry season from January to July and the rainy season from August to December each year. Based on a brief overview of Nha Trang’s weather, you can form your own opinion on the best time to visit Nha Trang, right?

3. What does Nha Trang offer?

   I don’t even need to mention the tourist attractions and historical sites. Just considering its status as a coastal city with long stretches of white sandy beaches and a mild tropical climate, Nha Trang is already perfect for your travel and relaxation. Many tourist sites may be man-made, but the natural climate and sea are truly priceless.

   Moreover, Nha Trang has small pristine islands near the coast with incredibly beautiful scenery, attracting visitors for exploration. Historical sites like Ponagar Tower, Mountain Church… are also attractive spots in Nha Trang that should not be missed.

 If you have young children or enjoy thrilling experiences, you can visit: Vinpearl Land Nha Trang, Monkey Island, Tri Nguyen Aquarium….

 In general, when you come to Nha Trang, you can explore to your heart’s content for a whole week and still not see everything.

4.  When is the best time to visit Nha Trang?

 From January to July is the dry season, making the climate in Nha Trang extremely suitable for tourism. This period is also when Nha Trang is most crowded with tourists. However, based on my experience, February and March are the best times to visit Nha Trang.

 From May to August is the peak tourist season in Vietnam when children are on summer break and families take their kids out for vacations. Therefore, during this time, service prices tend to be higher.

Note: 

• Except for November and December, which are rainy months, any time is a good time to visit Nha Trang.
• If you visit during the summer, prices for all services will increase, not just in Nha Trang. Therefore, I recommend visiting during the off-peak seasons for better quality and cheaper services.

4. How to get to Nha Trang and Transportation in Nha Trang?

 Nha Trang is located on National Highway 1, the North-South railway line, and has Cam Ranh Airport (in Khanh Hoa) nearby. So, you have 3 ways to get to Nha Trang:

1. Travel by car to Nha Trang
2. Travel by train to Nha Trang
3. Travel by plane to Nha Trang

  Travel by train to Nha Trang:

• You can take a train from Saigon to Nha Trang departing from Saigon Station or stations in provinces along the railway line such as Dong Nai, Phan Thiet…. The train ticket prices from Saigon to Nha Trang will be around 220 – 700k/one way.
•  Similarly, trains from Hanoi to Nha Trang depart from Hanoi Station or stations along the route: Phu Ly, Vinh…. The ticket prices from Hanoi to Nha Trang will range from 600k – 1400k, depending on the type of train and seat.

From Nha Trang Station to hotels around Tran Phu area will be about 4 to 5km, you can take a taxi or use Grap for a cheaper ride back to your hotel.

Travel by plane to Nha Trang

  To get to Nha Trang, you can choose flights to Cam Ranh and then take a taxi to Nha Trang. Provinces with flights to Nha Trang (Cam Ranh) include:

• Hanoi to Nha Trang flights (Vietjet, Jetstar, Vietnam Airlines)
• Saigon to Nha Trang flights (Vietjet, Jetstar, Vietnam Airlines)
• Vinh to Nha Trang flights (Vietjet, Jetstar)
• Da Nang to Nha Trang flights (Vietjet, Vietnam Airlines)
• Hai Phong to Nha Trang flights (Vietjet)
• Can Tho to Nha Trang flights (Vietjet)
• Thanh Hoa to Nha Trang flights (Vietjet)

There are 2 main transportation options to move from the airport to the city center, which are Taxi and bus. Because the distance from Cam Ranh airport to the city center is about 35km:

• Taxi fare is around 250k – 300k.
• Taking the bus costs only about 60k/ticket.
• If you book Grab, the price will be cheaper than a taxi.

Traveling by car to Nha Trang.

If traveling in a group, you can book a private car. If traveling alone or in a small group, it’s better to take a passenger car.

Traveling by car from Saigon to Nha Trang

 Cars from Saigon to Nha Trang mainly depart from Mien Dong Bus Station and some bus companies in Pham Ngu Lao, District 1. The bus ticket from Saigon to Nha Trang is around 190 to 230k.

Popular bus companies include:

• Phuc An, phone: 02838377778
• Xe Nha, phone: 1900633963
• Khanh Phong, 02583595595
• The Sinh Tourist, 02583524329
• Phuong Nam, 02838389292
• Nam Phuong 02583529529

The bus companies are arranged in order from the best to the least, you can refer to them. I still prefer the VIP car of Phuc An because it’s very comfortable and safe for a good night’s sleep. Remember to call and book your ticket a week in advance.

Traveling by car from Hanoi to Nha Trang

Cars traveling from Hanoi to Nha Trang can be found at the Giap Bat Bus Station. However, I do not recommend this option as the travel time is quite long, around 20 hours, and the ticket price is around 500-700k per ticket.

