Ride-hailing apps
Grab and Xanh SM book cars and motorbike taxis with the fare shown before you confirm. Show the driver our Vietnamese address card if the pin is off.
Nha Trang, bay by bay.
Today's exchange rate, how far Da Lat, Quy Nhon and the islands are, the fish noodle soup and grilled pork rolls locals queue for, and a pocket map for walking the centre or riding pillion along the bay. Put together by Toward Local's hosts, with every address checked on Google Maps on 3 October 2026.
You don't visit Nha Trang. You unlock it.
From the white Buddha to the sea
4.1 km · 5 stops · about 1 hour of walking
Walk it with the map →
4.1 km · 5 stops · about 1 hour of walking
- Right now in Nha Trang
- --:-- · …Loading what locals are doing at this hour…
- Vietcombank rate today
- 1 USD = …Counters pay less for worn or torn notes
- Weather this month
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- WhatsApp a local
- +84 334 370 563Mr Tim · we usually reply within a few hours
Money, distances and the right season
Three things to sort before your first bowl of fish noodle soup: what your cash is worth, how long the trips out of town take, and which months each place is at its best.
Today's exchange guide
Vietnam uses the dong (VND, ₫)
Rates below are Vietcombank's cash buying rates, the price one of Vietnam's biggest banks pays for foreign banknotes today.
Expect a little less at the counter. Exchange counters, hotels and gold shops check every note. Torn, taped, stained or written-on bills, very worn notes and older series are bought below this rate, and badly damaged ones can be refused. Bring clean, recent notes.
USD
At the Vietcombank rate: …Counters pay less for worn or damaged notes.
₫
That's about …
Know your notes
Changing and spending
- Change cash at banks, the airport or licensed exchange counters, and keep the receipt.
- Crisp notes get the best rate. Keep your cash flat and dry, and don't write on it.
- ATMs are everywhere in the centre. Most charge a fee per withdrawal, and your home bank may add its own.
- Cards and QR payments work in malls, hotels and many cafés. Street stalls, markets and island boats want cash.
- The 20,000₫ and 500,000₫ notes are both blue. Count the zeros before you hand one over.
How far from Nha Trang, and when to go
Road distances measured from Tram Huong Tower on OpenStreetMap
DestinationHours from Tram Huong Tower (scale 0–6 h)Best months
Nha Trang itself
You're here · the rain comes from September to December
Jan: Good, with some rainFeb: Best timeMar: Best timeApr: Best timeMay: Best timeJun: Best timeJul: Best timeAug: Best timeSep: Good, with some rainOct: Wet or rough seasNov: Wet or rough seasDec: Wet or rough seas
The bay islands
Hon Tam, Hon Mieu, Hon Mot · tourist pier 6 km south
Jan: Good, with some rainFeb: Good, with some rainMar: Best timeApr: Best timeMay: Best timeJun: Best timeJul: Best timeAug: Best timeSep: Good, with some rainOct: Wet or rough seasNov: Wet or rough seasDec: Wet or rough seas
Ba Ho Waterfalls
Three rock pools in the forest · 25 km north
Jan: Best timeFeb: Best timeMar: Best timeApr: Best timeMay: Best timeJun: Best timeJul: Best timeAug: Best timeSep: Good, with some rainOct: Wet or rough seasNov: Wet or rough seasDec: Wet or rough seas
Cam Ranh airport & Bai Dai Beach
Long Beach and the airport · 35–38 km south
Jan: Good, with some rainFeb: Best timeMar: Best timeApr: Best timeMay: Best timeJun: Best timeJul: Best timeAug: Best timeSep: Good, with some rainOct: Wet or rough seasNov: Wet or rough seasDec: Wet or rough seas
Doc Let Beach & Hon Khoi salt fields
White sand and salt pans · 46–49 km north
Jan: Good, with some rainFeb: Best timeMar: Best timeApr: Special seasonMay: Special seasonJun: Special seasonJul: Best timeAug: Best timeSep: Good, with some rainOct: Wet or rough seasNov: Wet or rough seasDec: Wet or rough seas
Phan Rang & Vinh Hy Bay
Cham towers, vineyards and a clear-water bay · 100–108 km south
Jan: Best timeFeb: Best timeMar: Best timeApr: Best timeMay: Best timeJun: Best timeJul: Best timeAug: Best timeSep: Good, with some rainOct: Special seasonNov: Wet or rough seasDec: Good, with some rain
