Travelogue :  Kyvan's Southeast Asia Adventure

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Nov 19, 2005
Nha Trang: Rice Fields to Beaches
 

We are spending 18 days touring Vietnam from the south to the north, from Saigon to Sapa. We are still getting up very early at about 4am and have been shocked by how many more hours we are getting out of the day. So we are getting our money's worth!

Now if you know me, you would know I hate tours. But this is the way to go in Vietnam. It is much cheaper to book a tour to go across Vietnam than to do it yourself. Because if you paid a car driver to take you around for a day, expect to pay $40/d. We went with a Vietnamese tour agency called Cong Ty Du Lich Van Hoa Viet and spent approximately $500 for the 18 day tour that also included hotel, food (3 meals/d), transportation (bus, van, overnight train, plane back to Saigon from Ha Noi).

On our way up the coast of Vietnam towards the beach city of Nha Trang, we witnessed fields of Vietnam's greatest export - Rice. Quite a breathtaking sight: vast oceans of lime green leaves swaying with the breeze producing billowy waves flowing with the current of the wind. Fluid, rippling currents simultaneously reflect sunlight and cast shadows, which causes varying shades of green on the surface of the silky sea. Some fields just contain square pools of young blades. But when combined, they create a patchwork of liquid mirrors where water buffalo graze on the grassy edges and seemingly kiss their own reflections.

My mom grew up in Nha Trang and the beach was her front yard. Closer than I have ever been growing up in San Diego. None of her stories have ever captured what it is like being here. We stayed in 52 Tran Phu hotel, across from an outstanding beach! I am astounded by how wonderful the coastline is. This is a beach town that has nothing of a beach town feel as I am familiar with: no surfshops, wetsuits, taquerias, or bikinis. The coastline is peaceful, the tiled boardwalk is spacious and long. It is a tranquil atmosphere and can make for a very romantic place, which of course is why there are many couples here too. By the way, There are very cheap guesthouses in Nha Trang where up to 3 people can share a room with 2 large beds for approximately $6/night. Check it out! I did. And they're clean too!

There are islands off the coast of Nha Trang and we went to one called Hon Tam (caterpillar island). The island itself had a nice beach with soft, silky white sand. The water was not as warm as Vung Tau but "cool" nonetheless. I went for a short hike and saw camping tents. I could really stay in Nha Trang for a week to explore all the islands and just bum around the beaches. I want a vacation home here. After this, we went off to the charming city of Hoi An.