Nightlife in Nha Trang
Nha Trang doesn't have the raucous nightlife of other Southeast Asian resorts, such as Pattaya, but many bars can be found along the beach and the cooling sea breezes are very welcome. If you really fancy a glass of Boddingtons or John Smith's head for the Rainbow Bar (90a Hung Vuong) for a taste of home. Dance into the small hours at the Nha Trang Sailing Club on Tran Phu, although you won't find any salty dogs here trading sea stories as there isn't a boat in sight! Several of the larger hotels have nightclubs which attract a mix of Vietnamese and visitors. Bars and restaurants in the city center, and particularly along Biet Thu, are forbidden from staying open much past midnight (though a few do), but beachside Nha Trang Sailing Club picks up the slack.
Eating out
While away the evenings sampling some superb Vietnamese cuisine, especially fresh seafood. Several restaurants are located right by the beach so savour the freshest of food to the background music of lapping waves. In the town you can also find Italian, Thai, Indian and even Turkish food. Many of the larger hotels have restaurants serving international food if you can't face another spring roll.
Café des Amis , 13 Biet Thu. Perennial favourite run by two former academics from Hué; well-prepared Vietnamese and Western dishes, with local artwork for sale. 7.30am-late.
Hai Dao , 304, 2 Thang 4. Secluded restaurant perched on an isle in the Cai River; grilled cuttlefish with citronella and pimento comes recommended, traditional music performed here three times a week. 10am-10pm.
Hoan Hai , 6 Phan Chu Trinh. Busy seafood restaurant, with a good vegetarian selection. 8am-11pm.
Lac Canh , 11 Hang Ca. Charismatic joint, locally renowned for its mouth- and eye-watering cooked-at-table barbecues. 8am-9.30pm.
Lizard/Zippo Bar , 2 Hung Vuong. One of Nha Trang's trendiest bar-restaurants. Gorge on shrimps in coconut milk or barbecued beef, then shift to the bar with its stack of CDs. 6am-10pm (food); 6pm-3am (bar).
Nha Trang Sailing Club , 72-74 Tran Phu. Draws a well-heeled expat crowd and hordes of tourists to its refined beachfront bar which gets less refined as the night wears on; make sure you keep an eye on your drinks bill. There are laser disc films shown daily and fairly decent Italian and Japanese restaurants in the club compound. Noon-3am.
Rainbow Bar , 52 Tran Phu. Hugely popular with the backpacker set; beachside bar with lively dance floor, deadly cocktails, billiards and regular beach barbecues. 7am-late.
Thanh The Restaurant , 3 Phan Chu Trinh. Bright, open-fronted seafood restaurant where the shrimps grilled with garlic won't disappoint. 7.30-10.30pm.
Beaches
Upon arriving to Nha Trang, most tourists will pass through downtown. Beyond the rows of businesses and homes will be Nha Trang beach. Tran Phu Boulevard is Nha Trang most famous thoroughfare. It runs the length of the beach with several major hotels located within a few steps from the beach. Unlike most major city in Vietnam where the primary mode of transportation is the motorbike, many people of Nha Trang still walk or use the bicycle as their means of getting around. This adds to the tranquillity of the town. There is very little pollution or noise from motor vehicles.
On any given day, between 5:00 am to 8:00 am Nha Trang beach is filled with local people taking in the fresh sea breeze, socializing, playing soccer, badminton or practicing Tai chi. Most people in Nha Trang fear being darken by the sun. For this reason, the window between 5-8 am (where sunlight is less intense) is peaked with activities. Another reason is that many go to the ocean for a morning swim, to exercise and to listen to daily news (from the many conspicuously placed loud speakers on electrical poles). In Nha Trang, going to the beach is a family affair. One often see generations of families going to the beach together. However, by 8:00 am the beach is magically emptied of all the hustle and bustle of earlier activities to once again return to silence and serenity.
The 6km- (4 mile-) long sandy beach, fringed by palms and casuarina trees, is one of the best in Vietnam with clean water, making it a perfect place for swimming. Visitors can rent a sunbed and vendors regularly pass by selling soft drinks and fresh fruit. The offshore islands and coral reefs are ideal for snorkelling and scuba-diving and watersports centres rent out windsurfers.
Shopping in Nha Trang
Nha Trang may not have the sleek designer shops of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, but there is still plenty of opportunity for some retail therapy. Browse the daily market on Doc Lop Street and small shops in town for some terrific artwork painted by local artists. Indulge yourself and have some clothes made at one of the many tailors in town, but make sure you get a recommendation first. Near the port are lots of little shops selling items made from seashells but you may prefer to look rather than buy and fall foul of the law when trying to bring a protected species into the UK.
