The main beach
Yesterday was a new adventure. Drifter and I set out on a impromptu road trip and it was a good one. I will write abut it after the Why visit Vietnam series is done.
We caught the open tour bus in front of the resort area in Mui Ne and now are headed to NhaTrang. We are eager to arrive but at one location, sit for almost 2 ½ hours while the driver and his helper have lunch and a nap. This practice may have changed, but in 2006 it happened a lot. We pass hillsides covered with colorful graves, and monuments to fallen heroes. We continue past beautiful vistas of rice fields, mountains, banana plantations, and Thanh long farms. At last houses start lining the roads. We are 11 km from NhaTrang. We
Buddha
enter from the west and at first glance it looks busy and congested much like Saigon. We pass the bus and train station and encounter a flower filled traffic circle that it the main street that runs from north to south through the length of the city. 2/4 street ( the date the North “liberated” NhaTrang) is where most businesses and commercial shops can be found. The bus travels a few blocks further and stops before its NhaTrang office. Waiting like in so many other places in Vietnam, is a small army of taxi’s ready to be hired. They will try to suggest places to stay and perhaps advise you how bad the place you have booked is to try to gain a commission from the hotel they deliver you to, but we don’t care. And we end up in some mini hotel 2 bocks off the beach and not a bad room for around 15 bucks. We are here……… now what is there to do.
NhaTrang:
Some water fun
NhaTrang is probably the most visited destination for vacationers in Vietnam. During National holidays and summer months, all of the hotels can be full. That is a lot to say for a small city that has over 350 hotels (so I was told). Some of the following was borrowed from another site and I have added my words to it.
The city of Nha Trang is becoming more popular with the tourists in recent years. Yet, with a population of 300,000, Nha Trang still retains its small town atmosphere. This resort town is well known for its miles of beach and the friendliness of its people. The city is flanked by nearly ten kilometers of prime beach where the water is warm year round. The average temperature in Nha Trang is 26 C. Nha Trang also has the lowest level of humidity in all of Vietnam. Today, Nha Trang ranks among the top of all beaches in Vietnam.
A shot of Tran Phu
Nha Trang is 1,287 km south of Hanoi, 624 km south of Hue and 442 km from Ho Chi Minh city (Saigon). Nha Trang has several famous islands. Most notable are Hon Tre, Hon Yen, Hon Rua and the Spratly islands. Upon arriving to Nha Trang, most tourists will pass through downtown. Beyond the rows of businesses and homes will be Nha Trang beach. Tran Phu Boulevard is Nha Trang most famous thoroughfare. It runs the length of the beach with several major hotels located within a few steps from the beach. The road continues over a large bridge crossing the Cai river. Tran Phu becomes Pham Van Dong street and curves around Hong Chon rock to another smaller beach with warmer and quieter waters. On any given day, between 5:00 am to 8:00 am Nha Trang beach is filled with local people taking in the fresh sea
Nhr Trang Cathedral
breeze, socializing, playing soccer, badminton or practicing Tai chi. Most people in Nha Trang fear being darken by the sun. For this reason, the window between 5-8 am (where sunlight is less intense) is peaked with activities. Another reason is that many go to the ocean for a morning swim, and to exercise. In Nha Trang, going to the beach can be a family affair. One often see generations of families going to the beach together, and romance is everywhere. Young couples gaze out to see holding hands and giving each other doey eyed looks.
There is so much to see and to do that it could take weeks to get it all in. In my nest blog, I will write and borrow some more hard work by others and give a brief overview of what is available here.
Another sot of Tran Phu
Good information. The picutres are great.