Having first hosted foreign visitors during French rule and later again during the Vietnam War when it was used as a strategic US airbase, Nha Trang has today grown into a lively beach resort where visitors enjoy endless lounging and scuba diving adventures.

But there’s more to Nha Trang than just colourful marine life and soft white sand. Near to this seaside resort lays traces of a lost empire which are well worth dragging yourself away from the coast for a day.

The Hindu Champa ruled this area for 14 centuries so it is no great surprise to discover elements of their reign still standing. What is a surprise for many visitors, however, is just how magnificent these remains are.

Set back from the resort’s coastal road, just a 20-minute walk from the beach, are red brick Cham towers dating to between the 7th and 12th centuries and decorated with remarkable carvings. 

The best time to visit Nha Trang is outside of the monsoon season (October to mid-December) and the city is easily accessible by rail from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, or by air via Cam Ranh Airport, 30kms from town.

The visa process for Vietnam can leave many people confused. To save yourself disappointment when boarding your flight, read our tips on Vietnam visas so that you know the requirements before you arrive.

Travellers of most nationalities require a visa to enter Vietnam, with the exception of ASEAN nationals who can visit for up to 30 days without a visa. Select nations such as Japan, Finland and Sweden also have arrangements with Vietnam that allow their citizens to visit for up to 15 days without a visa.

The rest of us have to apply for a tourist visa. These come in two categories: 1 month or 3 months. Those visiting for business purposes may be granted longer stays. If you need to travel in and out during the validity of your visa, make sure you pay a little extra for a multiple entry visa.

Extensions are available in Vietnam for some visas but the process can be confusing for first-timers so this task is best outsourced to a local travel agent.

Vietnam has in recent years introduced pre-arranged online visas that allow visitors to board flights to Vietnam with a booking code and then pay for and receive a visa stamp on arrival. Without a pre-approved visa or an actual visa stamp in your passport, you won’t be permitted to board a flight bound for Vietnam.

If you plan to cross at a land border you will need to have a visa stamp in your passport as visas are strictly not available on arrival and pre-approved visa letters are only accepted at Vietnam’s international airports.

Ten days may not seem like a long time to take in this fascinating country but that is sadly all the time many visitors to Vietnam have. If you are on a tight schedule when touring this Southeast Asian gem, check out our tips on where to go during a whirlwind tour of Vietnam in just 10 days.

Dalat
This former French hill station is the perfect place to cool down and soak up Vietnam’s colonial charm. Situated in the Central Highlands, Dalat tricks you into thinking you could be in a rural corner of France.

Hoi An
Designated a World Heritage site, this centuries-old port city is a delightful stop off along the east coast. Evidence of its 16th and 17th century heyday are still discernable in its Chinese style shop houses that line the Old Town. 

Hanoi
Vietnam’s slightly subdued capital is less modern than its southern rival yet home to a host of cultural offerings including water puppet theatre, streetside bia hoi stalls, numerous art galleries and Ho Chi Minh’s embalmed body.

Ho Chi Minh City
Formerly Saigon, the economic centre of Vietnam is also its most cosmopolitan city. While the bustling markets here will take you back in time, its sleek skyscrapers and modern entertainment will firmly remind you Saigon is keeping with the times.

Halong Bay
One of the prettiest landscapes on the globe, Halong Bay is best toured by junk on an overnight trip around this UNESCO protected area best known for its karst islands that jut out the water. 

Nha Trang
If you’re looking for beach action, look no further. This burgeoning beach resort has a host of top quality hotels and restaurants to keep even the most discerning visitor happy.

Hue
This delightful ancient city on the banks of the Perfume River was once home to Vietnam’s emperors and today their palaces and tombs can be toured at the Imperial Citadel and along the river.

Today you are just as likely to come across classy hill station retreats and luxurious beach resorts as you are budget digs in Vietnam. The accommodation scene has been revolutionised, with the country set to become a regional leader in value-for-money hotels that don’t cut corners on opulence or character.

This comes as a surprise to many, especially those who have grown up with images of Vietnam as a struggling war-torn country. That it is even a viable tourist destination is still inconceivable to some. Yet determination and resilience have seen the nation thrive, and today it is proving a worthy rival to the likes of Thailand.

Nha Trang was once the stomping ground of backpackers but nowadays it offers great examples of increasingly sophisticated Vietnam hotels. Beachfront spa hotels offering total privacy make this South China Sea resort a firm favourite with honeymooners and even royalty. But you don’t need to have deep pockets to enjoy the great hotel offerings here.

If Nha Trang’s notorious jellyfish population gets to you, head for the cool hill station of Dalat, where colonial charm isn’t a thing of the past. This is where the French used to hang out when things got too hot in Saigon, and a mini Eiffel Tower is testament to this. While Dalat may not live up to its nickname, ‘Little Paris’, it does have some fantastic, and surprisingly affordable, Vietnam hotels that are throw backs to the 1920s.

Ao dais and bicycles
Travel Vietnam virtually here, as we reveal the country weekly on this travel professional’s blog. From the Delta in the South to Sapa in the North we cover all the sightseeing, culture, history, food, entertainment, hospitality and activities travellers can expect to see and do in Vietnam.

We’ve been travelling Southeast Asia for years, here’s a full blown info resource with colourful pics and video clips to get you all excited about visiting Vietnam.

Whether you are visiting Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hoi An, Hue, Nha Trang, Sapa or Dalat, you can plan your trip here.

Tip! You can get some good discounts on hotel rooms and accommodation for Vietnam, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on discounthotels.co.uk