Nha Trang

Nha Trang  is like a mini Miami beach 15 years ago. It is a main beach strip along a curving promenade of hotels and seafood restaurants. Until the French colonization, Nha Trang used to be no more than small fishing villages. The French recognized Nha Trang as a perfect place for bathing, so they invested in the transformation to turn Nha Trang into a resort town. Its now a popular holiday destination, full of international five-star hotels, cheap hostels and lots of beach. There was´t really much I liked about Nha Trang apart from the fantastic dive school I gained my open water certificate from.

Sailing Club Divers is a premier PADI Five Star Dive Center and one of the first, most successful and longest running Dive Centers in Vietnam.  

The eco aware dive school was set inside a classy beach club, centrally located on the promenade strip close to the main hotels and hostels, which made up for my distain for Nha Trangs lack of Vietnamese cultural history. 

The shallow waters of Hon Mun Marine Protected Area in Nha Trang Bay is one of the best places in Vietnam to learn how to dive. I saw plenty of marine life, including one giant sleeping octopus. Once your done either eating or swimming with the fishes you can also go visit them stuck in little glasses cases at the Oceanographic Museum of Vietnam housed in a french colonel building.

Head out of the City central areas for less developed beach destinations or visit the Trap Ba Hot Springs is 10km North West of Nha Trang here your able to wallow in hot muddy waters filled with minerals.

Heading out of Nha Trang south between Nha Trang and Mui Ne Beachyou reach Phan Rang-Thap. Thap means Cham Towers and here are located two well preserved Cham Tower complexes; Po Klong Garai, Po Rome. Po Klong Garai situated on a hill top was built in the 13th century by King Jaya Simhavarman III, Po Ro me was built in the 17th century and also sits on a hill top and is dedicated to King Po Ro Me, Hoa Lai a little north of Phan Rang. Closer to Nha Trang you can also visit the Po Naga Cham Temple.