The last morning was a little depressed because we were approaching reality. We woke up, got ready and had another big-ass breakfast.We then went up to the pool and regretted not swimming in it for the last two days.
The plan for day 3
- Visiting Thap Ba Ponagar
- Buying Nha Trang's specialties at Chợ Đầm (Dam Market)
- Chilling at I-Resort Mineral Hot Spring
- Chilling (yet again) at Runam Cafe (unexpectedly dued to delayed flight)
Thap Ba Ponagar
Dress code
Since we were going to a spiritual place, I was extremely careful about our dress code.
Note: you should wear clothes which cover your shoulder, your knees (for female), and entire legs (for male). You are obliged to dress respectfully before entering any temple. Or at least bring a long scarf to cover your skin.
Location
It doesn't say the exact address, just type in google map and follow it. Or simply ask the hotel receptionist.
Thap Ba Ponagar is located 2km away from the city's central and 5km from Alana Hotel. We went with the grey route and came back with the blue one. If you want to enjoy the coastal scenery, choose blue, and if you want to see more of Nha Trang city then choose grey. My advice? Go with the blue one, shorter, more beautiful and more fuel-efficient haha. Oh and probably where you stay would be located along Tran Phu Street anyways.
Ticket price and optional tour guide
The ticket price per person was 22.000VND. There was an option for you to hire a tour guide at the ticket counter, costed 150.000VND, doesn't matter how many people in the group, it all costed the same. We didn't think we needed one but then just seeing the temples wasn't interesting because we didn't know anything about this famous historical place. Luckily, nearby there was a tourist group hiring one tour guide. And we sneakily followed them and heard the story for free (so cheap of myself haha but yeah, couldn't resist) but not all the way anyway.
Interesting facts about Thap Ba Ponagar
Thap Ba Ponagar was built to worship Queen Po Ina Nagar, according to legend who was created by the sky and the sea foam, she created the Earth, rare wood, trees and rice (according to Vietnamese Wiki). She had helped the people in the very early days of Nha Trang, and make this place prosperous. She had 38 daughters, who were all became Saints. But Cham people selected three daughters along with Queen Po Ina Nagar to worship and protect their land. That's why you would see 4 temples at the highest level, the central belongs to Queen Po Ina Nagar, another three belong to Po Nagar Dara - Saint Kauthara (Khanh Hoa Province); Po Rarai Anaih - Saint Panduranga (Ninh Thuan Province) and Po Bia Tikuk - Saint Manthit (Phan Thiet Province).
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| Second level |
The vestige has three levels, the first one was the gate which is not in usage currently, the second levels was where guests gathered and prepare gifts for Thánh Mẫu (literal translation is Saint Mother) - Queen Po Ina Nagar in special occasions; the last level includes four temples as said above.
One thing that made me really interested is the stair connected between the second level and the highest one. It is really steep, like 45 degree. If you were to bring the gift to Thánh Mẫu, you must go through this stair (this is quite hard already) and once you were done, you must also come down with the same stair but....backwards (imagine how difficult it would be). The tour guide said this rule was to test the worshiper's loyalty. I was like 'Man! That's so cool' haha. Seriously, I should have hired a tour guide.
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| View from the highest level |
We spent about 30 minutes walking around the temples. There are many people came in and out of the temples, most entered the central one. I didn't enter any, didn't know why I didn't want to either, but I definitely felt something unease, kinda weird. Tell me if you have that feeling visiting the temples haha.
We took some photos, enjoyed the peaceful, surprisingly uncrowded atmosphere and tried to listen to the history the tour guide was explaining (well she was having a loud microphone at that moment haha). We packed our stuff and on our feet again to the next stop.
Dam Market
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| Taken from Google Image |
This is where people sell Nha Trang's food specialties. In my opinion, the food here, most are dried food, is not favourable by the foreigners because they are made for the locals. But if you want to buy something, try to go further into the market. The very first shops you see often set more expensive prices, targeting tourists. You can buy dried cuttlefishes with tamarind sauce (mực rim me) or mango cake (they juiced the ripe mangoes, cook until boil and press them into long sticky mango strips, it causes addiction I warn you haha).
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| Above: Dried cuttlefish with tamarind sauce - Below: Mango cake (without or with sesame) - Taken from Google |
I bought several items, dried fishes, dried cuttlefishes. I did bargain a lot but then it only works for Vietnamese I believe, but you have bargained before, don't hesitate. My advice is to look for a seller who make you feel comfortable and warm, don't settle with the first one you see.
We then came back to the hotel, packed our stuff and checked out. We also asked the receptionists to keep our luggage for us to go to our third destination.
