Nha Trang is a popular beach destination in southern Vietnam for both local Vietnamese and foreign tourists. I had wonderful vacations in Nha Trang and stayed in several hotels in the city.
In this guide, I will share with you my experience about where to stay in Nha Trang and the best areas for both first-timers and returning travelers.
I’m Vietnamese and have traveled extensively across the country, so I speak from firsthand experience. I have good local knowledge that I’d like to share.
This beach city has plenty of hotels for all budgets ranging from luxury rooms in 5-star resorts to shared dorm rooms in backpacker hostels.
From my observation, accommodations in Nha Trang are usually cheaper compared to other cities in South Vietnam like Dalat, Phu Quoc, or Ho Chi Minh City.
Where to stay in Nha Trang?
Nha Trang City center, particularly the area around Nha Trang Beach (Tran Phu Beach), is the best area to stay in Nha Trang for first-time visitors. This is a tourist heart of the city where you can find many tourist facilities and popular attractions like Long Son pagoda, Dam Market, Nha Trang Cathedral, and Ponagar Temple.
Accommodations in Nha Trang City Center are plentiful. You can find clusters of hotels, apartments, and guest houses on popular streets like Tran Phu, Hung Vuong, Biet Thu, or Nguyen Thi Minh Khai. They are all located within easy walking distance from the beach.
Hon Chong Beach, located just north of Tran Phu Beach, is also a great choice for easy access to the beach, local vibe, and more affordable guest houses, homestays, and apartments. This area is close to famous sights such as Hon Chong Promontory and Thap Ba Ponagar.
For resort-style stay near the city center, you can consider staying in the area between Ana Marina and Luong Pass on Pham Van Dong street.
This area is home to various 5-star luxury resorts like Amiana, Alibu, Boma, and Gran Meliá. It is a bit further from the city center but easily reachable by Grab taxi; food and drinks in the resort are usually not cheap though.
If you travel with family or as a couple, I also recommend staying in Hon Tre island at Vinpearl resort. You will have free access to cable car/speed boat, a private white sandy beach, and multiple restaurants.
Vinpearl has an extensive buffet meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can also dine at many restaurants in Vinpearl Harbour and enjoy entertainment activities at VinWonders amusement park.
Nha Trang city center has many high rise buildings with apartments for rent. If you prefer apartment-style accommodations, or you travel as a family, you can consider booking an apartment with sea view.
My hand‑picked hotels in Nha Trang:
- Luxury: Vinpearl Resort (Hon Tre island)
- luxury: Meliá Vinpearl (The City Center)
- Mid-range: Liberty Central Hotel ( I stayed here, great hotel)
- Budget: Azura Gold Hotel & Apartment
I stayed in 3 different hotels including budget options in the city center to the luxury Vinpearl resort on Hon Tre island. Between the three accommodations, I enjoyed my stay at Liberty Central Hotel the most because it has a well-balance of price, cleanliness, and central location.
My room was on a high floor with partial ocean views. It was very clean with quality amenities. It is on Biet Thu Street, within walking distance to the beach and many restaurants. They also have a swimming pool/a fitness center on the 4th floor, and a rooftop bar on the 21st floor.
I also stayed at the budget-friendly Azura Gold Hotel. My room was spacious and had ocean views. It is in a prime location right next to the beach. It has a lovely rooftop area with a small pool, fitness center, and free massage chair. My room included breakfast, and the staff asked me to choose one dish and one drink, so they can prepare it in the next morning.
I love my stay on Hon Tre island at Vinpearl resort and spa and highly recommend it for families with kids or couples. I stayed on a Deluxe double room that has a free buffet breakfast. You can buy a package that also includes lunch, dinner, and a ticket to Vinwonders.
My room at Vinpearl is spacious with 2 free bottles of water, and 2 cans of soft drinks. Prices for food and drinks are expensive though. I traveled to Vinpearl Harbor to have dinner there.
The beach at Vinpearl resort was clean with lots of bedchairs and sun loungers. There were watersports on site with an extra fee. The ride from Vinpearl Land Terminal to the resort by cable car is stunning, and I took a speedboat on the way back to experience both types of transportations.
Where to stay in Nha Trang for families with kids?
In my opinion, Nha Trang City Center and Hon Tre island are the best places to stay in Nha Trang with your children. The City Center has plenty of budget family-friendly resorts and amenities.
Hon Tre island is home to a couple of famous family-friendly luxury resorts and VinWonders themed park which has many activities for both children and adults of all ages.