5. Where to stay in Nha Trang?

 In general, when visiting Nha Trang, it’s best to stay in the city center near the beach. Nha Trang offers many accommodation options:

• If you want to be close to the beach, you can choose hotels around Tran Phu Street.
• If you prefer to be near the 2/4 Square or the night market, you can choose hotels on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Ton Dan, Nguyen Thien Thuat, Hung Vuong, Hoang Hoa Tham, Tran Hung Dao streets.

You can choose based on the location. I will compile a list of hotels for you when I have the chance.

6. Where to go in Nha Trang?

 When in Nha Trang, you can explore various attractions in the city, outside the city, and on the islands. We will introduce each location to you one by one.

If exploring within Nha Trang city, you can visit places like:

1.  Long Son Pagoda (the most famous pagoda in Khanh Hoa province).
2. Mountain Church (the largest church in Nha Trang).
3. Ponagar Tower 22k/ticket (the only remaining Cham temple in Nha Trang).
4. Hon Chong 22k/ticket (a place with a giant handprint on the rock).
5. Oceanographic Institute 40k/ticket (displays marine creatures).
6. I-Resort Mud Bath: 230k/ticket, Children 150k/ticket
7.  Vinpearl 880k/ticket for adults. Children 700k (international-class entertainment area).

Tu Van Pagoda

Tu Van Pagoda, also known as Oyster Pagoda or Coral Pagoda, is a beloved and simple name given by the locals to this pagoda. Located right next to the center of Cam Ranh city, Khanh Hoa province. Initially, the pagoda was built on a modest scale, but after many years of renovation and restoration, it has become a pagoda with unique structures, with a large scale thanks to the great efforts of the abbots. The most prominent are two structures made of coral, oyster shells, and clam shells, creating unique highlights that are unparalleled in Vietnam.

Luong Son Pass & Vinh Luong Fishing Port 

With a stretch of about 15 km from the city center along the beautiful coastal road from Tran Phu Street to Pham Van Dong Street. Vinh Luong Fishing Port will make you stop countless times to capture the wonderful moments during your trip to Nha Trang.

Especially from Luong Son Pass, looking down at Tien Beach, this view will give you amazing photos that can only be found here. After descending the pass, you will reach Vinh Luong Fishing Port in Vinh Luong commune. Vinh Luong Fishing Port is considered one of the large fishing ports, the gateway port of the South Central Coast, as it regularly supplies a large amount of seafood to Khanh Hoa province and some neighboring provinces such as Dak Lak, Lam Dong, etc.

 Co Tien Mountain 

This place is quite wild, the mountain is steep so cars cannot go up, you have to hike. If you have good health and can hike without stopping, it will take about 1 hour to reach the top, but if you hike and rest like me, it will take about 2-3 hours. In general, it’s breathtakingly beautiful, and if you make the effort to climb, you will be rewarded.

When you reach the top, you will realize that your fatigue is nothing compared to the majestic nature, with mountains and forests stretching endlessly, harmonizing with the wind blowing gently, creating a fairy-tale scene.

 Long Son Pagoda 

Long Son Pagoda, also known as White Buddha Pagoda, formerly known as Dang Long Tu, is located at 22 23/10 Street, Phuong Son Ward, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, at the foot of Thuy Hill, Nha Trang. This pagoda was built over a hundred years ago, has undergone several renovations, and is now the most famous pagoda in Khanh Hoa province (Vietnam).

Nha Trang Mountain Church

The Nha Trang Mountain Church is a beautiful sightseeing spot in Nha Trang. The church is also a popular place for young couples to take wedding photos. Located on a small hill in the center of Nha Trang city, you won’t need much time to visit. Come here and enjoy the beautiful coastal city view.

Popular Instagrammable Spots in Nha Trang

• 2/4 Square.
• Nha Trang Train Station.
• Tien Beach.
• Da Bao Pagoda (Vinh Hai, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa)
• Green Moss Rock Beach (Nha Trang Beach, in front of Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee to Tran Phu Bridge)
• An Cafe – 40 Le Dai Hanh
• Parista Cafe – Nguyen Thi Minh Khai
• Coffee Time – To Hien Thanh
• Rainforest Cafe – Vo Tru
• Hoang Phu (Deo Ru Ri, 2/4 Street, Vinh Hoa Ward, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa)
• Dingtea Milk Tea on Hong Bang Street (after buying milk tea, go to Sen Viet Hotel next door, take the elevator to the 18th floor)
• Hello Kitty Coffee House – 69 Hoang Van Thu
• Dalat Flower Tea 1983 – Han Thuyen
• “Paris Tower” (near Cau Da Port)
• Iron Bridge (Vinh Ngoc Ward, pass I-Resort to get there)
• Yersin’s House – Hon Ba

Nightlife Entertainment Spots in Nha Trang

• 2/4 Square
• Night Market (Western Street located right at the square)
• Guru Sports Bar (Located at the square, suitable for young people)
•  Sky Light (40th floor of Havana Nha Trang Hotel)
• Sailing Club (Located near Tran Phu Beach, intersection of Tran Quang Khai – Tran Phu)
•  Havana Bar (Basement of Havana Hotel)
• Yasaka Bar (18 Tran Phu)
• Zima Club (Near Havana Nha Trang Hotel)

Review of Islands in Nha Trang

Brief reviews of the islands in Nha Trang for visitors to choose according to their preferences.

