The high-rise, high-energy beach resort of Nha Trang enjoys a stunning setting: it's ringed by a necklace of hills, with a turquoise bay dotted with tropical islands.
A sweeping crescent beach of white sand defines the shoreline, backed by an impressive promenade dotted with parks and sculpture gardens. Inland there's a cosmopolitan array of boutiques and dining options.
As restaurants wind down, nightlife cranks up – central Nha Trang is a party town at heart. Until relatively recently a lot of the bar action was geared at the backpacker market, but today it's mainly aimed at the burgeoning numbers of Russian and Asian tourists.
There are more sedate activities on offer, too. Try an old-school spa treatment with a visit to a mudbath, book a river cruise or explore the ancient Cham towers north of the centre.
Empty sandy beaches that stretch for miles, cool waterfalls, ranges of untouched mountains, an interesting history, and a unique culture, Nha Trang has it all. Fast becoming one of the top destinations in Vietnam for all these reasons and more
Tran Phu Beach
Tran Phu Street running down the coast of Nha Trang is the most popular street in the city, with high end resorts like Intercontinental and The Sheraton on one side, and a lively beach on the other. There are plenty of beach-side cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs for you to choose from that have their own little bit of beach with reclining chairs and parasols, so find one to suit your tastes and spend an evening lazing about.
Dam Market
Dam market is the most popular market in Nha Trang and is a huge imposing four story concrete structure. Inside you will find everything Vietnamese, from clothes and accessories to electronics and household items, spread around various colorful stalls. Head in here in the morning and have some breakfast in the food court to start your day.
Thap Po Nagar
These are some of the best-preserved pieces of Cham architecture in Vietnam, similar to the My Son Temples in Da Nang. Built between the 7th to the 12th centuries, this temple is dedicated to the goddess of the country, Yan Po Nagar, and is still used for worship by the remaining descendants of the Cham culture that once flourished throughout the country.
Long Son Pagoda
Situated at the foot of Tray Thui mountain, this pagoda was built in 1886 in typical Taoist style. Long Son Pagoda is where you can find the large white Buddha statue sitting atop the mountain crest that you can see from most places in Nha Trang town.
Nha Trang Cathedral
Nha Trang Cathedral is another still functioning religious monument that also serves as a tourist attraction. Despite being constructed using simple blocks of cement, the cathedral looks surprisingly elegant. Mass is held multiple times a day, and it is a great way to witness differences in religious routines compared to those back home.
National Oceanographic Museum
The National Oceanographic Museum opened in 1922 and is housed in an old French colonial building. Since inception it has allowed visitors to explore the marine life of the region through artifacts, fossils and displays, spread out over two floors. Makes for a great excursion if you have kids.
Ba Ho Waterfall
About 17 miles (27 kilometers) north of Nha Trang, reached via a beautiful coastal drive, is Ba Ho Waterfall which literally translated means “three pools.” The waterfall is perfect for a morning dip and barely ever gets crowded. Wear good hiking shoes and follow the arrows painted on the rocks and trees.
Hon Ba Mountain
Hon Ba Mountain may take a while to climb but up on the summit is a beautiful little house built by Alexander Yersin, a French doctor, who used it as a little getaway. With a cool climate all year round, Hon Ba Nature Reserve is dubbed “The Da Lat of Nha Trang,” and all your sweat will evaporate thanks to the cool winds found up here.
Bai Dai Beach
A fine alternative to Tran Phu Beach, Bai Dai beach 18 miles (30 kilometers) away from the center of Nha Trang is more peaceful with a more local feel. The waves here make it a fantastic location for surfing, and if you hit up The Shack, you can rent reliable surfing equipment. If surfing is not your thing, just get a beer and chill on a hammock by the beach.
Jungle Beach
A strip of beach owned by Jungle Beach Resort, this is one of the most secluded and pristine beaches in Nha Trang and is worth the two hour drive up coast. The resort is built entirely from bamboo over a period of 12 years by the owner and he doesn’t require that you spend the night to visit the beach. But as common courtesy, it would be nice if you could order a drink or a meal before you plop yourself on a hammock and swing the evening away.
Of course, the coastal city of Nha Trang offers one of the freshest and most delicious seafood in Vietnam. Seafood comes in many forms and you will be surprised at its amazing combinations of ingredients that create a wonderful culinary adventure. You will also find many five-star dining options which served western-style food but it's nice to know that there are lots of excellent local choices.
