Nha Trang Things to Do Tips by iwys

This is arguably the best beach in Vietnam: 5km of soft, golden sand. It is never overcrowded. I was there during the peak Tet season and although there were plenty of promenaders, the beach itself was still mostly empty. There are clusters of tourists under the umbrellas, where the sunbeds are for hire at a rate of 10,000 VND (60 cents) per day, and where you can order drinks. The sea is a little rough at times, but you can still swim in it.

The central section of the beach is the most popular. If you go to the northern section, especially in the morning, you will have a long stretch of beach all to yourself.

Most of the hotels and restaurants are along the beachfront on Tran Phu Boulevard, so you can walk across the road for a meal or a drink.

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Things To Do: Thap Ba Ponagar

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Updated by iwys

on Jun 15, 2007

by iwys , 2 more photos

Nha Trang was the last stronghold of the Cham, and the Cham towers of Thap Ba Ponagar are some of the finest in Vietnam. They were constructed from the 7th to 12th centuries. Four of the original eight towers remain. Admission is 4,500 dong.

An added bonus is that they are on top of a hill from which you get some great views of Nha Trang.

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Directions: North of Nha Trang, just across the Xom Bong Bridge

Things To Do: Thap Ba Ponagar 2

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Updated by iwys

on Jun 15, 2007

After they were destoyed by the Viet invaders, not much of the original tower structures was intact. So a lot of what you see today has been rebricked. You can see the older looking original parts fairly easily though.

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Things To Do: The Goddess Mother Shrine

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Updated by iwys

on May 25, 2005

Inside the main tower of Thap Ba Ponagar there is a shrine. Originally it contained golden lingas, but they were stolen by the Khmers. Now there is a statuette of the goddess Uma, who is worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists. She is supposed to miraculously cure sick people. Worshippers leave offerings of fruit, flowers, candles and incense.

Uma is said to be the female equivalent of Shiva and she was called Goddess Mother, or Po Nagar by the Cham. Hence the name of the towers.

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Things To Do: Dan Market

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Updated by iwys

on May 6, 2005

Dan Market is an interesting place to wander around. There is always something to catch the eye. I saw nuns gambling on a game that involved which number house a hamster would go into. I'm sure if you look hard enough, you'll be able to find something even more bizarre than that.

You can also get a meal here at one of the market stalls for 70 cents. The lady in the picture is preparing my lunch, which I ate stting on a stool. She washed my chopsticks by dipping them in the boiling soup.

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Things To Do: City Hall

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Updated by iwys

on Aug 2, 2005

The white, city hall building dominates Tran Phu Boulevard, and is a good landmark to look for if you get lost. During Tet there are free cultural performances in front of the building, which bring the traffic on the seafront to a halt.

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Address: Tran Phu Boulevard

Things To Do: Xom Bong Bridge

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Written by iwys

on Apr 13, 2005

The Xom Bong Bridge at the northern end of Nha Trang takes you across to the Cham towers of Thap Ba Ponagar and the fishing village and market.

From it you can get some nice views of the town's fishing fleet.

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Things To Do: Dan Market 2

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Updated by iwys

on Aug 2, 2005