Nha Trang Beach: Vietnam’s Best Playground

“We’re going to Nha Trang Beach.”

“What’s that?”

“A small town, 8.5 hours by train from here.”

“Okay.” ………Boring

The Jimma village girl couldn’t figure out what it was. Neither did I.

After several days in Sai Gon, we wanted out. Out from the endless noise in Biu Vien Walking Street. Out from Sai Gon’s crazy traffic.

Don’t get me wrong. We loved Bui Vien Walking Street—the energy, the vibe, the entertainment, the food, the noise, and the central location. But at some point, it gets into your head, and that is what happened.

Amen is a village girl from Jimma. She likes green and quiet places.

Similarly, I am a village boy from Ligingi. But I can handle city life. I grew up in the city and have spent much of my time in cities. Both for pleasure, studies and work. In Uganda and abroad.

*******

Bye Bye Sai Gon

I woke up early morning and walked to the window. I looked down the streets. It was empty. How can that be? This is Sai Gon’s Nguyen An Ninh Street, about a kilometre from Biu Vien Walking Street. It is always busy. Day or night.

We had moved to HANZ Thanh Thu Hotel a few days ago but we still frequented Bui Vien Walking Street. For dinner, entertainment, and photoshoot.

I dashed back to the table and grabbed my Fujifilm X-M5.

I took the first shot. It looked dull. I tried again. And again. I couldn’t get a sharp pic. I was disappointed.

I turned around, walked to Amen’s bedroom door and knocked.

“Amen. We gotta go. Wake up.” I called.

She groaned and murmured. “I haven’t had enough sleep”.

“I will leave you here” I retorted, and walked back to my room.

*******

We hurried downstairs and checked out. Soon, we were in a Grab taxi speeding towards Ga Sai Gon (Sai Gon Railway Station). It took us only 10 minutes to get there.

We waited at the train station. Amen was buying some stuff as I filmed.

The train arrived 30 minutes before departure. We boarded 10 minutes before departure, and soon, departed.

After a few snaps, Amen fell asleep while I played around with the Fujifilm X-M5.

A woman with a trolley came selling snacks, coffee, and food. I asked Amen whether she wanted lunch, but she said no. I didn’t expect a yes.

I bought myself rice and chicken, then continued filming and taking photos, until I fell asleep for about two hours. The bed was quite comfortable.

At sunset Amen woke up and we caught the beautiful sun sinking in the West.

Arriving in Nha Trang

We arrived at Ga Nha Trang a few hours later, called Grab, and headed to our hotel.

“Wow, it is a big city. You said it is a small town,” Amen murmured excitedly as she filmed with her iPhone.

It was supposed to be a surprise. Undersell, but surprise.

Honestly, Nha Trang looked beautiful with all the dazzling lights; it surprised me too.

Soon, the Grab taxi pulled up at the Panorama Nha Trang Hotel right in the city centre. Again, I feigned innocence.

“Is this our hotel?” I asked the Grab taxi driver as he offloaded our luggage.

“Yes sir”.

Amen doubted we would stay in such a hotel and thought we were lost.

I don’t blame her. From Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, to Sai Gon, we had chosen smaller, budget hotels, always booking separate rooms.

But now, we were here. In Nha Trang. We deserved better. For once.

Exploring Nha Trang

It was 7:30 p.m and we hit the streets right away, beginning with the market where we shopped for clothes and food. I loved the bargaining part – it was exciting.

Then we went to see the beach. It looked beautiful at night, but Amen said she was cold, so we left, planning to come back the next day.

Nha Trang Beach Photoshoot

The following day the weather was great. We started shooting photos at the hotel before heading out to the beach.

Amen looked beautiful in the brown bikini she had purchased at the market the previous night.

I tried modelling too, and thought I did better than Amen with my 6-pack abs. Amen rudely shut me up, saying it is a ball-pack 🙁

Nha Trang Seafood (and frogs)

For weeks, we mainly feasted on Indian food as Amen, although Christian, grew up eating halal food in Jimma and has stuck to it in her adulthood.

But she loves fish, too, so we went looking. After searching for almost an hour (restaurants in Nha Trang close at around 11 p.m.), we decided to check out a local Vietnamese Restaurant that was still open.

Buffet Hai San Nha Trang Mr Moc is on Nguyen Thien Thuat Street. I ordered fish, pork and rice.

But Amen thought I had duped her into eating frogs. She kept looking at me suspiciously and pointing where she had seen live sea animals – she never trusted me.

But she enjoyed the meal anyway, and learned how to use the chopsticks for the first time.

Mr Moc makes delicious seafood, and I urge you to visit while in Nha Trang.

Bye Bye Nha Trang. See You Quy Nhon

Four days later we hopped into a bus and left for Quy Nhon. But Nha Trang always remained in our hearts.

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