Jan: Good, with some rainFeb: Best timeMar: Best timeApr: Best timeMay: Best timeJun: Best timeJul: Best timeAug: Best timeSep: Good, with some rainOct: Wet or rough seasNov: Wet or rough seasDec: Wet or rough seas
Jan: Best timeFeb: Best timeMar: Best timeApr: Best timeMay: Good, with some rainJun: Good, with some rainJul: Wet or rough seasAug: Wet or rough seasSep: Wet or rough seasOct: Wet or rough seasNov: Special seasonDec: Special season
Jan: Good, with some rainFeb: Best timeMar: Best timeApr: Best timeMay: Best timeJun: Best timeJul: Best timeAug: Best timeSep: Good, with some rainOct: Wet or rough seasNov: Wet or rough seasDec: Wet or rough seas
Jan: Best timeFeb: Best timeMar: Best timeApr: Best timeMay: Good, with some rainJun: Good, with some rainJul: Good, with some rainAug: Good, with some rainSep: Good, with some rainOct: Good, with some rainNov: Best timeDec: Best time
Jan: Best timeFeb: Special seasonMar: Special seasonApr: Good, with some rainMay: Good, with some rainJun: Wet or rough seasJul: Wet or rough seasAug: Wet or rough seasSep: Wet or rough seasOct: Wet or rough seasNov: Special seasonDec: Best time
Jan: Good, with some rainFeb: Best timeMar: Best timeApr: Best timeMay: Best timeJun: Best timeJul: Best timeAug: Best timeSep: Good, with some rainOct: Wet or rough seasNov: Wet or rough seasDec: Good, with some rain
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
414 km south · our hosts ride here
Our Saigon guide ↗Ho Chi Minh City tours ↗Jan: Best timeFeb: Best timeMar: Best timeApr: Best timeMay: Good, with some rainJun: Good, with some rainJul: Good, with some rainAug: Good, with some rainSep: Good, with some rainOct: Good, with some rainNov: Good, with some rainDec: Best time
By road
Boat
Direct flight
Best months
Good, with some rain
Wet or rough seas
Special season (see notes)
Rain and storms. The rainy season runs from September to December, heaviest in October and November, when a storm can close the bay to boats for a day or two. January to August is mostly dry.
Calm-sea months. March to September brings the flattest, clearest water for island trips and snorkelling. From November to February the northeast wind makes the sea choppy, even on sunny days.
The highlands flip the calendar. Da Lat and Buon Ma Thuot are dry from November to April and rainy from May to October, the opposite of the coast. Take a jacket to Da Lat in any month.
Special seasons. Salt is raked at Hon Khoi from about January to July, at its best from April to June. Da Lat's wild sunflowers bloom from late October through November, and Buon Ma Thuot's coffee blossom comes in waves from January to early April.
Cham festivals. Po Nagar's festival fills the towers on the 20th to 23rd days of the third lunar month: 26–29 April in 2027. Kate, the biggest Cham festival, comes to Po Klong Garai near Phan Rang each autumn; in 2026 its main day is 10 October.
Sea Festival and Tet. The Khanh Hoa Sea Festival ran on 17–19 July in 2026, and the province plans to spread the 2027 edition across all four seasons. Lunar New Year falls on 6 February 2027: many family-run eateries close for several days around it.
Times are by car on today's roads and expressways and stretch at weekends and holidays. Flight times don't include the 45–60 minutes to Cam Ranh airport. Island boats and the cable car stop when the harbour authority closes the bay, most often from October to December, so keep a spare day in the rainy months.
Getting around Nha Trang
The airport is 38 km south
Cam Ranh International Airport (CXR) is 45–60 minutes from the centre by car. Taxis and app cars cost roughly 250,000–400,000₫. The airport bus, route 18, takes about an hour and follows the flight schedule: check the last departure.
Ride as a passenger
An International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 convention isn't valid in Vietnam, and riding without a valid licence can void your travel insurance. Sit behind a licensed local driver instead. Emergency: 113 police · 114 fire · 115 ambulance.
Trains stop in town
Nha Trang station is 2 km from the beach, on the main north–south line: about 4 hours to Dieu Tri for Quy Nhon, 9.5–11.5 hours to Da Nang and 8–10 hours to Saigon. Overnight sleepers save a hotel night.
