Khánh Hoà Province
Island paradise — Nha Trang Bay and the sunny Ninh Thuận region
Central Vietnam · South Central Coast
Island paradise — Nha Trang Bay and the sunny Ninh Thuận region
Central Vietnam · South Central Coast
Khánh Hoà was newly established according to Resolution 202/2025/QH15 based on the merger of the former Khánh Hoà province and Ninh Thuận province. With an area of 8,555.86 km² and a population of 2,243,554 people, the province boasts 490 km of coastline — the longest in Vietnam — stretching from Vân Phong Bay through Nha Trang down to Cam Ranh, Phan Rang, and Cà Ná. Khánh Hoà is the only province with two bays admitted to UNESCO's 'Club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World': Nha Trang Bay and Vân Phong Bay. The Ninh Thuận region has the driest climate in Vietnam with the lowest rainfall in the country, creating unique landscapes: Nam Cương sand dunes, An Hoà sheep farm, Ba Mọi vineyard, and Mỹ Nghiệp brocade weaving Chăm village. The administrative center is located in Nha Trang city — a type I urban area, Vietnam's 'sea tourism capital'. After the merger, Trường Sa special district is directly under the province.
Nha Trang Bay was admitted to the 'Club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World' by the Worldbays Club organization in 2003 — one of the most prestigious titles in the marine tourism industry. The bay covers an area of 507 km² with 19 large and small islands, including Hòn Tre, Hòn Mun, Hòn Tằm, Hòn Miễu, Hòn Một, and Hòn Lao Đảo Khỉ. Nha Trang beach is 7 km long, straight, with fine golden sand, and is where the Nha Trang Sea Festival is held biennially. Tourists often take a 4-island day tour: swimming at Hòn Mun, snorkeling to see coral at Hòn Mun Marine Protected Area (Vietnam's first marine protected area, recognized in 2001), visiting Hòn Tằm, and Trí Nguyên Aquarium on Hòn Miễu. Trần Phú street along the beach is home to a series of 4-5 star hotels: Sheraton, InterContinental, Sunrise, Novotel, Mövenpick, Liberty Central, Sunrise — bustling with international tourists, especially from Russia, China, and South Korea.
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Vinpearl Land Nha Trang is an entertainment and resort complex located on Hòn Tre island, the largest island in Nha Trang Bay. Opened in 2003 and continuously expanded, it is currently the largest entertainment complex in Vietnam with 5 zones: VinWonders Park (200 games including Alpine Coaster, thrilling roller coasters), Vinpearl Aquarium with 14,000 marine creatures, a water park, an 18-hole golf course, and 5 five-star resorts (Vinpearl Resort, Discovery, Luxury Landmark, Beachfront, Wonder World). The island is connected to the mainland by the 3,320 m long Vinpearl cable car — the second longest over-sea cable car in the world (Guinness record from 2007 to 2017 before being surpassed by Phú Quốc). The cable car consists of 7 pillars crossing the bay, taking 9 minutes with panoramic views of Nha Trang Bay. The island also has the Corona casino for foreigners.
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Vĩnh Hy Bay is located in Vĩnh Hải commune, Ninh Hải district — in the former Ninh Thuận region. This is one of the four most beautiful bays in Vietnam (along with Hạ Long, Lan Hạ, Nha Trang). The bay has a small area of only 4 km², with three sides embraced by granite mountains and one side opening to the sea — forming a calm 'water pocket' year-round. Located in the buffer zone of Nui Chua National Park — a World Biosphere Reserve — the bay has a special marine ecosystem: the coral reefs near the shore are still intact, allowing visitors to view them directly from a glass-bottom boat without needing to dive. The 50 km coastal road Phan Rang – Vĩnh Hy is dubbed 'the most beautiful coastal road in Vietnam' — passing Hang Rái with ancient volcanic rock formations and Cá Heo beach. The bay is famous for raising lobsters in cages — visitors can eat fresh lobster at floating restaurants.
