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Nha Trang and Da Lat

Malcolmleitrim

Hello everyone,

I am planning my winter trip to Vietnam and I will stay mostly in and around Hanoi as I usually do. However I want to spend Christmas and the New year period further south and was thinking of a couple of weeks in the Na Trang and Da Lat area.

I have visited both cities briefly in the past but not sure how much they may have changed in the last five years, or how long I should spend in each.

Any advice or alternative suggestions would be welcome. Thank you.

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snake77

Expect Dalat to be packed to the max with Viets during those times, therefore, prices will be higher than usual.


Nha Trang, according to most recent news, is rather quiet compated to pre COVID times. It is claimed to be mainly blamed on the currently high priced airfair rates. Statistics show a decrease of around 60% less ticket sales regarding visitors from Hanoi. Therefore, one might be able to conclude, that it could be less crowded and better priced compared to historic numbers.


However, expect rather rainy, cooler days during December in both places. NT usually is nice and warm again from Jan onwards.


Personally, living in Saigon, if I stay put around that time, I quite enjoy a short few days down in Vung Tau.

Malcolmleitrim


    Expect Dalat to be packed to the max with Viets during those times, therefore, prices will be higher than usual.
Nha Trang, according to most recent news, is rather quiet compated to pre COVID times. It is claimed to be mainly blamed on the currently high priced airfair rates. Statistics show a decrease of around 60% less ticket sales regarding visitors from Hanoi. Therefore, one might be able to conclude, that it could be less crowded and better priced compared to historic numbers.

However, expect rather rainy, cooler days during December in both places. NT usually is nice and warm again from Jan onwards.

Personally, living in Saigon, if I stay put around that time, I quite enjoy a short few days down in Vung Tau.
   

    -@snake77


Thank you,

I may go to Vung Tau as well, I have visited there twice before and quite liked it.

snake77

@Malcolmleitrim


In my opinion, VT 20-30yrs ago was a huge mess and horrible beach cover with rubbish and they used the tide to clean it all away.


Then, during the oil & gas boom years, it went from garbage dump to Las Vegas. Once that boom came to and end, lot's of venues or other establishments and businesses related to the off-shore oil & gas industry started to dry up and one by one closed down. Yet, until COVID struck, especially what we here call the real lockdown, it remained quite active and I in fact like it more during that quiet period, compared to the boom times.

However, COVID had a massive impact and sadly, several of the popular places, like the Off-Shore Bar&Hotel(s), didn't have the resources to overcome.

Now, the way I would explain it, VT has seen its latest transormation, like a new, re-discovered weekend destination for the Viets from Saigon, as well as Dong Nai and Binh Duong.


I think it's due to a combination of sevetal factors. For one, the beach roads and much of the city has been built, looking nearly like Nha Trang. Secondly, with more and more people driving cars and far better roads, allowing to reach VT within under 2hrs, it's the perfect place to escape the city and reach the beach.


Plus, it has everything the locals expect and love to enjoy.


That said, it might be better to avoid VT during National Holidays, as well as from or after around the second day of Tet....


We often head down there with bike or car, and you can either drive the main route via Long Thanh/Ba Ria, or via D.7 and down the rung sat road and take the ferry from Can Gio over to VT.


Just in case...


Cheers