Boats follow the weather
Tour boats and speedboats leave from the tourist pier, 6 km south of the centre, mostly in the morning. When the wind gets up the harbour authority keeps every boat in port, so book island days early in your stay.
Sun and sea sense
The sun is fierce from late morning to mid-afternoon: swim early or late, as locals do. Stay between the flags near the lifeguard posts, and treat red flags as closed.
Where Nha Trang eats
Twenty-one places grouped by what you're craving: fish and jellyfish noodle soup, grilled pork rolls from Ninh Hoa, mini pancakes baked in clay, rice cakes and turmeric noodles, seafood by weight and something sweet. The MICHELIN Guide doesn't cover Nha Trang, so each card shows the place's Google Maps rating instead. Ratings, hours and pins are from each listing on 3 October 2026.
- DirectionsOpens Google Maps with a route from where you're standing. Tap the motorbike icon for two-wheeler routes.
- Show driverShows the address in large Vietnamese for your Grab or taxi driver.
- On our mapJumps to the pocket map below, with the place highlighted.
- Before you goDownload Nha Trang for offline use in Google Maps, and carry some cash: street stalls rarely take cards.
Fish & jellyfish noodle soupbun ca · bun sua · banh canh · 4
Nha Trang's breakfast: rice noodles in a clear, light broth simmered from fish, topped with fried and steamed fish cake, chunks of fresh fish and, if you ask for bun sua, small crunchy jellyfish. Season it yourself with lime, chilli and the herbs on the table.
Over 40 years4.0 · 1,567 Google reviews
Bun Ca Nguyen Loan
A family shop that began by selling fish cakes and has served fish noodle soup for more than four decades. Order the full bowl: mackerel fish cake, fried and steamed, pieces of fresh fish and crunchy jellyfish. Open from dawn until late.
- Hours
- 05:00–22:00 daily
- Address
- 123 Ngo Gia Tu
City centre · near Xom Moi Market
House-made fish cake4.3 · 707 Google reviews
Bun Ca Min
A local favourite for more than 20 years with a short menu: fish noodle soup with house-made fish cake and jellyfish, rice-flour banh canh, and a jellyfish salad if you like the crunch.
- Hours
- 05:30–21:00 daily
- Address
- 170 Bach Dang
City centre · next to Banh Mi Phan
Neighbourhood noodle shop4.4 · 633 Google reviews
Bun Ca Co Ba
A simple shop that does one thing: bowls of bun ca with fish cake and fresh fish in a clear broth. It's next door to Ngoc's banh can, so two Nha Trang classics sit side by side.
- Hours
- 06:00–19:30 daily
- Address
- 105 Hoang Hoa Tham
City centre · 10 min walk from the beach
Thick-noodle soup4.2 · 976 Google reviews
Banh Canh Co Ha
Banh canh cha ca is the same fish broth with short, soft rice-flour noodles and plenty of fish cake. This shop near Dam Market is one of the best known for it, a minute's walk from the nem nuong on Lan Ong Street.
- Hours
- 07:00–20:00 daily
- Address
- 14 Phan Chu Trinh
City centre · near Dam Market
Grilled pork rollsnem nuong Ninh Hoa · 3
From Ninh Hoa, the next town up the coast: charcoal-grilled pork sausage that you roll at the table in rice paper with herbs, pickles, green mango and a crisp stick of fried rice paper, then dip in a thick, warm sauce.
From Ninh Hoa, since 19504.1 · 5,966 Google reviews
Nem Nuong Dang Van Quyen
The best-known name in town, a family business that started as a small stall in Ninh Hoa in 1950. A set brings grilled sausage, rice paper, herbs and sauce for rolling your own; the menu also has fish noodle soup and grilled beef.
- Hours
- 07:30–20:30 daily
- Address
- 16A Lan Ong
City centre · near Dam Market
Down a quiet lane4.9 · 1,183 Google reviews
Nem Nuong Hong Vu
A family-run place in a residential lane, with the highest rating on this page. Order the nem nuong set and roll it yourself. Its own listing says to come in through alley 47 on Huynh Thuc Khang Street.
