Travelfish on North of Nha Trang:
Guesthouse, hostel and hotel reviews
Running north from Nha Trang to the provincial border with Phu Yen are some of Vietnam's prettiest bays and beaches. There's also a waterfall and some minor tourist attractions cum spectacles, but if you're looking into this part of Khanh Hoa province it's most likely because you're after some serious beach time.
Many choose to visit these spots by hired motorcycle from Nha Trang town -- the road is good and it's a very scenic ride, so you could do a lot worse than doing your exploring this way.
Leaving from Nha Trang, the first point you'll reach is Ba Ho Falls, at around the 22km mark. Finding the turn off alone is a bit tricky, as it's marked only by two crumbling stone pillars. The road to the falls leads through the small village of Ba Ho, and then along a bumpy road to the parking area and the start of the walk. The falls are more a group of rapids running down through a valley littered with boulders. Admission is 5,000 dong. Unless you've got a fine eye for crumbling stone pillars, you're best to utilise one of the tour agencies in Nha trang, a taxi, or a motorbike guide to reach here.
Next stop is Monkey Island -- a small island that certainly qualifies as a tourist spectacle. "Attractions" include a show with performing animals, a go-karting racetrack and the chance to ride an Ostrich. The company running the tours is Long Phu Tourist Company. The day starts at another island, Thi Island, taking in the 'orchid stream' and 'orchid caves', then some swimming and rowing. After lunch you head to Lao Island (Monkey Island) for the action and adventure awaiting unwitting tourists there. The trip costs 140,000 dong per person, leaving at 08:00 and returning at 15:45. Trips here can be arranged through Long Phu Tourist Company at 84 Hung Vuong St, T: (058) 527 022, F: (058) 525 582.
Further north again, at around 50km from Nha Trang sits the idealic Whale Island, Jungle Beach and Doc Let.
Out off the coast of the Hon Gom peninsula, Whale Island is an isolated eco-venue. Bungalows here are on the beach in a relatively wild, untamed environment. The whole place is very eco-friendly -- the main draw however is the location and the activities including fantastic scuba diving & snorkelling, sailing, windsurfing and canoeing. Accommodation starts at US$140 for one night, US$210 for two (includes full board, transfers from Nha Trang -- twin share), so it's not cheap -- despite being very basic, costs a fair bit, but it does include three meals and transfer from Nha Trang airport. Drop into their office in Nha Trang city at 2 Me Linh St, T: (058) 513 871 for more information, or see the Whale Island website.
Doc Let and Jungle Beach are about 15km apart, but they are both in Ninh Tinh, which doesn't really have a bustling 'downtown' area. The nearest small city is Ninh Hoa, about 25km away and the internationally-recognised birthplace of Nem Nuong (grilled pork and vegetables wrapped in rice paper and dipped in peanut sauce). But there is no reason to visit here. All the services you need can be found closer to the beach somewhere within Ninh Tinh.
Ninh Tinh orientation
As you're going along Highway 1A, the big sign to the Hyundai Port marks the road that leads to Ninh Tinh. About 11 km later, the road veers right. Just before it does so, there's a left turn that leads north, and zigzags a bit along its way, 12km, to the roundabout off Doc Let beach. Just past the roundabout is the sign for the right-hand turn to White Sands and Doc Let Resorts, which are about a kilometre further east. There are a couple of small, decent guesthouses along this road if, for any reason, you don't want to stay at the Doc Let but you want to stay in the area. If you keep on the main road after the roundabout for 3.5km more, you'll see small blue signs leading the way to the Paradise, which also take you to the Kiem-Art House next door, after 2 more kilometres of zigzagging.
Continuing on the port road as it veers right leads to Jungle Beach. There are no signs along the way, and Jungle Beach itself has no sign, something owner Sylvio is proud of. He occasionally receives irate phone calls from people who spent the day looking for the place but gave up. Since he has more business than he can handle, he just says, "Well, sorry, I guess it wasn't meant to be." But you can thwart destiny by heading towards the port and then driving around the back of it, along the surrounding concrete wall. Then continue south, even when the road turns to dirt and sand road, for six more kilometres --it's simply a question of not losing your nerve. The Jungle Beach is in a compound on the water surrounded by a bamboo fence -- you can see the thatched roofs from the road. One of the staff will usually hear you coming and open the gate for you.
Jungle Beach has one, slow internet connection, so you're probably better off heading 1.8 km down the road to the VNTP internet place. They offer basic service at 4,000 VND per hour. To get there from Jungle Beach, just retrace your steps -- head north on the beach road until it veers left. The VNTP is just after the road turns into blacktop on the left. If you strike out there for any reason, there are a few more places along the road as it heads north, two or three kilometres further on.
