Nha Trang, located along Vietnam’s south-central coast, is a vibrant seaside city known for its sandy beaches, fresh seafood, and relaxed atmosphere. Beyond its natural beauty, the city offers a variety of experiences — from water activities to wellness retreats — making it a well-rounded destination for travelers.
Our own journey there began with a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Dalat, followed by a bus ride that took us through scenic landscapes before reaching Nha Trang. Once in the city, the abundance of seafood quickly stood out, with countless eateries serving the day’s freshest catch.
[No Photos Available] One experience we particularly enjoyed was the Mud Spa, a must-try activity in Nha Trang. We booked our package via KLOOK, which included a two-hour massage, making the visit even more relaxing. Soaking in mineral-rich mud pools was both refreshing and fun — a unique way to unwind and recharge.
How to go to Nha Trang from Dalat (vice versa)?
Nha Trang is not far from Dalat, probably around 4 hour drive. On our trip- we made a return trip to Nha Trang from Dalat via Goro Trip. Goro Trip specializes in offering limousine buses and premium shuttles from Nha Trang to Dalat (vice versa). Based on our experiences, the buses departed right on time as per schedule and the whole journey was more than comfortable. The assistance speaks basic English so communication is not going to be an issue. The customer service even contacted me via email as they were rescheduling one of the trips (to 40 mins earlier). We thought the whole process was very smooth and the customer experience was good.
Dalat to Nha Trang: we had to wait at a dedicated stop (10 min drive from Dalat city) and the bus departed on time. For your benchmark- we paid VND 230,000 per pax per way.
Nha Trang to Dalat: the driver offered to pick us up from our hotel in Nha Trang city. For your benchmark- we paid VND 250,000 per pax per way.
1) Banh Can 97
Business Hours: 6 am to 9 pm. Opens Daily.
Prawns and Squid Banh Can (VND 150,000)
Banh Can, a local Vietnamese delicacy specific to the Ninh Thuan Province (so Nha Trang, Dalat etc). It is common to see these little Pancakes cooked over terracotta molds, it is a very popular street food in Nha Trang. But Banh Can 97 is probably the best spot to try these little Pancakes. The classic ones consist of just Egg and Flour, often enjoyed with diluted Fish Sauce with Spring Onions/ Chives, Sugar and chopped Chilies. In the modern days and to cater for those with deeper pockets, fresh and luxurious Seafoods are often added. This Banh Can specialist (next to Banh Mi Phan) offers good options. We had the ones with fresh Squid and Prawns. Amazingly huge in sizes, the Banh Can can be very filling. Banh Can 97 churns out really delicious Fish Sauce concoction (when we compared it with Lang Ngon). Freshly made Pancakes with sumptuous Seafood, how bad can it get?
2) Banh Mi Phan
Business Hours: 7 am to 9:30 pm. Opens Daily.
Prawns and Crab Omelette Banh Mi (VND 85,000)
Cheese-baked Beef Banh Mi (VND 65,000)
Extremely popular amongst the Koreans, Banh Mi Phan sees relentless queues all times all day. The best time to visit is probably early in the morning, the crowd gets bigger in the afternoon. Unlike traditional Banh Mi restaurants, the Banh Mi specialist offers more than just classic Vietnamese Banh Mis. The filling has evolved to a more luscious and sophisticated combo; probably more suitable and targeted for foreigners (especially Koreans). The most experience item on the menu- the Prawn and Cram Omelette Banh Mi was beyond amazing. The Omelette was beautifully cooked with a generous amount of fresh Crab meat and 4 gigantic Prawns. On the dressing- just some simple Mayo with a hint of sweetness. The Cheese-baked Beef version was not shabby too. This place is suitable for those who enjoys modern Banh Mi over traditional ones. The dining area is on the upper floor but the spiral staircase is extremely narrow and it requires great effort to traipse yourself up.
3) Dam Market (Cho Dam) Nha Trang
Business Hours: 5 am to 6:30 pm. Opens Daily.
For any souvenir shopping in Nha Trang, make your way to Cho Dam Nha Trang. The market has 2 floors- the ground floor sees vendors selling dried goods (like Dried Mangoes, Nuts etc) and the upper floor has vendors selling wearable goods (T-Shirts, Sports Wear, Hats etc). We wanted to shop for some sports Tee so we checked out the upper floor. A sports Tee typically costs around VND 100,000 (for your reference), the vendors will be willing to reduce further if you are buying more. Based on our experience, you can get better bargain in Danang but since the Vietnamese currency has depreciated (against MYR), you can still get some really good deals here. Remember to bargain for better prices though.