- Hours
- 10:00–21:00 daily
- Address
- 89 Nhi Ha (enter from alley 47, Huynh Thuc Khang)
South-west of the centre
Lunch & dinner4.8 · 196 Google reviews
Nem Nuong Ba Muoi
A small Ninh Hoa-style shop five minutes' walk from the Cathedral. On most days it closes between lunch and dinner, so time your visit.
- Hours
- 10:30–13:30 · 16:00–20:30 (Sun 10:00–20:30)
- Address
- 7A Bach Dang
City centre · near the Cathedral
Mini pancakes & squid pancakesbanh can · banh xeo muc · 4
Banh can are small rice-batter cakes baked, not fried, in clay moulds over charcoal, topped with egg, shrimp or squid and dunked in fish sauce with spring-onion oil, shredded green mango and a meatball. Banh xeo muc is the crispy pancake of this coast, folded around fresh squid.
Open all day4.6 · 1,335 Google reviews
Ngoc Banh Can & Banh Xeo
Order a mixed plate of banh can with egg, shrimp and squid, add a squid pancake, and if you're hungry try the lobster banh canh the shop is named for.
- Hours
- 07:00–22:30 daily
- Address
- 113 Hoang Hoa Tham
City centre · 10 min walk from the beach
Near the night market4.6 · 1,019 Google reviews
Hai Phuong – Yen
Tucked down an alley off Hung Vuong Street in the hotel district, and open late. Squid banh xeo comes crisp from the pan: wrap pieces in mustard leaf and herbs before dipping.
- Hours
- 11:00–23:00 daily
- Address
- 46/27 Hung Vuong (in alley 46)
Tourist quarter · 5 min walk from Tram Huong Tower
Pan-fried squid pancakes4.3 · 447 Google reviews
Banh Xeo Chao 85
'Chao' means pan: pancakes are fried to order in small pans with squid, shrimp or both, and eaten with herbs and sweet-sour fish sauce.
- Hours
- 10:00–21:30 daily
- Address
- 101 Tran Nhat Duat
South-west of the centre
Banh can all day4.2 · 610 Google reviews
Tiem Banh Can Thang Nam
A small shop that serves banh can through the day, when many stalls sell it only at breakfast or in the late afternoon. Good for a first try: point at the toppings you want.
- Hours
- 08:00–21:00 daily
- Address
- 32 Cuu Long
South-west of the centre
Rice cakes & turmeric noodlesbanh beo · mi Quang · 2
Two Central Vietnam classics you'll also find in Da Nang and Hoi An: little steamed rice cakes with dried shrimp and spring-onion oil, and wide turmeric-yellow noodles in a little rich broth with pork, shrimp, peanuts and a rice cracker.
Steamed rice cakes4.4 · 672 Google reviews
Banh Beo Be Tu
Banh beo by the plate: soft steamed rice cakes under dried shrimp and spring-onion oil, with sweet fish sauce to spoon over. Cheap, quick and a few minutes' walk from the Cathedral.
- Hours
- 06:00–21:00 daily
- Address
- 15 Huynh Thuc Khang
City centre · near the Cathedral
Turmeric noodles4.4 · 276 Google reviews
Mi Xu Quang Ha Yen
Mi Quang comes from Quang Nam, further up the coast, and this shop cooks it the Quang way: wide rice noodles in a little rich broth with pork, shrimp, peanuts, herbs and a sesame cracker to break over the top.
- Hours
- 06:00–13:00 · 15:00–20:30 daily
- Address
- 26B Hai Ba Trung
City centre · near Dam Market
Seafood & the charcoal grillhai san · oc · bo nuong Lac Canh · 4
Seafood is picked live from the tank and priced by weight, so agree the price before it goes to the kitchen. The city's other grill habit is bo nuong Lac Canh: cubes of beef marinated with honey and spices, cooked over charcoal at your table and named after the family restaurant that first served it in 1963.
Seafood by the bay4.4 · 5,405 Google reviews
Thanh Suong Seafood
The busiest seafood house at the southern end of the beach road, just north of the Oceanographic Museum. Choose from the tanks, agree the weight and price, and pick a style: steamed, grilled with spring-onion oil, or fried with garlic.
- Hours
- 10:00–22:00 daily
- Address
- 15 Tran Phu
Cau Da · south end of Tran Phu Street
By the fishing port4.3 · 1,456 Google reviews
Hai San Ben Cang
Out at Hon Ro, the port where Nha Trang's fishing boats unload, in a row of big, lively seafood restaurants popular with local families. Come at dusk and order fish, squid and shellfish by weight.
- Hours
- 10:00–23:00 daily
- Address
- Lot 5, Nguyen Tat Thanh, Hon Ro
Hon Ro port · 15 min south of the centre
Snails & shellfish, open late4.2 · 413 Google reviews
Oc Dong Xuan
Thap Ba Street, between the Cham towers and the sea, is where the city goes for 'oc': sea snails, clams and scallops, grilled with spring-onion oil or stir-fried, served on low tables with cold beer.
- Hours
- 10:00–02:00 daily
- Address
- 5 Thap Ba (old number 28)
Thap Ba Street · between Po Nagar and the sea
Grill-it-yourself beef4.8 · 1,451 Google reviews
Ohe BBQ & Hotpot
A busy grill house in the hotel district with an extractor pipe over every table, so you leave smelling less of smoke. Order the marinated beef for the charcoal, then seafood or a hotpot to share.
- Hours
- 10:30–23:00 daily
- Address
- 75A Nguyen Thi Minh Khai
Tourist quarter · 10 min walk from the beach
Bread & noodles, any timebanh mi · pho · 2
For the hours between breakfast noodles and dinner: a filled baguette to take to the beach, or a bowl of pho at whatever time you land.
Banh mi4.5 · 4,122 Google reviews
Banh Mi Phan
The banh mi counter with the queue, popular with travellers and locals alike. Baguettes are filled to order with grilled meat, pâté, pickles and herbs: point at what you want.
- Hours
- 07:00–21:30 daily
- Address
- 164 Bach Dang
City centre · next to Bun Ca Min
Beef pho4.1 · 3,269 Google reviews
Pho Hong
Nha Trang's best-known pho shop, open from breakfast until late. Beef pho comes with a plate of herbs, lime and chilli so you can season the bowl yourself.
- Hours
- 06:00–22:30 daily
- Address
- 40 Le Thanh Ton
City centre · 10 min walk from Tram Huong Tower
Something sweetkem bo · yaourt · flan · 2
How Nha Trang cools down after the beach: avocado and fruit ice cream, home-made yoghurt and caramel flan.
Avocado & fruit ice cream4.5 · 3,010 Google reviews
Kem Bo Vfruit
A bright ice-cream parlour known for avocado ice cream and scoops made from tropical fruit. Open until 11pm, so it works as dessert after the night market.
- Hours
- 10:00–23:00 daily
- Address
- 24 To Hien Thanh
Tourist quarter · 10 min walk from Tram Huong Tower
Yoghurt & flan, evenings4.5 · 209 Google reviews
Kem 52 – Yaourt & Flan
A small evening shop for the local sweet tooth: home-made yoghurt, ice cream and wobbly caramel flan. Opens at 4pm.
- Hours
- 16:00–22:00 daily
- Address
- 52 Le Quy Don
City centre · near Xom Moi Market
Nha Trang's photo spots, and how to reach them
Sixteen places worth the photo, with the best time of day, what it costs and a one-tap route from wherever you're standing. Walking and riding times are estimates from Tram Huong Tower, the landmark in the middle of the seafront.
16 spots
City centre & beachDusk & after dark
Tram Huong Tower & April 2 Square
The city's emblem: a six-storey tower named after agarwood, the fragrant resin Khanh Hoa is known for, on the seafront square where Nha Trang holds its festivals. It opened in 2008 and was refaced in white in 2023.
- Cost
- Free
By Tram Huong Tower
Come at dusk, when families fill the square and the tower lights up. The night market sets up just across the road from about 5pm.
City centre & beachSunrise
Nha Trang Beach
Kilometres of sand curving along Tran Phu Street, with a palm-lined promenade behind it. From about 5am locals swim, stretch and play shuttlecock before work; by 8am the sun is high and the beach empties.
- Cost
- Free
~10 min walk~2 min by motorbike
Swim between the flags near the lifeguard posts. From October to January the northeast wind brings bigger waves: on red-flag days, paddle but don't swim.
City centre & beachMorning
Nha Trang Cathedral (Stone Church)
A grey French Gothic cathedral on a small hill above the six-way roundabout, built between 1928 and 1933, with stained glass and a bell tower that rises 38 metres above the street.
