Beach

Palapas, chaises, and hammocks dot the red sand beach in Nha Trang

Despite Vietnamese travel operators who gush about the loveliness of Nha Trang beach, I wouldn’t rank this beach anywhere near the top ten, or even the top one hundred beaches in the world. True, it does have a remarkably reddish colored sand that flames in the setting sun, and the beach is strewn with wooden chaises and thatched palapas that provide respite from the searing sun. But in general, I found the waters of Vietnam – including those of Nha Trang – to be murky and steel gray and the sand far from powdery.

Still, Nha Trang’s beach is worth a visit from a cultural standpoint. Tran Phu Street, the main boulevard in Nha Trang, runs along the ocean for about 2.5 miles. On the ocean side of Tran Phu, a walking path and wide swath of trees separate the beach from the road. In the early mornings and late afternoons the path is packed with locals who ride bikes, sell snacks, and play board games on tables carefully placed beneath shade palms. Just steps away, others swim and play soccer on the sand.

When the midday heat drives visitors from the beach, they need only cross the wide boulevard to explore the back streets and alleys of Nha Trang. In one short stroll I was approached by a half dozen touts on motorcycles, all claiming to be the original “Easy Rider,” and promising to take me on the tour of a lifetime for very little money. On one side street a mechanic frantically worked to repair a broken down bus, while ten feet away, in the middle of the sidewalk, a man reclining in a barber chair was being shaved with a straight razor. Further along, a diminutive Vietnamese woman stepped from inside a store, smiled, and offered me an oval green fruit covered in red spikes. With sign language I made her understand that I did not know how to eat this fruit. She motioned for me to wait, retrieved a knife from her tiny shop and quartered the fruit, revealing a creamy white interior that was absolutely delicious – and she wouldn’t take a cent from me.

A shaded walking path runs the length of the park that separates the beach from the main street

Nha Trang’s beach may not be the most stunning in the world, but when paired with the cultural experience, this town – and its beach – are definitely worth a stop when visiting Vietnam.

Photos by Barbara Weibel

Article by Barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels