The coastal city of Nha Trang has been attracting both local and international tourists for years. While Nha Trang is best known for its scuba diving and long stretches of beach, the city also has a strong historical and cultural heritage that's worth discovering.
For more ideas on the best places to visit in this ancient city, take a look at our list of top tourist attractions in Nha Trang.
1. Nha Trang Beaches
Nha Trang is home to several stunning soft white sand beaches offering everything from perfect sunbathing spots to plenty of recreational activities. The city's most popular beach is Tran Phu Beach, which attracts tons of tourists–this means lots of activity day and night, making the beach noisier but also full of amenities, including great restaurants and places to rent equipment for water sports.
If you want peace and quiet, Bai Dai Beach might be a better option–it's full of locals, which means the beach and its surroundings aren't as well developed. This can be good or bad, depending on your idea of a heavenly coastline–but the sand is still soft and the waters a clear blue if that's all that matters.
2. Ponagar Tower
The Po Nagar temple complex was built some time around the 7th century and dedicated to the worship of a number of deities, especially Lady Po Nagar, the Goddess who created and nurtures the Earth. The temple, with its soft stone towers and columns, is a beautiful marriage of Cham (an ethnic minority in Vietnam) architecture and Hinduism influences.
The complex–set on a hill on the banks of River Cai–also features a small museum showcasing stonework and sculptures of the time. Because the buildings here are still considered active religious shrines, you're expected to remove your shoes and dress respectfully (shoulders and legs covered) when visiting.
3. Long Son Pagoda
Perhaps the most commonly associated image with Long Son pagoda is the 24-meter-tall white Buddha statue, even though the concrete statue isn't technically part of Long Son. Instead, the statue sits slightly higher up the hill, on the grounds of Hai Duc Pagoda, and it's one of the most famous sights in Nha Trang.
4. Vinpearl Cable Car
A ride on the Vinpearl Cable Car is one of the top things to do in Nha Trang. Connecting Nha Trang with Vinpearl Island, this gondola ride is over 3,000 meters long and takes 15 minutes to reach its destination. It took over a year to build the cable car, as it needed to be made not only earthquake resistant but also able to withstand strong winds and monsoon rains.
The ride is actually the longest overwater cable car in the world and offers beautiful views over the sea and the Disney-like Vinpearl park that occupies center stage on the island.
5. Vinpearl Land
Vietnam's own version of Disneyland is right here, on Vinpearl Island. This combination of amusement park and water park offers rides and thrills for all ages, as well as plenty of opportunities to meet unique cartoon characters and even see a few wild animals.
Right next to the ocean you'll also find the Vinpearl sky wheel, one of the tallest Ferris wheels in the world at 120 meters. A full circle on the wheel takes about 15 minutes and offers stunning views of the bay, especially at night.
6. Hon Mun
Of all the islands dotting the waters around Nha Trang, none are more beautiful and full of things to discover than Hon Mun. The limestone cliffs, caves, and stunning black rocks cover the coastline, offering beautiful photo opportunities, as well as climbing and hiking. A slow stroll on the beach will also reveal ebony-black caves hiding in the rock.
Above everything, however, Hon Mun's main attractions are found underwater. The island's coral reefs attract scuba divers and snorkelers from all over the world–they come here to discover the colorful biodiversity of fish, sea turtles, and crabs.
7. XQ Historical Village
A large complex of buildings designed to look older than it really is, the XQ Historical Village was founded by a pair of artists in the 1990s. The original idea was to create a place to showcase the Vietnamese arts of painting silk and embroidery and to empower women to focus on these "almost lost arts" as a means of starting their own businesses and continuing local traditions.
XQ is a unique mix of working space, art galleries, and shops. Visitors can simply walk around admiring works in progress, choose to buy an impressive wall hanging or a small scarf, or sit in the gardens for a cup of tea while listening to soft music.
8. Dam Market
There are plenty of markets in Nha Trang to fulfill your every need, but none of them are more authentic, busier, or more varied than Dam Market. Housed in a circular two-story building, the market is open from 4am, when it attracts mostly locals who arrive here for their daily shopping.
Despite the apparent disarray of the place, there's some logic to how the stalls are set inside the market, so you can walk around to discover areas for food, clothing and handbags, handicrafts and souvenirs, designer knockoffs, and a large section for fresh seafood and produce in the back.
9. Street Food
While you can find quick things to eat almost anywhere in Nha Trang, there are a few particular dishes you should be trying when visiting the city. Even better, most of these dishes are easily available from street vendors.
Two common dishes you will find street food carts selling are nuong la lot (grilled beef wrapped in leaves) and banh can, a local delicacy made of mini rice flour pancakes topped with meat and eggs and cooked over coals.
10. National Oceanographic Museum of Vietnam
The Nha Trang Oceanography Institute dates back to the early 20
th century, and it's one of the oldest scientific research institutes in Vietnam. It's also the biggest Vietnamese research center focused on marine biodiversity and ecology.
Some of the highlights of the museum include the 18-meter-long skeleton of a humpback whale found underground, glass tanks holding puffers and turtles, and even examples of local boats.
11. Traditional Fishing Villages
With over 3,000 kilometers of coastline, it's not surprising that Vietnam has developed an intimate relationship with the sea. Fishing villages have been around for hundreds of years and have become part of the cultural heritage of the country. Here, people not only fish for a living, but have shaped their lives around the water.
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