- Hours
- Visitors about 08:00–11:00 · 14:00–16:00, outside mass times
- Cost
- Free
~20 min walk~5 min by motorbike
Entry is free and there is no ticket desk. Dress modestly, keep quiet inside, and avoid Sunday mornings, when services run back to back.
City centre & beachEarly morning
Long Son Pagoda & the White Buddha
Founded in 1886 and moved to the foot of Trai Thuy Hill after a storm in 1900. Climb 193 steps, past a 17-metre reclining Buddha, to the 24-metre white Buddha seated on a lotus above the city.
- Hours
- Daylight hours
- Cost
- Free
~35 min walk~10 min by motorbike
Entry is free: you don't need to buy incense or pay a guide at the gate. Cover shoulders and knees, and climb before the heat builds.
City centre & beachWeekday mornings
Alexandre Yersin Museum
The books, letters and scientific instruments of Alexandre Yersin, the Swiss-born French doctor who identified the plague bacillus in 1894 and spent most of his life in Nha Trang. It's inside the Pasteur Institute he founded in 1895.
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 07:30–11:30 · 14:00–17:00 · Sat 07:30–11:30 · closed Sun
- Cost
- 26,000₫
~20 min walk~5 min by motorbike
Small and quiet: allow 30 to 45 minutes. It closes for lunch, on Saturday afternoons and on Sundays.
City centre & beachMorning
Xom Moi Market
The market Nha Trang shops at: fruit, dried squid and fish sauce, and food stalls selling noodles, snacks and sweet soups at local prices.
- Hours
- 06:00–17:00 daily
- Cost
- Free to wander
~15 min walk~3 min by motorbike
Looking for Dam Market, the famous one? Its round 1972 hall was closed several years ago and the stalls moved to a newer building beside it.
City centre & beachSunset
Skylight rooftop
A 360-degree observation deck with a glass skywalk and a rooftop bar at the top of the Premier Havana hotel, with the whole bay below.
- Hours
- From 17:00 · Google Maps lists it as closed on Mondays
- Cost
- Ticket sold at the door, with one drink included
By Tram Huong Tower
Arrive half an hour before sunset to see the bay in daylight, then stay as the city lights come on. Tickets aren't sold in advance.
North of the river06:00, at opening
Po Nagar Cham Towers
Four brick towers on a hill above the Cai River, built by the Cham between the 8th and 13th centuries for Po Nagar, the mother goddess of their kingdom. Still an active shrine, and a special national monument.
- Hours
- 06:00–18:00 daily
- Cost
- 30,000₫
~15 min by motorbike
Cover shoulders and knees to enter the shrines, and go early: tour buses arrive from about 8am. The yearly festival runs on 26–29 April in 2027.
North of the riverSunrise or sunset
Tran Phu Bridge & the fishing fleet
The bridge where the Cai River meets the sea. Upstream, blue wooden fishing boats moor in rows below the Cham towers; on the other side the whole curve of the bay opens out.
- Cost
- Free
~40 min walk~10 min by motorbike
Walk the pavement on the river side for the boats. It's a busy road, so don't stop a motorbike on the bridge.
North of the riverEarly morning
Hon Chong Promontory
Granite boulders stacked out into the sea at the north end of the bay. One carries a dent shaped like a giant handprint, the subject of local legends, and the view runs back along the whole beach to the city.
- Hours
- 06:00–18:00 daily
- Cost
- 30,000₫
~15 min by motorbike
It faces east, so the light is best early. The rocks are slippery when wet: wear shoes with grip.
North of the riverLate afternoon
Do Theatre
A theatre shaped like a 'do', the woven bamboo fish trap of Vietnamese rivers, standing on the shore at Bai Tien. It opened in 2023 with 536 seats and is home to the Life Puppets show.
- Cost
- Free to walk around · show tickets from 400,000₫
10 km north · 20–25 min by road
Life Puppets plays at 18:00 on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Schedules change with the season, so check before you go.
Cau Da & the islandsMorning
National Oceanographic Museum
A marine research institute founded in 1922, with its tanks and collections open to visitors: reef fish, sharks and turtles, thousands of preserved specimens, and the 18-metre skeleton of a humpback whale.
- Hours
- 06:00–18:00 daily
- Cost
- 40,000₫
~20 min by motorbike
Go before 9am or after 4pm to miss the tour groups. Cau Da's seafood restaurants are a few minutes back up the road.
