SE Asia Travel Part 6

by Noel

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NHA TRANG, VIETNAM

After a full day at sea in the South China Sea, the Norwegian Cruise line is on the coast to visit the seafood capital of Vietnam, the city of Nha Trang. It will be the first time for me to visit Vietnam. I was excited and, at the same time, curious about our upcoming excursion tour.

Our ship anchored off the coast about a mile from the pier side, and as the crew was busy preparing our tender boats to get us off the ship, I could not help but notice the Gondola mono cable in front of our ship's bow. What is the gondola for? It connects the Vin Pearl land resort on Hon Tre Island with the Vietnamese mainland.

Using the Gondola mono cable is excellent if you are okay with taking time to get there to and from the island. It is a perfect ride to take pictures of the scenic views of Nha Trang. In addition to the gondola, you also have the option to ride a boat.

Upon our arrival at the pier, I could feel a calming effect, the fresh smell of raindrops, and dew mist on my skin, and my mood that day was upbeat. The tour guide and the bus, set up by the cruise line, were ready. As we were transiting the city center, I could not help but notice the bustling streets, the usual mopeds or motorcycles all over the road, modern buildings, and the coconuts and palm trees along the coast of the Nha Trang.

Our first stop was Thap Ba Ponagar, an iconic temple situated on Cu Lao Mountain.

About a one-dollar US entrance fee, this gorgeous tower site gives you a scenic view of Nha Trang from the top of the mountain, with locals representing their historic Champa dance and soothing music.

On a side note, you must bring a roll of toilet paper just in case you need to use the toilet. They use a faucet with a hose and nozzle next to a squatted toilet bowl. It could be an uncomfortable setting coming from a Western culture.

Our second stop on our excursion tour is Long Son Pagoda at the foothills of the Trai Thu Mountain, where the giant white Buddha statue is, with traditional motifs, mosaic decorations, and lots of crawling big black critters (millipedes) on the steps. Lots of steps here...if you can't do the steps there is plenty to see around the lower part of the temple area and a few gift shops as well.

My daughter Michelle was frightened by the very large millipedes crawling all over the cement walls.

At the entrance, expect to be mobbed by local vendors selling souvenirs such as hand fans, assorted handmade bracelets, incense postcard traders, etc. Once you reach the foothills, the giant white Buddha (Long Son Pagoda) lies at the top.

There is a door behind the Buddha to access the long candles made by monks and a meditative room full of wall carvings. When visiting this Pagoda temple, I would like to point out that visitors should dress in presentable attire so that clothes cover the shoulders, upper arms, chest, and thighs. In addition, visitors may need to remove their shoes to enter the statue area.

Our third excursion stop is Dam Market, which offers an affordable variety of souvenirs at a low price. It is the largest market and trading symbol of this coastal city, Nha Trang.

The various dried fish and fish balls sold on the streets are delicious. Fresh coconut and other assorted fruit drinks to quench your thirst.

On a side note, young children or teens will approach you and try to sell some handmade products or other items. They can be a nuisance and will follow you all over to try and convince you to buy something.

Below I am demonstrating safe practice while crossing the street, through in the free-for-all traffic of bikes, motorbikes, cars, and buses, my one-time playing by the rules is a bit comical.

Troung Son Craft Village is our final and last excursion stop we visited.

There are so many diverse types of arts and crafts here, and we observed the locals weaving different handicrafts, furniture and art made of bamboo. The locals showed us how the crafts were meticulously made all by hand. I was fascinated with the "how to" guide for weaving the rattan furniture.

Musical string instruments like guitars and violins are crafted to perfection and featured as one of their accomplished products.

This place is for people who are interested in the creative art and quality products that are produced here. The village is surrounded by flowers and gardens, as if you're in a botanical garden. It feels like a miniature version of the Butchart Garden in Victoria, BC, Canada.

In addition, they have music and dance presentations similar to the Filipino folk dance of Tinikling. We all tried to emulate the dance and also not get our feet caught with the sliding bamboo poles.

It's very much worth visiting, and I highly recommend it. Expect to spend at least an hour to two hours here. They did have a small cafe where lunch and snacks are available. On a side note, they have the best bathroom in the entire tour.

One of the disadvantages of a cruise line vacation is the brief time allotted to enjoy what a city has to offer. Unfortunately, our ship departs at 7 pm, and we must be back onboard by 6 pm. I will visit Nha Trang in the future as I would like to explore the beautiful beaches and learn more about their culture. I still need to see their seafood places among other eateries and famous nightlife. But overall, Nha Trang should be on the bucket list for tourists. In case you're a little shy on current governmental status of Vietnam, it is a Socialist Republic, with one party - the Communist Party - being the central player in political and social affairs. They have opened up and embraced tourism as a large revenue generator for the country however. It is reported to be a very safe place for travelers, and the two cities we visited were indeed places we would return to for a longer stay.