Nha Trang facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nha Trang Thành phố Nha Trang
City (Class-1)
Skyline alongside Nha Trang Beach Christ the King Cathedral Nha Trang Bay Long Sơn Temple Po Nagar Towers
Seal
Nickname(s):  Nha Trang City
Nha Trang Location in Vietnam Show map of Vietnam Nha Trang Location in Southeast Asia Show map of Southeast Asia Nha Trang Location in Asia Show map of Asia
Country	Vietnam
Region	South Central Coast
Province	Khánh Hòa
Founded	1987
Area
• City (Class-1)	254.29 km2 (98.18 sq mi)
Population  (2019 census)
• City (Class-1)	422,601
• Density	1.660/km2 (4.30/sq mi)
• Urban	285,788
• Ethnicities	Kinh Chinese Champa people
Metro GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values)
• Year	2023
• Total	$3.9 billion
• Per capita	$11,500
Time zone	GMT + 7
ZIP code	625080
Climate	As

Nha Trang (English: /ˌnjɑːˈtræŋ/ or /ˌnɑːˈtræŋ/; Vietnamese: [ɲaː˧ ʈaːŋ˧]) is a beautiful coastal city in Vietnam. It is the capital of Khánh Hòa Province and is located on the South Central Coast. The city had about 422,600 people living there in 2019. Nha Trang is famous for its stunning beaches and is a popular spot for both local and international visitors.

Long ago, this city was called Kauthara when the Kingdom of Champa ruled the area. You can still see the ancient Po Nagar Towers, which the Champa people built. Nha Trang is also a big center for marine science, with the Nha Trang Oceanography Institute located here. The Hon Mun marine protected area is one of the first four marine protected areas in the world recognized by the IUCN.

Nha Trang is well-known for its amazing beaches and scuba diving spots. It has become a favorite place for tourists from all over the world. Many people consider Nha Trang Bay one of the most beautiful bays globally. Every two years, the city hosts a fun Sea Festival.

What's in a Name? The Meaning of Nha Trang

Nha Trang's beach

Some experts believe the name Nha Trang comes from a Vietnamese way of saying Ea Dran. This was a Cham language name for the "Reed River," which is now the Cai River. The Cham people used this name. Later, the name of the river was used for the whole area. This area officially became part of Vietnam in 1698.

Old maps and books also mention the name. For example, a book from the 18th century called Toàn tập Thiên Nam Tứ Chí Lộ Đồ Thư mentioned "Nha Trang Môn" (Nha Trang gate). Another map from the 17th century called Giáp Ngọ Niên Bình Nam Đồ talked about "Nha Trang Hải môn" (Nha Trang Sea Gate). These are some of the earliest records of the name.

A Look Back: The History of Nha Trang

In the past, the area where Nha Trang is now was known as Kauthara. This region was part of the ancient Kingdom of Champa. It was influenced by religions like Hinduism and Buddhism.

From 1653 to the 19th century, Nha Trang was mostly a wild, empty area with lots of animals like tigers. It was part of Hà Bạc, Vĩnh Xương County, in Diên Khánh Province.

In the early 1900s, Nha Trang started to change quickly. On August 30, 1924, the French rulers in Indochina declared Nha Trang a small town. This new town was made up of several old villages: Xương Huân, Phương Câu, Vạn Thạnh, Phương Sài, and Phước Hải.

Map of Nha Trang in 1933

During the time of French Indochina, Nha Trang was like the unofficial capital of Khánh Hòa Province. Many French government offices were located there. However, local Vietnamese royal offices were in Diên Khánh city, about 10 km southwest of Nha Trang.

On May 7, 1937, Nha Trang was officially upgraded from a townlet to a full town. It had five main areas, which were the old villages it was built from.

Later, in 1958, the president of the Republic of Vietnam changed Nha Trang back into two rural areas. But then, on October 22, 1970, Nha Trang was made a town again. It was divided into 11 urban zones.

On April 2, 1975, forces from the VPA took control of the city. After this, Nha Trang went through several changes in its administration.

