Thursday, August 17, 2006

Nha Trang, Vietnam - 28-30 July 2006

Next stop on my itinerary was Nha Trang, a coastal city with clean sandy beaches and a beautiful bay. Coming from cool Dalat, the hot and sunny weather in Nha Trang was definitely felt head on.

While there were lots to do and see in Nha Trang: snorkelling, diving, island hopping tours, elephant tours, etc., I opted to just chill at the beach on the day of arrival and at the Thap Ba Hot Spring Center the day after. The round-trip mini-van ride from my hotel to the hot spring center and the entrance fee cost 90,000 dong or about US$5.90. Their facilities included a mud bath, hydro-power jet water, a mineral hot spring bath and a 38 degree Celsius mineral water swimming pool. There's also a restaurant on-site. After lunch there, I paid 70,000 dong (or about US$4.60) for a 45-minute massage and sauna. After days of roughing it out on the road, I was so ready for a day of pampering and self-indulgence and Thap Ba did not disappoint. I left the place feeling reinvigorated and just SO relaxed.

**En-route from Dalat to Nha Trang**
(click on any image for a(n) enlarged / gallery view)

Above right: Fish rice soup and lemonade (18,000 dong or about US$1.20)

**Nha Trang**


Above left: Baked mackerel (with a glass of fresh orange juice); my dinner cost 141,000 dong or about US$9.20


Above right: Breakfast of champions - 2 eggs, baguette with jam and butter, iced white coffee and a mixed fruit yogurt drink; cost 29,000 dong or about US$1.90

Above: Natural hot springs at Thap Ba Hot Spring Center

Vietnam Itinerary: Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon - Dalat - Nha Trang - Hoi An - Hue - Hanoi

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