Tran Phu Beach

Tran Phu Beach is the beating heart of Nha Trang, Vietnam's undisputed beach resort capital. The beach runs along the Tran Phu Boulevard for 6 km through the city centre, flanked on the landward side by a gauntlet of five-star hotel towers, fashion boutiques, diving schools, and seafood restaurants, and on the seaward side by warm clear South China Sea water that faces east to a scattering of offshore islands. The boulevard itself is a magnificent piece of city planning — wide cycling and jogging paths line the seafront, beautifully kept tropical gardens fill the median, and coconut palms throw dappled shade over the morning exercisers.

The water at Tran Phu Beach is consistently warm and well-maintained, with designated swimming areas marked by coloured buoy lines and lifeguards on duty daily during peak season. Early mornings are wonderful here — local Vietnamese families do their tai chi and dip their feet in the surf while cruise ships and fishing fleets materialise on the horizon as the light strengthens. The beach fills considerably by mid-morning with tourists but is so long that finding space is never a problem.

Nha Trang is also Vietnam's diving capital, and Tran Phu Beach is surrounded by the infrastructure to prove it. Over thirty dive operators have offices on or near the boulevard offering PADI courses, day trips to the offshore island dive sites at Hon Mun Marine Park, and live-aboard expeditions to the outer reefs. The marine park surrounding the islands just 10 km offshore is among the richest in the South China Sea.