Grilled fermented pork roll- Nem Nuong
No trip to Nha Trang is complete without a try of grilled fermented pork roll, also known as Ninh Hoa’s or Nha Trang’s fermented pork roll. There are two types of fermented pork roll: fresh (nem chua”) or grilled (“nem nuong”). Grilled directly with the fire of coal brazier, fermented pork roll is served with raw herbs as well as dipping sauce with pickled green papaya.
Lac Canh’s Grilled Beef
The secret of making perfect grilled beef lies on the recipe of mixing beef with honey and more than ten kinds of spices. The recipe is handed down from generation to generation, and only known to specific members of restaurant owner’s family. Customers are free to grill the beef and enjoy the dish in their own way.The name of the dish appears in many famous international travel guides.
Rice vermicelli with grilled fish and jellyfish – Bun cha ca
'It’s “bun cha ca” broth, which is made from boiled sailfish and mackerel’s bones, that determines the surprisingly delicious taste of this specialty. A bowl of Nha Trang’s “bun cha ca” also contains jellyfish and steamed sailfish.
Lang Chai’s Seafood
Before visiting Hon Tam, Bai Soi or Bai Mini beaches, you will drop in Lang Chai where fresh seafood which is raised in cage under the sea by their own hand. People will sail to nearby restaurant by ferry, where seafood will be immediately prepared and cook.
Other Vietnamese, European and Asian cuisines
A number of restaurants in Nha Trang offer a variety of exotic European and Asian food on the menu. You will definitely find your favorite French, Italian, Japaness and Thailand restaurants and so many here.
The best nightlife in Nha Trang offers ample reasons to explore this unique beach town after sunset, where neighbourhood bars and lounges draw in the city’s fun-loving backpacker community while Tran Phu’s vibrant beach clubs attract more affluent late night revellers. Boasting plenty of alcoholic offerings, local and international cuisine, as well as varying music genres, these nightlife spots are great for mingling with the locals and fellow tourists until the early hours of morning.
If you’re looking to immerse yourself in the local culture, Nha Trang is also home to numerous cultural spaces, where colourful puppet shows, light shows, and traditional tunes are held every night. Below, find our selection of Nha Trang’s most popular nightlife spots.
Sailing Club
Sailing Club is Nha Trang’s definitive nightlife spot, boasting great location, extensive alcoholic offerings, lively tunes, and a massive dancefloor for partying with fellow tourists. Set along Tran Phu Beach, clubbers can also enjoy lively fire shows and hip hop dance performances. Offering imported wines, beers, cocktails, and spirits, the price range here is higher compared to most nightlife spots in Nha Trang, but its prime beachfront location is definitely worth the extra expense. Sailing Club also hosts a full-moon party once a month called Insomnia, where international DJs spin the latest electro house tunes until 02:00 or later.
Skylight Skydeck & Rooftop Beach Club
Skylight Skydeck & Rooftop Beach Club is hailed as Nha Trang’s first rooftop club, offering a panoramic view of the East Sea, the city and its surrounding mountains. Set on the 45th floor of Best Western Premier Havana Nha Trang, the nightlife spot is fitted with three fully-stocked bars, four event spaces, three DJ booths, a swimming pool, and a kitchen that serves up Pan-Asian cuisine. Priced at VND 90,000 onwards, imported wines, whiskies, rum, vodka, and tequilas are available by glass and bottle while cocktails cost between VND 90,000 and VND 150,000. Entry to Skylight Skydeck & Rooftop Beach Club is priced at VND 100,000 which is inclusive of a free drink.
Makaï Lounge
Makaï Lounge is a European-style nightlife venue in central Nha Trang, where you can enjoy a variety of shishas and cocktails during your holiday. It hosts a Latino party every Wednesday, with its friendly staff teaching salsa, merengue and Bachata dance moves all night long. Happy hours are between 16:00 and 20:00 every day, with mojitos priced at VND 50,000 and hookahs at VND 150,000. If you’re visiting on a Saturday night, resident DJs spin a good mix of funk and house music until late. Makaï Lounge is located on Nguyen Thien Thuat, about a five-minute walk from the popular Tran Phu promenade.