There are no ATMs in the area, and there's nowhere to cash travellers checks. You can exchange dollars for dong at the Agribank located on the roundabout near Doc Let beach, at the intersection where the road heads to Buon Ma Thuot just before the well-marked right turn to the White Sands and Doc Let resorts. There's also a post office there, with the usual services, including long distance phone calling. If you're staying at the Jungle Beach, there's another Agribank 4 km north of it. The nearest internet place is Number One internet, 1.5 km to the south of the roundabout, and there are a few more places further down.
Agribank: Ninh Tinh Roundabout (near Doc Let Beach). T: (058) 849 839. Open 07:30 to 11:30, 13:30 to 17:00.
Agribank: Ninh Tinh (4 km from Jungle Beach). T: (058) 122 054. Open: 07:30 to 11:30, 13:30 to 17:00
Hon Khoi Post Office: Ninh Tinh Roundabout (near Doc Let Beach). T: (058) 849 200. Open: 06:00 to 21:00
Number One Internet: Ninh Tinh (near Doc Let Beach). T: (058) 670 757. Open: 07:00 to 22:00
VNTP: Ninh Tinh (near Jungle Beach). T: (058) 622 630. Open: 06:00 to 23:00 daily
Activities
We looked for a good reason to head into Ninh Hoa, 4km before the turnoff to Doc Let and Jungle Beach, but we didn't come up with much. It's a quaint little town with some nice architecture, and while it's the birthplace of Nem Nuong, what they offer here is no better or worse than the Nem Nuong elsewhere.
One thing you can do if you're at the Jungle Beach is visit the Doc Let Beach Resort. We can't enthusiastically recommend staying here, but you can enter the resort for 10,000 VND even if you're not. The beach isn't nearly as nice as the one at 'The Jungle,' especially with the plastic bags sloshing around in the water like jelly-fish, but it's a thoroughly Vietnamese social scene that makes for a nice afternoon nevertheless. The beach is lined with dinning salas where you can chow down on seafood, and, of course, Nem Nuong. There's also a decent swimming pool here you can use for an extra 15,000 VND.
Otherwise, the hillside near the Jungle Beach is good for a hike with a nearly 100 percent change of spotting one of the Black Langurs. The jungle is dense and gets very toasty, so plan wisely and know your limits. The folks at the Jungle Beach will give you directions, though they don't usually lead tours anymore. Sylvio can also fill you in on some waterfalls and a hot spring in the area if you have your own transport.
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Our favourite places to stay
Ki-em Art House ($$$$$), Jungle Beach ($), White Sands Resort (
Plage de la Jungle (60 km nord de Nhatrang), qq'un connaît ? AuteurMessage« Discussion précédente | Discussion suivante »Christ'L
Date d'enregistrement: 04-09-2005
Messages: 20
Plage de la Jungle (60 km nord de Nhatrang), qq'un connaît ? Bonjour,
J'ai lu dans le Lonely Planet, qu'un endroit paradisiaque existerait au VN, en bord de plage, autre que Mui Ne.
Entre Doc Let et Nha Trang, la plage de la jungle. Le Lonely parle de bungalow et de forêt vierge...à 50 km au nord de Nha Trang.
Surfait ou réel paradis ? Qu'un connaît-il cet endroit pour y avoir séjourné ? Ca vaut le coup de s'y poser pour 2 jours?
Merci pour l'info.
Oui moi je connais...
J'ai lu dans le Lonely Planet, qu'un endroit paradisiaque existerait au VN, en bord de plage, autre que Mui Ne.
Entre Doc Let et Nha Trang, la plage de la jungle. Le Lonely parle de bungalow et de forêt vierge...à 50 km au nord de Nha Trang.
Surfait ou réel paradis ? Qu'un connaît-il cet endroit pour y avoir séjourné ? Ca vaut le coup de s'y poser pour 2 jours?
Merci pour l'info.
Oui moi je connais...
Oui moi aussi ça me dit vaguement quelque chose...
Et.......Gardez le sourire !
Oui moi aussi ça me dit vaguement quelque chose...
Ah non Franck!Tu vas pas me piquer mon sujet de discussion non plus!!
Toi c'est VAN GIA et DOM MON et WHALE BEACH.
Si on se pique les sujets aprés c'est le bordel sur F-V.
J'te jure y en a qui sont sans genes sur ce forum...
Bon ben à la tienne quand meme Franck...
:kimouss:
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