Main sights
What to see in Nha Trang: the centre, the north, the islands and trips out
Nha Trang is more compact than it looks on the map: most landmarks fall into four zones — the city centre, the north across the Cái river, the islands of the bay and trips out of town. We collected the essentials for each, so you plan by the logic of one day rather than a list of thirty items.
If you have one day
Trần Phú beach in the morning, the cathedral and Đầm market at midday, the Po Nagar towers and Hòn Chồng headland towards evening — the whole route fits into a walking and short-taxi arc.
Read more →If you have a day for the islands
Nha Trang Bay with nearly twenty islands is a programme of its own: Hòn Mun for snorkelling, Hòn Tằm for a beach day, Hòn Tre with the VinWonders park.
Read more →If you want to leave the city
Ba Hồ waterfalls, Yang Bay mountain park and Am Chúa temple show Nha Trang without the sea — green mountains and cool air one to two hours from the seafront.
Read more →The centre: seafront and city life
Everything you can see on foot is concentrated here: the beach, the cathedral, markets and the evening seafront.
Trần Phú beach
Seven kilometres of city sand along the main seafront — the starting point for any route through the city.
Open details →The cathedral
A stone cathedral from 1933 on a hill by Thái Nguyên street, next to the railway station.
Open details →Long Sơn Pagoda
The city's main Buddhist pagoda, with a white Buddha statue on the hill and a view over Nha Trang.
Open details →Đầm market
The central market in a round building — fruit, souvenirs, dried seafood.
Open details →Xóm Mới market
A more local market with street food a couple of blocks from the seafront.
Open details →The north: towers, headland and hot springs
Across the Cái river begins historic, quieter Nha Trang — people come here for culture and views.
Po Nagar towers
The city's main historical complex — Cham temples on a hill above the river.
Open details →Hòn Chồng headland
Granite boulders with a panorama over the whole bay and Hòn Tre island.
Open details →Xóm Bóng fishing quarter
Boats at the river mouth right below the towers — the best time to come is early morning.
Open details →Tháp Bà mud baths
A thermal complex in the hills behind the towers — the classic Nha Trang way to relax.
Open details →Oceanographic Museum
Aquariums and a marine fauna collection at the city's oldest scientific institute.
Open details →The islands and the bay
A separate programme on the water: part of the bay is a marine protected area with its own rules.
Hòn Mun
The core of the marine reserve and the bay's main address for snorkelling and diving.
Open details →Hòn Tằm
A resort island with a beach and the VinWonders mud complex.
Open details →Hòn Tre and VinWonders
The largest island in the bay, with an amusement park and a cable car over the strait.
Open details →Nha Phu Bay
A calm lagoon north of the city with Monkey Island and orchid gardens.
Open details →Out of town
One to two hours from the seafront a different Khánh Hòa begins: mountains, waterfalls and temples away from the tourist strip.
Ba Hồ waterfalls
Three natural pools on a forest stream 25 kilometres north.
Open details →Yang Bay park
A mountain valley with three waterfalls and a cultural programme of the Raglai people.
Open details →Am Chúa temple
Đại An mountain with the temple of the mother goddess — the Vietnamese continuation of the Po Nagar legend.
Open details →Bãi Dài beach
A long beach on the Cam Ranh peninsula near the airport.
Open details →Before you leave
Quick checklist
- 01Plan the centre and the north for different halves of the day — a river and noticeable traffic lie between them.
- 02Set aside a separate day for the islands: crossings and the reserve's rules take time.
- 03Out-of-town spots — Ba Hồ, Yang Bay, Am Chúa — take a whole day with the drive, not a stop on the way.
- 04Check the rainy season before your trip: in autumn some routes are better adjusted to the weather.
- 05The list of places below is not complete — use it as a framework and see the details in the linked cards.
Straight answers
Frequently asked questions
Where should I start exploring Nha Trang?+
With Trần Phú beach and a walk along the seafront: from there it is a walk or a short taxi ride to the cathedral, Đầm market and the Po Nagar towers in the north.
How many days do I need to see the main sights?+
Roughly three to four days: a day for the city and the north, a day for the islands, a day out of town. Detailed plans for different lengths are on the itineraries page.
What can I see on a rainy day?+
The Oceanographic Museum, the Yersin museum, covered markets and the mud baths work in any weather — details are on the weather page.
Do I need a guide for the islands?+
Part of the bay is a marine protected area with visiting rules, so an organised tour with a licensed operator is easier than hiring a boat on your own.
Can I fit in both the city and nature on a short trip?+
In two to three days it is realistic to combine one city day and one trip out — for example to Ba Hồ waterfalls or Yang Bay park. More than that depends on your pace and time budget.