Nha Trang is a coastal town in Vietnam, between Ho Chi Minh City and Hoi An. It’s a great destination to explore or relax… the choice is yours. Here are some of the best things to do in Nha Trang.
The Beach
This may be stating the obvious but one of our favourite things to do in Nha Trang is going to the Beach. Walk along it. Relax on it. Soak up some sun. Swim if you are keen to face the shore breakers. The beach just makes you feel good, so whatever you do when you’re there is irrelevant, just spend time at the beach.
Po Negar Cham Towers
On the other side of Nha Trang it would be a taxi trip for most, but definitely one of the top things to do in Nha Trang. It doesn’t require too long to explore either which is nice. Head here close to sunset, that way afterwards you can head to the river for a sunset drink from one of the restaurants.
Take A Look At Some Great Photography
We absolutely loved going to Long Thanh Photo Studio. Long Thanh has some of the best black and white photography on display and for sale. He shoots Vietnamese culture in black and white film and has some amazing prints. Definitely one of the great things to do in Nha Trang.
Taste The Street Food
Whilst exploring Nha Trang you will definitely run into street food in all shapes and flavours. If you see something you like the look of give it a taste, everything we have tried we have loved. Try to go to places that are busy with locals, so the food is fresh.
Stay Somewhere Nice
The beauty of travelling in South East Asia is often luxury hotels not only have amazing designs, but are often more accessible. We stayed at the InterContinental Nha Trang and would recommend it to anyone. We stayed in a room with a beautiful view of Nha Trang Beach. After spending a few hours at their breakfast, I can say the breakfast here is worth a visit even if you aren’t staying here.
Long Son Pagoda
Even though is a bit of a walk or a taxi from the centre, it is worth a visit. So many things going on in the lane that you walk from the main road to the Pagoda. People cooking, hanging up washing, walking past a school. Some of the street food outside the school and pagoda is worth a taste if you see something that interests your tastebuds.
Eat Seafood
Being a beach destination you can expect plenty of seafood. We found the restaurants hit and miss, however when it comes to fresh and live seafood over charcoal grills, you cant go too wrong. We tried some near the Po Negar Cham Towers but it was not worthy of a recommendation. There are some busier, better looking options in the the centre of Nha Trang and along the road that follows the beach. Some are busier than others, let that be your guide.
Walk The Streets
Like any place you visit, sometimes the best way to get to know it is to explore on foot. If anything catches your eye, be it food, a shop, or a laneway, soak up the experience and take the time to enjoy every moment. You never know what you could find if you do.
Walk The Beach Promenade
One of the best things to do in Nha Trang is to walk along the beach either on the sand, or also along the great paved promenade and walkway. Enjoy the beach to one side and all the locals working out on the unique public exercise equipment on the other.
Visit The Markets
We always love to checkout the markets wherever we go. We visited the Xom Moi Market and it was a great traditional market. Good selection of food produce. One thing that separates a lot of markets is how the meat section looks and smells. At Xom Moi market all the meat looked really fresh and well handled, and as to the smell, all we could smell was the surrounding fresh herbs, ginger and turmeric!
Mud Baths And Hot Mineral Springs
This was one of the things to do in Nha Trang that we didn’t fit in, but have loved the experience in other mud baths and springs. The mud baths and hot mineral springs are seen as having ‘healing’ properties. There are a few different types to choose from, so pick the one that suits you best.
See The Cathedral
Nha Tho Nui Cathedral showcases beautiful architecture and is a nice contrast to the surrounds of Nha Trang.
Explore Surrounding Beaches
As Nha Trang Beach can get rough to swim many people go and visit some of the surrounding beaches. We opted not to in our time there but the couple that caught our attention were Bai Dai Beach (Long Beach) and Doc Let Beach, as well as on Hon Mun Island.
Enjoy The View
The Beach view, the view of the streets, and the view from up high. The view from Skylight’s Skydeck was one worth the effort. We went over sunset which was great to see 360 degree views of Nha Trang at this beautiful time of day. You need to pay after 16:30 but you get a drink included.
Read More:
Where To Stay In Nha Trang Vietnam: Our Nha Trang Accommodation Guide
Our Stay At InterContinental Nha Trang Vietnam
Thanks for the tips. I am heading back to Vietnam next year and was thinking about visiting Nha Trang as I hadn’t been last time.
Hi Angie, oh that so exciting! We loved Nha Trang and it definitely has something unique to offer :) Enjoy your trip!