Travelog - A travel guide to Vietnam

Highlights:

Nha Trang City is the principal city in the south central Vietnamese province of Khanh Hoa. With less than 48 hours to make an impression, we crammed our day with what we felt were activities different enough from one another. But within each of these, I was already formulating in my head other activities that could be enjoyed. The train ride is definitely worth it, as you will pass Da Nang, and its historical significance cannot be ignored. However, stay awake for the Hai Van Pass segment of the trip, where the view will bewilder you.

Don’t Miss:

• Ponagar Cham Towers: though the city is renown for its beaches, these towers represent some of the finest examples of ancient Cham Culture. Dedicated to the Indian goddess Ponaga, as she taught the populace rice farming. While you’re up there, don’t forget to have a look at the small museum they put together with historical data and a few artifacts.

Getting there is wonderful, as you will cross the Xom Dong bridge over the Cai River. This is where the mind begins to wander: you could rent a boat and cruise the turquoise waters of the river, see the fishermen’s homes, wind your way through all the little isles and their coconut trees, and perhaps spot a shrimp cultivation area.

• Long So’N Pagoda: even if you cannot make it to the top to see the reclining Buddha, this is just a splendid pagoda and the city’s largest. Should you get to the top, take time to take pictures of the children, who make it a playground. There is a makeshift restaurant up there, with easy snacks and beverages and kiddie tables and chairs which you’ll want to surely use. The Pagoda serves as the Khanh Hoa headquarters for Buddhist studies and underwent some renovations in 1940. Marvel at the gate and the roof, which are decorated with dragon mosaics and bits of ceramic and glass.

• XQ Art Center: You don’t have to like embroidery to visit here; this is like an enchanted land, set up on the beach front, where the soothing sound of water, and the forces of geomancy are at work. The art, however, will not leave you indifferent.

Quick Tips/Suggestions:

It is best to take a taxi, and in some cases, they will either wait for you or come back for you to take you to your next destination. The major sights that we visited were not close to each other: in fact they were in the form of a triangle across the city. If you don’t mind being roasted in the sun, then some other form of transportation may do. Remember to bring water with you, or you can purchase it on the premises near or at the monuments’ gates. At Nha Trang Beach , vendors are everywhere, so keeping hydrated is not a problem. Avoiding the hassles may be. Also boat rentals for excursions to various nearby islands are available (plenty of operators on the city’s main drag, Tran Phu; I would have liked to take advantage of the thermal baths which can be accessed by boat ride on the Cai River. If you are adventurous and not deathly afraid of cycles, you can rent one for about US$10/day. I find them impractical, however, because I’d rather not spend my time trying to figure out how to get somewhere.

Best Way to Get Around:

I did see buses around Nha Trang, but unless you have the luxury of time or you know where you’re going, I don’t recommend taking them. Taxis are inexpensive, air-conditioned, and fast. There are no traffic jams to contend with, as in Ha Noi or Saigon, so you’re at destination in a relatively short time. Hop a cyclo for fun, though; I saw fewer of them here than anywhere else. Bicycles are the mode of transport here, and this cuts down on the noise. For hire, motorbikes are abundant, and you’ll be hounded from the moment you step out of your hotel till you either disappear or go with them.

There are a couple of sites we missed which I want to mention, since they will be on my agenda, next time around Viet Nam. I read about Dao Khi (Monkey Island), and if you have a whole day to spare, this is the recommended time to allot. Also, set aside at least two hours of your time to see the city Market. There is also the Center for Oceanography at Cau Da to delight every young and older member of the family.

Written by Ishtar from iE