Hon Tre Island

Hon Tre Island is the most mentioned island. Here is Vinpearl Land, the paradise of entertainment Vinpearl Land Nha Trang – A wonderful entertainment paradise! > In general, talking about Hon Tre is talking about Vinpearl Land Nha Trang.

“All about” the experience of going to Vinpearl Land Nha Trang for those who have never been and for those who want to find out more for their next enjoyable trips. Surely those who have never been or have not researched thoroughly will wonder what’s there? What delicious food to eat? What activities to do? How to have a good, cheap trip. With the experiences below, I will share some to help you imagine and have the best trip.

Ticket prices for Vinpearl Land Nha Trang?

Official prices for Vinpearl Land Nha Trang:

• Amusement ticket (round trip cable car): 880K/adult, 700k/child
• (one-way cable car): 800k/adult, 650k/child
• Amusement ticket with lunch buffet:
• (round trip cable car): 1,134k/adult, 793k/child
• (one-way cable car): 1,058k/adult, 745k/child
• Amusement ticket after 5pm: 450k/adult, 350k/child.

Aside from buying tickets at the Vin Gate ticket counter, you can also contact Vin Ticket agents who offer cheaper tickets and have staff to assist you when boarding the cable car.

What to wear when going to Vinpearl Land Nha Trang?

• Light and easy-to-move clothing.
• Simple clothes, easy to move around comfortably.
• If playing in the water park, bring swimwear, towels. Or you can rent swimwear at the water park.
• Note: No food or drinks (except bottled water) allowed.

Opening hours of Vinpearl Land Nha Trang?

Vinpearl Land Nha Trang is open from 8:30am – 9:00pm daily

How to get to Vinpearl Nha Trang?

• From Cam Ranh Airport to Nha Trang city center is 35km. Travelers can move to the city by bus (50k/person), car (contact: 0888019838, 200k/4-seater car)
• From Nha Trang city center to Vinpearl Land cable car area is 3km, travel by motorbike taxi, grab, taxi (from 4070k)
• Then cross the 3,320m cable car route, the longest sea-crossing cable car in Vietnam and the world. Each cabin holds 8 people and takes about 10 minutes to travel from the mainland to the island.
• Travel to the island by high-speed boat takes 12 minutes, operating 24/24 (30 minutes per trip). Price: 1 million VND for 30 passengers
• Travel to the island by canoe takes 7-10 minutes, operating from 8:00am. Price: 1 million VND for 5 passengers

What does Vinpearl Land Nha Trang have?

• Water park
• There is a separate area for children, an adventurous thrill zone: free fall, tsunami, flying tubes down the slope. Open: 9am – 6pm daily
• Aquarium: 3,400m2, where over 300 rare marine species are nurtured and displayed. Hours: 9am – 7pm daily
• Indoor play area: Located in a 24m artificial mountain. There are many fun games suitable for all ages. Virtual 3D world games, fairy tale garden, 4D movie theater, game store, etc. Hours: 8:30am – 8:45pm daily.
• Outdoor play area: Many thrilling games such as Alpine Coaster, the first sliding lane system on the island in Asia, Gungee bungee jumping, Extreme swing (reverse swing), high-speed pirate ship, electric bumper cars, whirlpool cup, etc. Hours: 9am – 8:45pm
• Water music stage: A stage with a capacity of over 5000 seats, with a harmonious combination of unique sound, light, fire, and water effects,… Show schedule: 7:20pm, lasting 25 minutes
• Shopping street: Selling many fashion products, souvenirs, beachwear, handicrafts, and many traditional specialties from different regions, Vietnamese craft villages. Operating hours: 9am – 9pm

In addition to visiting Vinpearl Land, occasionally tourists can also watch street performance shows, colorful and fun carnivals,…

What to eat at Vinpearl Land Nha Trang?