In the city center, your family can choose to stay right on the beachfront area, on Tran Phu street. I suggest looking at hotels like Novotel (5-star hotel) or Citadines (4-star hotel).
You can find slightly cheaper accommodation within a few blocks away from the beach. In this case, I think Meliá Vinpearl (5-star) and Liberty Central are good options for your family.
The city also has many family-friendly apartment style accommodation, but be sure to read reviews both on Google and booking platforms to avoid scam. If it’s not listed on google, maybe it is best to avoid it.
If your family wants a bit of a luxury family vacation with private beaches, easy access to cable cars, and a themed park, you can choose to stay on Hon Tre island at Vinpearl or Mariot resort.
Best Family Hotels in Nha TrangThe best areas to stay in Nha Trang for tourists
1. Nha Trang Beach (Tran Phu Street), best area for first-time visitors
Nha Trang Beach is one of the most popular areas to stay in Nha Trang for tourists, especially for first time visitors.
This is the beach right in the heart of the city center, making it ideal for those who want to be steps away from the beach and close to everything.
Nha Trang Beach, also known as Tran Phu Beach, is a 5.3 km long beach running parallel with the length of Tran Phu Street.
It stretches all the way from Tran Phu Bridge near Po Nagar Temple in the north to Naval Academy and Bach Dang Park in the south.
The beach is a popular place for swimming, sunbathing, exercising, and enjoying water sport activities. There are sun lounges and umbrellas along the beach for rent for around 50, 000 VND a day.
The most busy time at Nha trang Beach is at sunset when both locals and tourists come out to watch the sun go down and enjoy the cooler temperatures compared to the mid day.
The early morning is also a popular time on the Beach when local Vietnamese come to the beach to watch the sunrise, exercise, and swim.
The Beach has stunning views of the city highrise buildings, Hon Tre island, and its Vinpearl Sky Wheel.
The palm-lined promenade has a lively atmosphere, packed with green parks, cafés, bars, and resorts. There is public gym equipment along the shore.
Most restaurants, hotels, bars, and shops are located on one side of Tran Phu Road opposite from the beachfront, so the beach still feels open and spacious, with easy public access.
Tran Phu Beach is a busy road with lots of traffic, so crossing the road to the beach can be difficult for some people.
The central point of Nha Trang Beach is the Tram Huong Tower and April 2nd Square. Tram Huong Tower is the iconic symbol of Nha Trang.
Tram Huong means “Agarwood”. The area around Nha Trang City and Khanh Hoa Province are known as the “Land of Agarwood”, home to some of the rarest and most precious agarwood, both in terms of quantity and quality.
The tower has a unique design with the shape of a blooming lotus flower and an agarwood bud. The building is beautifully illuminated at night. You can go inside for free.
The lower floor is the mini museum and the upper floors are shops selling souvenirs. The tower is a popular check-in and hang out spot for both locals and tourists.
I will divide Nha Trang Beach into three areas, which includes Central Nha Trang Beach, North Nha Trang Beach, and South Nha Trang Beach.
If you want to be in the heart of the action, book a hotel somewhere near the Tram Huong Tower. The far south and far north of the beach have a quieter and more local atmosphere.
1.1. Central Nha Trang Beach
The Central Nha Trang Beach is the area around Tram Huong Tower and is the heart of the action. There are plenty of popular resorts, hotels, restaurants, and bars. It’s also home to April 2nd Square, the night market, and several beachfront green parks.
Just a few blocks to the west of the central beachfront area, you can find many restaurants, bars, and shops with cheaper prices. It’s also close to various attractions in the city center such as the Stone Church, Dam market, Long Son Pagoda, and Nha Trang train station.
The huge public square, April 2nd Square, is also a popular hangout place in the middle of Nha Trang Beach. It’s home to Vietnamese traditional flags, and Tram Huong tower. It’s the location of many major events in Nha Trang.
Two sides of the main square are the green parks, and lovely promenade with palm trees, street food stalls, beautiful sculptures, gym equipment, foot showers, and public toilets.
To the south of the April 2nd Square, you can find popular bars such as Sailing Club Nha Trang, Louisiane Brewhouse Restaurant & Craft Beer, K.HOUSE Restaurant, or Z Beach Nha Trang. These places have tables, chairs, and bean bags set on the sand for meals and drinks with the sea breeze.
To the north of the April 2nd Square, you can find Happy Beach Bar and Bốn Mùa Park seafood restaurant. There aren’t many beachfront restaurants and bars in Nha Trang Beach, so these are some great spots to enjoy the meal right on the sand.
