Nha Trang: Vietnam’s Distinctive Green Gem on the Travel Map

This destination boasts one of the 29 most beautiful bays on the planet, and is a rare gem where sea, river, mountains, islands, urban life, and cultural heritage harmoniously converge.

Vietnam’s Earliest Internationally Recognized Coastal City

Nha Trang, known as the “Pearl of the East Sea” or the “Green Pearl,” is celebrated for its favorable natural conditions and climate. Its strategic location facilitates seamless trade via air, sea, land, and rail, serving as the gateway to the South Central Coast and Central Highlands.

Since the 1990s, when international tourism began to flourish in Vietnam, Nha Trang emerged as the first destination to capture the attention of foreign visitors. Beyond its pristine white sandy beaches and emerald waters, the city’s year-round mild climate, with approximately 300 sunny days and no winter, adds to its allure.

According to the Khanh Hoa Department of Tourism, in 2024, Khanh Hoa welcomed around 4.8 million international visitors from dozens of countries, second only to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Pre-Covid, Chinese tourists accounted for over 70% of international arrivals, with Russian visitors making up about 10%. In recent years, South Korea has become the largest international market for the “Land of Frankincense,” hosting over 2.4 million visitors, or roughly 50% of international arrivals in 2024.

Modern aviation infrastructure is a significant advantage. Cam Ranh International Airport offers direct flights to China, South Korea, and CIS countries, positioning Nha Trang as one of Vietnam’s top three destinations for international visitors, alongside Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. During peak seasons like June 2025, the airport recorded an average of 32 international flights daily, with 19 from South Korea. According to Agoda, Nha Trang surpassed Tokyo as the top summer destination for South Korean travelers, becoming Vietnam’s sole representative in the global top 15 summer destinations for 2025.

Modern infrastructure enhances global connectivity, elevating Nha Trang’s tourism appeal. Source: ACV

Meanwhile, Khanh Hoa is reclaiming its status as a magnet for Russian tourists. In the first eight months of 2025, the province welcomed 279,000 visitors from Russia, a 294.9% increase year-on-year. Over 30 weekly flights from Russia land at Cam Ranh International Airport, signaling a vibrant and booming tourism season ahead.

A Versatile Travel Destination

Khanh Hoa’s tourism, particularly Nha Trang, continues to set new records, solidifying its position as a leading force in Vietnam’s international tourism landscape.

Beyond being a sought-after resort destination, Nha Trang’s allure inspires a “migration” of individuals seeking investment, residency, and employment opportunities in this serene coastal city, making it a place worth visiting and living in.

While Phu Quoc is likened to a “gem island” rich in experiences yet retaining its wilderness, Da Nang boasts modern planning and infrastructure alongside its friendly people, and Ha Long Bay’s majestic landscapes are internationally renowned, Nha Trang uniquely combines all these elements within a single space.

Amidst its lush seascape and mountains, the “green bay – blue sky” region is home to cultural landmarks like the Po Nagar Tower and Dien Khanh Citadel, as well as centuries-old craft villages and fishing communities that narrate the story of a land both vibrant and steeped in heritage.

Nha Trang inspires a “migration” for investment, residency, and employment opportunities in this coastal city.

Experts highlight that the fusion of natural beauty and cultural diversity enables Nha Trang to develop various tourism types, including ecotourism, cultural tourism, resort tourism, entertainment, and sports. Thus, Nha Trang is not just a resort destination but is evolving into Vietnam’s “versatile destination” for living, working, enjoying, and long-term investment.

Sustainable Urban Development: Nha Trang’s New Chapter

The Nha Trang Urban Development Program by 2040 aims to transform the city into a comprehensive urban center, balancing economic and social growth with cultural preservation, environmental sustainability, and improved quality of life for residents.

The consolidation of four wards—Nha Trang, North Nha Trang, West Nha Trang, and South Nha Trang—opens up opportunities for breakthrough development, attracting major investors with visionary plans for multifunctional urban complexes that leverage Nha Trang’s riverside landscapes.

A standout project is the Nha Trang Mixed-Use Urban Area, located in the core urban area of Khanh Hoa Province (South Nha Trang Ward). Dubbed the “heart of the heart,” it is surrounded by Khanh Hoa’s main ring roads and close to essential amenities like schools, hospitals, supermarkets, and government offices. Future plans include a public park and Khanh Hoa’s new administrative center.

The Nha Trang Mixed-Use Urban Area is set to adopt the Sponge City model.

The project is seamlessly connected to major roads and bordered by the Quan Truong and Tac Rivers, two of Khanh Hoa’s largest rivers. It features three islands with distinct functions, catering to high-end residential, entertainment, tourism, and commercial needs.

A groundbreaking aspect of the project is the developer’s adoption of the Sponge City model, pioneered by renowned Chinese landscape architect Kongjian Yu. This globally trending urban planning approach offers flood control and green landscape preservation, promoting sustainable development.

Nha Trang embraces sustainable development, positioning Khanh Hoa as a regionally competitive “livable city.”

Evolving from a tourism hub reliant on its central coastline, Nha Trang is now embracing sustainable development projects, aiming to establish Khanh Hoa as a regionally competitive “livable city.” Here, natural blessings are complemented by rapidly upgrading infrastructure, an improving investment environment, and enhanced quality of life for residents.