• Mythical Square area: German Restaurant, Ngon Market Restaurant.
• Culinary area: Win & Sea Restaurant, Coral Buffet Restaurant
• Ocean Square area: Lotteria Restaurant, Romy Ice Cream
• Water park area: Yummy Land Restaurant, Luka Bar, Dolphin Restaurant, Beach Bar Counter.
• Floating raft area: Three Regions Tea, Huong Viet Restaurant, 3 Regions Buffet
• Royal Garden: Beverage Counter, The Hil Restaurant
• Challenge Hill: Yummy Land Restaurant.
• Flower Hill: Sakura Coffee Shop

Hon Mun

Hon Mun is one of the most romantic islands in the Nha Trang island system. In terms of location, Hon Mun is 10 km from Cau Da port (about 45 minutes by boat). Hon Mun is not only attractive with white sand, blue sea, wild bird nests on steep cliffs,… but also famous as one of the richest and most beautiful “aquariums” in Southeast Asia. It is also famous for many sea services and exploring the sea by glass-bottom boat and diving services.

• The largest marine conservation center in Vietnam with over 350 colorful coral species.
• There is a beach, a large rock, cool tent seats, you can participate in coral reef diving with: Glass-bottom boat 100k/adult 50k/child; Oxi tank diving 500k/adult (from 9 years old), Photo shooting 200k/20 photos; rowing a coracle boat,…

Hon Tam

Hon Tam is a beautiful island worth visiting when in Nha Trang. Hon Tam is also a paradise island in Nha Trang, where you can come to relax. At Hon Tam, you can play fun sea games such as pearl diving, flying on a float, sky sliding, walking under the sea, playing with sea floats, playing golf, and many other fun games.

Services included at Hon Tam:

•  Welcome drinks
•  Beach bathing on the most beautiful beach with clear blue water and a sandy beach over 1km long.
•  Beach umbrellas, sun loungers, use of a 2,400m2 swimming pool with available floats.
•  Water sports such as kayaking, canoeing.
•  Beach soccer and volleyball
•  Use of golf course (20 holes), Mini golf and Tennis.
•  Enjoy various games like Floating Park, Nerf Gun (20p), Flyboard, jet ski, parasailing, underwater walking, etc.
•  Experience the lively world of music with fun beach dances (morning 10:30-11:30, afternoon 14:00-15:00)
•  Enjoy fresh fruit buffet (13:00-15:00)
•  Use of kids club with creative and safe games, supervised by babysitters.
•  Visit the traditional Vietnamese craft village: Wine making, Weaving, Palm leaf hat weaving by local artisans

Robinson Island

Recently, many people have been talking about a new and attractive tourist destination in Nha Trang – Robinson Island. Robinson Island or the Robinson Island Located about 10km from Cau Da tourist pier. Robinson Island is an interesting destination for sea lovers. A 15-minute canoe ride will take visitors to Robinson Island, immersing them in the deep blue waters of Nha Trang Bay.

•  Kayak racing team wins a big prize from the organizers.
•  Join the lively music and dance performances by dancers on the island.
•  Enjoy floating Wine party on the water.
•  Have lunch on the island with typical dishes of the coastal region.

Diep Son Island 

Diep Son is a group of 3 small islands, located in the sea of Van Phong Bay, Khanh Hoa province. The journey to explore the islands starts from Van Gia town, after about an hour of sailing on the sea, the beautiful Diep Son archipelago gradually appears, clearly cutting the horizon. Diep Son Island is still unfamiliar to many people, where the beauty of the pristine, clear sea, and friendly locals are preserved.

Ideal time to visit Diep Son Island?

 The best time to visit Diep Son Island is from December to June, during this time the sea is calm and clear, so those who are prone to seasickness will feel more comfortable when traveling by boat.

 Transportation to Diep Son Island

 If you want to visit Diep Son Island, you must first travel to Nha Trang. Depending on your budget and time for the trip, you can choose a suitable means of transportation.

 From Nha Trang, drive to Van Gia, Van Ninh about 60km. Ask for directions to Van Gia fishing port. From here, there are boats to Diep Son from 9 am to 11 am, depending on the tide each day. The return boat to the mainland is around 5 to 6 am. The boat ride takes about 30 to 40 minutes to reach Diep Son. Opposite Van Gia port, there is a wide alley, drive about 100m into it, there is a place to park overnight.

 The second way to the island is from Van Gia Port, continue to Tan Dan, about 8 km, from here ask for Tan Dan temple, opposite the temple there is a small alley leading to the sea, run a few hundred meters to ask Mr. Tu Nghia’s house to go to the sea. Rent a boat to get closer in just about 15 minutes. The price for renting a boat is from 200 – 300,000 VND for about 6 people. It is not safe to go on a crowded small boat.

What’s on Diep Son Island

 When you arrive, as the boat docks near the island in the middle, you can step off the boat and start your journey to conquer the unique and fascinating sea trail that is nearly 700 meters long, connecting the small island in the middle with the large Diep Son Island. The winding path is about 1 meter wide and lies just under half a meter deep in the clear blue sea.

