Nha Trang was my third stop after Ho Chi Minh & Mui Ne. I have read about the place prior to shortlisting it. But, the main reason to take a stopover was a break from the long bus journies. My destination of the trip was Da Nang & from Mui Ne to Da Nang the bus ride was approx 14 to 15 hours which was too much to handle. Hence, I decided to take a bus to Nha Trang & experience some of the unique experiences like Mud bath, cliff jumping. Thus, I boarded the bus to Nha Trang from Mui Ne.
First Touchdown:
The bus dropped us at Nha Trang bus stand which was approx 4 to 5 Km from the city center. As soon as I got down, there were numbers of motorbikes & cab drivers looking to take you to your desired destinations. I chose motorbike to take me to the hostel. Somewhere I read that first negotiate the price & then only board the vehicle. So, I did the same I checked on the google map about the distance & quoted a price to the motorbike driver. He said ok & told me to sit on the back seat. I smelled something fishyHence, I showed him the distance & the price that I will be willing to pay.
Driver: Ok
In 15 min we reached the hostel & now the fun begins
Me: Take this
Driver: No, I want more
Me: We decided on this amount
Driver: NOOO
Me: I showed you the distance & quoted the price. I won't pay more than this.
Driver: (Getting angry) No I want more
Me: How much more?
Driver: (Still angry) 1,00,000 VND
Me: 1,00,000 VND for 15 mins ride? Are you serious?
Driver: Yeah, I want 1,00,000 VND else I will take you to police
Me: Ok call the police.
Driver: Sit & I will take you to the police.
Me: No, I am not going anywhere, you call the police here.
Driver: (Very angry, slapping his backseat) Sit & I will take you to the police.
Me: No, you call the police here.
Driver: (Hitting the seat again) You give me my money.
Me: I stayed quiet & didn't say a word for 15 mins.
Driver: Give me money.
Me: I gave him what we decided.
Driver: No, 1,00,000 VND.
Me: Ok enough, we will go to store in front of us & will call the police here. Then we will see.
Driver: Ok go.
Me: Started walking.
Driver: Ok give me the money.
Me: Take this.
Driver: (While riding back) Fuck you.
Me: Smiling at his gesture.
Out of the all the places I have visited till date. I have never experienced this. Such instances are heartbreaking but are the cruel reality of the world.
In 15 min we reached the hostel & now the fun begins
Me: Take this
Driver: No, I want more
Me: We decided on this amount
Driver: NOOO
Me: I showed you the distance & quoted the price. I won't pay more than this.
Driver: (Getting angry) No I want more
Me: How much more?
Driver: (Still angry) 1,00,000 VND
Me: 1,00,000 VND for 15 mins ride? Are you serious?
Driver: Yeah, I want 1,00,000 VND else I will take you to police
Me: Ok call the police.
Driver: Sit & I will take you to the police.
Me: No, I am not going anywhere, you call the police here.
Driver: (Very angry, slapping his backseat) Sit & I will take you to the police.
Me: No, you call the police here.
Driver: (Hitting the seat again) You give me my money.
Me: I stayed quiet & didn't say a word for 15 mins.
Driver: Give me money.
Me: I gave him what we decided.
Driver: No, 1,00,000 VND.
Me: Ok enough, we will go to store in front of us & will call the police here. Then we will see.
Driver: Ok go.
Me: Started walking.
Driver: Ok give me the money.
Me: Take this.
Driver: (While riding back) Fuck you.
Me: Smiling at his gesture.
Out of the all the places I have visited till date. I have never experienced this. Such instances are heartbreaking but are the cruel reality of the world.
Nha Trang City:
The city is pretty small & apart from the beach, there is nothing more to do & experience. The city is not as crowded as Ho Chi Minh city but is haphazard as Ho Chi Minh city. Those insane driving practices are the common sight on the roads. The best things to experience near Nha Trang is, without doubt, is Cliff jumping. City's nightlife is not as vibrant as it should be.
The city has a decent beach which is crowded with the tourists. However, it is difficult to say if it is safe for swimming. If you really want to dip then head to Doc Let. A place 40 min from Nha Trang which has clear water by far. Apart from these activities, there is nothing much to do.
For solo travelers, things might get tricky. As it is important to keep your valuables safe. I stayed in Mjozo Dorm & I was about to leave the hostel for some sight seeing. The reception lady was super humble & asked me about my plan. After listening to me, she said keep your valuables at the hostel & only carry few things which are essentials. As there are many instances of theft. So, do ask your hostel guys about safety measures before leaving the place.
For solo travelers, things might get tricky. As it is important to keep your valuables safe. I stayed in Mjozo Dorm & I was about to leave the hostel for some sight seeing. The reception lady was super humble & asked me about my plan. After listening to me, she said keep your valuables at the hostel & only carry few things which are essentials. As there are many instances of theft. So, do ask your hostel guys about safety measures before leaving the place.
Should You Visit Nha Trang?
It depends if you have enough time. If you are short on time then it is advisable to skip this place & head towards more beautiful & more adventurous places in the north. But, if you want to experience Vietnam as a whole then you can spend 2 days here. 2 days only to get the vibe of the place. Beach is crowded throughout the day, hence it is difficult to find a quiet place. Also, never leave your things unattended, which can cause a problem for solo travelers.Scuba diving is one of the activities which people prefer. However, I didn't do it. Hence, can't comment on it. Overall I spent good 2 days in Nha Trang & boarded a bus to my final destination Da Nang.
If you looking for complete information about the place. Following links will be very useful to you.
A trip is incomplete without the pics. During the time of this trip, I had iPhone 4 which didn't had a great camera. Hence, photos are bit weird. But, last year I bought iPhone 6 which drastically improved my pictures. So, I would recommend you buying a great camera phone to take some breath taking pics.
Apart from a phone camera, I use GoPro an adventure camera to shoot video & click photos. The product is pretty handy & captures mind blogging videos. GoPro is easy & handy to use, which makes it a must buy.
Apart from a phone camera, I use GoPro an adventure camera to shoot video & click photos. The product is pretty handy & captures mind blogging videos. GoPro is easy & handy to use, which makes it a must buy.