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Published: October 25th 2007
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Nha Trang
View from the Balcony My My I am getting behind with this blogging lark, so I better write everything about Nha Trang down while it's still fresh in my mind. I'll start with a rant. I haven't had one in a while. fecking An Phu the stupid Open Bus Tour company. They are nothing but a bunch of sadists. Its a 12 hour bus journey from Hoi An to Nha Trang. Bad enough but they gave us the oldest bus in town with a driver better suited to the dodgems. We were stuck down the back behind some chain smokers who thought it fine to smoke out the window all the way and with no room to stretch or turn, needless to say got no sleep. Feckers pure and simple.
We were like wasps when we arrived in Nha Trang, with stingy eyes and hair on end. We coasted in ahead of schedule (I'm convinced the driver just rolled over cyclists on his way) and at 5.30am the town was buzzing. Nha Trang is a quite large town (about 300,000 inhabitants) and it's Vietnam's biggest and busiest beach resort. We drove along the promenade watching the locals (early birds each and every one) do
Nha Trang
Nha Trangs market area their morning exercises. It would have put us to shame if we weren't in such weasely mood. We had met an Irish couple on the bus and together with them we found an acceptable hotel. Everything you need plus a balcony with sea view for 8$. I know I always mention price but we are unemployed you know..
Nha trang was further balm to our trekked-out souls. The actual beach is not the best, it can be dirty in places and the water is downright rough. Swimming is next to impossible with the strong current and slamming waves. But there's a bit to see and do down there. I spent one enjoyable morning on a sunlounger getting a pedicure. Massages are also available, or one of the wandering sales people will let you choose a lobster and some crabs from their bucket to be grilled on the beach in front of you. All very decadent.
One of the most fun parts of Nha Trang was the 6$ boat tour of the islands, offered by each and every agency. Its the must-see, must do cheesy tourist day out and we absolutely loved it. We had a fun filled day
Nha Trang
Market area of swimming, snorkelling and karaoke on the boat. We will forever associate "Top of the World" with the Vietnamese thanks to a spirited version sang by a fellow passenger. Our tour guide seemed rather merry when we boarded first thing in the morning and his merriness progressed steadily throughout the day as he was never without a beer in his hand. Our first taste of snorkelling was interesting. Well more interesting for Mathias as he managed to actually see the coral. We had only masks and no fins and I managed to get swept in the other direction by the current, holding on to my rubber ring. I was a sorry sight (and I lost my mask). But I got back in the end! The pinnacle of the tour was the floating bar. This involved one of the boat staff going into the water with a makeshift "bar and a few bottles of sweet and vinegary red wine. We all jumped in with our lifejackets and got ourselves a plastic cup of wine. Great fun!
That night we hit the bars of Nha Trang. It's renowned for being a party town and also a bit dodgy with working girls
Nha Trang
Market in Nha Trang and fake working girls constantly trying to rob you. Well I have to say we didn't have a single bad experience. The only dodgy people were us! Like with most of Vietnam it's happy hour all the time and the drinks were dirt cheap. But we are sensible and boring souls so it wasn't a late night.
After getting his first taste of snorkelling in Vietnam, Mathias was ready to go on a proper snorkelling tour. I was less keen, imagining making a prat of myself again. He persuaded and cajoled (bullied) me until I gave in. For 10$ we booked a 4 hour snorkelling tour with a dive school, sharing the boat with open water divers. This was the real deal this time. Proper snorkelling equipment, fins, the whole shebang. Mathias (AquaMan) is a snorkelling natural. Dawn less so. At the first dive site I inched myself in wearing a life jacket but I soon realised that the fins are all you need so I dumped the jacket and headed for the coral. It was fabulous. Pity we didn't have an underwater camera. We spent a few hours stalking the fish, watching them eat coral, thinking that we
Nha Trang
Floating Bar could catch them. It was fantastic fun. I really want to do it again. We've decided to do an Open Water Dive Course once we get to Thailand. Born again waterbabies!
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