 After a 30-minute walk, the large Diep Son Island welcomes you with a green color of trees, deep red of tiled roofs, and emerald green beaches. The peaceful and serene scenery. There is nothing better than standing here, letting the cool breeze touch your face, the waves gently lick your feet, and in front of you is the vast blue sea. All the fatigue and worries of life seem to disappear.

 Additionally, you can take a boat to explore the distant small islands. Swaying in the sea in Van Phong Bay gives you the feeling of being in Halong Bay. You can have the boat dock at a deserted island and immerse yourself in the cool, clear blue water to your heart’s content.

Some things to note when traveling to Diep Son Island

•  As Diep Son Island is very undeveloped for tourism, there are no hotels or guesthouses here, so you can bring a tent and camp on the beach when you arrive.
• Mr. Tu Nghia rents boats to the island: 01667982151. Price 200,000 VND for 6 people. If you go at night, then 300,000 VND.
•  Food and drinks on the island are very limited, so you need to prepare your own. There are 1 or 2 places selling water and miscellaneous groceries.
•  Electricity on the island is only available from 6 to 9 pm. People need to be proactive, and if using the locals’ resources, it’s good to pay them a fee as they also buy it at a cost.
•  The island is very safe, so there is no need to worry much about theft. Of course, we should still protect our belongings.
•  There is a chicken farm on the island, where you can buy some to eat.
•  The island is very clean with no industrial waste, so everyone should remember not to litter and be conscious of preserving the surrounding environment.

Things not to do on the island

•  Do not give money to children, instead, give them candy.
•  Do not litter.
•  Do not overly rely on the locals, as they are enthusiastic but also face difficulties.
•  Do not create disturbances or disorder that affect the locals.

Binh Ba Island

There is so much to say about Binh Ba Island, a small, picturesque, peaceful, and lovely island; therefore, I have decided to write a separate review about Binh Ba Island for those who want to travel to Cam Ranh Nha Trang can refer to.

 What to eat on Binh Ba Island ??

Eating on the island is quite cheap compared to Nha Trang city. Seafood, fish rice, … in general, seafood is the main dish. Takeout is also very affordable. The specialty here is LOBSTER, everyone.

What’s fun about Binh Ba?

• Binh Ba Island has many beautiful sightseeing spots.
• Groups can rent a Jeep or a motorbike taxi to travel around the island with points of interest such as:
• The small town with charming, peaceful, and simple alleys, like in a movie.
•  The sparkling and mystical Chuong Beach. Nom Beach is romantic and dreamy. The sea at these beaches is incredibly clean and you can see the seabed clearly. 
•  Hong Grass Hill is dreamy and beautiful like a young girl looking out to the islands. Watching the sunrise or sunset here is always wonderful.
•  Yen Island is pure and dreamy like a fairy. You can take beautiful bikini photos here. Additionally, you can wear a life jacket, diving goggles, and snorkel to explore the coral reefs, one of the most beautiful coral reef viewing spots in Binh Ba. The coral reefs are beautiful and colorful, with many swimming fish, the sea is blue, the sand is white, and the rocky beaches are pristine like in a magazine.
•  From Binh Ba, you can visit Binh Hung, Binh Lap, and Binh Tien Islands. These are the 4 Pearl Islands of Cam Ranh 
• Binh Ba Market with its unique cultural features. The locals are very friendly and lovely. 
•  There are still many places I haven’t been to yet, and I still feel very eager to explore more.

Some newly popular places in Nha Trang

Suoi Tien Sheep Field: Ticket price 30k/person. If you go on a tour, it is already included in the tour package and you don’t need to buy it separately. There are only a few sheep here and they are quite skinny. The main attraction is the artificial landscape for taking photos. There are bird nests, swings, a sky gate resembling Bali, and the photos turn out quite nice. In general, it may look different in photos compared to reality, but the photos still look very artistic and beautiful 

Binh Hung: When our group arrived here, it was almost noon and very sunny. We thought of just waiting for others, but once you see the scenery, you can’t resist and have to explore right away, no matter how sunny it is. However, you will have a beautiful picture and there are also activities here: banana boat 700k/10 people, water motorbike

Vinh Hy Bay: After leaving Binh Hung, we will move to the Vinh Hy resort area for lunch. On the way, we will pass through a mountain pass, and if you want the tour guide to stop for a while for photos, you should ask. This spot is worth stopping at, don’t be lazy due to shyness or tiredness, I guarantee you will have even more stunning photos. We climbed outside to take photos, took photos in the middle of the road,… just look at our album and you’ll see how beautiful it is.