Cau Da & the islandsFrom 16:00
VinWonders & the sea cable car
A theme park, water park and aquarium on Hon Tre Island, reached by a cable car that crosses the bay from the mainland. The harbour-front lights up with fountain and stage shows after dark.
- Hours
- Daily, about 08:30–21:30
- Cost
- 1,050,000₫ adults · 700,000₫ after 16:00, cable car included
~20 min by motorbike
The after-4pm ticket covers the cable car both ways and the evening shows. In strong wind the cable car stops and a speedboat takes over.
Out of townMorning
Ba Ho Waterfalls
A stream that drops from the 660-metre Hon Son mountain through forest and fills three rock pools, one above the other. Reaching the upper pools means scrambling over boulders, with a swim as the reward.
- Hours
- 07:00–16:30 daily
- Cost
- About 100,000–200,000₫ , depending on the package
25 km north · 35–45 min by road
Wear shoes with grip and go in the dry months. After heavy rain the stream rises fast, so skip it from October to December.
Out of townSunrise
Hon Khoi salt fields & Doc Let Beach
One of Vietnam's largest salt fields, about 400 hectares of mirror-flat pans where workers rake salt and carry it in twin baskets at first light. Doc Let, a long white beach with shallow water, is just beyond.
- Cost
- Free to watch
46–49 km north · 1–1.25 h by road
The harvest runs from about January to July. Be there by 5:30am, stay on the banks between the pans, and ask before photographing people at work.
Out of townLate afternoon
Bai Dai (Long Beach)
A long, gently shelving beach on the road to the airport, lined with resorts and local seafood restaurants. Calm and shallow in the dry season, and a good last swim before a flight.
- Cost
- Free
35 km south · 40–50 min by road
It's about 10 minutes from Cam Ranh airport, so it pairs well with a late departure.
Must-try experiences in Nha Trang
Nine things to do between swims, from a warm mud bath to a puppet show in a theatre shaped like a fish trap. All are easy to arrange yourself. Prices are the operators' own 2026 list prices, shown for reference.
On your own in Nha Trang
Checked by our hosts; no booking with us needed.
On your own
Soak in a hot mineral mud bath
Nha Trang's signature afternoon: 20 minutes afloat in warm mineral mud, a rinse, half an hour in hot mineral water, then warm pools and waterfalls for as long as you like. Thap Ba, 6 km from the beach, is the city's best-known mud-bath centre.
260,000–350,000₫ per person for a tub of your own, cheaper per head in a bigger group · tickets 07:30–17:00
On your own
Island-hop the bay
Boats and speedboats leave the tourist pier each morning for the inner islands: a swim stop, lunch on a beach or a floating restaurant, and back by mid-afternoon. Hon Mun's reef has been closed to swimmers and divers since mid-2022 so the coral can recover, and trips now snorkel at other licensed spots. Ask which before you book.
Bay visitor fee up to 40,000₫ · calmest seas March–September
On your own
Cross the bay by cable car
Glide over the water to Hon Tre Island for rides, water slides and an aquarium, then stay for the fountain and stage shows after dark.
1,050,000₫ adults · 700,000₫ after 16:00, cable car included
On your own
See Life Puppets at Do Theatre
An hour of water puppets, string puppets and dancers telling stories of Vietnam's coast, inside a theatre shaped like a bamboo fish trap.
Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun at 18:00 · 400,000–600,000₫
On your own
Swim at sunrise with the city
Set an alarm once. At 5am the beach belongs to Nha Trang: swimmers, stretching groups and shuttlecock circles, with the sun coming up straight out of the bay.
Free · 05:00–06:30
On your own
Eat snails on Thap Ba Street
After dark the street between the Cham towers and the sea fills with low tables. Order plates of sea snails, clams and scallops, grilled or stir-fried, and work through them with a toothpick and a cold beer.
From late afternoon until after midnight · priced by the plate
On your own
Chase the falls at Ba Ho
Half a day in the forest north of town: a trail along a stream, boulders to scramble over and three rock pools to swim in.
Open 07:00–16:30 · best in the dry months
On your own
Catch the salt harvest at Hon Khoi
Leave Nha Trang at 4:30am to watch workers rake the pans and carry salt across the white fields as the sun comes up, then swim at Doc Let.
Harvest about January–July · free to watch · be there by 05:30
On your own
Meet the Cham at Po Klong Garai
Two hours south, near Phan Rang, three brick towers from the late 13th century stand on a dry, sun-baked hill and are still used by the Cham for their festivals. Add Vinh Hy Bay for a full day out.
Kate festival 2026: main day at the towers on 10 October
Hosted by Toward Local
Da Nang, Hoi An or Saigon next? Ride with our hosts.
Toward Local's hosts ride in three cities. Nha Trang isn't one of them yet, so this guide sends you to places you can reach on your own. When your route gets to one of our cities, sit behind a licensed local driver and let the food streets come to you, or whisk your own egg coffee in one of our workshops.
- You ride as a passenger. A licensed local driver rides; helmet included.
- Egg coffee, hands-on. Workshops in Da Nang and Saigon, with an English-speaking host.
- Stops follow the day: the weather, the traffic and what's cooking decide the route.
- 5.0 on Tripadvisor from 630 traveller reviews across Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, as shown on our website this month.
Six ways to ride, walk and whisk with us
Tap a tour for the full itinerary, or ask us on WhatsApp which one fits your route.
Da Nang · workshopToward Local
Da Nang Egg Coffee Making Workshop
Whisk your own egg coffee with an English-speaking host, with an introduction to Vietnam's coffee culture.
Saigon · workshopToward Local
Ho Chi Minh City Cooking Class & Egg Coffee Workshop
Learn to make Vietnamese egg coffee, add a hands-on cooking class if you like, then enjoy what you made.
Da Nang · by motorbikeToward Local
Da Nang Signature Local Street Food by Motorbike
Mi Quang, grilled-pork noodles, banh xeo and banh beo, with a drip-coffee stop and something sweet to finish.
Saigon · by motorbikeToward Local
Iconic Saigon By Night Foodie Tour on Motorbike
Saigon after dark from the back of a motorbike: street food at several stops, food alleys and local neighbourhoods.
Hoi An · on footToward Local
Hoi An Old Town Authentic Food and Sightseeing Walking Tour
The old town on foot: White Rose dumplings, banh mi, cao lau and Vietnamese coffee by the river.
Hoi An · by motorbikeToward Local
Hoi An Old Town Authentic Street Food Tour by Motorbike
White Rose dumplings, banh mi and cao lau, then out to Tra Que vegetable village and the Cam Nam riverside.
More free guides from our hosts
Same idea as this page, for the rest of your route.
Da Nang Bridge by Bridge ↗Turmeric noodles, the Dragon Bridge and a pocket map of the city
Beyond Da Nang ↗Hue, Phong Nha, Quy Nhon, Phu Yen, Buon Ma Thuot and Da Lat
Saigon Street by Street ↗Broken rice, Chinatown and walking routes in Ho Chi Minh City
Beyond Saigon ↗The Mekong Delta, Mui Ne, Phu Quoc and Con Dao
Beyond Hanoi ↗Ninh Binh, Ha Long, Ha Giang, Sa Pa and the northern mountains
All our tours are listed on towardlocal.com: Da Nang tours · Hoi An tours · Ho Chi Minh City tours. Want a route built around your dates? Message us on WhatsApp.
Walk to the sea, or ride the bay road
Two routes drawn on real Nha Trang streets: a 4.1 km morning walk from the white Buddha to the beach and Dr Yersin's museum, and an 11 km ride along the bay from the Cham towers to the Oceanographic Museum. Switch to "All places" to see every address on this page. Drag to move, pinch or use the buttons to zoom.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Help us make this guide better
Tell us what worked, what didn't and which places we missed. It goes straight to our team, and we read every message.
Your message
Sent by email to the Toward Local team.
What happens next: one of our hosts reads it. If you asked something, we reply by email or WhatsApp. We check the places you suggest before adding them to the guide.
Planning Nha Trang? Message our hosts.
Toward Local is a small team of local hosts in Saigon, Da Nang and Hoi An. We don't run tours in Nha Trang yet, but we're glad to answer questions about this guide and to plan your rides in the cities where we host. We usually reply within a few hours.
WhatsApp · Mr Tim+84 334 370 563
WhatsApp · Mr Vinh+84 934 146 935
EmailTowardlocal@gmail.com
Websitetowardlocal.com