Right across from April 2nd Square, just off the main road, you’ll find the small Nha Trang night market. The market is set on the 200m long Nguyen Thi street. You can browse for souvenirs and beach wear.
For more mid-range and luxury shopping experience in the air condition building, you can walk to Lotte Mart Nha Trang Gold Coast, Nha Trang Center, and Vincom Plaza Trần Phú.
Best hotels in Central Nha Trang Beach:
Luxury ($$$): InterContinental Nha Trang.
InterContinental is one of the many good quality 5-star hotels in Nha Trang, conveniently located on Tran Phu street, just a step away from Nha Trang Beach.
The hotel has an onsite cafe, restaurant, bar, spa, fitness center, and multiple swimming pools. You can choose to stay in rooms that have stunning ocean views.
Mid-range ($$): Novotel Nha Trang
Novotel is a popular hotel located in the central area of Nha Trang Beach. It’s just a few steps away from the beachfront area for swimming and sunbathing. The hotel has some free sunbeds and umbrellas for their guests on the beach.
Novovelt has an outdoor pool with beach view, spacious rooms, onsite restaurant/ bar, and gym. It’s overall a good base in the heart of the city.
Luxury ($$$): Citadines Bayfront Nha Trang
This 5-star hotel is located on the beachroad, Tran Phu street, right across from the beach. You can easily walk to a range of seafood restaurants and cafés. You can choose rooms with a balcony and views of the ocean for the best experience.
1.2. North Nha Trang Beach
North of Nha Trang Beach is the area around Yersin museum. This area is less busy than the central beach area and is home to some good value for money apartments and hotels. You can use a short Grab taxi or Grab Bike to get to the popular points of interest in the city center.
Some local attractions in this area include Yersin museum, and Alexandre Yersin Park. The Northern Beach part is also just a short drive from the famous Dam mark and Po Nagar Temple.
If you’re interested in the history, life, and the relation of the Swiss-French bacteriologist and explorer, Alexandre Yersin with Nha Trang, you must visit the Yersin Museum.
Yersin settled in Vietnam in 1895, conducted pioneering research in bacteriology and tropical medicine, founded the Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang, introduced rubber and quinine trees to Vietnam.
The entrance ticket is cheap, only 20,000 VND. You can view his personal belongings, scientific equipment, books, and documents of Dr. Yersin at the museum.
You can also explore the Alexandre Yersin Park, located at the northern end of Nha Trang Beach, at the southern side of Tran Phu Bridge. The park is home to the monument of Mr. Alexandre Yersin. It’s a cozy place to visit in the morning and afternoon if you’re staying in the area.
Best hotels in North Nha Trang Beach:
Sunrise Nha Trang Beach Hotel & Spa
This 5-star hotel is located on Tran Phu Beach, the northern area of the beach, so you can enjoy a quieter atmosphere compared to the central area. The hotel has a nice architecture pool area and excellent breakfast with a wide variety of Vietnamese dishes.
Gold Coast Nha Trang Luxury Apartment
This is a good apartment style accommodation in Nha Trang for a group of friends or families. The place offers well-equipped two, and three bedroom apartments, and some have a balcony and beach views. It’s in a quite central location, an easy walk to the beach and a range of restaurants, and shops.
TND Hotel
This 4-star hotel is located on Le Loi Street, just a block behind the main road Tran Phu street and the beach. Easy walk to the beach and the market. They have a nice pool on the roof, as well as a fitness center, and spa services.
There are plenty of places to eat around. The city central area is 15-20 minutes walk from the hotel and a few minutes Grab Ride. It’s an old hotel but has clean comfortable rooms.
1.3. South Nha Trang Beach
South Nha Trang Beach has a more local atmosphere and is quieter than North and Central Beach. This area is home to VinPearl Cable Car, where you can take cable cars and speed boats to nearby Hon Tre island. Taking a cable ride over the ocean is a must do in Nha Trang, in my opinion.
The Museum of Oceanography is another point of interest in South Nha Trang Beach. It’s an interesting place to visit for 2-3 hours to explore live aquariums with thousands of preserved marine species, and rare specimens like sea turtles, sharks, and manta rays.
The museum was founded in 1922 during the French colonial period as a specimen museum for research about marine ecosystems in the South China Sea and later became an aquarium.
