Nha Trang

[boatboy]

We have done several trips to the usual haunts in Vietnam but the last trip I did was to Nha Trang.
We liked it so much we spent a few months there .

We flew in from Saigon to Cam Ranh airport about 30klm south of Nha Trang and went to small hotel on the Northside of the river. The last 15 minutes of the flight was great with nice scenery of the islands, fishing villages etc.
The hotel we stayed at on night one wasnt bad for $12 a night, but it had steep stairs, was pretty noisy on the road after the locals finished work and the bed was a bit hard.
The view off of the small balcony was quite nice





The wife being a light sleeper pushed for a move the next day so off we went back into the main area to look at plan B, C, D etc.
We didnt get past plan B.
This was just on the edge of the tourist area, a high-rise up a small alley not offering anything apart from a lift, a room with a view, cold a/c, a fridge and not one but two comfortable queensized beds.
Staff could hardy get a word of English out, but it was better than my attempts at Vietnamese.
There was no room service, breakfast or other services, but within 100 metres there were numerous shops selling most anything and everything.

This picture is from the hotel website but is very indicative of what we had, I think it is the same room we had.



They did have cheaper rooms but what the hell, we were on holidays so we lashed out the $25 a night and settled in.

This was the view that greeted us daily


and to the south

[boatboy]

Unfortunately directly opposite was blocked by the Novatel but the view at times was pretty good

.

We found out we could walk up a flight of stairs and there was a rooftop, so every morning and most evenings we would wander up for a look around



beaches are quiet, this is at 8:30am a couple of hundred metres up the road outside the Sheraton , the building on the left on the above images


and about a klm to the south its the same.



All the tourists seem to stay in their flash hotels and use the pools, you rarely see them out and about
Viets swim before and after work which leaves the beaches deserted during the day.

Roads are pretty quiet so we rented a steppy for the time we were there at about $3 a day for an Automatic Yammie 125

This allowed us to go for a leisurely ride out and about to see the sights.

To the North looking south towards Nha Trang


The bridge looking across fishing boats to the Pagoda


Beach to the south, all those huts sell seafood and beer, when the tide is up it is actually washing into the restaurants so you are sitting in the shade with your feet in the water.


Not my Vid, but it gives you an idea.

[kingwilly]

It's a great place, a couple of bars showing the cricket also!

[ltnt]

Nice place in the 60's. It appears not to have changed dramatically except for the hi-rises. Spent lots of time there. Best beaches are in Cam Ranh Bay, but I am told no facilities for tourists yet and restricted area due to government facilities.

Thanks for the photos and descriptions.

[Bangyai]

Nice looking beaches. If that were a popular resort in Thailand it would be hard to see the sand for all the deckchairs.

[sunsetter]

cheers, this is going on the list for a short break for next year, thanks

[terry57]

I was in Nha Trang over Christmas and Stayed in the Novatel on the 17th floor.

Coughed out $200 a night and spent 3 nights there, fantastic views, brilliant rooms with large balconies.

First time back in 6 years and the pace of development with there high rises going up is awesome.

Had a good time, no drama, great beach, good food and cheap drinks. Eye candy was inviting also.

Vietnam is twisting off and flying into the 21 century at a massive pace, totally different vibe from Thailand and a refreshing change.

Great pics, cheers, must get mine up.

[scrapmetalband]

What time of the year do you think would be best to go, weather wise? And what about the diving?

[boatboy]

^^ I usually do May June July as it is quieter.
Diving is OK but better supposedly at the Cham Islands (Hoi An)
I didnt bother as I regularly get out to the reef here (Great Barrier) and the diving in Nha Trang/Hoi An is not as good as that so I have been told.

[scrapmetalband]

Yeah, I've wanted to dive the GB reef since I was a kid. Next window for me to check out Nha Trang will be Sept. or Oct. I'm going to try and buy my sailboat this year. Plan on keeping it in Rio Dulce, Guatemala. Sail the Caribbean for a couple of years then head through the Canal for the SP. If I decide to take my boat to Thailand, I'll be sure to dive the GB reef on the way.

