You can’t miss the ‘Big Smoke’ coastal city of Nha Trang on your next visit to Vietnam. There are many awesome things to do in Nha Trang that are suitable for all kinds of travelers from around the world.
Nha Trang is famous for its long stretch of white sand beaches, reputable diving sites, ancient Buddhist temples and offshore islands!
I have put together this complete guide of 3 Best Things To Do In Nha Trang to help you plan your trip!
Also in this Nha Trang Travel Guide, I have included some useful information on how to get to Nha Trang, where to stay in Nha Trang and the best time to visit!
Have you got travel insurance for Vietnam? I know that nobody likes to talk about this stuff but accidents can happen and having World Nomads Insurance can save you thousands of dollars if something goes wrong.
WHERE IS NHA TRANG & HOW TO GET THERE
Nha Trang is located on the South-Eastern coastline of Vietnam.
Domestic flights operate daily in and out of Cam Ranh International airport from Hanoi, Dan Nang and Ho Chi Minh. I use Skyscanner to book all of my flights as they always have the best prices.
Search All ∼ Flights to Nha Trang
From Cam Ranh Airport you will have to take a 1-hour taxi ride north to Nha Trang for approximately $10.
Alternatively, from Ho Chi Minh City you can take a 7-hour train which costs approximately 360,000 dong or you can take a 9-hour bus which costs approximately 200,000 dong.
Search All ∼ Buses & Trains to Nha Trang
Nha Trang Vietnam
TOP 3 THINGS TO DO IN NHA TRANG
1. LONG SON PAGODA – BIG BUDDHA STATUE
The Long Son Pagoda, also known as Chua Long Son, is a sacred Buddhist Temple on the foothill of Trai Thuy Mountain.
Long Son Pagoda is one of the top things to do in Nha Trang City and it is most famous for the large white Buddha statue that can be seen from almost everywhere in town.
The Long Son Pagoda boasts beautiful Taoist architecture and stone carvings of mythical animals and sculptures of Taoist gods.
You will also find a large reclining Buddha statue on the 2nd level of the Chua Linh Phong temple grounds. Magnificent stone carvings and frangipani trees compliment the reclining Buddha.
To enter inside the temples you are required to wear appropriate clothing that covers your shoulders and thighs. Footwear is also to be removed before setting foot inside the temples.
The entrance fee to The Long Son Pagoda is FREE and opening hours are Monday – Sunday from 8:00am to 5:00pm.
Search All ∼ Hotels & Resorts in Nha Trang
Big Buddha Nha Trang – What to do in Nha Trang
Reclining Buddha inside the Chua Linh Phong Temple
Magnificient Taoist architecture
2. THÁP BÀ PO NAGAR – CHAM TOWERS NHA TRANG
A visit to the Po Nagar Cham Towers was one of my favorite things to do in Nha Trang. The Cham Towers were built in medieval times, somewhere between the 7th and 12th centuries.
Commonly known as Tháp Bà, the Po Nagar Cham Towers are still actively used for worship by the Cham, Chinese and Vietnamese Buddhists.
Cham is an ancient civilization that was influential in Southeast Asia, especially in Vietnam and Cambodia. The Cham ruled Vietnam for 10 centuries, their unmistakable architecture and art style has spread widely across the country.
There are 4 towers inside the complex, the largest one standing 28 meters high. The Po Nagar Cham Towers was constructed in honor of Yang Ino Po Nagar, the goddess of the Dua (Liu) clan, which ruled over the southern part of the Cham kingdom.
The entrance fee to the Po Nagar Cham Towers is 22,000 dong and opening hours are Monday – Sunday from 7:00am to 7:00pm.
Must Read → 4 Week Vietnam Itinerary
Cylindrical pillars at Po Nagar Cham Towers
A stone cauldron at Cham Towers
Tháp Bà Po Nagar complex – Things to do in Nha Trang
3. NHA TRANG BEACH
Who doesn’t love a beach day?! One of the best things to do in Nha Trang is to head to the beach for some fun in the sun. Nha Trang beach is rated number 29 of the most beautiful bays in the world – ultimate postcard material.
Head on down to famous esplanade resort strip along Nha Trang Bay and pick a spot under a shady palm tree to perch up for the day.
Along Nha Trang beach you can find a number of restaurants, cafes, bars and water sports activities to keep you happy and entertained.
The best time to visit Nha Trang beach is early morning and late afternoon to avoid the tourist crowds and the blazing midday heat.
Free ∼ $40 AirBnb Discount
The Esplanade – Nha Trang Beach
Umbrella huts on Nha Trang Beach
WHERE TO STAY IN NHA TRANG
Nha Trang has hundreds of accommodations to choose from, so I have narrowed it down to a few of the best places to stay in Nha Trang to suit the needs of budget backpackers and luxury travelers. See the list of accommodations below that I personally recommend:
Luxury: InterContinental Nha Trang
Check prices on Agoda | Check prices on Booking.com
Mid Range: Happy Light Hotel
Check prices on Agoda | Check prices on Booking.com
Budget: iFriends Hostel
Check prices on Agoda | Check prices on Booking.com
FOR ALL OTHER PLACES TO STAY IN NHA TRANG, SEARCH ON AGODA OR SEARCH ON BOOKING.COM
BEST TIME TO VISIT NHA TRANG
The best time to visit Nha Trang is between the summer months of January to August. Try to avoid the wet season which is typically September though to December.
MAP OF NHA TRANG
BEST VIETNAM TOURS
AIRBNB VIETNAM
Another option for accommodation in Vietnam is to stay at an Airbnb, which generally has some great deals in Vietnam.
Get your $40 Airbnb discount here!
MORE VIETNAM TRAVEL GUIDES
Vietnam Travel Guide: 4 Week Vietnam Itinerary
Ho Chi Minh City Guide: 7 Things To Do In Ho Chi Minh
Nha Trang Travel Guide: 3 Things To Do In Nha Trang
Hoi An Travel Guide: 4 Things To Do In Hoi An
Ninh Binh Travel Guide: 3 Things To Do In Ninh Binh
Da Nang Travel Guide: Golden Bridge Ba Na Hills
Cam Ranh Travel Guide: Things To Do In Cam Ranh
Ha Giang Travel Guide: 3 Day Ha Giang Loop Adventure
MY CAMERA GEAR
• DSLR Mirrorless Camera: Sony A7ii
• Drone Camera: DJI Mavic Pro 2
• GoPro: GoPro Hero 8 Black
• Everyday Lens: Sony F2.8 24/70mm
• Camera Bag: Lowepro Protactic 31L
• Selfie Stick: Sandmarc Metal Edition 1.2m
• Tripod: Joby Flexible GorillaPod
• GoPro Dome: Underwater GoPro Dome
• Power Bank: Anker Powerbank
• External Hardrive: WD Elements 4TB
WHAT TO PACK FOR VIETNAM?
• Waterproof Phone Case: Universal Waterproof Case
• Reusable Water Bottle: Hydro Flask Water Bottle
• Rain Jacket: North Face Rain Jacket
• Water Shoes: Slip-on Water Shoes
• Day Bag: Nomatic 20L Day Bag
• Power Adapter: Universal Power Adapter
• Packing Cubes: 4 Set Packing Cubes
• Microfibre Towel: Quick Dry Travel Towel
• Travel Insurance: World Nomads Travel Insurance
• Money Belt: Hidden Money Belt
I hope you enjoyed reading this blog post and if you have any questions about the Top 3 Things To Do In Nha Trang please drop me a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Happy Adventuring!
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