Vietnam’s Best Beach

Posted by admin on December 29, 2010 under Vietnam Beaches, Vietnam Destinations, Vietnam attractions, Vietnam beauty | Read the First Comment

Nha Trang, Vietnam

Combining a beautiful, if sometimes crowded beach with a lush inland area and a rich sampling of antiquity, Nha Trang is one of Vietnam’s most attractive destinations. Known in backpacker circles for its underwater diving and its beer soaked boat cruises, Nha Trang is a unique place with much more to offer. (Yes, the boat cruises are a blast, though).The beach in Nha Trang is quite heavily visited by tourists, both foreigners and Vietnamese. As a result, certain things are expensive. People looking for a suntan will be pestered by hawkers selling fresh seafood or trinkets. They will cook the seafood right there for you, but the price will be highly inflated. Bars like, The Sailing Club are posh but popular, but by no means the norm in Nha Trang. Cheap eats can be had in town, as can cheap beverages.

The Cham temples are on a hill overlooking the harbor in Nha Trang. The site itself is usually crowded and the atmosphere more like a carnival than a holy site. The view of Nha Trang’s harbor is worth the hike up the ill, though. The crowd of colorful fishing boats makes the harbor seem timeless and picturesque.

Wandering Nha Trang city streets is not as rewarding as, say, Hanoi, in terms of sightseeing, but some of the local street stalls serve tasty and hearty fare. Bia Hoi (fresh beer) stalls pop up at night time and offer a dirt cheap alternative to pricey sea front bars. That said, some of the seaside cafes offer reasonable priced food. Many specialize in seafood.

Boat trips to the islands off Nha Trang’s coast are crowded, and basically just a place for tourists to socialize with one another. Some offer food and snorkeling and (copious amounts) or booze.

Yes, many of the boat rides are simply tourist traps, bu Nha Trang is also the only place in Vietnam to do serious scuba diving. Dive shops are almost all certified and snorkeling or diving trips to the coral reefs off Nha Trang’s coast are reasonably priced and recommended by experienced divers as well as novices. Nha Trang is also the place to get your divers certification should you want or need it.

Getting a guide and going trekking inland is perhaps the least known activity in Nha Trang. Traveling through rice fields and small, colorful farm villages is makes getting to the mountains half the fun. There are several mountain streams worth trekking up. Guides in Nha Trang will be able to arrange a trip, sometimes with a meal in one of the farm villages. This is probably the most underrated way to spend a day in Nha Trang.

Nha Trang is developing into a world class resort area. However, it still retains some of its small town charm, and offers more than just sun-tanning and surf.

Nha Trang Fishing Boats
Village outside Nha Trang
(Source: Hubpage)

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Dalat: Vietnam’s Mountain Town

Posted by admin on under Vietnam Destinations, Vietnam beauty | Be the First to Comment

Once called “Little Paris” by the French colonists who founded it, Dalat Vietnam is now known for its beautiful mountain scenery and delightfully cool mountain weather. Though not quite on par with Nha Trang or Ha Long Bay in terms of being a tourist destination, Da Lat has a lot to offer to those interesting in trekking, natural sights, and motorcycle trips. This is a great place to get to know Vietnam’s highlands.Arriving via car or bus provides an opportunity to view the switch from tropical jungle surroundings to panoramic mountain views. The land around Da Lat is a place of coffee farms and colorful small towns. Though the road is narrow, the ride offers enough scenery to distract riders from Vietnam’s famously dangerous traffic.

Xuan Huong Lake is a destination for Vietnamese tourists. There are paths around this wide body of water, usually used by honeymooners, as Da Lat is the honeymoon destination of choice for people from Ho Chi Minh City. Boats can be rented, although the views from the shore are just as enjoyable as anything that can be seen afloat.

Further afield, Da Lat has several scenic waterfalls. renting a motorbike is advisable, as there is 10-15 miles between the falls and Da Lat. Those who do not ride motorcycles can hire a local motorcycle driver to take them around. Many drivers speak good english and know where the best sightseeing spots are. Prenn Falls is a good place to stop off and enjoy a brief hike.

Tuyen Lam Lake is another trekking destination. The lake is known for its emerald green waters and the scenic mountains which surround it. There are several outfitters who can organize longer treks or motorcycle tours. There is a lot to see around Da Lat, and the most idyllic places are usually off the beaten path.

There are opportunities to tour coffee farms or sing karaoke and enjoy a beer at some of the small places perched on the walls of a valley.

Da Lat does have a higher elevation that coastal Vietnam, and the temperature can get quite cold, especially during the winter months. Aside from packing appropriately, visitors will be able to find reasonably priced cold weather apparel at Da Lat’s Markets. Some of the knit clothing is handmade.

Da Lat is a place with many natural sights. Though you have to get off the beaten path to see most of them, it is worth it, especially since the area is so different from Vietnam’s popular coastal areas.

Da Lat (Xuan Huong Lake is in the background)
(Source: hubpages)

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