Best hotels in South Nha Trang Beach:
- Emerald Bay Hotel & Spa Nha Trang (luxury)
- Lucky Sun Hotel Nha Trang Beach (mid-range)
- La Vague Hotel (mid-range)
2. Nha Trang City Center
While the beachfront has mainly mid-range and luxury resorts, you can find plenty of more budget-friendly hotels and hostels in the city center area of Nha Trang.
The city center is a few minutes walking distance from the beachfront depending on your location. It also has more budget-friendly and authentic restaurants and cafes.
Main streets in Nha Trang City Center are Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Le Thanh Ton, Hung Vuong, Biet Thu, or Nguyen Thien Thuat. You can find dozens of tourist facilities on the main roads and the small streets connecting the main roads.
The Restaurant Cilantro nearby on Hung Vuong street is one of my favorite places to dine in the city center. It offers delicious and reasonably priced meals.
Nha Trang Train Station is located in the city center, making it convenient to take trains to other nearby cities such as Quy Nhon and Da Nang.
The city center is home to famous attractions like Long Son pagoda, Dam Market, Nha Trang Cathedral, and Ponagar Temple.
Long Son Pagoda is the popular Buddhist temple located at the foothills of Trai Thuy Mountain. The temple was built in the Taoist style in 1886. It has beautiful traditional architecture and is home to a giant white Buddha statue (built in 1964) on top of the hill.
The Nha Trang Cathedral, or the Stone Church, is the biggest church in Nha Trang. It was built in the 19th century by a French architect in the French colonial period, on a small hill overlooking Nha Trang Train Station.
The church has Neo-Gothic architecture with an ornate bell tower, high vaulted ceilings, and stained-glass windows. You can enjoy a beautiful view of the city. It’s also a good spot for taking photos.
Dam Market, also called Cho Dam in Vietnamese, is the most iconic traditional market in Nha Trang. It’s a good spot to visit to buy souvenirs, local specialities, and experience local life. The market sells everything from clothes, suitcases, fresh and dried seafood, fruits and vegetables, and local specialties.
Here are some best hotels in Nha Trang City Center:
Mid-range ($$): Liberty Central Hotel
I stayed in Liberty Central, and I think it is a great 4-star hotel in a prime location, an easy walking distance to the beach and restaurants. My room was clean with a comfortable bed and great views of the city and the ocean from the window.
Luxury ($$$): Vinpearl Empire Nha Trang, Affiliated by Meliá
This 5-star hotel is located on Le Thanh Tong street in the city center of Nha Trang, within a few minutes walking distance from the beach. It’s also close to the range of restaurants, bars, and shops.
Budget ($): Apus Hotel
Apus is a good base in the city center for those who have a smaller budget. It is located on Hung Vuong street, just blocks away from the beach. They have a nice rooftop area where you can enjoy the sea view. You can find plenty of restaurants, massages and shops nearby.
3. Hon Chong Beach, good base north Nha Trang city center
Hon Chong Beach is a good base for budget travelers and those who have a quieter atmosphere than the city center. You are still within walking distance to the beach and are within a short Grab Ride to the city center of Nha Trang.
Hong Chong Beach is around 2,3km long beach stretching from Hon Chong pro promontory to the intersection of Pham Van Dong and Ngo Van So street. Hon Chong Beach is a good spot for swimming and enjoy all water activities with less crowds than Nha Trang main beach.
The beach runs parallel to the lower part of Pham Van Dong Street, which is the extension of Tran Phu street. This area has lots of highrise buildings, reasonably priced apartments and restaurants.
Hon Chong Promontory is a popular tourist attraction in Hon Chong Beach. It is a large area of rocks with different shapes and is a good place to visit especially during the sunset.
You can have good views of the city skylines and the bay from the rocks. It’s a good spot to do some rock climbing too. You can buy tickets onsite. These rock formations remind me of the scenery of the Hin Ta Hin Yai rock formation in Lamai Koh Samui.
Hon Chong Beach is near the famous Ponagar Temple, one of the must-see attractions in Nha Trang. It’s a hilltop temple with stunning Cham architecture and a calm setting. The temple is open daily and you can buy a ticket at the entrance.
Nha Trang was once the land of the Cham Kingdom. This ancient ruins dates back to the 8th and 12th centuries by the Cham civilization. It has beautiful architecture with red brick construction, intricate Cham carvings, and Hindu-inspired architectural elements.
Nha Trang is one of the best places to go in Vietnam for mud baths. There are several well-known mud baths located near Hon Chong Beach including Thap Ba Mud Bath and Hot mineral springs I-Resort Nha Trang.
