Nha Trang - tips and things to do

[terry&mike]

I just returned from taking a group of 29 clients on a Diamond Princess Southeast Asia & Japan cruise. Below is information from a web site I set up for the group, to provide them with information. Now that the trip is over, I wanted to pass this information along, in case it is of help to other travelers. 

 

Visa: The ship will acquire a visa for you and charge your stateroom account $56 pp.

Money: US Dollars widely accepted, please bring small bills.

Average Temperatures in January: 70-81 degrees.

Special Notes: Bargaining in acceptable and common. Beware of purse snatchers on scooters and pick pockets, especially in crowded places.

Arrival: We will dock at Cau Da Port Pier. Just outside the port gates several vendors are set up offering a good place to buy souvenirs. There is also a small Oceanographic Museum near the dock. Take a taxi (make sure they use the meter) approximately 4 miles to beach area, or approximately 7 miles to city; ship may offer a shuttle service.

(We were able to negotiate for a group of 6 to be taken from the port to the beach for $10 total, and then later from the beach back to the port with a different driver for $5 total.)

Seeing the sites: Nha Trang is a popular seaside town. Visit the palm lined sea front with white sand beaches, small shops and food stalls and stroll around. Make your way to Cho Dam Market, the city's main market, a large 3 story building packed with food, housewares, and souvenir vendors. Po-Nagar, an ancient tower in Cham Towers temple, is nearby, just north by the river mouth. A great map is here: Nha Trang Map

(A great seaside town. We took a walk on the boardwalk, had a fabulous lunch, enjoyed a few glasses of rose’ wine, and had very inexpensive spa treatments in one of the many places along the main beach road.)

Or book a tour through the cruise line, or through a local tour operator. Feel free to ask others in the group to join you to help share tour costs.

 

[Expat Cruise]

Have done Nha Trang as a port stop 5 times in the last two years. It is a very nice port for several reasons. 

 

1)  Walk out of the port and you are in the business area, taxis, tours etc, and many business at the port.

 

2)  Really nice beaches a short walk or taxi ride away.

 

3) Many things to see around the city and just outside of it. 

 

4) Great Waterfalls, springs and private baths and spas are all around.

 

5) Lots of local history and easy to get around

 

6) A nice Fishing Village and several interesting temples.

 

7) Private Resort Island with it own Sky Tram is close to the cruise port.

 

😎 Great Shopping for not only low cost items but high quality art

About visas: Princess charges $56.00 to process a visa on the ship. It is much cheaper to apply online for your own e-visa at $25.00 dollars. Takes about three days you will find many agencies who will process visas but I would only recommend going through the official Vietnam Government site.   https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/trang-chu-ttdt 

note the gov.vn in the web address only the Government of Vietnam can use this, many claim to be official, approved, etc, all the others are agents.

 

Tours:  You can book with the cruise line but it is costly, and bigger buses, or you can just walk out and hire one of the waiting drivers. I would recommend using a official license tour company.  With insurance, bonded, and real guides.

 

We have done many tours with Phamtours.com  email   phamtoursvietnam@gmail.com   Dung Pham is a very good operator and provides many different complete tours.  His very popular all day cruise tour ship tour is Only $60.00 includes, a complete tour with several stops, a riverboat tour, a great lunch,  drinks, and a English speaking guide with you from start to finish. Also small tour size limited to 10 guests, he may have several tours running from the ship but keeps each group small with its own van, driver and guide.  A great way to see Nha Trang