By Linh Pham, Nha Trang Travel Editor · Updated July 2026
Quick answer: For a first trip, stay along Tran Phu, the beachfront road in central Nha Trang, where you can walk to the city beach, restaurants and nightlife. For a quiet resort holiday, and to be close to the airport, choose Bai Dai (Long Beach) to the south, about 15 minutes from Cam Ranh Airport but around 40 minutes from the city. Families often pick Vinpearl on Hon Tre island for the resorts and the VinWonders theme park. Remember that Cam Ranh Airport is well south of Nha Trang, so where you stay changes your transfer time a lot.
Nha Trang splits into a lively beach city and a string of quieter resort areas to the south, near the airport. Picking the right base is mostly about one trade-off: the buzz and convenience of the city, or the calm of a resort beach that happens to be closer to your flight. Here are the main areas and who each suits.
At a glance
| Area | Vibe | From Cam Ranh Airport | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tran Phu (city centre) | Beachfront, restaurants, nightlife | ~35–45 min | First-timers, city and beach |
| Bai Dai / Long Beach | Newer resort strip, quiet beach | ~15 min | Resorts, calm, near the airport |
| Vinpearl (Hon Tre island) | All-in resorts plus theme park | ~30–40 min + cable car/boat | Families, resort holidays |
| North Nha Trang | Quieter, more local | ~45–55 min | A calmer city stay |
Tran Phu and the city centre
The beachfront road Tran Phu and the streets just behind it are the classic first-time base. You can walk to the long city beach, to hundreds of restaurants, and to the nightlife around Nguyen Thien Thuat, where the cheaper backpacker hotels also cluster. It is the most convenient area for sightseeing, day trips and eating out, though the beach here is busier than the resort strips to the south.
Bai Dai (Long Beach): resorts near the airport
South of the city, on the road in from the airport, Bai Dai (Long Beach) is Nha Trang's newer resort zone, home to properties such as the larger international beach resorts, with quiet sand and calm water. It is only about 15 minutes from Cam Ranh Airport, which makes it ideal for a relaxed holiday and for short stays, but it is around 40 minutes from central Nha Trang, so plan on taxis if you want the city often.
Vinpearl and Hon Tre island
Vinpearl occupies its own island, Hon Tre, reached by cable car or boat, and combines all-inclusive resorts with the VinWonders theme park and water park. It is a self-contained choice that families love, though you are a little cut off from the rest of Nha Trang.
North Nha Trang
North of the centre, around Hon Chong and An Vien, things are quieter and more local, with sea views and a slower pace. It suits travellers who want a city stay without the busiest of the beach strip, at the cost of a longer airport transfer.
How to choose
If it is your first visit and you want beach, food and nightlife on your doorstep, stay on Tran Phu in the centre. If you mainly want to relax by a resort pool and beach, and value a short airport transfer, choose Bai Dai. Travelling with children who want the theme park, look at Vinpearl. Because Cam Ranh Airport is well south of the city, always check the transfer time for your hotel before you book, so the drive does not eat into your first and last days.
