After a pretty hectic five weeks on the road, Char and I desperately needed to recharge our batteries. Luckily we had factored Nha Trang into our grand plan! This gorgeous coastal city is set against a stunning backdrop of white sandy beaches, glorious mountains and bright blue seas. The perfect place for a couple of days rest and relaxation.
Getting there…
Getting to Nha Trang from Hoi An was actually fairly pleasant. We’d booked onto an overnight sleeper bus with Sinh Tourist and after reading some less than gleaming reviews online, we were a little apprehensive. I can happily report that our experience was actually pretty good. The seats were fairly comfy and we both slept quite well until our arrival in Nha Trang. We both agreed that we would happily travel with the company again.
Thap Ba Mud Baths
We kicked off our rest and relaxation with a trip to Thap Ba Mud Bath and Spa. I had read good things online but I wasn’t completely sure what to expect. We booked a Grab to get there as it’s nestled in the mountains. As we had already looked up which spa package we wanted we headed straight to the mud baths on arrival.
I can only describe this experience as odd! We both thought that it would be thick and heavy. Instead it was smooth, almost silky. Sort of like chocolate milk. Even weirder was how buoyant we became! It was near impossible to keep ourselves in one spot as every time we moved we ended up rolling into a weird position and floating in the mud. Being the mature, responsible adults we are it became a hilarious game to poke each other so we’d lose balance and roll over.
Thap Ba Spa
Following a quick shower to get the mud out of pretty much everywhere, we moved onto one of the mineral baths. Being situated above natural hot springs, the baths were very, very warm! It was so nice to be able to relax in a warm bath, looking out across glorious mountains.
Other attractions at the spa included multiple pools of different temperatures, waterfalls heated by the hot springs and Jacuzzis. Access to all of this, plus our mud and mineral baths cost around £11. What a bargain?!
Beach Day
The rest and relaxation continued on the beach. Be sure to take a dip in the sea as the waves are pretty fun along this stretch of coastline. As you walk along the beach front there are many bars, restaurants and performers to keep you entertained. The palm trees and golden sands were reminiscent of Miami as apposed to a Vietnamese city.
Snorkelling
Whilst in Nha Trang we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go snorkelling. Aptly named Vietnam Snorkelling provided us with a lovely day out for only £11. We were picked up from our hostel, transported to our boat and taken to three different snorkelling locations with a delicious buffet lunch served in between. The tour allowed us to see a variety of different species including Sea Cucumbers, which are actually quite a sight! I would thoroughly recommend this as a day trip if you visit Nha Trang.
Vin Pearl Island
Other local attractions include Vin Pearl Island, where you can find a fun filled theme park. Sadly our budget and time constraints meant we couldn’t pay a visit but if you have more time and money than us I’d definitely suggest you have a look.
Our time in Nha Trang was short but sweet. It rejuvenated us and allowed us to have a much needed rest. If you’re looking for somewhere to recharge your batteries this is most definitely the place.
