Three years ago, I read an article about the salt fields in Nha Trang so when I planned of backpacking in Vietnam, I made sure it is included in my itinerary. Unfortunately, I did not research enough as it is not the right season to visit the salt fields when I was there. Instead, I just explored the city and enjoyed the beach.
Visa Requirements to Hanoi, Vietnam
Philippine passport holders can visit Vietnam without applying for a visa as a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) for a period of not more than 21 days. For other nationalities, you can check out the official Vietnam Immigration website to apply for an e-visa.
How to get to Nha Trang from Manila?
There is no direct flight from Manila to Nha Trang, Vietnam. You will have to fly to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City from Manila and take another flight, bus or train from there. Nha Trang is closer to Ho Chi Minh City so it’s better to fly to HCMC than Hanoi.
How to get to Nha Trang from Hanoi?
The most convenient way to go to Nha Trang from Hanoi is by taking a flight. Vietnam Airlines, VietJet, Bamboo Airways, and JetStar Pacific have multiple daily flights from Hanoi to Nha Trang. The fare is very competitive so it is pretty much affordable.
How to get to Nha Trang from Da Nang?
To get to Nha Trang from Da Nang, you can either take a short flight or take an overnight bus. I did the latter and the bus was a comfortable sleeper bus. You can also take a regular bur or a semi-sleeper bus. The travel time is around 10 hours.
How to get to Nha Trang from Ho Chi Minh City?
The most convenient way to go to Nha Trang from Ho Chi Minh City is by taking a flight. Vietnam Airlines, VietJet, Bamboo Airways, and JetStar Pacific have multiple daily flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang. Alternatively, you can also take a train or bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang and it will take around 7-8 hours.
When is the best time to visit Nha Trang?
Nha Trang has only two seasons: dry and rainy season. The rainy season usually starts from September to November while the dry season normally falls between December to August. Since Nha Trang is a coastal city, the best time to go there is during summer months between April and August.
How to get to the city center from Nha Trang Airport
Nha Trang’s Cam Ranh Airport is located about 30 kilometers away from Nha Trang City Center. The cheapest mode of transportation from the airport to the city center is by taking a bus for VND50,000. You can buy the ticket at the Dat Moi desk at the counter.
Where to exchange local currency in Nha Trang?
There are exchange centers available at Nha Trang Airport. Alternatively, you can also exchange your money in the city center.
How to get around Nha Trang?
For a solo backpacker, the most convenient and cost-effective means of transportation in Nha Trang is Grab bike. It’s cheap and easy to book. If you are traveling with a group, you can book a grab car to your destination.
Where to stay in Nha Trang, Vietnam?
There are a lot of options when it comes to accommodation in Nha Trang depending on your preference and budget. Do not be surprised by the number of Chinese tourists you see here. They are everywhere. If you are on a budget and want to stay near Nha Trang Beach, I highly recommend staying at Azura Hotel. I stayed here for a night and it’s a good deal for Php800 (USD16). It’s less than five minutes walk to the beach.
Top Tourist Attractions in Nha Trang
Nha Trang is a popular destination especially for visitors coming from mainland China. Here are the top tourist attractions in Nha Trang you should explore and experience when you visit this coastal city.
Tran Phu Beach
If you are staying in Nha Trang City Center, make sure you pay a visit to Tran Phu Beach. Its a long stretch of white sand beach along Tran Phu Street.
Long Son Pagoda
Located on the foothill of Trai Thuy Mountain, Long Son Pagoda is a famous temple in Nha Trang featuring an image of a white Buddha atop the mountain. Its original structure was built in 1886 and is now considered as one of the top tourist attractions in Nha Trang, Vietnam.
Address: Thai Nguyen St, 500 meters west of the city’s train station | Check on Google Maps
Opening Hours: 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Entrance Fee: FREE
Ponagar Tower
Built between the 8th and 11 centuries, Po Nagar Cham temple complex is a popular tourist attraction in Nha Trang, Vietnam.
Address: 22 Thang 4, end of Som Bong Bridge, Nha Trang, Vietnam | Open on Google Maps
Opening Hours: 06:00 AM – 7:00 PM daily
Entrance Fee: VND22,000 (USD1)
Nha Trang Cathedral
Considered to be the largest church in the city, Nha Trang Cathedral was constructed in French Gothic style by Priest Louis Vallet in the 19th century. The church is open to the public but it closes at lunchtime. I arrived there past 12:00 PM and it was closed so I was not able to get in and take photos.
Vinpearl Amusement Park
Vinpearl Amusement Park is a huge and popular theme park in Vietnam located on an island across Nha Trang Beach. It features water slides, a wave pool, a large aquarium, and other fun rides. Vinpearl Amusement Park can be reached by a cable car for the mainland. The journey offers an amazing view of the city as well as the bay.
National Oceanographic Museum of Vietnam
The National Oceanographic Museum of Vietnam was opened to the public back in 1922. It has an extensive collection of marine life such as turtles, anemones, reef sharks, as well as coral reefs from different parts of the world.
Address: 1 Cau da, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa | View on Google Maps
Opening Hours: Open daily from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Entrance Fee: VND30,000
Top Tours and Activities to Do from Nha Trang
Mui Ne Full-Day Tour from Nha Trang
Experience the “Little Sahara Desert” of Vietnam and enjoy the sunrise view in the remarkable sand dunes. You will also get to visit a fishing village on this tour as well as walk in the famous Fairy Stream.
Sample Mui Ne Full-Day Tour Itinerary
- 6:45–7:30am pick up at hotel lobby in Nha Trang city center or at the meetup location going to Mui Ne
- 10:30am arrive at Bau Trang
- 11:30am enjoy lunch with Vietnamese dishes at a local restaurant
- 1:00pm move to Fishing Village Mui Ne, Fairy Stream, and Red Sand Dunes
- 3.00pm tour ends, drop off at your hotel or the meetup location
Basic and Useful Phrases in Vietnamese
English is not widely spoken in Vietnam especially in the suburbs, here are some useful words and phrases in Vietnamese to help you communicate with the locals. Big thanks to my friend Hieu of Hieu on the Go for helping me out with the translation.
| English | Vietnamese |
| Yes | Dạ |
| No | Không |
| Thank you | Cảm ơn |
| You’re welcome | Không có chi |
| Hello | Xin chào |
| How are you? | Bạn khoẻ không? |
| Goodbye | Tạm biệt |
| What is your name? | Tên bạn là gì? |
| My name is Glen | Tên tôi là Glen |
| Nice to meet you | Rất vui khi gặp bạn |
| Do you speak English? | Bạn có nói tiếng anh không? |
| I don’t understand | Tôi không hiểu |
| How much is this? | Cái này giá bao nhiêu? |
| Too expensive | Mắc quá |
| Can you reduce the price? | Giảm giá được không |
| One | Một |
| Two | Hai |
| Three | Ba |
| Four | Bốn |
| Five | Năm |
| Six | Sáu |
| Seven | Bảy |
| Eight | Tám |
| Nine | Chín |
| Ten | Mười |
| Turn left | Rẽ trái |
| Turn right | Rẽ phải |
| Go Straight | Đi thẳng |
| Good morning | Chào buổi sáng |
| Good afternoon | Chào buổi chiều |
| Good evening | Chào buổi tối |
Nha Trang Itinerary + Expenses
Day 0: Overnight bus from Da Nang to Nha Trang [VND400,000]
Day 1: Arrival in Nha Trang City
5:00 AM: Arrived in Nha Trang and took a grab bike to the hotel [VND30,00}
5:20 AM: Arrived in the Hotel [Php805/night]
9:00 AM: Breakfast [VND84,000]
10:00 AM: City Tour
– Grab bike from hotel to Long Son Pagoda VND19k
– Grab bike to Po Nagar Temple VND20k
– Another Grab bike to Nha Trang Cathedral VND17k
– Back to the hotel VND15k
2:00 PM: Late lunch VND50k
8:00 PM: Dinner VND100k
Day 2: Depart Nha Trang to Mui Ne by bus
VIETNAM BLOG SERIES
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Da Nang + Hoi An Travel Guide