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.
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 the 3 Best Things To Do In Nha Trang to help you plan your trip!
Also in this guide, I have included some useful information on how to get to Nha Trang, where to stay, and the best time to visit.
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Table of Contents
WHERE IS NHA TRANG & HOW TO GET THERE
Nha Trang is located on the South-Eastern coastline of Vietnam.
Click here to see the location on Google maps.
Domestic flights operate daily in and out of Cam Ranh International airport from Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh.
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
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 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 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Big Buddha Nha Trang – What to do in Nha Trang
Chua Linh Phong Temple
Magnificient Taoist architecture
THÁP BÀ PO NAGAR – CHAM TOWERS NHA TRANG
A visit to the Po Nagar Cham Towers is a must-see attraction 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 the opening hours are Monday – Sunday from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.
Must Read → 4 Week Vietnam Itinerary
Po Nagar Cham Towers
A stone cauldron at Cham Towers
Tháp Bà Po Nagar complex
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 the 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.
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The Esplanade – Nha Trang Beach
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, luxury travelers, and everyone in between.
See the list of accommodations below that I personally recommend:
Luxury: InterContinental Nha Trang
Mid Range: Happy Light Hotel
Budget: iFriends Hostel
FOR ALL OTHER PLACES TO STAY IN NHA TRANG, SEARCH ON AGODA OR SEARCH ON BOOKING.COM
AIRBNB NHA TRANG
Another option for accommodation is to stay at an Airbnb, which generally has some great deals.
Use the search box below to find all available Airbnb’s in Nha Trang.
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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 through to December.
MAP OF NHA TRANG
BEST VIETNAM TOURS
LONELY PLANET VIETNAM
One of the best books to take on your trip is the Lonely Planet Vietnam Guide!
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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
JOIN MY FACEBOOK COMMUNITY
Do you have any questions about Nha Trang?
Join my Facebook Community and send me a message at any time for a quick response!
ONLINE ENGLISH TEACHING
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MY SHOP
Before you go, don’t forget to check out My Online Shop!
I’ve got a wide range of digital products for sale and I’m sure you’ll find something that will come in handy during your travels!
SEE MORE → MY SHOP
FINAL THOUGHTS
I hope you enjoyed reading this blog post and if you have any questions, please drop me a comment below this post and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Happy Adventuring!
PIN IT FOR LATER
Hey, I’m Jonny – surfer, skater, photographer, and coffee-lover from Australia!
With a burning passion for travel and the outdoors, I launched this Adventure Travel Blog in 2017, and I’ve been exploring the world ever since!
My little corner of the interwebs is a space where I love to share all of my epic adventures, cultural experiences, and captivating photos from around the globe with the ultimate goal to inspire and motivate other like-minded travelers to explore this wonderful earth too!
