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Nha Trang
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Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khánh Hòa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is well known for its pristine beaches and excellent scuba diving and is fast becoming a popular destination for international tourists, attracting large numbers of backpackers as well as more affluent travelers on the Southeast Asia circuit.
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Encyclopedia
Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khánh Hòa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is well known for its pristine beaches and excellent scuba diving and is fast becoming a popular destination for international tourists, attracting large numbers of backpackers as well as more affluent travelers on the Southeast Asia circuit. It is already very popular with Vietnamese tourists. Nha Trang Bay is amongst the world's most beautiful bays. Tourists can participate in Sea Festival and August- Nha Trang Rendezvous Festival every 2 years. Nha Trang was the site of the Miss Universe 2008 Pageant that was held on July 14, 2008.
The city has about 300,000 inhabitants and is projected to increase to 500,000 to 600,000 inhabitants in the year 2020 according to estimation of Nha Trang Administrative Board Statistics.
Historically, the city was known as Kauthara under the Champa. The city is still home to the Po nagar Tower built by the Champa.
As a coastal city, Nha Trang's developed in marine science with Nha Trang Oceanography Institution. There's also Hon Mun marine protected area - one of four first marine protected area in the world admitted by IUCN. The famous French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Émile John Yersin (who discovered the Yersinia pestis bacterium) identified himself with Nha Trang's life for 50 years (people called him Ông Nam- Mr Fifth in familiar way), established the Indochina Pasteur Institution (Nha Trang Pasteur Institution now) to research bubonic plague and then died on March 1, 1943 in Nha Trang. A street in the city is named after him, there is a shrine located next to his tomb, and his house has been converted into the Yersin Museum.
Lying off Nha Trang is Bamboo Island, operated by the Sofitel Vinpearl Group. There is now a motorized chair lift system, reportedly the longest in the world, linking the mainland to the five-star resort and theme park on Bamboo Island.
Commercial flights to Nha Trang no longer use the city's municipal airport, but fly into the larger Cam Ranh airport, a former U.S. Air Force Base (built during the Vietnam War) located about 35 kilometers or 22 miles south of Nha Trang (see the Transport section below for additional details.)
Geography
Nha Trang city has a metropolitan area of 251 km² and population of about 500,000 . It borders Ninh Hòa town by the north, Cam Ranh city by the south, Diên Khánh town by the west and the South China Sea to the east. The city is located on a beautiful bay, the Nha Trang Bay, which was chosen by Travel and Leisure in two succeeding years as one of 29 most beautiful bays in the world. Nha Trang is surrounded on all three sides by mountains and a large island on the fourth side (in the ocean directly in front of the city's main area) that blocks major storms from potentially damaging the city.
History
From 1653 to 19th century, Nha Trang was still a deserted area and was an area rich in wildlife animals like tigers, and was a part of Hà B?c, Vinh Xuong County, Diên Khánh Province. After just 2 decades of early 20nd century, Nha Trang underwent a rapid change. On 30 August 1924, the Governor-General of French Indochina (Gouverneur-General de l’Indochine) by a decree, establish Nha Trang as a townlet (centre urbain). Nha Trang Townlet was established from ancient villages of: Xuong Huân, Phuong Câu, V?n Th?nh, Phuong Sài, Phu?c H?i.
During French Indochina, Nha Trang was seen as de facto capital (chief lieu) of Khanh Hoa Province. The colonical administration offices like Envoy Office, Commanding Office, Trade Office, Post Office….were situated in Nha Trang. However, local royal offices like: Province Chief, Provincial Judge, Military Commander…are situated in Dien Khanh city (a walled military city located 10 km south-west of Nha Trang).
On 7 May 1937 , the Governor-General of French Indochina by another decree upgraded Nha Trang Townlet to town (French: commune). At this time, Nha Trang Town had 5 wards: Xuong Huân was the fist ward, Phuong Câu was the second ward, V?n Th?nh was the third ward, Phuong Sài was the fourth ward, and Phu?c H?i was the fifth ward.
On January 27, 1958, the president of the Republic of Vietnam, Ngô Ðình Di?m by Decree 18-BNV abrogated the town status of Nha Trang and divided Nha Trang into two rural communes: Nha Trang Ðông (Eastern Nha Trang) and Nha Trang Tây (Western Nha Trang), under the administration of Vinh Xuong County.