I-Resort Mineral Hot Spring
This was recommended by my friend who went two weeks before I did. Normally I never went to hot spring, partly the way to go there was difficult and small, partly because it was so crowded, the environment was somewhat dirty and looked creepy, well at least when I visited them. But iResort changed my perception about hot spring.It is definitely a place to relax, soak yourself in the warm mineral spring and then take a long lazy nap. We wanted to film some videos showing you the place, but GoPro often got hot easily, we haven't figured out why, and we couldn't cool it down by the hot spring obviously, and also we wanted to relax and enjoy our time there. I'll try to paint a good picture for you to imagine haha.
Here is a video I found on Youtube showing you how it looks like.
Location
Address: To 19 - Xuan Ngoc - Vinh Ngoc - Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa
Phone: +84 58 3838838
Website: www.i-resort.vn
If you thew me this address, there was no way I could find the freaking place. Nope! No! The solution is only to type it into google and follow the route, it'll get you there. If you go by taxi, do pay attention as well, see if the driver goes with the longer route making you pay more.
It's pretty far actually, took us 20 minutes to get there from our hotel but it was so worth it. We had a footage of us walking towards the reception from the parking lot.
Ticket price
Hot Mineral SpringTicket for adult was 120.000VND, for children is 60.000VND each. The price includes free towel, swimsuit (up to you to take it at the locker counter, they'll ask), and one mineral water bottle. This was the cheapest option I reckon.
Hot Mineral Mud Bath and many more services
Overall, it was not that expensive the service. We only chose Hot Mineral Spring service, since we didn't like dipping ourselves into mud and we were pretty cheap haha.
Where to put your stuff while you're enjoying?
Obviously you can guess there should be lockers for you. But there were two separate area, one counter at the front and the lockers in the changing rooms.
Remember to put your most valuable stuff at the counter, money, wallets, cameras, they would put them together in a bag and wrap it like it was a mummy. They will instruct you carefully once you're there but do pay great attention.
And for the less valuable stuff, such as clothes and bags, they would give you a key once you're in front of the changing rooms, female on the right, male on the left. Also they will ask if you need a swimsuit (I don't think that's very hygienic, so bring your own!).What you can do there?
Bring in your vodka and just chill haha
Even though there was a sign said you cannot bring food and drink into the hot spring area. We brought two Lemonade Smirnoff bottles (supposedly for last night but too tired and full to drink), hid them into the towel walking in and I was so scared if the security men knew haha. But it didn't seem like they care at all, we chose a pool, opened our delicious boozes and just lied down relaxing.
Dip yourselves into the wonderful hot spring
But first, I must warn you that the water is hotter than you think (well at least I thought). Don't jump in but walk slowly into the water, make time for your body to adjust to the temperature and after a while, I believe you'd find yourself in the spring of heaven.
Exploring different pools
There are hot pools (in the ground) and the cool ones (in the upper artificial mountains areas on the left). I preferred the hot ones since it's really relaxing when you come out of it.
Cover yourself with mud
It's a good option for you to relax in the bath and have small talk with your peeps in your very one personal bathing area. That's why it's more expensive.
Enjoy the massage
When I was lying the bench falling asleep and minding my own business. One of the masseurs came and handed me the spa's brochure. I didn't know why I chose body massage and paid 300.000VND, was not expensive but inadequate to my expectation. But hey! I might have high standards, so if you wanna try then do it.
We spent 3 hours there regaining our energy. Then it was time to go back to the Nha Trang cos we wanted to go to one very special coffee place at Tran Phu Street.
Runam Bistro Nha Trang
This restaurant chain has been very popular in Saigon but I have never gone to one since they are pricey. But passing it for a few days riding around Tran Phu Street, it was so beautiful so we both wanted to experience it. And it was exceptional, the place, the atmosphere, the view, the interior, the combination was perfect. I didn't pay much attention to the drinks and food but most visitors in Trip Advisor said even though the taste was good but overall quite expensive. But I understand because it is really a luxurious place and most of the guests I saw were middle class people (at least they look like they were) so you gotta expect such price range. Anyway if you have time to kill like we did (our flight was delayed for 2 hours) then I really recommend this place. |
| Pretty blurry sorry T___T |
We sat for another 1 hour and it was time for us to return the scooter. Then we caught the late airport bus and on our way to our flight to Saigon boohooo.
Nha Trang, even though was a very familiar place for myself but coming back to it at different age gave me different feeling. With everything it offers, the culture, the nature and the people, it is definitely a place that you should sometimes in your life experience it hehe.
And finally I hope you like my travel diary and find it useful. If there is any question about Nha Trang, please ask I'd be glad to help you!
Here is my Nha Trang Getaway Day 1 (Click here) and Nha Trang Getaway Day 2 (Click here) if you haven't checked them out.