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Known as the paradise of sea and islands, Nha Trang beckons travelers to explore its pristine, romantic, and enchanting natural beauty. It would be a missed opportunity if you visit Nha Trang without dedicating a day to experience its untouched, dreamy, and alluring spots generously bestowed by nature upon this Central Vietnam gem. Especially for families with young children seeking a complete package of swimming, playing, dining, resting, and indulging in photography, local tours offer budget-friendly options. Today, let me introduce you to three memorable experiences: Mini Beach Island Tour, Fishing Village Visit, and Hon Tam Adventure, which my large family thoroughly enjoyed.
Mini Beach Island Tour
The weather during June in Nha Trang is exceptionally favorable, with clear skies and beautiful sunshine every day. Our group was picked up at 8:30 am to head to Nha Trang Stone Bridge Port and board a canoe to Mini Beach Island for swimming and water activities. We chose to go on a Friday to avoid the crowds. Canoeing was an exhilarating experience; gliding over strong waves provided an adrenaline rush, leaving those prone to seasickness exhilarated, especially the little ones. It felt like a thrilling adventure ride, with each wave splash eliciting laughter and excitement from everyone, even my 5-year-old who thoroughly enjoyed the ride. After a 15-minute journey, we reached Mini Beach Island, where visitors can enjoy water sports like jet skiing, banana boating, snorkeling, and paragliding (at own expense), as well as immerse themselves in the crystal-clear waters.
The rocky embankment boasts natural cliffs perfect for striking photo ops amidst the crashing white waves.
Fishing Village Island
Around 11:30, the canoe will ferry the group to the Fishing Village for a family-style lunch. The Village comprises households of fishermen living on boats to cultivate marine life, primarily catering to tourists. Despite the midday sun, the Village exudes a tranquil atmosphere, with simple wooden platforms and makeshift tarpaulin shelters. The tour's lunch resembles a home-cooked meal, featuring dishes like grilled fish, fried squid, steamed shrimp, boiled eggs, and sour soup. If anyone desires fresher seafood, it's advisable to purchase directly at the first stop of the Village. Once aboard the boat to the dining spot, it's challenging to return for seafood selection. Despite the absence of specialties like snails, clams, prawns, crab..., the lunch is sufficiently nutritious and satisfyingly filling.
Lunch Menu at the Fishing Village on the tour
Silk Worm Island
By 1 p.m., everyone boards a canoe for a 5-minute ride to Silk Worm Island and the Merperle Silk Worm Mud Bath Area. Silk Worm Island, also known as Thuy Kim Son, is situated in Nha Trang Bay, spanning 110 hectares and renowned for having one of the most beautiful beaches in Nha Trang. The island is named for its resemblance to a silk worm, symbolizing the wish for abundant growth and prosperity. Thuy Kim Son, meaning a place where the mountains lean against the sea, harmoniously combines picturesque mountains and sea views.
Wooden Bridge at Silk Worm Island welcomes visitors to the Merperle Mud Bath Area
The lush green patches covering Silk Worm Island
Since June 2019, the 5-star Merperle Silk Worm Mud Bath Complex has been attracting numerous tourists annually with its unique terraced design spanning 16 hectares. Here, visitors have various options for mineral mud baths, such as couple pools, family pools, 10-person pools, and group pools, depending on their preferences. All tours to Silk Worm Island include a stop here for the mud bath experience. Immersing oneself in the mineral mud bath feels refreshing, improving blood circulation and exfoliating dead skin cells. After the mud bath, guests proceed to the hydraulic massage area for a thorough body cleanse before relaxing in the over 2,000m² infinity pool fed by water from an artificial stream, promoting comfort and relaxation. Tour prices cover entrance fees, mud bath attire, towels, and clothing storage.
Surrounding the MerPerle Area are beaches, hills, and refreshing coconut groves.