[kjun12]

It's a great place, a couple of bars showing the cricket also!

What, prey tell, is "the cricket"?

[kingwilly]

I went diving in Hoi An and at Nha Trang, both were ordinary, to be honest. But it might have been the time of year that I was there. (roughly June, I think)

[Rural Surin]

It's a great place, a couple of bars showing the cricket also!

Indded, a most naturally beautiful and breathtaking region!

[Happy Dave]

It's a great place, a couple of bars showing the cricket also!

What, prey tell, is "the cricket"?

Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! is this man a savage , or what ?

[easyas]

Are you keeping the name of the hotel a secret? Or am I blind? I promise I won't book every room in the place when you want to visit again!

[boatboy]

Are you keeping the name of the hotel a secret? Or am I blind? I promise I won't book every room in the place when you want to visit again!

Ngan Ha - Galaxy Hotel
Galaxy hotel - Ngân Hà hotel

Like I said, english is an issue so if wanting to book before arriving perhaps agoda?
But, we got in on the day by fronting at reception and the prices are on the wall, the best room being 550,000vnd.

[SoiNongbua]

Thanks for the post and pix. Been wanting to get to Nha Trang for 20+ years now, but never seem to make it out of Saigon.

[toslti]

Thanks for all of this info... I am off there for Songkran. Staying at the Sheraton.

Any particular bars/restaurants to hit/avoid?

thanks

[boatboy]

Thanks for all of this info... I am off there for Songkran. Staying at the Sheraton.

Any particular bars/restaurants to hit/avoid?

thanks

LOL, yeah, avoid the ones at the sheraton and the sailing club unless you like overpriced shit quality drinks and food.
(dont worry, its probably me, I hated the rooftop bar at the REX in Saigon as well, no1 spot to go to so the 'experts' told me )

If you want some info about some actual good spots, Ms Chung and a few of the expats at the Oz bar will point you in the right direction and the beer is probably the coldest around.
I didnt drink here often as I couldn't stand to be in a place trying to remind me of Oz.

Rooftop of the Ha Vanh is good, nice and quiet and pretty good cocktails, probably a 20th of the price of the sheraton .
Found a few good Bia Hoi spots, but probably not your thing sitting on the footpath on tiny seats swilling 20c a litre beer jibbering shit with the locals.

The most disappointing meals I had where always at the most popular western owned spots and funnily enough, one of the worst I had was the seafood spread at the sheraton, you'd think it'd be good.
Great restaurant is Lac Canh BBQ up near the bridge very local, rarely see a pale face, but that suits me fine.
Good seafood north of the bridge, local prices not tourist prices.
Great duck places in the back blocks, renting a scooter and riding around until finding a busy one seemed a good tactic.
No shortage of good spots to eat, just get away from the touristy areas and look to where the locals eat.

[kingwilly]

LOL, yeah, avoid the ones at the sheraton and the sailing club unless you like overpriced shit quality drinks and food.

I actually really enjoyed the Sailing club.

but horses for courses and all that.

[boatboy]

I didnt go for doof doof music and western oriented bars and clubs

I went for this

A Taste of Vietnam on Vimeo

Nice bit of music on that video, comes from this album
52. Fuka Vicente – Tempura Soul | Fel

[Mr Orange]

Is that Viet girl called spaghetti still hanging out there?

[Minnie Maugham]

I still got my stupid stone ashtray from Nha Trang (well, gave it to my Sis, but she died, so...). I had fun there, hanging out at the beach with the fruit ladies and their sweet kids (the dam mafia guys stole the toy truck I bought for one little boy; hoped they didn't beat the crap outta Mom for trying to hide it in her fruit basket). Great seafood on the beach, but the locals threw their garbage everywhere. Loved the baguettes and coffee. Was waiting for body parts to wash ashore from...oh, never mind.

[Rural Surin]

Is that Viet girl called spaghetti still hanging out there?

Yes...but she's 56 now.