Perhaps not an ideal family destination, Nha Trang offers only a small selection of activities suitable for children. The Vinpearl amusement and water parks are the highlight and probably good for at least a full day if not two days of entertainment. The natural attractions of the town’s beaches are of course, also popular with the kids.

Beach
The beach at Nha Trang is popularly hailed as the country’s best seaside spot and is an ideal place to take the kids for a relaxing day out. The beach is rarely crowded, even during Vietnamese holidays and you won’t be bothered unnecessarily by hawkers or curious locals. Sunbeds can be rented and drinks can be ordered without ever having to get up. The kids will enjoy the usual beach activities such as bathing in the sea, making sandcastles and burying Dad up to his neck.

National Oceanographic Museum of Vietnam
A little run down but worth a visit all the same, the National Oceanographic Museum of Vietnam is essentially an aquarium facility with various ponds and tanks housing creatures harvested from the waters around Nha Trang and beyond from deeper ocean areas. Small tanks at the back of the museum house specimens such as puffer fish, lionfish, clownfish, reef sharks, turtles, sea anemones and sea horses. Giant turtles and crocodiles are also resident in outdoor areas. The main museum area features around 20,000 specimens of preserved sea-life including the skeletal remains of both a whale and a sea cow.

Vinpearl Amusement Park
A small scale operation but still well worth a visit, the Vinpearl Amusement Park on Bamboo Island is operated by the Sofitel group and offers among other things, a giant Ferris wheel which gives great views over the area from its highest vantage point. A traditional carousel ride, giant inflatables and a ball pool, list among the other attractions available.

Vinpearl Water Park
Part of the same operation as the amusement park, the Vinpearl Water Park is the ideal place to take the kids on a day when the hot weather precludes any sightseeing possibilities. A variety of giant slides, a wave pool, a cable ride and water games; list among the attractions on offer. Food and refreshments are available for purchase so it’s feasible to spend the entire day at the park.

Nha Trang is perhaps slightly less blessed with cultural sights and centres as bigger Vietnamese destinations such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, but all the same has enough to provide some decent snapshot material for those wanting to take home good visual memories of their holiday destination. The towers of Thap Ba Ponagar are undoubtedly the most popular cultural sight on offer.

The Alexandre Yersin Museum
This modest museum facility, located at the northern end of Tran Phu, is dedicated to the life of Alexandre Yersin, the scientist responsible for isolating the cause of the infamous black plague. A small collection of artefacts relating to the works of Yersin, are available for viewing.

Thap Ba Po Nagar
Built in the period between the 8th and 13th centuries, the Cham towers of Thap Ba Ponagar are among the finest structures of this nature in the country. Of eight original towers, just four now remain; sitting atop a hill from which some great views over the city are possible.

Dan Market
For a real sense of the local culture and everyday life of the people of Nha Trang, take a trip to the Dan Market. Besides a plethora of fresh food items for sale, you can find some local culinary delicacies being cooked up which make for a tasty snack while wandering around; or for a proper meal if you opt for a stall with seating available. The market is the ideal place for a spot of people watching but do be prepared to have plenty of folk watching you at the same time.

Nha Trang Cathedral
Located a few kilometres west of Nha Trang, the imposing cathedral structure sits atop a small hill with its Gothic spire perhaps its most noticeable feature. Construction of the cathedral commenced in the late 1920s but wasn’t completed until 1934. As it is still a working religious facility catering to the Christian population of the city, visitors are advised to check that services aren’t in progress before venturing in.

Long Son Pagoda
The Long Son Pagoda is best known for the giant white Buddha statue that sits majestically on the hillside behind its main compound area. This famed icon is a hefty 24 metres high and can be seen from a good distance away, making it a symbol synonymous with the city. The main building also stands high and a walk to the top affords visitors some fantastic views over the city.

Nha Trang has a good selection of eateries with everything from street vendors to up-market restaurants meaning that it’s possible to eat a reasonable meal irrespective of your budget.

Market stalls and vendors across the city serve the highly popular Pho noodle soup dish while steamed spring rolls and dim sum are also commonly available. The same dishes can of course be found on the menus of quality restaurants, but you should expect to pay a lot more them and perhaps even sacrifice some degree of their authenticity.

For international cuisine, the city has a variety of options including Indian at Omar’s and at the two branches of the Bombay Indian restaurant, French cuisine at La Louisiane, Mexican food at Tex Mex El Coyote and Korean food at the Nha Hang Hyundai restaurant.

For shopping; visitors shouldn’t go expecting the extensive retail facilities that can be found in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, but be prepared to settle for local markets and a plethora of small independent traders. There are plenty of opportunities to buy souvenirs or gifts to take back to family and friends as well essentials such as branded toiletries and food items. Dan market is a good place to head to find a wide range of products including edible items and handmade craft products with distinct Vietnamese themes.

As with any coastal destination, Nha Trang offers an extensive range of water-based pursuits with everything from free activities such as swimming and snorkelling to organised activities such as scuba diving and sailing. A modest selection of dry land pursuits completes the basic list although guests may find reputable hotels offering extras.

Water sports
Down at the beach, it’s possible to take part in a variety of water based activities including jet skiing, scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking and sailing. Accidents have been known to happen so visitors are advised to ask questions before embarking on an activity and make sure the organisers are of repute. Swimming is of course available to all beach-goers however the waves can be somewhat erratic so again, caution is advised.

Jogging
You’ll need to get up ultra-early and head for Tran Phu Street if you want to join the locals for their morning jogging sessions. Between 05:00 and 08:00, this street sees large number of Nha Trang residents engaging in everything from gentle walks to energetic running sessions.

Tai Chi
Equally a very early morning pursuit; the locals of Nha Trang often rise before the sun and head down to pedestrianised areas of the city to participate in graceful sessions of this ancient martial art. It’s all conducted in silence so there’s no need to be able to speak Vietnamese to take part although a basic understanding of the moves is certainly necessary.

Tennis
A number of reputable hotels offer tennis courts which are available to both residents and non residents on payment of the required fee. The Grand Hotel, the Ana Mandara, Vien Dong and Yasaka hotels, all have courts located within hotel grounds.