Amigos Whiskey Bar
Amigos Whiskey Bar in Nha Trang serves a variety of cocktails, spirits, and whiskies at reasonable rates. Open daily, this lively bar is known for its live rock, jazz, and blues performances which are held every Friday between 20:30 and 22:00. It’s also part of a diving school of the same name, making it a popular venue for Russian expats and travellers to relax after a day of scuba diving. Buy-one-free-one-cocktails are from 17:00 until 20:00. The bar offers classic cocktails such as Long Island Tea (VND 123,000), Jagerbomb (VND 69,000), Bloody Mary (VND 99,000), and Russian White (VND 99,000).
United Bar
Located on Tran Phu Beach is United Bar, a favourite watering hole for Nha Trang’s expat community. Playing live traditional Vietnamese tunes every night, the vibrant bar is decorated with international flags, flat screen TVs, live stage, and cosy sofas that overlook a lush garden setting. Drinks comprise of cocktails, draft beers, and imported wines while hungry patrons can also order an array of Vietnamese and Asian dishes from United Bar’s numerous cooking stations. Every Thursday, there’s a free trivia night with live bands playing a mix of blues, rock, folk and pop tunes from 19:00 onwards.
Booze Cruise Sports Bar & Grill
Booze Cruise Sports Bar & Grill is the best spot in Nha Trang to catch the latest sports events from all over the world. Accessible within a 10-minute stroll from Tran Phu Beach, this neighbourhood joint serves a variety of American-style burgers, pizzas, sandwiches, and Vietnamese fried noodles from early morning until late at night. Booze Cruise Sports Bar & Grill also hosts live music performances every Wednesday and Thursday at 20:00 onwards. While drinks are not the cheapest in town, cocktail promos are available (two for the price of one) while English-speaking mixologists are more than happy to create special orders. This is popular with 20-somethings, with a very cosmopolitan feel.
The Rooftop Lounge at Ha Van Hotel
The Rooftop Lounge at Ha Van Hotel features a spacious open-air terrace that overlooks Nha Trang Beach, offering lively theme nights from Friday till Sunday. Perched on the 5th floor of Ha Van Hotel, this Canadian-run bar has a steady clientele of locals and backpackers looking to enjoy a game of pool and after-dinner drinks. The Rooftop Lounge at Ha Van Hotel offers daily happy hour promos between 17:00 and 21:00, where you can get two cocktails or beers for the price of one while shishas are available at VND 350,000 onwards. While food isn’t served here, patrons can head to the neighbouring Yen’s Restaurant for authentic Vietnamese delicacies.
ZIMA Club
ZIMA Club is popular with the Russian crowd in Nha Trang but its welcoming atmosphere makes it a great place to party for a wide range of clubbers. Accessible within a 10-minute walk from Nha Trang City Hall, the two-storey club is fitted with a spacious dancefloor, lounge seats and a fully-stocked bar, while its resident DJ (and occasional saxophone player) play hard-core house and techno tunes from 21:00 onwards. Entrance is free of charge and you’ll also get a free cocktail if you present a flyer – just look out for ZIMA club promoters in Tran Phu Street.
Why Not Bar
Why Not Bar is one of the few nightlife spots in Nha Trang that stay open past 03:00, offering attractive drinks promos until 01:00. Situated less than two minutes away from Tran Phu Beach, this bar gets very crowded after 02:00, when Sailing Club Nha Trang closes for the night. With a music policy of electro dance and remixed pop tunes, Why Not Bar is fitted with an open terrace with tables out front while a massive dance floor indoors can accommodate up to 200 people. While entrance is free of charge, there is a cover charge of VND 30,000 if you visit the bar after 01:00.
Louisiane Brewhouse Nha Trang
Located on the beachfront of Tran Phu, Louisiane Brewhouse Nha Trang is the only bar in the city that produces its own beers using speciality malts from Australia and New Zealand. Open from 08:00 onwards, Louisiane Brewhouse Nha Trang also offers a diverse range of authentic Vietnamese, Japanese, and Italian cuisine as well as fresh seafood and homemade pastries. Priced at VND 125,000, the Louisane Beer Tasting Tray allows you to sample its signature brews including Pilsaner, Dark Lager, Witbier, and a choice of Red Ale, Special, or Crystal Ale.