Visit the grape garden: When in Ninh Thuan, you must visit the grape gardens and enjoy the feeling of looking up at the sky, opening your mouth, and having grapes put in your mouth. Grapes are the specialty of Ninh Thuan. You can take plenty of Instagram-worthy photos, then freely choose the bunches of grapes you like if you want to buy them as gifts for 40k/1kg. There are also grape wine and grape syrup here

Rai Cave: This will be the last stop of this tour. The ticket price is 20k/person and if you are on a tour, it is already included. This place is also worth visiting. However, be careful as it can be slippery here.

Daily tours in Nha Trang

1.  Swallow Island Tour 
2.  Love Island Tour 
3.  VIP 3-Island Tour: Mun Island  Robinson Island  Tam Island
4.  Regular 3-Island Tour: Coral Bay  Fishing Village  Tranh Beach
5.  Nha Trang Bay Cruise Tour
6.  Mun Island  Robinson Island Tour
7.  Mun Island  Mieu Island  Robinson Island Tour
8.  Mieu Island Diving Tour 
9.  4-Island Tour: Coral Bay  Fishing Village  Tranh Beach  Fish Lake
10.  Underwater Adventure Tour: Coral Bay  Fishing Village  Tam Island
11.  Diep Son Island Tour 
12.  Binh Ba Island Tour 
13.  Rai Cave Tour  Vinh Hy Tour 
14.  Monkey Island Tour  Orchid Stream Tour 
15.  Tam Island Tour 
16.  Yangbay Tour 
17.  Ninh Van  Jumping Rock Tour
18.  City Tour
19.  Vinpearl Land Nha Trang Ticket

7. What to eat in Nha Trang?

Seafood in Nha Trang

• All the eateries near the stone bridge port (Cô Liền, Xí, Tám Mẹo, Thanh Sương…)
• Sidewalk eateries on Thap Ba Street such as: Cây Dừa, Thanh Xuân, Đông Xuân, Ốc Vũ.
• Affordable seafood eateries with beautiful views, not overpriced like: Đôi Bờ, Hạnh Xuân, Thanh Ma (Located along the Nha Trang Embankment)

Note: Eateries in Ba Lang or along Pham Van Dong Street are quite expensive.

 Nha Trang Pancakes

• 151 Hoang Van Thu (near the intersection of Hoang Van Thu and Le Thanh Phuong). The eatery opens around 6 am to nearly 9 am. They sell traditional pancakes, with options like chicken eggs, quail eggs, and beef. Prices range from 18,000 to 25,000 VND.
• Pancakes at 165 Nguyen Trai (The eatery is near the intersection of Nguyen Trai – Cao Ba Quat). The eatery is open from 3 pm to 9 pm. The pancakes here are slightly thicker than traditional ones, served with large shrimp or squid, and the prices for shrimp and squid are higher than other options and vary depending on the time. Clam Pancakes are a new experience for pancake enthusiasts.
• Pancake eatery at 109 2-4 Street serves from 6 pm to around 11 pm, and is one of the places for late-night cravings for these pancakes. The eatery only serves chicken eggs, quail eggs, and beef with a side of meatballs

Jellyfish Noodle Soup Nha Trang

• Nguyen Loan Fish Noodle – 123 Ngo Gia Tu
• Nam Beo Restaurant – B2 Phan Boi Chau Apartment.
• Cay Bang Leaf Noodle – 6 Han Thuyen.
•  Min Fish Noodle – 170 Bach Dang

 Banh Canh Nha Trang

•  Fish Intestine Banh Canh – 9 Tran Van On – 25k (Eat until you’re full, can’t breathe evenly)
•  Ba Thua Banh Canh – 55 Yersin
•  Banh Canh 78 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai + Co Ha Banh Canh – 14 Phan Chu Trinh
• Xich Lo Banh Canh – Le Thanh Ton
•  He Banh Canh – 97A Trinh Phong.

Street Grilled Restaurants in Nha Trang

•  Beer Tile Grilled – 114 Mai Xuan Thuong
•  Ku Ken Tile Grilled – 79 2/4 Street
• Tile Grilled – To Vinh Dien
•  Stone Tile Grilled Restaurant – 9c Le Quy Don
•  Bum Boy Grilled Beef – 76 Bach Dang
•  Lac Canh Grilled Beef – 44 Nguyen Binh Khiem

 Milk Tea in Nha Trang 

• Dingtea – Hong Bang
• Gongcha – 9 Hoang Hoa Tham
• Homita – 102 Quang Trung and 63 To Hien Thanh.
• Sweet Cup – 23/10 Street
• Tra Tien Huong – 15 Quang Trung
•  Kobi – 62 Phan Chu Trinh.

