Khanh Hoa province
Khanh Hoa province is home to some of the best beaches in Vietnam. Bay after bay, lined with sandy beaches run down the coast. The province is also home to Vietnam's largest deep water harbour, Cam Ranh Bay -- thought by many to be one of the finest deep-water harbours in the world. During the American War the US built a sizeable naval base here, a base that was subsequently rented to the Soviet Union once South Vietnam fell. The Russian's pulled out in 2002.
In the past, the area around Nha Trang formed a part of the Cham Kingdom, with the Cham towers in the capital being the most obvious evidence of this. More recently the French were active in the area, with the Oceanographic Institute in Nha Trang being a good example of their legacy. The Americans were also very active in the area during the American War.
The provincial capital, Nha Trang, is Vietnam's best known beach resort, and while it has become heavily developed over the years, it remains extremely popular with tourists and travellers alike -- both for the beaches in the immediate vicinity and as a base for exploring some of the beaches further afield. Attracting backpackers in large numbers through its mix of beaches and lively bars makes for a pretty raucous scene, and one not to everybody's taste.
If Nha Trang's municipal beach isn't enough to keep you satisfied, or if you're bothered by the party scene, you may want to head northwards to the more secluded beaches of Jungle Beach and Doc Let or south towards Cam Ranh Bay where little known, but stunningly beautiful beaches beckon. All three have accommodation available, and while there's not the wide range of creature comforts that there are in the provincial capital, if you're after long, secluded beach walks and a beautiful natural setting, then you could do a lot worse.
Beaches aside, there are a number of other attractions in the province including Cham towers, waterfalls and lakes that can be easily visited. Route 26 strikes inland from north of Nha Trang to the Central Highland town of Buon Ma Thuot, making a straightforward route for those who want to head into Vietnam's highlands region.
Khanh Hoa is bordered by Ninh Thuan province to the south, Lam Dong and Dak Lak to the west. The smaller coastal province of Phu Yen sits to the north. Nha Trang is an important stop on the Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi rail network and the province has a reasonably comprehensive and well maintained road network.