Finally, on March 30, 1977, Nha Trang was officially upgraded to a city. It became a city under the administration of Phú Khánh Province. Later, on July 1, 1989, Khánh Hòa Province was separated again, and Nha Trang became its capital. In 1999, Nha Trang was recognized as a second-class city, and in 2009, it became a first-class city.

Where is Nha Trang? Its Geography

Nha Trang city covers an area of about 251 square kilometers. It has a population of around 500,000 people. The city is bordered by Ninh Hòa town to the north and Cam Ranh city to the south. To the west is Diên Khánh town, and to the east is the East Sea.

The city is located on the beautiful Nha Trang Bay. This bay has been named one of the world's most beautiful bays by Travel + Leisure magazine. Mountains surround Nha Trang on three sides. On the fourth side, facing the ocean, there is a large island and four smaller islands. These islands help protect the city from big storms.

Po Nagar towers at the mouth of Cái River

Nha Trang's Climate: What's the Weather Like?

Nha Trang has a tropical savanna climate. This means it has a long dry season from January to August. The shorter wet season is from September to December. During the wet season, the city gets most of its rain from the north-east monsoon. Sometimes, very heavy rain from typhoons can happen, but the city is usually protected from the strongest winds.

How Nha Trang is Organized: Administrative Divisions

Nha Trang City Hall

Trầm Hương Tower (literally: Agarwood), a city icon

Nha Trang is divided into 27 smaller areas. These areas are called wards and communes. There are 19 urban wards, which are like city neighborhoods. There are also 8 suburban communes, which are more rural areas around the city. Because the city is growing fast, many new planned zones have been built, such as Hòn Rớ and Đường Đệ.

Learning in Nha Trang: Education

Nha Trang is home to several important schools and research centers.

• Nha Trang University is a big university that teaches many different subjects. It used to be called Nha Trang Fishery University.
• There is also the Naval and Aviation Academy, where people train for the navy and air force.
• A teachers' training college helps people become teachers.
• Khanh Hoa University is another important school.
• The Nha Trang Oceanography Institute is a special place that studies the ocean. It's the largest of its kind in Vietnam and has thousands of ocean life samples. It also has the biggest ocean library in Vietnam.
• The Pasteur Institute of Nha Trang is a famous research center.

The Pasteur Institute of Nha Trang: A Place of Science

A famous French-Swiss scientist named Alexandre Yersin lived in Nha Trang for 50 years. He was known as Ông Năm (Mr. Five) by the local people. He started the Indochinese Pasteur Institute, which is now the Pasteur Institute of Nha Trang. This institute focused on studying the bubonic plague. Yersin passed away in Nha Trang on March 1, 1943. There's a street named after him and a museum dedicated to his amazing work.

Nha Trang's Economy: How the City Makes Money

Nha Trang's economy mostly depends on tourism. Many people visit the city, which helps local businesses. In the areas outside the city, the shipbuilding industry is also important. This industry builds and repairs ships. Fishing and other services also play a big part in the city's economy.

Khánh Hòa Province, where Nha Trang is located, is one of the biggest contributors to Vietnam's yearly budget. Lobster farming in the sea is a major industry for people living in the suburban areas.

South of the city, near Cam Ranh Bay, new industrial parks are being built. These parks will attract more businesses and jobs. A deep-water port is also being built at Vân Phong Bay. This port will be able to handle very large ships and lots of cargo. This will make the area an even more important economic zone.

Coastline of Nha Trang in December 2020.

Fun in the Sun: Tourism in Nha Trang

Vinpearl Cable Car

Vinpearl Resort & Spa

Nha Trang Bay

A Buddha statue

Vinpearl waterpark

Nha Trang is one of Vietnam's most important places for tourists. It has beautiful beaches with soft, clean sand and clear ocean water. The temperature is mild all year round, which is perfect for swimming and relaxing.

You can find many resorts here, like Vinpearl, Diamond Bay, and Ana Mandara. There are also fun amusement parks and water parks in the city and on nearby islands. Tran Phu Street, which runs along the seaside, is considered one of the most beautiful streets in Nha Trang.

Off the coast of Nha Trang is Hon Tre Island (Bamboo Island). This island has a big resort run by the Vinpearl Group. You can get to Hon Tre Island by riding the Vinpearl Cable Car. This is a gondola lift system that connects the mainland to the resort and theme park.