8. Buy Nha Trang specialties as gifts?

• Bird’s Nest (If too expensive, skip it, Home Nest costs around: 3,500k/100g, Island Nest costs around 6,000k/100g)
•  Mango Cake (Cam Ranh specialty, you can buy it as a gift, it’s quite unique)
• Ninh Hoa Fermented Pork Roll (2 Le Loi or 4 Phan Boi Chau)
• Dried Squid, Sun-dried Squid, Rimmed Squid, Tamarind Crab (70k – 150k/Jar)
• Nha Trang Fish Cake (150k/Kg)
• Fish Bladder
• Chili Salt
• Fish Sauce (584 is from Nha Trang, you can buy it).

9. Self-planned Nha Trang Itinerary 

  Generally, the itinerary depends on preferences, flight times, train times… but I want to suggest a self-planned Nha Trang itinerary for some of you to refer to and plan your own trip to Nha Trang.

 3 Days 2 Nights Self-planned Nha Trang Itinerary

This tour goes to Nha Trang by train from Saigon. We arrive in  Nha Trang  and rent a motorbike.

Day 1:

Near Nha Trang station, I call ahead to rent a motorbike for 120k/bike, delivered at the station (pay in advance + leave ID or vehicle registration, driver’s license).

Move to Tran Phu Street, I survey the hotels, like any, then book online for a cheap price and check in. I choose a hotel on Tue Tinh Street. I plan to visit all day and only rest at night, so I choose a cheap hotel about 350k/room. Luckily, the hotel I chose has everything from a hot water kettle for making milk, to a bathtub, and a rooftop pool.

After storing your luggage, head to the beach for a swim, then have some seafood for lunch, and in the evening take a stroll by the beach before resting and recharging.

Day 2:

With a motorbike, you can explore famous spots on your own: Thap Ba, Institute of Oceanography, Stone Church, Hon Chong, etc. (you can look these up on Google and go by yourself). As I have a baby, I split the day into morning sightseeing, afternoon break, and evening exploration. At 4 pm, return the motorbike and spend the evening leisurely walking by the beach, visiting the night market, and then resting.

Day 3:

I booked a full-day tour to Hang Rai-Vinh Hy-Dong Ceu-Vuon Nho-Binh Hung for 600k VND per person. There are many tour options available, so contact your hotel for advice.

Depart for the tour at 9 am, so I checked out of the hotel and left my luggage there.

At 6 pm, the tour ends, I pick up my luggage, have dinner, and head to the train station to sleep overnight and return to Saigon in the morning.

4-day 3-night self-guided itinerary in Nha Trang:

This tour to Nha Trang is by sleeper bus from Saigon.

Day 1:

Arriving in Nha Trang at 3 am, check into the hotel for rest until 7 am, then rent a bike to Yen Sao port to join the Yen Island tour.

The scenery on Yen Island is breathtaking, especially the beautiful twin beaches perfect for photos. You must swim here as the water is crystal clear and looks stunning in pictures.

While on the island, you can enjoy the scenery and learn about the life of the Swallow birds, which is very interesting. If you are prone to seasickness, make sure to bring medication as the waves can be quite strong. After a 1 hour and 15-minute boat ride, you’ll arrive at the island for activities.

We took photos, swam, and explored until 2 pm, then boarded the boat back to the city. In the cool afternoon, we went to the city beach for a swim, then returned to the hotel to change for dinner and a beach walk, ending the first day.

Day 2:

Early in the morning, we checked out of the hotel and went to Vinpearl Condotel Empire to check in and get the hotel card to go to Vinpearl Land for the whole day.

Sincerely recommend staying here if you plan to visit Nha Trang. The hotel is amazing with luxurious space and attentive staff. There is a pool, gym, and spa in the hotel for convenience. At Vinpearl Land, just show your hotel card to skip the line for the cable car (a big plus for the hotel). I booked the Chuc Anh Voucher Vinpearl hotel.

We spent the whole day at Vinpearl Land until 7 pm, then returned to the city for dinner and early rest as a full day under the scorching sun at Vinpearl Land can be exhausting. Remember to bring a hat, scarf, or umbrella to avoid sunburn.

Day 3:

We woke up at 5 am to watch the sunrise. Then we took the opportunity to swim a few laps and took many photos because the pool at the hotel was very beautiful. After swimming, we went back to our room to change and then went down to the lobby for breakfast before continuing our day of sightseeing.

Today we visited 4 places: Long Son Pagoda, Stone Church (opening hours: 6am-11am, 2pm-5pm), Ponagar Tower (opening hours: 8am-6pm) with an entrance fee of 20k VND per person, and the Oceanographic Institute (opening hours: 6am-6pm) with an entrance fee of 40k VND per person.

The scenery at these 4 places is quite famous and beautiful, so they were crowded with tourists. If you want to take photos, you have to be patient and wait for a while (under the scorching sun to get good pictures).