On October 22, 1970, the government of the Republic of Vietnam by Decree 132-SL/NV reestablished Nha Trang Town on the ground of Nha Trang Ðông and Nha Trang Tây and other rural communes, namely Vinh H?i, Vinh Phu?c, Vinh Tru?ng, Vinh Nguyên, and villages: Phu?c H?i (Vinh Thái Commune), Vinh Ði?m H? (Vinh Hi?p Commune), Ng?c Th?o, Ng?c H?i, Lu C?m Villages (Vinh Ng?c Commune) under the administration of Vinh Xuong County, together with islands: Hòn L?n, Hòn M?t, Hòn Mun, Hòn Mi?u, Hòn T?m. Nha Trang Town was made the capital of Khanh Hoa Province. The town included 2 districts: district 1 and district 2. District 1 covered communes: Nha Trang Ðông, Vinh H?i, Vinh Phu?c, and villages: Ng?c Th?o, Ng?c H?i and Lu C?m of Vinh Ng?c Commune, Vinh Ði?m H? village of Vinh Hi?p Commune; district 2 covered communes: Nha Trang Tây, Vinh Tru?ng, Vinh Nguyên (inclusive of islands of Hòn Tre, Hòn M?t, Hòn Mun, Hòn T?m), Phu?c H?i village of Vinh Thái Commune.
Following that establishment, the government by Decree 357-ÐUHC/NC/NÐ dated June 5, 1971 divided Nha Trang into 11 urban zones, of which, district 1 covered urban zones of Vinh H?i, Vinh Phu?c, Ng?c Hi?p, V?n Th?nh, Duy Tân; district 2 covered urban wards of Vinh Nguyên, Vinh Tru?ng, Phuong Sài, Tân Phu?c, Tân L?p, Phu?c H?i. Decree 553-BNV/HCÐP/NV dated 22 August 1972 renamed urban zones into urban wards. Decree 444-BNV/HCÐP/26.X dated September 3, 1974 merged islands of Hòn M?t, Hòn C?u, Hòn Ð?n, Hòn Chóp Vung, Hòn Ð? into Vinh H?i ward (district 1) and Hòn Ng?c into Vinh Nguyên ward (district 2) of Nha Trang Town.
On April 2, 1975, communist (NLF/PRG/VPA) forces captured the city. On April 4, 1975, Khanh Hoa Military Commission (?y ban Quân qu?n Khánh Hòa) divided Nha Trang into 3 administrative: District 1, District 2 and Vinh Xuong District.
In September 1975, District 1 and District 2 were merged to become one entity, the town of Nha Trang.
On March 30, 1977, the Council of the Government (now the cabinet) of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam by Decision 391-CP/QÐ upgraded Nha Trang to city status, a county-level city under the administration of Phu Khanh Province (a province created by merger of now Phú Yên Province and Khánh Hòa Province). 7 Communes of former Vinh Xuong County, namely Vinh Thái, Vinh Ng?c, Vinh Hi?p, Vinh Luong, Vinh Trung, Vinh Th?nh, Vinh Phuong was split from Khánh Xuong County to become Nha Trang City territory.
On March 27, 1978, the provincial government by Decision 54-BT founded Phu?c Ð?ng Commune under Nha Trang City.
On July 1, 1989, Khanh Hoa was split from Phu Khanh Province to become Khanh Hoa Province as it was before, Nha Trang was made the capital of Khanh Hoa Province.
On 22 April 1999, the prime minister by Decision 106/1999 recognized Nha Trang City the second class municipal city.
Administrative divisions
Nha Trang is subdivided into 27 wards and communes, of which 20 are urban wards, namely: Vinh H?i, Vinh Phu?c, Vinh Th?, Xuong Huân, V?n Th?ng, V?n Th?nh, Phuong Sài, Phuong Son, Ng?c Hi?p, Phu?c Hòa, Phu?c Tân, Phu?c Ti?n, Phu?c H?i, L?c Th?, Tân L?p, Vinh Nguyên, Vinh Tru?ng, Phu?c Long (founded in November 1998), Vinh Hòa (founded in April 2002); and 8 suburban communes, namely: Vinh Phuong, Vinh Trung, Vinh Th?nh, Vinh Thái, Vinh Hi?p, Vinh Ng?c, Vinh Luong and Phu?c Ð?ng. Since 1998, due to the high pace of urbanization, many urban planned zones have been built, namely: Hòn R?, B?c Vi?t, Thánh Gia, Ðu?ng Ð?, Nam Hòn Khô…
Origin of the name
According to some researches, the name Nha Trang derives from a false Vietnamese spelling of a geographical name in the Cham language of the site Ya Trang (lit. Reed River), the name of the now Cai River as referred to by the Cham people). From the name of this river, the name was adopted to call what is now Nha Trang, which was officially made Vietnam’s territory in 1653.