4) Lang Ngon Vietnamese Restaurant
Vietnamese Jellyfish Salad (VND 115,000)
Banh Can Tom (VND 99,000)
Grilled Catfish served with Condiments (VND 239,000)
Grilled Squid (VND 395,000)
If there is only one restaurant that you can visit in Nha Trang, make sure Lang Ngon is on the list. The restaurant spans across a huge land and surrounded by lush greens. It is located right smack in the heart of Nha Trang but well hidden in some random, dark and narrow alley. The restaurant has an artsy decor full of Vietnamese elements with live performances. The restaurant is tourist-friendly with English-speaking servers as well as English menu. They offer a good range of Vietnamese delights, not only region-specific delicacies but Vietnam as a whole. Prices are slightly higher but you get what you pay for. None of the dishes disappoint but we were particularly impressed with the Jellyfish Salad and Grilled Squid. The former one had a peculiar Jellyfish-texture (completely different than what we have here in Malaysia) served with Banana Blossom Salad and Rice Crackers. The Grilled Squid was straight-forward but it was really fresh. Great environment, good food and attentive service; definitely a place worth checking out in Nha Trang.
5) Com Nha Goc Ha Noi
Business Hours: 10 am to 9 pm. Opens Daily.
Stir Fried Squid with Celery (VND 135,000)
Vietnamese Stir Fried Beef with Lemongrass (VND 130,000)
Fried Rice with Basil (VND 60,000)
Luo Han Guo Drink (VND 25,000)
A short walk away from Banh Mi Phan is Goc Ha Noi, the menu is simple but could very much relate to our Chinese palate. We opted for something simple but it turned out to be a decision well-made! The Stir Fried Squid with Celery was amazing. Though slightly over-seasoned, the Squid was amazingly fresh. Nha Trang being a coastal city, it is blessed with abundance of fresh Seafood supplies. The flavor-combo was simple and straight-forward but yes, it was good. The same for the Stir Fried Beef with Lemongrass. We had the dishes with the Basil-infused Fried Rice. One of our best meals in Nha Trang.
6) Hon Chong Promontory
Business Hours: 6 am to 6 pm. Opens Daily.
Entrance Fee: VND 30,000 per pax
Hon Chong Promontory is said to be the perfect spot to admire the natural beauty of Nha Trang's coastal line. There's an entrance fee required. From the entrance, you will need to walk down to the rocky area. There are plenty of gigantic, rough rocks. Some climbing might be require so do wear appropriate shoes.
7) Hybrid Nha Trang
Business Hours: 6 pm to 1 am. Opens Daily.
Subject to 15% Service Charge and Taxes
Maestro Mushroom (VND 200,000)
Re-*orn Star (VND 200,000)
Name as one of Asia's best 100 bars- Hybrid Nha Trang is a hidden gem that you really need to check it out. The speakeasy bar is mysteriously hidden in a small corner of an alley but once soon as you step inside, you will be amazed by the interior decor. The dark interior walls with waves of strip lights would give you an optical illusion. We were greeted by the server as soon as we entered the place. They have an English menu. It has quite a big list of Cocktails, featuring their own creations. Most of the Cocktails are very bold and adventurous but they do have some classics for the purists. One of the more creative ones would be the Maestro Mushroom- to serve Shitake Mushrooms on a Whiskey-based Cocktail. To our surprise, it was quite delicious. The concoction was well-balanced with a hint of sweetness (from Honey) and acidity (from Ume), it was very easy on the palate. The other one we had was Re-*orn Star, a Vodka-based Cocktail with some fruity elements (like Passionfruit) and topped with a Vanilla Meringue for the sweet touch. Strongly recommend this place to those who enjoy delicious Cocktails.
8) Po Nagar Temple
Business Hours: 6 am to 5:30 pm. Opens Daily.
Entrance Fee: VND 30,000 per pax
Po Nagar Temple is said to be one of the must-visit spots in Nha Trang. They believe the Temple was built few centuries ago and carries historical values in the development of Nha Trang. Some even name it the Little Angkor Wat of Nha Trang. The place is not really huge but it requires a little walking, especially a slope. There are some relics on display as well as a mini-museum showcasing the history timeline. There is not much to see if you are not into history. Having visited the real Angkor Wat in Cambodia, this spot did not really excite us.
9) Pho Bo 63 (Quan Pho 63)
Business Hours: 6 am to 9 pm. Opens Daily.
Vietnamese Pho Bo (VND 50,000)
Quan Pho 63 is a very famous place for Beef Pho in Nha Trang. This spot was recommended to me by my Vietnamese colleague (Nha Trang is her hometown). This place only sells one type of food- Beef Pho. The specialization in churning out Beef Pho tells you how good they are. They are never short of business and there is no English menu. The broth is light but packs a flavorful punch. We could taste the beefiness in it but not overwhelming. They were very generous with the meat too. A good spot for some seriously good Beef Pho in Nha Trang.
10) ABC Bakery
Business Hours: 6 am to 10 pm. Opens Daily.
Avocado Coconut Gelato
Passion Fruit and Plain Yogurt
A very popular bakery among the locals- ABC Bakery has many to offer, not only freshly baked bread but extended to local Yogurts, Gelato and even simple breakfast items like Banh Mi. Items are reasonably priced here. There's a seating space on the upper floor- guests can enjoy their purchases there. It is fully air-conditioned, definitely a good spot to rest your shopping feet. On the food offering- we had their Yogurt and Gelato. Both were really good. Recommend trying their Avocado Coconut Gelato and you will be amazed by the refreshing flavor-combo!
Have Fun Exploring Nha Trang!
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