After spending the whole day under the sun and taking a few hundred photos that we were happy with, we went back to the hotel to change for dinner and then visited the night market (46 Tran Phu, Loc Tho). That concluded our third day.

Day 4:

This morning we also woke up early to go to Hon Chong (entrance fee 22k VND per person) to take advantage of the beautiful morning sun for photos and avoid the crowds. (The earlier you go, the better the photos). Here you can take as many photos as you want but be careful climbing the rocks as they are slippery and tricky to navigate, so watch your step to avoid falling like I did.

After exploring the beauty of Hon Chong and taking many beautiful photos, we went to the market to buy local specialties of Nha Trang as souvenirs. At noon, we headed back to Can Tho. And that’s how our sunny but very enjoyable trip to beautiful Nha Trang ended.

5-day 4-night DIY Nha Trang Itinerary:

 For this tour, we flew to  Nha Trang  . Since it was a long trip, we just booked cheap tickets.

 Day 1:

Arrived at 5 pm, we freshened up and rested until 8 pm, then rented a motorbike at the hotel to go out for dinner. Our first stop was Nem Nuong Ninh Hoa – Dang Van Quyen. Address: 16A Lan Ong, Nha Trang and 2-4 Phan Boi Chau, Nha Trang. Make sure you’re hungry because the food is so delicious that words can’t describe it. I especially loved the dipping sauce, it was unique. I was so full after one serving. The restaurant is spacious and popular among tourists. Prices range from 70-150k VND.

After dinner, we went to Skylight. It’s the most famous rooftop bar in Nha Trang. It’s always crowded with visitors looking to enjoy and take photos. Entrance fee is 200k VND on weekends. Drinks are complimentary. Up there, you can dance and enjoy the night view of the city. It’s definitely worth a try.

 Day 2:

We booked a tour to Yen Island for 680k VND per person. We had to provide our ID for the island entry procedure. Since the island is managed by Yen Sao Khanh Hoa Company, they don’t accept foreign visitors. I liked this because the other islands around Nha Trang are often crowded with noisy and tiring Chinese tourists. We went to Cau Da Port on our own. They picked us up and served breakfast on the boat. Note that the boat ride to Yen Island takes 1.5 hours, so if you get seasick or have young children, be prepared. The journey was tiring, but once we arrived, the beautiful scenery made us forget all the fatigue. We had lunch with the group and returned to the boat by 3 pm.

After an afternoon of fun, I went to rest and had seafood at Thanh Sương. Address: 9A – Trần Phú. In general, this seafood restaurant has been reviewed a lot, so there’s no need to debate. The food is delicious, cheap, and fresh. Very impressive.

 Day 3:

After a tiring day at Yen Island, I decided to explore the city. In the afternoon, I went to Vinpearl. In the morning, I visited Ponagar Tower and Dam Market. For lunch, I had bánh căn and bánh xèo across from Ponagar Tower. The dipping sauce was so delicious that everything I ate tasted great. I rested around 3 pm and then went to buy tickets to Vinpearl. The ticket price in the afternoon was only 440k per ticket. I got bored quickly, so I don’t recommend it. In the evening, I decided to have grilled beef at Lạc Cảnh. Address: 44 Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm. I found out online that this restaurant has been around for a long time and maintains the traditional flavors of the past, attracting many chefs to come and taste their marinated spices. I was curious, so I went to try it, but I wasn’t very impressed. Maybe it was because of the hot weather and the charcoal grilling, but I didn’t find it as delicious and outstanding as others claimed. However, it’s worth trying for the experience. Feeling quite disappointed after the beef, I decided to walk around the night market for some snacks to fill my stomach.

 Day 4:

Continuing the journey to explore the islands, I booked a tour to Diep Son – Doc Let because I was curious about the road between the sea. The journey to Diep Son was quite challenging. We had to travel about 60km by car before taking a boat to the island. In general, the sea in Nha Trang is beautiful everywhere, but the road between the sea of Diep Son was lost due to a storm in the past year. Plus, we had to wait for the tide to recede to be lucky enough to see the road. It was a bit disappointing, but I compensated by visiting Doc Let Beach. I must say it’s the most beautiful beach in Vietnam! The white sand, clear blue water, it’s truly a paradise for photography.

Because I love Thanh Sương so much, in the evening I decided to have seafood again.

 Day 5:

Since my flight back was in the afternoon, I decided to go to I-resort for mud bathing in the morning. Worried about dirty hair and not having time to wash it, I opted for mineral bathing with herbal medicine priced at 250k per ticket. Going to I-resort for bathing was a reasonable decision because it had a variety of swimming pools, underwater games, and spa facilities to relieve stress before heading home.