As far as the recorded naming of Nha Trang is concerned, in Toàn t?p Thiên Nam T? Chí L? Ð? Thu, a geographical book written by a Vietnamese scholar with the family of Ð? Bá in the second half of the 18th century, the name Nha Trang Môn ("Nha Trang gate") was mentioned. In another map dating to the 17th century, known as Giáp Ng? Niên Bình Nam Ð? by a noble called Ðoan Qu?n công Bùi Th? Ð?t, the name Nha Trang H?i môn (Nha Trang Sea Gate) was also cited. In Vietnamese recorded historic bibliographies, these books are perhaps the earliest ones that mentioned this place name.
In a work by Le Quy Don called Ph? biên t?p l?c (1776), many Nha Trang-related names were also mentioned, such as d?m Nha Trang, dinh Nha Trang, ngu?n Nha Trang, and dèo Nha Trang.
Education
Nha Trang is home to a multidisciplinary university, Nha Trang University (formerly Nha Trang Fishery University); Naval Academy; Air Force Academy; Normal (Teacher's) College; Kindergarten Teacher's Training College; and Arts and Tourism College. The city is home to the many high schools. Nha Trang Oceanography Institute, the unique institute of oceanography in Vietnam, Nha Trang Pasteur Institute one of the famous Pasteur Institutes in Vietnam are located in Nha Trang.
Transport
When Cam Ranh Bay used to be an important naval base, Nha Trang Airport was the main airport of the city. This airport was used by the United Stated Air Force and South Vietnam Air Force during the Vietnam War. When part of Cam Ranh Bay was made economic development zone by the Vietnamese government, Cam Ranh International Airport (also a military airport built by the United States during Vietnam War) was made new civilian airport of the city. This airport is located by Cam Ranh Bay, 45 km (28 miles)south of the city and is currently (as of 2007) the fifth busiest airports in terms of passengers traffic in Vietnam serving more than 500,000 passengers in 2006.
The city is located by National Road 1A, the backbone north-south road of the country. The Reunification Railway also crosses the city and stops at Nha Trang Railway Station. The construction work of Van Phong Port , north of the city, a deep-water project capable of handling ships up to 100,000 tonnes and with a capacity of 100 million tonnes of cargo per annum is under progress by a consortium of Japanese corporations. The estimated investment capital for this port-city complex project is expected to reach US$15 billion.
Economy
Nha Trang’s economy relies largely on tourism. In the suburban areas around the city, the shipbuilding industry has developed and contributed significantly to the city’s economy. Fishery, services are also important to the city. Khanh Hoa Province in general and Nha Trang is particular are among one of the largest contributors to Vietnam's annual budget revenues. Lobster farming on the sea is an important industry for the people living in suburb areas of the city. To the south of the city, by Cam Ranh Bay, several industrial parks are under construction and have been partly available for investors. Once the construction of deep-water port on Van Phong Bay has been completed, this area will become another economic for this province (besides Nha Trang and Cam Ranh).
Tourism
Nha Trang is one of the most important tourist hubs of Vietnam, thanks to its beautiful beaches with fine and clean sand and clear ocean water with mild temperature all year round. There are several resorts (Vinpearl, Diamond bay, Ana Mandara), amusement and water parks in this city and on islands off the coast. The most beautiful streets of the city is Tran Phu Street along the seaside. U.S. tourist calls it the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) of Vietnam. Nha Trang is a venue for annual sailing boat racing from Hong Kong. In recent years, the city has welcomed many 5-star sea cruises. The city’s cuisine is famous for its fresh seafoods and famous BBQ pork rolled in rice paper. The area's Bird's nest soup is deemed one of the best in Vietnam. Bird’s nests are collected naturally and in bird’s farms in the islands off the city coast and in some houses in the inner city. This kind of bird belongs to swiftlet group, popularly y?n hàng (Aerodramus fuciphagus germani).