After the mineral bath, we move to a spot near Silk Worm Island to experience underwater walking. Visitors can also enjoy Mini Beach on the island, especially during sunny weather when the sea is clear and perfect for observing coral reefs and marine life or taking stunning underwater photos. Three-island tours typically stop at Mini Beach from 9:30 am to 11:30 am, making it an ideal time for this activity. We, however, played at the Silk Worm area around 3 pm when the sun wasn't as bright, resulting in slightly blurry coral views and less picturesque photos. These experiential activities incur additional charges and are not included in the tour package. The price for snorkeling to observe coral reefs is quoted at 600,000 VND per person for mouthpiece breathing and 800,000 VND per person for helmet oxygen breathing. If traveling in a large group, negotiation for a lower price is possible. Our family enjoyed a discount of 200,000 VND per activity due to our large group size, and we also availed of the underwater photo shoot service for 250,000 VND per family (15 shots). For those opting for underwater filming, the cost is 350,000 VND per family.
Walking underwater is an exciting experience you should try.
Snorkeling, an exciting experience you and your child can enjoy together. Children with a bit of courage and persistence should try it because even adults feel scared when going down. Initially, descending into the sea induces a sense of fear because communication is impossible down there; even if you speak, only you can hear. The feeling of being alone in a place where you don't know what will happen is daunting. Then the feeling of slight breathlessness and ringing in the ears sets in, making you wonder if you'll be able to breathe. But that thought quickly dissipates. I remember the instructions to breathe deeply, cross my hands over my chest, pinch my nose, and breathe strongly. The ringing in my ears subsides, my breathing becomes more regular, and the diver also senses the excitement and signals to come up to reassure me. I regain my composure and begin to explore the underwater scenery.
While walking underwater, I enjoy the sight of coral reefs and colorful schools of fish darting around. Sometimes, I try to reach out and touch them, but it's just a futile attempt because there's always a distance when passing through the lens of the breathing mask. My thoughts sometimes get mixed up; I see them happily swimming in the ocean, and suddenly, I wish I were them. It's a slightly strange thought... These are the real experiences I've had underwater, and I hope your family will also have memorable emotional moments.
Some information on purchasing a 3-island tour in Nha Trang
I purchased the tour through Hoan Hao Travel Company: 57 Pho Duc Chinh, Vinh Hoa, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, with a listed price of 750,000 VND per adult. Children from 1m to 1.4m tall are charged 70% of the adult ticket price. Because we traveled in a large group, the company offered a 30,000 VND discount on the listed price. The ticket price includes hotel pick-up, transportation by canoe to various points, entrance fees, seating at Mini Beach, lunch at Fishing Village, and entrance to the hot mineral mud bath at Hon Tam Resort. There's always a tour guide accompanying the group to organize and instruct. If the group wants to play water games in the afternoon, the guide accommodates, arranging canoes to take the group to the beach play area, which is a 5-minute canoe ride from Hon Tam.
In Nha Trang, island tours are offered by many travel companies and partners, with three main packages as follows:
A group of 15 people will have their own private canoe, while for our group of 12, the company mentioned that opting for a private canoe would require an additional 500,000 VND for the entire group. If anyone prefers flexible timing, this additional cost applies. Each tour has different menus, so it's essential to consider this when selecting a tour from various travel companies.
Island tours can be a bit challenging due to the transportation involved with canoes, boats, and activities throughout the day, but it will be an unforgettable experience for the whole family, especially for the little ones. The first experiences with majestic mountains, calm azure seas, pristine islands amidst the ocean, and observing colorful marine life and vibrant coral reefs... all these gifts of nature are guaranteed to be worth enjoying during your vacation in Nha Trang.
Mytour Golocal is a blog program introducing beautiful destinations across Vietnam, part of the Mytour Go & Share program. This is a fantastic opportunity to promote local tourism to everyone. For each qualifying article, you will receive 800,000 VND and the chance to become a contributor with Mytour. For more details about the program, visit: https://trv.lk/golocal