The mud and mineral-rich waters can help to relax muscles. You can soak in warm mud pools, rinse in mineral spring baths, and can add massage services for a full wellness experience.
Some good places to stay in Hon Chong Beach:
Gibson Hotel
The 4-star mid-range is located on Bac Son street, within walking distance to Hon Chong Beach. They have good-size rooms, rooftop pool, and a small gym. It’s in a quiet location, a few minutes drive north of the city center.
Shoho Hotel
This hotel is a good option for those who have a smaller budget. You can find a lot of cafes and shops around this place. Easy walk to the beach.
4. Central Pham Van Dong St, luxury resorts
A central section of Pham Van dong Street between Ana Maria and Luong Son Pass has a cluster of 5-star luxury resorts, making it a great location for those looking for resort-style accommodations near Nha Trang City Center.
It is a 15 minutes drive to the city center where most restaurants and bars are located.
This area is best suited for families and couples looking for a relaxing luxury holiday and don’t mind travel to get to the city center. There aren’t many choices of restaurants and bars in its immediate areas but you can use facilities inside these resorts.
Since this area is located north of Nha Trang main beach, it’s closer to some popular attractions such as Monkey island, Hoa Lan Island Resort, Ninh Van Bay, Ho Thi island, and Ba Ho Waterfall.
Here are the best places to stay in Pham Van Dong street:
Amiana Resort
This is a beautiful luxury beachfront resort and first class property, best suited for family vacation or honeymoon. It has 3 swimming pools and a private beach. They have a kid station and lots of free programs for children.
Alibu Resort.
Alibu is a wonderful resort near downtown Nha Trang. Great base for a luxury and relaxing getaway. It has multiple pools, restaurants, an on-site brewery, and a private beach area.
Boma Resort
Boma is a nice resort with delicious breakfast with many choices for all tastes. Rooms are spacious, clean, and comfortable. Good base for a relaxing holiday. It is not walking distance to the city center, so you will need to get a taxi to get to attractions like churches and temples.
Gran Meliá
A beautiful complex with a lush garden, a great place in Nha Trang for a calm holiday. It is located in a bit of a remote location so you will need a shuttle to get into the downtown area.
5. Hon Tre Island, ideal for family and couples for luxury
Hon Tre island is a popular island in Nha Trang and is the location of famous resorts like Vinpearl and Marriott. It is home to Vinwonders with lots of entertainment activities.
Hon Tre island can be reached by taking a cable car ride or using a speed boat. If you stay in Vinpearl resort, these transportation are free to use.
Hon Tre is quite big compared to other islands off the coast of Nha Trang. It’s around 10km long and 5km width, with most resorts and tourist amenities located on the north west coast of the island, close to the pier to Nha Trang City Center.
Vinpearl Complex itself has plenty of things to explore. They have a lovely 500m private beach, beautiful coast walk to the Diving Center, the peaceful Truc Lam temple, a shopping center, and a themed park.
Some other points of interest on Hon Tre island include Con Se Tre Tourist Area, Bai Tru, Dam Bay.
Here are my recommended places to stay in Hon Tre island:
Vinpearl Resort.
If you are a family traveling with kids or couples looking for a luxury vacation in Nha Trang, Vinpearl is a great choice. You can relax at the beach, the pool, and enjoy entertainment activities at Vinwonders. The cable car ride itself is beautiful as you can have stunning views of the city, the ocean and the island.
Marriott Resort & Spa.
Marriott is one of the two options for staying on Hon Tre island along with Vinpearl resort. It is a great holiday for luxury travelers.
6. Ninh Van Bay, secluded and luxury area
Ninh Van Bay is a secluded bay located 60 km north of Nha Trang city center. You can enjoy luxury amenities in a 5 star resort and enjoy beach time. It is a peaceful retreat way from the hustle and bustle of the city center.
There are not many choices in terms of accommodations in Ninh Van Bay. You can choose to stay at one of several resorts in this area. It is located very far from Nha Trang, so it is best suited for those who want to spend most of their time in the resort’s facilities.
Here are some of the best hotels and resorts in Ninh Van Bay:
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I summarise the best areas in Nha Trang in my youtube video, you can watch it here:
These are my list of the best areas to stay in Nha Trang for first-timers and returning visitors. The city center is overall the best location for exploring the cultural attractions, enjoying the beaches, and island hopping. It has plenty of accommodations for all budgets, so you can easily pick one that suits your budget and needs.