Nha Trang (pronounced Nah Jung) is a beacher’s paradise for when you make your visit to Vietnam. It’s like the country’s equivalent to Thailand’s Phuket where it prides itself as having stretches of crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches along the Nha Trang Bay. It was also the place where the 2008 Miss Universe Pageant was held (and yes to all the boys reading – I saw them!)

Making your way here by car is the best way to do it by seeing a local travel agent who will help organise a local driver to take you there. But be prepared to sit for a six hour drive, although there are plenty of pit stops along the way. You’ll know when you see green farm land slowly turn into a scenic drive with an ocean view on one side and luscious mountains on the other that you’re getting closer.

Skipping pass central Nha Trang, not unless you’re going in for a feed, you’ll find yourself on the main road; wide, clean and not so cluttered with traffic, unlike Ho Chi Minh City. The place newly renovated over the last 10 years, is still welcoming developments of more hotels. But you’d think with the already infinite choices of hotels and guesthouses that stretch along the main road and sit right opposite the beach giving you 24/7 access is enough.

Go for a drink, at the popular Sailing Club – an Australian own and run restaurant and bar. At night, it turns into a hub for Aussies to catch-up with each other while enjoying a cocktail or two and rejuvenating with a basket of fish n’ chips. It also gets pretty crowded on the dance floor where you can ‘shake it a lil.’
But come day time, the Sailing Club is the best place to just ‘kick it’ (with of course a cocktail) and relax on the very many beach chairs they have set out facing the ocean while you get that golden tan everyone back home will be jealous of. You’ll also be greeted by little old ladies carrying fresh crab and will be more than happy to cook it up for you. How more blissful can a holiday get?

Go island hopping around the harbour by hiring yourself a boat at the main pier located on the eastern end of the Nha Trang Bay. But before you do, make your way into the local markets to get some fresh seafood to bring on board (keep reading you’ll understand why). You’ll get the whole boat to yourself so you can make as much or as little noise as you want. Ride at the front where you can sunbake and enjoy the cool ocean breeze blow through your hair.

Request with your captain and his skipper that you’d like to go snorkelling and they’ll find you the perfect spot to do exactly that. Unfortunately, they don’t have offer lessons on how to snorkel but even still it’s a chance to finally cool yourself off from the humidity with a refreshing dip in the water. While you’re off enjoying yourself, remember the seafood you bought? Your captain and skipper will be in the back kitchen of the boat cooking up your lunch and it will be served when you get tired of swimming. And you can spend your whole day doing just that – swimming and eating.

Make a visit to the newest tourist attraction at Nha Trang – VinPearl, an island turn theme park adjacent to the mainland and is only accessible by boat or skyline. It’s not particularly the most crowded theme park but for five bucks, it’ll get you a ride on the skyline and unlimited rides so why not let that inner child of you roam free just once.