In addition to the sailing boat racing, Nha Trang has a wealth of tourist activities for visitors. Island hopping, scuba diving, water sports and many other great beach resort community activities can be had here in Nha Trang. The Nha Trang Tourist information center (non government) located near Cho Dam Market can be one useful source for .
Recreation and night life
There is a lot of good and inexpensive fun to be had in Nha Trang. Scuba diving costs around $40- $50 per trip, and there are several competing dive shops offering different dives to suit your taste. Most also offer the option to gain PADI certification. It is possible to kite board, but not as great as in Mui Ne further down the coast. A 16-foot Hobie Cat (Catamaran) sailboat is available for hire at around $25 for an hour, and an instructor from the rental shop will go out with you if you're not an experienced skipper. Winds are steady but don't expect to get up on one hull too often (if at all).
The nightlife is limited in certain areas, but near Biet Thu Tourist district the nightlife can go beyond 2 am each day. It is far better than most Vietnamese coastal towns (Mui Ne, Da Nang, Vung Tau etc.). It is usually busiest around the Vietnamese New Year period, but it's worth visiting any time of year except maybe during the raining months (November). Even in the off season there is a buzz about Nha Trang. The 'Sailing Club', right on the beach, is not to be missed. 'Why Not?' bar is a fantastic clean and reasonably cheap place to play some pool, and chill out with some air conditioning and Tiger beer on tap. If you've got more time, there are dozens of smaller places from Bia Hoi (the local draught beer - an acquired taste) places to slightly trendier, very cheap, bars. Beers are priced between 10,000 Dong and 25,000 dong.
major sports - Rugby Union, Football, Rugby League, AFL, Cricket etc. There's also a fine selection of friendly expat locals happy to talk to all comers!
In 2009 a lot of tourists are enjoying Nha Trang River Cai (Locally Song cai as "Song" means River in Vietnamese language). However if high tides keep rising (as expected another meter in next 20 years as a result of the Greenhouse gas and World Climatic changes therefrom, then much of this delightful retreat area will disappear because it is ringed by mountains leaving little soil above High tide and with an meter rise even that will go.
Security
Robbery is not uncommon in Nha Trang, particularly of western tourists walking home at night after drinking at bars.
If planning a particularly big night out the usual precautions should be taken:
- Don't drink too much. You're less likely to be approached if you look like you might resist.
- Carry minimal cash, use a money belt rather than a wallet.
- Leave all other valuables including cameras with reception at your hotel, they should have a safe to securely store them in.
- Try to walk home in groups, and do not attempt to swim at the beach once the sun has gone down as there are many unsavoury characters lurking in the shadows, just waiting to relieve you of your valuables.
Tourist attractions
- Alexandre Yersin Museum
- Boat tour on Cai River, visiting islands off the coast and Ba Ho Waterfall.
- Palace of Emperor Bao Dai
- Thap Ba Hot Spring (Lady Tower hot spring)
- Nha Phu Lagoon
- Hoa Lan Stream (Orchid Flower tream)
- Monkey Island
- S?n Beach
- Hòn T?m Island (Silkworm island)
- Hòn Mun Island (Ebony island)
- Hòn Con S? Tre Island (Bamboo Sparraw island)
- Hòn Ông Island
- Ð?o Y?n Island (Swiftlet island)
- Hòn Tre Island (Bamboo island)
- Su?i Ð? Stream
- Su?i Tiên Stream (Fairy stream)
- Hòn Bà Island
- Yangbay Waterfall
- Tháp Bà Pô Nagar Nha Trang (a Champa Tower)
- Chùa Long Son (Long Son Pagoda- literral: The Dragon Mountain pagoda or White Buddha Pagoda)
- Nha Trang Oceanography Institute, the largest of its kind in Indochina where thousands of oceanic life samples, exhibits are on display. It is also home to the largest oceanic library in Vietnam.
- Chánh T?a Church (or Mountain Church)
- Nha Trang Pasteur Institute
- Trí Nguyên Aquarium (an aquarium where hundreds of rare oceanic species are fed)
- VinPearl
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