Nha Trang is also a stop for yearly yacht races that start in Hong Kong. In recent years, many large cruise ships have visited the city. Besides yacht racing, there are many other fun activities for visitors. You can go island hopping, scuba diving, or try other water sports. The Nha Trang Tourist Information Center helps visitors find out what to do.

The local food is famous for fresh seafood and barbecued pork wrapped in rice paper. The area's bird's nest soup is thought to be one of the best in Vietnam. Bird's nests are collected from wild birds, bird farms on the islands, and even from some houses in the city.

Top Tourist Attractions in Nha Trang

A popular fishery boat and a round bamboo coracle in Nha Trang

• Alexandre Yersin Museum: Learn about the famous scientist Alexandre Yersin.
• Pasteur Institute of Nha Trang: A historic research center.
• Nha Trang Oceanography Institute: Explore thousands of ocean life samples and learn about marine science.
• Chánh Tọa Church (Mountain Church): A unique church in the city.
• Long Son Pagoda: See the large statue of Gautama Buddha.
• Tong Lam Lo Son Pagoda: Another pagoda with a statue of Amitabha Buddha.
• Boat tour on Cai River: Visit islands and the Ba Hồ Waterfall.
• Palace of Emperor Bảo Đại: Explore the former emperor's palace.
• Thap Ba Hot Spring: Relax in the hot springs.
• Nha Phu Lagoon, Hoa Lan Stream (Orchid Flower stream), Monkey Island: Great places to see nature and animals.
• Hòn Tằm Island (Silkworm island), Hòn Mun Island (Ebony island), Hòn Con Sẻ Tre Island (Bamboo Sparrow island), Hòn Ông Island, Đảo Yến Island (Swiftlet island), Hòn Tre Island (Bamboo island): Beautiful islands to explore.
• Yangbay Waterfall: Enjoy a natural waterfall.
• Tháp Bà Pô Nagar Nha Trang: Ancient Champa Towers.
• Trí Nguyên Aquarium: See hundreds of rare ocean species.
• Vinpearl Cable Car: Take a scenic ride to Hon Tre Island.

Nha Trang's Culture: Food and Fun

Banh canh noodle soup

Delicious Food: Cuisine in Nha Trang

Nha Trang has many tasty local dishes that people love.

• bánh canh chả cá: A noodle soup with fish cakes and fish broth.
• bún cá sứa: Rice vermicelli noodles with jellyfish.
• bánh xèo mực: Crispy crepes filled with squid.

Nightlife: What to Do After Dark

Nha Trang's nightlife is known to be lively. It's usually busiest around the Vietnamese New Year. You can enjoy the city's evening atmosphere most of the year, except maybe during the rainy season in November. Many tourists enjoy boat rides on the Nha Trang River Cai (also known as Song Cai).

Getting Around: Transportation in Nha Trang

In the past, Nha Trang Airport was the main airport. It was used during the Vietnam War. Now, Cam Ranh International Airport is the main airport for the city. It's about 28 km (17 mi) south of Nha Trang. This airport is one of the busiest in Vietnam. You can fly from Cam Ranh to cities like Hanoi, Hồ Chí Minh City, and Đà Nẵng.

The city is located right next to National Route 1, which is the main north-south road in Vietnam. The Reunification Railway also goes through Nha Trang and has a station there.

A big project is underway to build Vân Phong Port north of the city. This will be a deep-water port that can handle very large ships. It will help bring more trade and business to the area.

Gallery

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  Nha Trang coastal city viewed from above

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  Nha Trang's skyline

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  Hon Chong rocks

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  The official venue of Miss Universe 2008 pageant

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  Nha Trang Bay

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  Another view at Po Nagar temple

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  Long Son pagoda

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  A typical street in Nha Trang City

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  Xóm Bóng Bridges (1975–2022)

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  Oceanographic Institute

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  Another view

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  The fishing harbour

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  Sea anemone

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  The center of Nha Trang city

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  Street Nha Trang

Sister Cities

Nha Trang has friendly relationships with other cities:

• Đà Lạt, Vietnam
• Thái Nguyên, Vietnam
• Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

See also

In Spanish: Nha Trang para niños