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Ninh Chu Beach is located in Khanh Hai town, Ninh Hai district—5 km from Phan Rang city center and 100 km from Nha Trang. The beach is 10 km long, crescent-shaped, with fine white sand and moderate waves. The former Ninh Thuan area has 300 sunny days/year—the most in Vietnam—so Ninh Chu Beach always has brilliant golden sunshine even during the rainy season of neighboring provinces. This is also the driest region in Vietnam, with the lowest rainfall in the country (about 700 mm/year). The Ninh Chu area concentrates 4-5 star resorts such as Long Thuan, Saigon-Ninh Chu, TTC Resort. 3 km away is Nam Cuong sand dune—a rare mobile sand dune in Vietnam, where you can go sandboarding. Ninh Chu is often combined in tours with Vinh Hy Bay, Ba Moi vineyard, and An Hoa sheep farm.
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Po Nagar Cham Towers are located on Cu Lao hill, 2 km north of Nha Trang city center, by the mouth of the Cai River. The complex was built from the 8th to the 13th century during the Champa kingdom, dedicated to the goddess Po Inư Nagar—Mother of the Land of the Cham people, assimilated by the Vietnamese into Thien Y A Na Thanh Mau. The original complex had 6 towers, currently 4 remain: North Tower (tallest at 23 m, most beautiful, built in 817), Southeast Tower, South Tower, and Northeast Tower. Inside the towers are statues of goddesses and Yoni–Linga—fertility symbols of Hinduism. The Thap Ba Festival, held annually from the 21st to the 23rd day of the 3rd lunar month, is the largest Cham festival in Vietnam—recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2012. Visitors can watch Cham Apsara dance and drink traditional can wine here.
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Ninh Thuận is the only 'grape kingdom' in Vietnam, with a grape cultivation area of about 1,200 ha concentrated in Ninh Phước, Ninh Hải districts and Phan Rang – Tháp Chàm. The special dry and hot climate, low rainfall (700 mm/year), and abundant sunshine (300 days/year) create ideal conditions for grape development — a condition few regions in Southeast Asia possess. The two popular grape varieties are red Cardinal grapes (ripening June – August) and green NH01-93 grapes (ripening September – November), in addition to Black Queen and Syrah wine grapes. Famous vineyards open for visitors are Thái An vineyard (Vĩnh Hải, Ninh Hải) and Ba Mọi vineyard (Phước Thuận, Ninh Phước) — visitors can pick grapes themselves, take photos with the drooping grape trellises, and buy grapes and handmade grape wine directly at the vineyard. Not far from there is Po Klong Garai Tower (13th century) — the most beautiful Cham tower in Phan Rang.
Things to do:According to Resolution 202/2025/QH15, the new Khánh Hoà province will be merged from the former Khánh Hoà and Ninh Thuận province. Effective from July 1, 2025. Trường Sa Special Administrative Region will be directly under the province.
8,555.86 km² with a population of 2,243,554 people. The province has 490 km of coastline — the longest in Vietnam.
Trường Sa Special Administrative Region is directly under the new Khánh Hoà province. This is a special administrative region with a unique position in national defense and security — including islands, rocks, and shoals belonging to the Trường Sa archipelago in the East Sea.
Approximately 1,280 km. Fly 1h45 to Cam Ranh airport, then 35 km by car to Nha Trang city center (about 45 minutes). SE3/SE5 train takes 24 hours. Driving via National Highway 1A takes about 22 – 24 hours — not recommended.
Fly 1h05 from Tan Son Nhat to Cam Ranh. Train takes 7h30 – 8h30. Sleeper bus or private car via expressway takes about 8 – 9 hours (440 km). The scenic route passes Mũi Né – Cam Ranh – Nha Trang.
January to August — calm sea, little rain, especially from March to June when the water is clearest. September to December is the rainy and storm season in the South Central Coast — there may be major storms, not suitable for island tours.